Sen. Lindsey Graham, RS.C., quickly cut short a meeting with Lebanese defense chief Gen. Rodolphe Haykal after the Lebanese official refused to confirm that the Iranian regime-backed Hezbollah movement is a terrorist organization. Graham posted a clear message to X about his frustration with the state of Lebanon in particular and Middle Eastern power politics … Read more
HERMEL, Lebanon (AP) — A walled compound in Lebanon that houses hundreds of people who fled their homes in Syria after the fall of Bashar Assad more than a year ago has drawn accusations that the residents are Assad loyalists, which he denies. The focus on the compound in the city of Hermel highlights sensitivities … Read more
BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s relationship with Syria is “radically different” since the fall of former President Bashar Assad, Lebanon’s top minister in charge of managing the country’s relations with its neighbor said Tuesday. “Under the Assad regime, Lebanon was de facto under Syrian tutelage. The Syrian regime intervened in internal affairs in so many ways,” … Read more
BEIRUT (AP) — The Lebanese army said Thursday it had completed the first phase of a plan to fully deploy in southern Lebanon and disarm non-state groups, particularly Hezbollah. Israel said the development was encouraging but “far from sufficient,” and its Foreign Ministry said the group still had dozens of compounds and other infrastructure. The … Read more
As the deadline the Lebanese government has set for disarming Hezbollah in the country’s south approaches, the group insists it will not give up its weapons. The Lebanese cabinet tasked the military in August with formulating a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025, in line with a plan presented by the United … Read more
The Sydney terror attack may have been carried out by a foreign terrorist cell backed by Iran, Israeli authorities believe. Officials cited Iran as the main suspect and said possible links to groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas and Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba were also being investigated, according to Israeli media reports. Australian officials have not publicly confirmed … Read more