INSIDER
Middle East latest: Hezbollah picks a new leader and Israel bombs southern Lebanon
Read full article: Middle East latest: Hezbollah picks a new leader and Israel bombs southern LebanonLebanon’s Hezbollah has chosen Sheikh Naim Kassem to succeed longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike last month.
Israel says it killed a Hezbollah official expected to become the group's next leader
Read full article: Israel says it killed a Hezbollah official expected to become the group's next leaderThe Israeli military says one of its airstrikes in early October killed a top Hezbollah official who had been widely expected to become the group’s next leader.
Middle East latest: Hezbollah's acting leader says the group is focused on hurting Israel
Read full article: Middle East latest: Hezbollah's acting leader says the group is focused on hurting IsraelHezbollah’s acting leader says the Lebanese militant group is focused on “hurting the enemy” by targeting Haifa and other parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv.
Hezbollah steps up rocket fire as Israel sends more troops into Lebanon
Read full article: Hezbollah steps up rocket fire as Israel sends more troops into LebanonHezbollah has fired another barrage of rockets into Israel, and the militant group’s acting leader vows to keep up pressure that has forced thousands of Israelis from their homes near the Lebanese border.
Iranian supreme leader praises missile attack on Israel, saying Iran will do it again if necessary
Read full article: Iranian supreme leader praises missile attack on Israel, saying Iran will do it again if necessaryIran’s supreme leader has praised the country’s recent missile strike on Israel and said it is ready to do it again if necessary.
After pressing an Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire, the Biden administration shifts its message
Read full article: After pressing an Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire, the Biden administration shifts its messageThe Biden administration says there's a significant difference between Israeli actions that have expanded its war against the Iranian-backed militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran’s retaliatory missile attack against Israel.
What to know about Hezbollah's capabilities after its recent losses
Read full article: What to know about Hezbollah's capabilities after its recent lossesHezbollah has warned that the rockets that struck central Israel were only the beginning and that the militant group is waiting for invading forces to enter Lebanon to confront them.
Yemen's Houthi rebels are looking to gain from continuing conflict in the Middle East
Read full article: Yemen's Houthi rebels are looking to gain from continuing conflict in the Middle EastSince Israel intensified its campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been quick to show they're an important player in the complex conflicts convulsing the Middle East.
Yemen's Houthi rebels launch drone boat that hits ship in Red Sea as missile strikes another
Read full article: Yemen's Houthi rebels launch drone boat that hits ship in Red Sea as missile strikes anotherYemen’s Houthi rebels have launched an explosive-loaded drone that crashed into one ship in the Red Sea and a missile that exploded against another.
The US is sending a few thousand more troops to the Middle East to boost security
Read full article: The US is sending a few thousand more troops to the Middle East to boost securityThe Pentagon says is sending a “few thousand” additional troops to the Middle East to bolster security and to be prepared to defend Israel if necessary.
Israel begins ground offensive against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon
Read full article: Israel begins ground offensive against Hezbollah in southern LebanonIsraeli ground forces moved into southern Lebanon, marking a significant escalation of an offensive against Hezbollah and opening a new front in a yearlong war against its Iranian-backed adversaries.
Who were the 7 high-ranking Hezbollah officials killed over the past week?
Read full article: Who were the 7 high-ranking Hezbollah officials killed over the past week?In just over a week, intensified Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed seven high-ranking commanders and officials from the powerful Hezbollah militant group, including the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Biden says he'll speak with Israeli leader, vowing all-out war in the Middle East must be avoided
Read full article: Biden says he'll speak with Israeli leader, vowing all-out war in the Middle East must be avoidedPresident Joe Biden says he will speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and believes an all-out war in the Middle East has to be avoided.
An Israeli airstrike hits central Beirut for the first time in nearly a year of conflict
Read full article: An Israeli airstrike hits central Beirut for the first time in nearly a year of conflictThe first apparent Israeli airstrike in central Beirut in nearly a year of conflict has hit hours after Israel struck targets across Lebanon and killed dozens of people as the Hezbollah militant group sustained a string of deadly blows to its command structure, including the killing of its overall leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Biden and Harris call the Israeli strike killing Hezbollah’s Nasrallah a 'measure of justice'
Read full article: Biden and Harris call the Israeli strike killing Hezbollah’s Nasrallah a 'measure of justice'President Joe Biden says the Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah was a “measure of justice” for what he called a four-decade “reign of terror.”.
