Lebanese officials, including President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam have been in “intensive contact” with the US and French government in recent days, as Israel escalates its airstrikes against southern Lebanon and threatens attacks on the capital city of Beirut....
US, Israel Reject French Proposal to End IDF Presence in Lebanon
Weeks after the February 18 deadline for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon has come and gone, IDF troops remain at the five hilltop surveillance posts they hastily constructed in southern Lebanon ahead of that deadline, and there are increasing signs that this is an...
US Proposes Sending Private Military Contractors to Southern Lebanon
The extended deadline of the Lebanon ceasefire has come and gone, and as previously confirmed, Israeli troops only left populated areas, but remained in southern Lebanon at five hilltop surveillance posts that the IDF established in the weeks leading up to the...
Israeli Military Will Retain Hilltop Posts in Southern Lebanon After Deadline
In recent days it has become increasingly clear that Israel has no more intention of withdrawing all of its troops from southern Lebanon by the February 18 deadline than it had for the January 26 deadline. It is now more clear what the plan is, and how it will be...
Syrian Shi’ites Flee to Lebanon After Border Clashes, Crackdowns
The situation on the Lebanon-Syria border remains tense. Relative calm was reported today, though others reported hearing sporadic gunfire in the area. Overt Syrian Army invasions as were seen Thursday though have not recurred, at least not yet. The situation is far...
Israel Bombs Southern Lebanon Town of Yaroun as Demolitions Continue
Israel’s demolition of civilian homes and infrastructure continues in southern Lebanon, despite the ongoing ceasefire. On Wednesday, this centered on the town of Yaroun, in the Bint Jbeil District, where Israeli bombings were reported. The bombings were reported as...
Zelensky, Macron Discuss the Idea of French Troops Deploying to Ukraine
On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and discussed the idea of a possible deployment of French troops to Ukraine as part of a potential future security guarantee. Zelensky said he and Macron...
Turkey Rules Out French Presence on Syrian Border as Fighting Rages
Heavy fighting continues to rage in northern Syria’s Aleppo Governorate, as Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) forces attack Kurdish SDF forces. The most intense fighting has been reported southeast of Manbij, on the approach to the Tishreen Dam. The SDF...
Fighting Rages as Kurdish SDF Suggests US, French Troops in Northern Syria
Heavy fighting continues to be reported across north-central Syria today, with at least 37 combatants killed today alone in fighting in the area around Manbij. The fighting involves the Turkish-backed SNA and the US-backed Kurdish SDF. The SNA, with Turkish air and...
Israeli Troops Beat, Arrest French Journalist As They Expand South Syria Presence
Israeli troops continue to advance deeper into southern Syria, particularly in the Quneitra Governate, where they are occupying a growing amount of territory and have been expelling Syrian civilians from the area. Foreign media has been trying to offer more and more...