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October 24, 2026

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Lebanon uncovers new tunnel amid tensions with Hezbollah: What to know

A tunnel was discovered near Beirut as tensions between Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah have been running high over the seizure of weapons shipments destined for the Iran-backed group.

Israeli troops stand guard on the dividing line between the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and Syrian, near Majdal Shams, July 16, 2025.

Analysis

'The problem and the solution': Netanyahu-Sharaa call exposes Israel's Syria dilemma

The Israeli leader revealed that he spoke with the Syrian president last year, but stalled talks and Israel's fortification of a security zone on Syrian land underscore his mistrust of Sharaa.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani

Qatar PM in Beirut as Lebanon seeks economic relief: What to know

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani’s visit to Beirut coincides with the Lebanese authorities’ ongoing efforts to curb Hezbollah’s influence in the country.

Mihrac Ural, who was also known as Ali Kayali, was arrested

Explainer

Syria arrests Mihrac Ural, ex-Assad militia head also wanted by Turkey

The Turkey-born militia chief and a longtime ally of the Assad-regime, was sought by Ankara over the deadly Reyhanli bombings and by Damascus over his alleged role in massacres on the Mediterranean coast.

Latest News

Syria denies meeting with Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Turkey: What to know

Lebanon seeks Turkey’s help to join Syria-Saudi rail link: What to know

A picture taken on May 1, 2019 shows a railroad of Mar Mikhael neighborhood in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Lebanon PM meets Rubio as Israel talks stall: What to know

SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon's PM calls for international force to replace UNIFIL: What to know

Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Joyce Karam

Editor-in-Chief

Ali Hashem

In Doha, reporting on Iran, regional politics, conflict

Hanna Davis

In Beirut, reporting on politics, migration, human rights

Rodayna Raydan

In Boqaata, reporting on culture

A Syrian refugee girl sits on cement blocks amid damage and burnt tents from the fighting between Lebanese army soldiers and Islamist militants in the Sunni Muslim border town of Arsal, in eastern Bekaa Valley August 7, 2014. Militant Islamists have mostly withdrawn from the Lebanese border town of Arsal, which they seized at the weekend, taking with them captive Lebanese soldiers, militant and security sources said on Thursday, as a truce to end the deadly battle appeared to hold. REUTERS/Hassan Abdallah (

How will the Lebanese military deal with Arsal?

The battle in Arsal posed a major challenge to the Lebanese army while the people there waited for a military settlement.

Lebanese army soldiers stand near their vehicles at the entrance leading to Arsal August 3, 2014. Following the death of eight Lebanese soldiers killed in clashes with Islamist militants in the area on Saturday, the Lebanese army deployed more troops around the town of Arsal, near the Syrian border. REUTERS/Hassan Abdallah (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY) - RTR41268

Arsal clashes a threat to Lebanon's future

The outcome of the clashes in Arsal between the Lebanese army and fundamentalists supporting the Syrian opposition may hold the key to how Lebanon can resolve its political crises.

Lebanese army soldiers march during a military parade to celebrate the 65th anniversary of Lebanon's independence day in downtown Beirut November 22,2008. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi (LEBANON) - RTXAUIN

Officials mum on Lebanese soldier's defection to Jabhat al-Nusra

Government officials have refrained from directly commenting on news that a soldier has defected from the Lebanese army to join Jabhat al-Nusra.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai reads as he is surrounded by security personnel during his a visit to Birim, a northern Israeli village whose Maronite Christian residents were displaced 66 years ago May 28, 2014. The Lebanese church leader who defied warnings from the powerful Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah movement by accompanying the Pope on a Holy Land visit pledged on Wednesday to help dispossessed Christians in Israel. REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly (ISRAEL - Tags: RELIGION POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR

Will patriarch's plan lead to new Lebanese president?

Lebanon’s Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai has proposed an initiative to allow a president to be elected with only an absolute majority of the vote.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier speaks with Lebanon's Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil during a news conference in Beirut May 29, 2014. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3RFF8

Lebanon’s Christians react to crisis in Mosul

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry has taken up the cause of the uprooted Christians of Iraq, calling on international organizations to intervene.

Traders are seen busy working in Audi Bank's dealing room before the end of Beirut's stock exchange trading session in Beirut, Lebanon in this April 3, 2006 file photo. Picture taken April 3, 2006. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi - RTR1CEXZ

Foreign investments slip as Lebanon remains in crisis

In addition to stability and electing a president, a series of reforms is necessary to stop the regression of Lebanon’s economy.

Lebanese Army soldiers patrol as relatives of Islamists held in a Lebanese jail block a street with barbed wire to express their solidarity with those jailed, and demand their release, after Friday prayers in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, July 11, 2014. REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR3Y698

Security forces move on radical Islamists in Tripoli

The arrest of Hussam Abdullah al-Sabbagh, wanted for committing terrorist attacks, has triggered demonstrations by Salafists in Tripoli.

Lebanon's Hezbollah supporters hold banners and wave Hezbollah (C) and Palestinian flags (L) during a demonstration against Israel's military action in Gaza, in front of the United Nations headquarters in Beirut July 18, 2014. Israel stepped up its land offensive in Gaza with artillery, tanks and gunboats on Friday and declared it could "significantly widen" an operation Palestinian officials said was killing ever greater numbers of civilians. Israeli gunboats lit up the sky with their fire before dawn whil

Hezbollah, Hamas repair political ties during breakup

The fraught relations between Hezbollah and Hamas could come to an end as Israel continues its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

An Israeli Apache helicopter fires a missile towards the Gaza Strip July 22, 2014. Israel pounded targets across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, saying no ceasefire was near as top U.S. and United Nations diplomats pursued talks on halting the fighting that has claimed more than 600 lives. With the conflict entering its third week, the Palestinian death toll rose to 616, including nearly 100 children and many other civilians, Gaza health officials said. Israel's casualties also mounted, with the military announc

Israel's legal framework for Gaza strikes

Declaring Gaza a "belligerent, entity sui generis" has informed Israel’s strategy in the conflict.

A poster of (R-L) Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, former Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Abbas al-Musawi and Lebanese resistance leader and cleric Sheikh Ragheb Harb, is seen in between Iranian, Syrian, Lebanese and Hezbollah flags during Resistance and Liberation Day celebrations in Bint Jbeil May 25, 2014. The event commemorates the 14th anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (LEBANON - Tags: POL

Personal appearance by Nasrallah could be target for attacks

While Hezbollah sources hint that Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah may appear in person to deliver this year's Quds Day speech, there are questions of whether he can, in light of genuine concerns for his safety.

A smoke trail is seen as a rocket is launched from the northern Gaza Strip towards Israel July 15, 2014. Israel resumed air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday after agreeing to an Egyptian-proposed ceasefire deal that failed to get Hamas militants to halt rocket attacks. The week-old conflict seemed to be at a turning point, with Hamas defying Arab and Western calls to cease fire and Israel threatening to step up an offensive that could include an invasion of the densely populated enclave of 1.8 million.

What is Hezbollah learning from Hamas?

Any action taken by Hamas against Israel is likely being carefully studied by Hezbollah for future conflict purposes.

Rocket launches embarrass Hezbollah, Lebanon

The successive rockets launched from Lebanon toward Israel require a response from both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah.