Capital of Lebanon; a city of politics, history and resilience
Israeli forces have carried out strikes and patrol operations in southern Lebanon since a US‑brokered framework was signed, killing and wounding civilians and soldiers and prompting Hezbollah to warn of retaliation. Washington and Tehran have pushed ceasefire mechanisms and talks, but Israel is keeping troops in a south Lebanese security zone while Lebanon resists disarming Hezbollah.
Israel has maintained a hard line on Iran, pressing for a broader Arab-Israeli unity government while Washington pushes a diplomatic path toward Tehran; observers warn the u.S.-Israel alliance faces renewed strain as Iran-focused diplomacy unfolds and Gulf states recalibrate ties.
U.S. President Donald Trump has offered to help end the Russia-Ukraine war in a nearly 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin and has agreed with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to continue negotiations at next week’s NATO summit in Ankara. Ukraine has struck oil and naval facilities near St. Petersburg, and Russia has responded with heavy missile and drone strikes on Kyiv.
A set of articles spans Palestinian cultural expression through tatreez embroidery, a Prada campaign featuring Saint Levant with a Palestine map pendant, and football gestures at the World Cup highlighting Palestinian identity and solidarity. The pieces examine heritage, controversy, and diaspora connections in 2026.
Lebanon has faced years of crises including financial collapse and war, yet official suicide data likely undercounts the true scale. The National Lifeline reports rising call volumes and more people seeking help, signaling a growing mental health crisis and expanded care amid ongoing upheaval.
Vance and Rubio are positioning themselves on Iran and Lebanon as White House and State Department deny any rift. Delegations led by Vance and Rubio have shaped recent talks with Iran, with a fragile ceasefire framework under close U.S. oversight.
Israel maintains a security zone in southern Lebanon while pressuring Hezbollah to disarm. Netanyahu says Israel will stay until the threat is eliminated, amid a new framework with Lebanon and ongoing US talks with Iran. The situation has hardened, with Israeli forces showing a long-term posture and Hezbollah resisting demilitarisation.
The Times of Israel, Axios, Al Jazeera and other outlets report on a forthcoming White House meeting between Netanyahu and Trump, as they reaffirm shared goals on Iran. Trump has publicly asserted control over talks while Netanyahu emphasizes a strong US-Israel alliance. A NATO summit and ongoing ceasefire negotiations frame the context for possible joint actions and strategy.
Syria has invited Lebanese figures and met key Lebanese leaders, signalling a shift in Damascus-Beirut relations. Damascus rejects military intervention in Lebanon while seeking economic and security cooperation. Western leaders have floated unprecedented ideas about Syria taking a role in disarming Hezbollah, but Syria’s new government has dismissed such plans.
Iran’s Supreme Leader’s envoy defends the MoU with Washington as Tehran faces persistent conservative criticism. Iran says it is preparing for a broader, unified front against perceived U.S. and Israeli pressure while negotiating teams pursue a ceasefire and longer-term settlement. The US and Iran remain engaged, with regional actors warning of renewed tensions.
Citizen Lab has found that Stelios Kouloglou's iPhone was infected with Pegasus at least three times in 2022–23 while he served on the European Parliament's PEGA committee investigating spyware. Researchers say they have high confidence in the forensic evidence but do not attribute responsibility; the findings have prompted calls in Brussels for stronger limits on spyware.
Displacements in Lebanon have begun to ease as returns surge following a ceasefire framework signed with the United States. Authorities report hundreds of thousands returning home, though Israeli activity and Hezbollah’s stance cast doubt on long-term stability. Officials say safety remains uneven across southern Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli presence in a security zone.
Rights groups warn the US-brokered Lebanon-Israel framework agreement could block victims from pursuing accountability for war crimes, with Clause 3 and Clause 13 cited as limiting access to international courts. Lebanese officials defend sovereignty while thousands remain displaced. The debate centers on accountability, justice and the future path to peace.
Mourners are gathering in Tehran for the state funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran has organised a week of public ceremonies across cities and in neighboring Iraq, as the regime frames the event as a referendum on its rule while warning against external interference.
French President Emmanuel Macron has visited Damascus to discuss strengthening bilateral relations as Syria seeks reconstruction after years of civil war. He has met Syrian officials and plans to attend a NATO summit in Ankara, highlighting Europe’s interest in re-engaging with Damascus amid regional stability efforts.
Israel says it is continuing operations in southern Lebanon to neutralize Hezbollah threats, with clashes around the Ali Taher ridge and ongoing tunnel-disruption efforts. The conflict has drawn in interstate tensions, with Lebanon’s government defending negotiations that aim to secure Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah demilitarization.
