World

Yemen: the Houthis Claim Responsibility for Firing on Israel After Strikes Against Their Infrastructure

This is Beirut 20/12 01:10 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday claimed responsibility for firing two missiles and a drone at Israel after Israeli raids on Yemeni ports and energy infrastructure, which left nine people dead according to their leader. The Israeli army announced that it had struck ports and energy infrastructure belonging to the Houthis, more than 1,500 ...

The UN Asks The ICJ For Its Opinion On Israel's Obligations Towards The Palestinians

This is Beirut 20/12 00:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Banks Hamas International Court of Justice Israel Palestine United Nations West Bank

On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution asking the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule on Israel's humanitarian obligations towards the Palestinians, at a time when the Israeli government is accused of obstructing access to aid in Gaza. The resolution, submitted by Norway, was adopted by a large ...

Hundreds in Damascus Protest for Democracy, Women's Rights

This is Beirut 19/12 20:58 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Damascus Women's Rights Syria HTS

In Damascus's Ummayad Square, hundreds gathered Thursday, demanding a democratic state that includes women in public life, marking the first such demonstration since Islamist-led rebels toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. Women and men, young and old, chanted slogans including "No to religious rule", "God is for religion ...

Turkey, Iran Leaders at Muslim Summit in Cairo

This is Beirut 19/12 19:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Israel Palestine Tehran Turkey UN Security Council

The leaders of Turkey and Iran called on Thursday for unity in Syria at a summit of eight Muslim-majority countries after the ouster of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad. Turkey historically backed Assad's opponents, while Iran supported his rule. The gathering of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as the ...

From Glorifying Assad to Praising al-Joulani: The Shifting Allegiances of Syrian Celebrities

Soumia Benmerzoug 19/12 19:55 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Syria Assad Al-Jolani Celebrities

The term “mukawiin” (literally “those who took a turn” and figuratively “weather vanes”) has flooded Syrian socio-media landscape since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime on December 8. As the former president fled to Russia and rebels seized control of Damascus, a new label emerged to describe those who shifted allegiances with ...

UN Chief Sees 'Flame of Hope' in Syria, Calls for End to Israel Strikes

This is Beirut 19/12 17:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Israel United Nations Syria HTS Guterres

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that there was a "flame of hope" in Syria following the fall of president Bashar al-Assad's regime but warned of significant challenges ahead. He also underlined that Israel's widespread strikes on Syrian military infrastructure were "violations" of the country's sovereignty and called for them ...

Thousands Protest in Northeast Syria in Support of Kurdish-Led Force

This is Beirut 19/12 16:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Turkey USA Syria kurds

Thousands of people demonstrated Thursday in northeast Syria in support of a US-backed, Kurdish-led force that for weeks has been pushing back against Turkey-backed fighters, an AFP correspondent said. The show of support for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) comes after Islamist-led rebels toppled Syria's longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad ...

Israel Accused of 'Acts of Genocide', 'Ethnic Cleansing' in Gaza

This is Beirut 19/12 16:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Genocide Gaza

Israel on Thursday faced accusations of "acts of genocide" in Gaza, while a medical charity said the devastation caused in the Palestinian territory showed "signs of ethnic cleansing". They are the latest in a series of similar accusations levelled against Israel during its 14-month war in the Gaza Strip. In a new report focused specifically on ...

Syria: Turkey Promises to Press On, Demands Kurdish Fighters Disarm

This is Beirut 19/12 13:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Turkey USA Washington

Ankara will push ahead with its military preparations until Kurdish fighters "disarm", a defense ministry source said Thursday, stressing Turkey faces an ongoing threat along its border with northern Syria. The comments came as concerns grew over a possible Turkish assault on the Kurdish-held Syrian border town of Kobane, also known as Ain ...

Putin’s Open Invitation: “Ready to Meet Trump Anytime”

This is Beirut 19/12 13:25 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Donald Trump Ukraine United States Vladimir Putin Syria

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the fall of ex-Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was not a "defeat" for Russia, claiming Moscow had achieved its goals in the country. Assad fled to Moscow earlier this month after a shock rebel advance ended half a century of rule by the Assad family, marked by repression and allegations of vast ...

Trump’s Shadow Looms Over EU Summit as Ukraine Appeals for Unity

This is Beirut 19/12 11:35 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump European Union Ukraine Vladimir Putin Syria

Donald Trump loomed large over EU leaders Thursday at their last summit before he reclaims power in the United States, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying only transatlantic unity can "save" Ukraine. The upheaval in Syria after the toppling of Bashar al-Assad, and how to deal with the new leadership, was also high-up on the agenda of the ...

Houthis Claim Missile Attack as Israel Hits Key Yemen Sites

This is Beirut 19/12 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Houthi Israel Palestine

Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday claimed a missile attack against Israel that was intercepted and prompted Israeli strikes on key infrastructure in Yemen including ports and energy facilities. The Iran-backed fighters, who control most of Yemen's population centres, have repeatedly launched missile attacks against Israel since the war in Gaza ...