In shift, Lebanon grants Iranian ambassador residency extension Mohammad Reza Sheibani’s visa was set to expire early Tuesday morning and he was first ordered to leave in March. Iran
In Lebanon, Italy proposes robust multinational force to replace UNIFIL: What to know Italy has produced alternative to replace the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon and preserve an international security presence there. Lebanon
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Syria, Israel hold US-mediated talks Pakistan’s Munir arrives in Tehran; major UAE economic delegation to visit Beirut; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran threatens ‘devastating’ response as US ramps up sanctions Syrian Kurds announce integration with Damascus; US Treasury issues Hezbollah Iran-linked sanctions; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis Israel defies Trump on Lebanon as Netanyahu, Katz prioritize elections By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Nearly 1,000 buildings in Tripoli, Lebanon are at risk of collapse: Amnesty Amnesty International has denounced the local Tripoli government’s lack of action to protect residents who have been living in unsafe buildings since last year’s earthquake. Lebanon
Israel strikes near Sidon in serious Lebanon escalation The latest strikes hit an area some 30 kilometers from the Israel-Lebanon border, where Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in tit-for-tat exchanges since last October. Lebanon
In south Lebanon, schools resume classes as displaced shelter inside Hezbollah steps in as municipalities struggle to respond to the growing number of displaced. Lebanon
Israel, Hezbollah cling to deterrence to avoid escalation Most experts doubt an expansion of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict on the Lebanon-Israel border, but events on another border could change that. Lebanon
Hezbollah says Israel will pay in ‘blood’ as cross-border fighting intensifies The fire exchanges that have been ongoing between Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Israel since October have intensified this week, raising fears of a full-blown conflict. Lebanon
Analysis France's plan seeks Hezbollah pullback, army deployment to Lebanon-Israel border France is pushing a plan to de-escalate Israel-Hezbollah tensions and avoid a full-fledged war similar to 2006. By Rina Bassist In Paris, reporting on Israeli politics and European affairs
Suspected Israeli strikes in Syria amid escalation with Hezbollah in Lebanon A Hezbollah commander in Lebanon was injured in an Israeli strike as foreign diplomats worked to de-escalate tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border. Syria
Meet Lebanon's Nawaf Salam, new ICJ president Salam, Lebanon’s former ambassador to the UN, becomes head of the UN’s top legal body at a critical time amid the Gaza war. Lebanon
In Lebanon, Hezbollah’s alliance with Christian FPM movement shows cracks The presidential vacuum and ongoing cross-border hostilities have strained already deteriorating relations between the Shiite Hezbollah group and the Free Patriotic Movement. Lebanon
France's new FM Sejourne makes first visit to Egypt, Lebanon, Israel & Jordan French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné is set to visit the Middle East, meeting with almost all the parties involved in the Gaza war, except Qatar. Israel
Mideast corruption rankings: UAE least corrupt, Lebanon & Iran close to bottom Arab states’ average corruption score dropped to an all-time low in 2023, as did Turkey’s, the corruption index shows. Turkey
Analysis Iran says it won’t interfere in Lebanon-Israel border talks Tehran will still need to sign off on deal if it happens; Iran and Sudan; Netanyahu is a prisoner of hostage talks; US rethinks its force posture in Syria and Iraq; and a US envoy says Israel must be ‘absolutely sure’ in Gaza military operations. By Week in Review , Andrew Parasiliti , Samuel Wendel