Lebanese Christian village leaders have rejected Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that some southern Lebanon villages asked to be annexed by Israel. They say the claim is false and aimed at inflaming sectarian tensions. Officials emphasise safety, dignity and loyalty to Lebanon amid ongoing Israel-Hezbollah hostilities.
The United States is pursuing a coordinated approach to Iran-related talks as Vice President JD Vance and Senator Marco Rubio push rival tracks on Middle East diplomacy. The White House is weighing frameworks to end the Iran war while negotiations over Lebanon and Israel shape the final agreement.
A sequence of bombings in central Damascus has killed and wounded civilians, with authorities announcing arrests of suspects and pledging to pursue those behind the attacks as Macron’s visit to Syria unfolds amid security concerns.
Fadel Shaker has been released on bail after surrendering last October. He is under inquiry for multiple allegations including involvement in the Sidon 2013 clashes, financing armed groups and money laundering. The case remains open as investigations continue.
Qatar's late Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has reshaped the nation's role through Gaza and Lebanon gestures, rebuilding aid, and a pivot to independent media and foreign policy that broadened regional influence.
A US-brokered framework envisions an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon with Hezbollah disarmament as a precondition. Lebanon’s political divide is intensifying as tensions rise, roadblocks persist and fears of civil strife grow amid daunting regional dynamics.
Israel and its allies are under renewed pressure as mediation efforts on southern Lebanon and southern Syria are tested by ongoing clashes, shifting security zones, and new calls for withdrawal. The broader Middle East crisis is escalating with US-led diplomacy pushing for a staged redeployment while maintaining security arrangements.
Since late July, US and Iranian forces have resumed strikes across the Middle East after a brief pause. The US and Saudi Arabia have carried out airstrikes on pro‑Iran militias in Iraq; Iran has launched ballistic missiles and drones at US forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; regional actors including the Houthis are expanding pressure on Red Sea routes. Diplomatic talks remain fragmented.
Lebanese authorities have released Fadel Shaker on bail after questions over allegations including army involvement, funding militias, and money laundering related to the Sidon clashes in 2013. Shaker, once a famed singer, has a long history linked to the Al-Assir faction and subsequent legal proceedings.
Eisenkot has surged in polls as his Yashar party leads Likud in some surveys for the October 27 election, with calls for stronger security and universal service forming the core of his platform. Netanyahu faces a shifting coalition dynamic as security concerns and politics collide.
Syria has stepped up border security following seizures of arms, including missiles and drones bound for Lebanon. The latest operation comes after earlier interceptions and signals a broader push to curb cross-border smuggling amid regional tensions and attempts to influence international ties.
Israel’s president has spoken of a dream for peace with Saudi Arabia, emphasizing rapprochement and direct talks with U.S. support. In a Riyadh interview and separate comments, he discusses broader regional goals, including potential ties with Lebanon and Syria, and notes concerns about Iran and the Gaza war.
Lebanese President Aoun has travelled to Washington to present a written plan to disarm Hezbollah and secure Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon under a US-backed framework. Trump has pledged support for Lebanon and its army as talks aim to curb Hezbollah and stabilise the border, with pilot zones showing tentative progress amid ongoing Israeli strikes.
Lebanon, Israel, and the United States have established pilot zones in southern Lebanon as part of a framework to manage sovereignty, security, and Hezbollah disarmament. The Lebanese armed forces will clear zones of Hezbollah weapons as Israel withdraws, with verification ongoing and potential expansion dependent on security progress.
Lebanon and the United States are pressing to turn the June framework for Israel-Lebanon into a concrete plan. Washington has resumed talks on security and to secure a Lebanese army‑led presence in the south, amid Israeli operations and Hezbollah opposition. Aoun is in Washington seeking guarantees on withdrawal and reconstruction, while signs of progress remain uncertain.
Technical delegations from Lebanon and Israel have met in Rome this week to progress a US-brokered framework that links Israeli withdrawals to verified Hezbollah disarmament and Lebanese army deployments in pilot zones. Talks are running as Israeli forces continue strikes and demolitions in southern Lebanon and as Beirut presses for more pullbacks and international verification.
The United States has launched pilot zones in southern Lebanon under the trilateral framework with Lebanon and Israel. The zones aim to gradually shift security responsibilities to the Lebanese Armed Forces while Israeli forces withdraw from designated areas. The deployment faces resistance, security incidents, and questions about timelines as leaders weigh the path to broader peace.