Hundreds of fleeing families sleep on beaches and streets after Israel's strikes shake Beirut
Read full article: Hundreds of fleeing families sleep on beaches and streets after Israel's strikes shake BeirutHundreds of families displaced from Beirut's southern suburbs after the area was pummeled overnight by the heaviest Israeli airstrikes in nearly a year of limited conflict are sleeping in public squares and beaches or in their cars in the city center.
Iran Revolutionary Guard general died in Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah leader, reports say
Read full article: Iran Revolutionary Guard general died in Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah leader, reports sayA prominent general in Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard died in an Israeli airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah transformed the militant group into a potent regional force
Read full article: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah transformed the militant group into a potent regional forceHezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who transformed the Lebanese militant group into a potent paramilitary and political force in the Middle East, was killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Hezbollah confirms its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike
Read full article: Hezbollah confirms its leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrikeLebanon’s Hezbollah group has confirmed that its leader and one of its founders, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike.
Who was longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah?
Read full article: Who was longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah?Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah led the Lebanese militant group for the past three decades, transforming it into one of the most powerful paramilitary groups in the Middle East.
Israel strikes Hezbollah in a huge blast targeting the militant group's leader
Read full article: Israel strikes Hezbollah in a huge blast targeting the militant group's leaderThe Israeli military says it struck the headquarters of Hezbollah in Beirut, causing massive explosions that leveled multiple buildings.
What is Hezbollah, the group battling Israel in Lebanon?
Read full article: What is Hezbollah, the group battling Israel in Lebanon?After almost a year of trading fire, Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah are now engaged in ferocious confrontations that threaten to turn into a full-blown war.
What to know after Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah
Read full article: What to know after Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan NasrallahThe assassination of Hezbollah's leader by Israel is a monumental and demoralizing blow to the Lebanese militant group he led for 32 years.
Hezbollah leader vows retaliation against Israel for attacks on devices as both sides trade strikes
Read full article: Hezbollah leader vows retaliation against Israel for attacks on devices as both sides trade strikesThe leader of Hezbollah vowed to retaliate for this week’s deadly attacks on the group’s communications devices.
What to know about the two waves of deadly explosions that hit Lebanon and Syria
Read full article: What to know about the two waves of deadly explosions that hit Lebanon and SyriaJust one day after pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded, more electronic devices detonated in Lebanon Wednesday in what appeared to be a second wave of sophisticated, deadly attacks that targeted an extraordinary number of people.
Israel-Hamas war latest: Oct. 7 mastermind thanks Hezbollah leader for his help attacking Israel
Read full article: Israel-Hamas war latest: Oct. 7 mastermind thanks Hezbollah leader for his help attacking IsraelHamas leader Yahya Sinwar has thanked Lebanon’s Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah for his support in the ongoing war with Israel.
The Latest | US-built aid pier in Gaza will reopen for a few days, then be removed permanently
Read full article: The Latest | US-built aid pier in Gaza will reopen for a few days, then be removed permanentlySeveral U.S. officials say the pier built by the American military to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza will be reinstalled on the beach to be used for several days, but then the plan is to pull it out permanently.
Israeli strike kills another senior Hezbollah commander as diplomats scramble for calm in Lebanon
Read full article: Israeli strike kills another senior Hezbollah commander as diplomats scramble for calm in LebanonAn Israeli strike in southern Lebanon has killed a senior Hezbollah commander as tensions continue to boil.
Thousands of Iran-backed fighters offer to join Hezbollah in its fight against Israel
Read full article: Thousands of Iran-backed fighters offer to join Hezbollah in its fight against IsraelIran-backed groups in the Middle East say thousands of their fighters are offering to come to Lebanon to join with the militant Hezbollah group in its battle with Israel.
Lebanese officials work to maintain friendly relations with Cyprus following Hezbollah threats
Read full article: Lebanese officials work to maintain friendly relations with Cyprus following Hezbollah threatsLebanese government officials are working to maintain friendly relations with Cyprus a day after the militant Hezbollah group threatened to attack the Mediterranean island if it allows Israel to use its territories to attack Lebanon.
