The Daily Star Lebanon Breaking News, Lebanon News, Middle East News & World News

Lebanese lawmakers are set to vote for a new president on Thursday, but divisions persist among political factions regarding the leading candidate, Army Chief Joseph Aoun. Aoun appears to have the backing of international powers, including the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia, but faces resistance from some domestic parties. The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), led by Jebran Bassil, has …

The upcoming clash between Aston Villa and West Ham promises to be an engaging encounter, with both teams showcasing distinct strengths and recent performances. Aston Villa, known for their disciplined tactics and consistent style of play, will aim to capitalize on West Ham’s defensive vulnerabilities. On the other hand, West Ham has shown a mix of resilience and inconsistency in …

Borussia Dortmund’s season so far has been disappointing, leaving both the management and fans at the WestfalenStadion frustrated. As a team expected to compete with Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title, Dortmund has struggled with inconsistency and missed chances, putting them in sixth place. Although they are only two points behind third, they trail league leaders Bayern Munich by a …

U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein announced that Israeli forces began withdrawing from a border town in southern Lebanon on Monday, marking another step in the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. This withdrawal, the second since the ceasefire began on November 27, follows calls from United Nations peacekeepers and Lebanon’s prime minister for Israel to expedite its exit from southern Lebanon. …

Druze leader Walid Jumblat reaffirmed his support for Army Commander General Joseph Aoun as his bloc’s candidate for Lebanon’s presidency, noting that the nomination has received favorable responses from the five-nation group focused on Lebanon’s situation. Jumblat emphasized the urgency of electing a president in the first round, warning against delaying the election until after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. …

U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers, Chairman of the Cessation of Hostilities Implementation Mechanism, accompanied by French Brigadier General Guillaume Ponchin, visited the headquarters of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) 5th Brigade in southwest Lebanon on Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy. The 5th Brigade’s headquarters is located approximately five kilometers northeast of Naqoura, a town recently …

Israel announced on Monday that Hamas had not yet confirmed the status of 34 hostages the group had previously indicated it was willing to release as part of a potential exchange deal. Qatar, Egypt, and the United States have been involved in months-long efforts to broker a deal to end the war in Gaza. However, both sides have accused each …

U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein arrived in Beirut on Monday amid a fragile truce between Lebanon and Israel, which began on November 27. On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that no agreement would be reached unless Hezbollah withdrew beyond the Litani River. Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s new leader, Sheikh Naim Qassem, expressed concerns that the group’s patience with Israeli violations …