World

Israel in Sweida: Motives and Ambitions

Philippe Abi Akl 22/07 08:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu Syria Sweida Bedouin Ahmad al-Sharaa Druze

As heavy clashes enter their second week in Syria’s southern province of Sweida, pitting Druze factions against tribal groups backed by the Syrian Army and security forces, Israel’s quiet but deliberate involvement is raising alarm. Official claims of protecting Syria’s Druze are met with widespread skepticism. The real story lies in Tel ...

US Authorities Probing Airliner’s Close Call With B-52 Bomber

This is Beirut 22/07 05:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United States Aviation Justice

US aviation regulators said Monday they are investigating a recent close call in which a passenger plane took emergency action to avoid a mid-air collision with a US military bomber. A Delta flight operated by SkyWest took off Friday from Minneapolis and was approaching the city of Minot, North Dakota when the pilot rapidly rerouted after seeing ...

Western Nations Call for Immediate End to Gaza War as Israel Expands Offensive

This is Beirut 21/07 22:55 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Gaza United Kingdom Canada Australia France Italy

More than two dozen Western countries called for an immediate end to the war in Gaza on Monday, saying suffering there had "reached new depths" as Israel's military expanded its operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah. After more than 21 months of fighting that have triggered catastrophic humanitarian conditions for ...

New Russia-Ukraine Talks Set for Wednesday

This is Beirut 21/07 22:13 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky Ukraine Russia

Russia and Ukraine will hold new peace talks in Turkey Wednesday as a follow-up to two rounds in Istanbul that made little progress on ending their war, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced. While US President Donald Trump has increased the pressure by giving Russia 50 days to agree on a deal or face sanctions, Zelensky spoke only hours after ...

Syria Evacuates Bedouin from Druze-Majority Sweida as Ceasefire Holds

This is Beirut 21/07 21:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Syria Sweida SOHR Ahmed al-Sharaa

Syrian authorities evacuated Bedouin families from the Druze-majority city of Sweida on Monday, after a ceasefire in the southern province halted a week of sectarian bloodshed that a monitor said killed more than 1,260 people. The violence, which followed massacres of Alawites in March and clashes involving the Druze in April and May, has shaken ...

UK Sanctions 135 Oil Tankers of Russia's Shadow Fleet

This is Beirut 21/07 20:12 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United Kingdom Russia Sanctions Oil Ukraine

Britain on Monday slapped sanctions on 135 oil tankers in Russia's shadow fleet, in a bid to disrupt the flow of money helping Moscow fund the war in Ukraine. A shipping services company and an oil trading firm were also sanctioned as part of the crackdown on a fleet "responsible for illicitly carrying $24 billion worth of cargo since ...

SpotlightBetween the Dilemma of Disarming Hezbollah and the Challenge of Rising Israeli Tensions

Amal Chmouny 21/07 20:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel United States

The dialogue between the US and Lebanon concerning Hezbollah's disarmament has entered a crucial phase, characterized by urgency, skepticism and regional complexities. US envoy Tom Barrack emphasized the need for rapid and structured progress, a sentiment echoed in messages from Washington. However, as events unfold, the inherent challenges of ...

US Treasury Chief Says China Talks Could Cover Iran, Russia Oil Buys

This is Beirut 21/07 18:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States China Russia Iran Oil

The next round of US-China talks could include Chinese purchases of Russian and Iranian oil, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, a move that would shift the focus of trade negotiations into national security issues. US President Donald Trump has imposed fresh tariffs on allies and competitors alike this year, and Washington and ...

Op-edConfusion in Syria

David Hale 21/07 17:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria Iran Hezbollah Israel United States

Recent developments in Syria are causing surprise and confusion. In a bold move, President Trump and his administration acquiesced to requests from the Turkish and Saudi leadership and lifted most sanctions on the Ahmed al-Sharaa regime, his Salafist HTS movement, and Syria itself. It did so without conditionality, without much effort to ...

Kremlin Cautions 'Lots of Work' Ahead Before Ukraine Peace Deal

This is Beirut 21/07 15:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Ukraine Kremlin Volodymyr Zelensky Russia US France

Russia on Monday downplayed the chances of a breakthrough in peace talks with Ukraine, saying the two sides held "diametrically" opposed positions, hours after it launched a massive drone and missile barrage on Kyiv. Moscow said a date for talks was being worked on, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed holding fresh negotiations ...

Gaza Civil Defense, Witnesses Report Israeli Shelling in Deir el-Balah

This is Beirut 21/07 14:15 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hamas Israel Gaza Deir el-Balah

Gaza's civil defence agency and eyewitnesses reported Israeli shelling in the central city of Deir el-Balah on Monday, after the military warned of imminent action in an area where it had not previously operated. The Israeli military on Sunday ordered those in the central Gaza area to leave immediately as it was expanding operations, ...

French Foreign Minister in Kyiv For Official Visit

Ici Beyrouth 21/07 12:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Volodymyr Zelensky European Union Ukraine France\

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday arrived in Kyiv for a two-day visit aimed at supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion, AFP journalists reported. Barrot is expected to meet counterpart Andriy Sybiga, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and newly-nominated Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko. "In the wake of ...