The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group warns archenemy Israel against wider war
Read full article: The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group warns archenemy Israel against wider warThe leader of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group says it has new weapons and intelligence capabilities that could help it target more critical positions deeper inside Israel in case of an all-out war.
Iran's foreign minister accuses US of giving Israel 'green light' to attack consulate in Syria
Read full article: Iran's foreign minister accuses US of giving Israel 'green light' to attack consulate in SyriaIran’s foreign minister has accused the United States of giving Israel the “green light” for a strike on its consulate building in Syria that killed seven Iranian military officials, including two generals.
Israel and Lebanon are prepping for a war neither wants, but many fear it's becoming inevitable
Read full article: Israel and Lebanon are prepping for a war neither wants, but many fear it's becoming inevitableThe prospect of a full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia terrifies people on both sides of the border, but some see it as an inevitable fallout from Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
White House says 'it's the right time' for Israel to scale back Gaza war as fighting hits 100 days
Read full article: White House says 'it's the right time' for Israel to scale back Gaza war as fighting hits 100 daysThe White House says “it’s the right time” for Israel to scale back its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, even as Israeli leaders vow to intensify their operation against the territory’s ruling Hamas militant group.
Hezbollah leader says his group must retaliate for suspected Israeli strike in Beirut
Read full article: Hezbollah leader says his group must retaliate for suspected Israeli strike in BeirutThe leader of the Lebanese militia Hezbollah says his group must retaliate after a presumed Israeli strike hit a Beirut neighborhood this week, killing a senior Hamas official.
Israel's Mossad chief vows to hunt down Hamas members a day after senior figure killed in strike
Read full article: Israel's Mossad chief vows to hunt down Hamas members a day after senior figure killed in strikeThe chief of Israel’s Mossad has vowed the intelligence agency will hunt down every Hamas member involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, no matter where they are.
How Lebanon's Hezbollah group became a critical player in the Israel-Hamas war
Read full article: How Lebanon's Hezbollah group became a critical player in the Israel-Hamas warThe Lebanese militia Hezbollah has traded fire with Israeli troops along the border since the day after Hamas’ Oct. 7 surprise attack in southern Israel sparked war in the Gaza Strip.
Arab leaders push for an Israel-Hamas cease-fire now. Blinken says that could be counterproductive
Read full article: Arab leaders push for an Israel-Hamas cease-fire now. Blinken says that could be counterproductiveArab leaders who met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jordan are pushing for an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Live updates | Israel rebuffs US push for humanitarian pause, says hostages must be released first
Read full article: Live updates | Israel rebuffs US push for humanitarian pause, says hostages must be released firstIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected U.S. calls for a humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas war, telling U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday “we are going full steam ahead,” unless the hostages held by Hamas are released.
Israel resists US pressure to pause the war to allow more aid to Gaza, wants hostages back first
Read full article: Israel resists US pressure to pause the war to allow more aid to Gaza, wants hostages back firstIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back against growing pressure for a humanitarian pause in the nearly month-old war to protect civilians and allow more aid into Gaza.
Leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah holds talks with senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad figures
Read full article: Leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah holds talks with senior Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad figuresThe leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah group has met with top Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad officials.
Live updates | Israeli strikes leave neighborhoods in shambles; journalist's family amond the dead
Read full article: Live updates | Israeli strikes leave neighborhoods in shambles; journalist's family amond the deadIncreased Israeli airstrikes are devastating parts of the Gaza Strip, jeopardizing relief operations and leaving neighborhoods in shambles.
Lebanon's Hezbollah leader urges Muslims to 'punish' Quran desecrators if governments fail to do so
Read full article: Lebanon's Hezbollah leader urges Muslims to 'punish' Quran desecrators if governments fail to do soThe leader of Lebanon’s militant Hezbollah group says that if governments of Muslim-majority nations do not act against countries that allow desecration of the Quran, Muslims should “punish” those who facilitate attacks on Islam's holy book.
Families slam plans for 2nd judge to probe Beirut port blast
Read full article: Families slam plans for 2nd judge to probe Beirut port blastDozens of relatives of the victims of Beirut’s 2020 massive port blast have protested plans by the judiciary to name a second investigative judge, calling the move an attempt by the country’s political class to prevent justice.