The Iran conflict has escalated with threats of strikes and shifting diplomacy as both sides test red lines. U.S. officials warn of hard actions while Iran asserts control over Hormuz. A ceasefire cycle and domestic political pressures frame new steps as global oil markets react.
The US has finalised a 30‑year civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia and has submitted it to Congress for review. The pact will allow US firms to help build Saudi nuclear power, could permit domestic uranium enrichment after a joint study, and has drawn warnings that it will increase proliferation risks and regional tensions.
The United States has announced that direct flights to Lebanon will resume, following a White House meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The announcement marks a shift from decades-long restrictions tied to the 1985 TWA 847 hijacking. Officials warn that actual flight schedules remain uncertain amid ongoing regional conflict and security concerns.
A truck carrying advanced weapons was seized at the Syria-Iraq border, with authorities saying the shipment was intended to pass through Syria to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump has publicly urged Syria’s new leadership to disarm Hezbollah, citing regional tensions.
UNESCO has placed several Lebanese cultural sites on its danger list amid ongoing Israel-Hezbollah clashes. Tyre and Beaufort Castle face threats to their conservation, with the Lebanese government requesting the designation. The move follows direct damage from recent hostilities and concerns over access, with UNESCO urging protection of the sites’ universal value.
The United States has proposed a civilian nuclear partnership with Saudi Arabia, promising non-enriched facilities and no snap inspections. Critics warn it could trigger a regional nuclear race while allies voice concerns about proliferation and regional stability.
Japanese Red Army member Kozo Okamoto has died in Lebanon at 78, according to the PFLP. The Lod Airport attack of 1972 killed 26 people and shaped decades of militancy and regional politics. Okamoto lived in Lebanon under asylum, later facing forgery charges, and was celebrated by supporters as a fighter for the Palestinian cause.
UNESCO has placed Sebastia in the West Bank and five Mount Amel castles in southern Lebanon on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, citing ongoing conflicts. Israel opposes the move, calling it politicisation, while Palestinian and Lebanese officials celebrate protections amid tensions.
A Gaza Water carrier, a Beirut mother in displacement, and a Sudanese student-turned-worker illuminate the human toll of conflict. From Gaza’s streets to Lebanon’s camps, child labour and sleep-deprived families are front-page realities amid ongoing crises.
Lebanon says it will pursue legal action over Israeli actions in southern Lebanon as negotiations in Rome aim to move forward on the June framework. Human rights figures warn of potential war crimes amid continued demolitions and displacement.
Authorities enforce a pilot-zone withdrawal plan in southern Lebanon as residents return to damaged homes. Some families seek shelter in local shops while awaiting full rebuilding after fighting linked to the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. Lebanese army clearance and water deliveries are under way as the town awaits wider Israeli withdrawal.
Lebanon has opened a legal inquiry into banker Antoun Sehnaoui after a Washington dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as U.S.-backed talks with Israel press toward a framework for disarmament and withdrawal in southern Lebanon. Probes focus on whether the meeting violated Lebanon’s anti-normalisation laws; investigations could lead to arrest warrants. Lebanon’s crackdown comes as talks seek to ease decades of conflict and potential peace arrangements.
Israel has demolished a major Hezbollah underground tunnel network in the Beaufort Ridge area in southern Lebanon, citing a ceasefire violation by Hezbollah. The operation follows a June framework for Israel-Lebanon talks aimed at disarming Hezbollah and a staged withdrawal from the security zone. Talks in Rome are set to continue, focusing on implementing the framework and stabilizing the border.
The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement and a bilateral safeguards pact, but President Donald Trump has said the deal is conditional on Riyadh normalising relations with Israel. Officials and commentators are disputing whether the White House and Energy Department coordinated the announcement. Critics warn the pact weakens non‑proliferation safeguards and could spur a regional arms race.
Lebanon’s President and Turkey’s leader have discussed ways to expand Ankara’s role in security for southern Lebanon as UNIFIL’s mandate ends. While Erdogan signals interest in contributing to a post-UNIFIL framework, observers caution that Israel may oppose Ankara’s involvement. The talks come amid broader regional tensions and stalled diplomacy.
The Board of Peace-backed roadmap has reached a final draft in Cairo, with Hamas accepting the framework while stipulations hinge on Israel’s withdrawal and disarmament. Mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey push for a staged implementation, though Netanyahu’s position on disarmament and the timing of a withdrawal keep the plan in flux amid Israel’s elections.
The movements of personnel and equipment between Harir Air Base, Erbil, and the US consulate are described as preparation for the withdrawal of remaining US troops under the 2024 agreement. Washington and Baghdad have framed the shift as a routine repositioning and a step toward ending the mission by September.