World Sep 14 Southern Lebanon residents describe hardships under Israeli military occupation As it intensifies its war in Gaza, Israel also remains in a simmering conflict on its northern border with Lebanon. Under a ceasefire agreement, Israel was supposed to withdraw from the area in January. But its military recently expanded its…
World Sep 02 How Lebanon is planning to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year The Lebanese government approved a U.S. plan to disarm Hezbollah, the group whose military wing was recognized by previous governments as a parallel security structure to Lebanon’s armed forces. The agreement calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament by the end of the…
World Feb 23 Thousands attend funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, longtime Hezbollah leader killed by Israel In Lebanon on Sunday, thousands turned out for the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, the former longtime leader of Hezbollah who was killed nearly five months ago in the war with Israel. The funeral came just days after Israel failed to…
World Feb 21 Syria’s minority sects concerned new government won’t protect them When Sunni rebels toppled Bashar al-Assad last December, they vowed to form an inclusive Syrian government by March. Sunnis comprise around 75 percent of Syria with the remaining 25 percent made up of minorities like Alawites, Christians, Shiite Muslims, Kurds…
World Feb 16 On the ground with U.N. forces in Lebanon as Israeli withdrawal deadline looms After Israel missed a previous deadline at the end of January, this Tuesday is the new deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Israel has indicated that its troops will remain in some strategic areas along the border,…
World Feb 09 Lebanese villagers blocked from returning home as Israeli forces remain in area Israel pulled its forces from a key Gaza corridor Sunday as part of a fragile ceasefire deal with Hamas. Meanwhile, on Israel’s northern front inside Lebanon, concerns are mounting that its forces there may stay past a second deadline to…
World Jan 25 Uncertainty looms over Israel’s truce in Lebanon ahead of troop withdrawal deadline There was jubilation in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank on Saturday as hostages and Palestinian prisoners were freed in the latest advance for the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Meanwhile, Israel’s fragile truce in Lebanon appears to be in doubt as this…
World Jan 23 A look at destruction in Lebanon from Israeli airstrikes and occupation of border region On Sunday, the 60-day window to implement the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel will close. As part of the deal, Israeli troops must withdraw from Lebanon and Hezbollah must disarm in a border zone. But just days from the deadline,…
World Dec 27 Syria’s new rulers try to contain growing tensions involving Assad loyalists Unrest is brewing in Syria’s coastal plains, home to the Assad family’s Alawite sect. Earlier this week, a group of regime loyalists staged an ambush on the now-governing rebel forces, killing 14. With the Shia Alawite sect making up only…
World Dec 24 Discovery of mass graves in Syria sheds new light on brutality of fallen Assad regime With the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the scale of his regime's mass killings and executions are coming to light more and more each day. The United Nations said this week the new Syrian government was receptive…