Kuwaiti minister in Lebanon over diplomatic row with gulf
Read full article: Kuwaiti minister in Lebanon over diplomatic row with gulfKuwait’s foreign minister says he has handed Lebanese officials a list of suggestions for confidence-building measures with oil-rich Gulf states after relations between the two sides deteriorated dramatically over the past months.
The judge leading Beirut blast probe: Discreet and defiant
Read full article: The judge leading Beirut blast probe: Discreet and defiantFor eight months, a relatively obscure Lebanese judge has been quietly investigating one of the world’s worst non-nuclear explosions with only four assistants — and a lot of powerful detractors trying to block him.
Hezbollah leader vows retaliation for future Israeli attacks
Read full article: Hezbollah leader vows retaliation for future Israeli attacksThe leader of the militant Hezbollah says his group will retaliate against any future Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, a day after his supporters fired a barrage of rockets toward Israel.
Iraqi militia commander vows to avenge deaths in US strike
Read full article: Iraqi militia commander vows to avenge deaths in US strikeThe leader of an Iran-backed Iraqi militia has vowed to retaliate against America for the deaths of four of his men in a U.S. airstrike along the Iraq-Syria border last month.
Amid crisis, Hezbollah 'bank' a lifeline for some Lebanese
Read full article: Amid crisis, Hezbollah 'bank' a lifeline for some LebaneseAs more Lebanese fall into poverty in the country's economic crisis, increasing numbers are turning to the financial arm of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group for help. He could still pull out the dollars in his account at the al-Qard al-Hasan Association, the financial arm of the militant Hezbollah group. Stepping in where the state and financial institutions have failed, Hezbollah is providing a vital lifeline for some Lebanese. Over the past year, the al-Qard al-Hasan association has seen a significant increase in clients, despite it being under U.S. Treasury sanctions since 2007. That has proven a boon for the al-Qard al-Hasan association, as some turned to it as an alternative to store their cash.
Lebanon, Israel begin indirect talks over maritime border
Read full article: Lebanon, Israel begin indirect talks over maritime borderU.N. peacekeeping military vehicles enter the headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force in the southern Lebanese border town of Naqoura, Lebanon, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. Lebanon and Israel are to begin Wednesday indirect talks over the disputed maritime border between the two countries in the presence of American officials who are mediating between the Middle Eastern nations. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)NAQOURA – Lebanon and Israel began indirect talks on Wednesday over their disputed maritime border, with American officials mediating the talks that both sides insist are purely technical and not a sign of any normalization of ties. The U.S.-mediated talks began at a U.N. post along the border known as Ras Naqoura, on the edge of the Lebanese border town of Naqoura. Israel and Lebanon also held indirect negotiations in the 1990s, when Arab states and Israel worked on peace agreements.
Israeli navy prepares for arrival of new upgraded warships
Read full article: Israeli navy prepares for arrival of new upgraded warshipsAn Israeli soldier fires on board the Israeli Navy Ship Lahav during a rare tour of Israel's offshore Leviathan gas field in the Mediterranean Sea, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020. The natural gas industry, seen as a national asset, is at the heart of those efforts. With so much at stake, Hezbollah has identified Israeli gas installations as high-priority targets. During a monthlong war in 2006, a Hezbollah cruise-missile strike on an Israeli “Saar 5” warship killed four soldiers. Netanyahu, who is on trial in three other corruption cases, was not named as a suspect in the scandal and no one active in the Israeli navy has been connected.
Diplomat tapped to be PM in crisis-hit Lebanon
Read full article: Diplomat tapped to be PM in crisis-hit LebanonBEIRUT A Lebanese diplomat was appointed to form a new government in crisis-hit Lebanon on Monday after winning the backing of major political parties. Lebanon's president is holding consultations with heads of parliamentary blocs to designate a new prime minister for the crisis-stricken country, with a career diplomat poised to win the job Monday. Macron and other world leaders as well as the International Monetary Fund have refused to give assistance to Lebanon before its leaders enact major reforms. Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri emerged from his meeting with Aoun on Monday, telling reporters his 18-member bloc had given its backing to Adib. Adib, who has been Lebanons ambassador to Germany since 2013, served as an advisor to one of Lebanons former Prime Ministers, Najib Mikati.
UN-backed court to deliver verdicts in Hariri assassination
Read full article: UN-backed court to deliver verdicts in Hariri assassinationFILE - In this Jan. 16, 2014 file photo, shows an exterior view of the Special Tribunal for the assassination of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Leidschendam, Netherlands. Hariri was Lebanons most prominent Sunni politician at the time of his Feb. 14, 2005, assassination, while the Iran-backed Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim group. The trial centered on the alleged roles of four Hezbollah members in the suicide truck bombing that killed Hariri and 21 others and wounded 226 people. Initially, five suspects were tried, all of them Hezbollah members. Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah last week insisted on the innocence of the suspects regardless of the verdicts.
UN-backed court to issue verdicts in Lebanon's Hariri case
Read full article: UN-backed court to issue verdicts in Lebanon's Hariri caseUnlike the blast that killed Hariri and 21 others on Feb. 14, 2005, the Aug. 4 explosion was believed to be a result of nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate that accidentally ignited at Beirut's port. Hariri was Lebanons most prominent Sunni politician at the time, while the Iran-backed Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim group. Hamadeh said those who killed Hariri were behind the attempt on his life. Hariri was killed by a suicide truck bomb on a seaside boulevard in Beirut that killed him and 21 others, and wounded 226 people. Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, son of the late Hariri, has said he will make a statement regarding the verdicts after they are made public.
Lebanese president calls probe into Beirut blast "complex"
Read full article: Lebanese president calls probe into Beirut blast "complex"(AP Photo/Thibault Camus, File)BEIRUT Lebanese President Michel Aoun says the probe into a devastating blast in Beirut is very complex and wont be finished quickly. Responding to calls that he step down, Aoun told French TV station BFMTV in his first interview with foreign media since the Aug. 4 blast that it would be "impossible" because it would create a power vacuum. The cause of the fire that ignited nearly 3,000 tons of ammonium nitrate stored at Beiruts port remains unclear. We had the determination to reach conclusions quickly but we found out that the issues are very complex and require time, said Aoun. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has denied his group has any role in the explosion and said any international probe would likely seek to clear Israel of responsibility in the port explosion, if it had a hand.
FBI team arrives this weekend to take part in Beirut probe
Read full article: FBI team arrives this weekend to take part in Beirut probeFILE - In this August 5, 2020 file photo, smoke rises from the scene of an explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)BEIRUT A team of FBI investigators is due to arrive in Lebanon this weekend to take part in the probe of Beirut's massive explosion, a senior U.S official said on Saturday after visiting the location of the blast. David Hale, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, called for a thorough and transparent investigation. Hassan Nasrallah said the cause of the explosion is still unclear, adding that any international probe would also have to clear Israel of any responsibility in the port explosion. On Friday, the United Nations launched a $565 million appeal for Lebanon with immediate humanitarian assistance and initial recovery efforts.
Virus adds to deep despair felt by war-weary young Arabs
Read full article: Virus adds to deep despair felt by war-weary young ArabsIn the Mideast, wave after wave of war, disease and economic collapse leaves this generation feeling hopeless. She was preparing to leave to England, where she would spend a year working on her masters degree in pharmacy. Even before the pandemic, in 2019 youth employment in the Arab region was estimated at 26.4%, compared to a global rate of 13.6%, according to estimates by the International Labor Organization. A U.N. report this week expected some Arab economies to shrink by up to 13% this year, compounding the suffering of those affected by armed conflict. Working at the pharmacy in Baghdads Karrada district, al-Diwani encounters people suspected of being infected with the virus every day.
Nasrallah says Lebanon should not observe US Syria sanctions
Read full article: Nasrallah says Lebanon should not observe US Syria sanctionsBEIRUT The head of Hezbollah group on Tuesday said Lebanon should not observe new U.S. sanctions against Syria which he described as deeply hurtful to his country if implemented. Nasrallah said Lebanon is likely to be deeply hurt if it observes those sanctions, known as the U.S. Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act. Losing the land route with Syria would force Lebanon to turn to Israel, which Nasrallah suggested is the aim of U.S. sanctions and which he said is rejected. In a confrontational 100-minute televised speech, Nasrallah said the sanctions on Syria are aimed at creating chaos after Damascus emerged victorious in the nine-year war. Turning to Syria, Nasrallah said the sanctions would fail to achieve their desired effects.