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

A senior official from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards issued a warning on Thursday, threatening to target Israel’s nuclear facilities if Israel were to attack Iranian atomic sites. This statement comes in anticipation of possible retaliation for Tehran’s aggressive drone and missile strike over the weekend. Iran launched this attack, which was mostly intercepted, in response to an April 1 airstrike on …

Egyptian sources reported to a Qatari news channel that the U.S. had agreed to Israel’s proposal to conduct a military operation in Rafah, Gaza, instead of launching a major strike on Iran, following Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone assault. However, a spokesperson from the U.S. National Security Council denied these claims, stating that no such agreement was ever discussed. According …

Israeli aircraft struck a residence in the southern border town of Blida, as reported by the National News Agency. Emergency ambulance services were dispatched to the scene following the attack. Earlier, an Israeli drone had targeted a home on the eastern fringes of Markaba. In a related development, Hezbollah launched new strikes on Israeli military positions, targeting the Malkia, al-Marj, …

Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh met with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki on Thursday to discuss various issues. Franjieh emphasized his commitment to open dialogue and the protection of Christian communities, criticizing the approach of rival Christian factions that he perceives as overly focused on controlling security. Franjieh argued that the true safety of Christians does not come from …

On Thursday in Beirut, four ambassadors from the five-nation group tasked with aiding Lebanon met with Jebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, at his residence in Bayyada. During the meeting, which was part of their ongoing efforts to resolve Lebanon’s presidential deadlock, the ambassadors from Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar discussed the importance of not linking the …

In the northern Netherlands, inside a barn stretching across the flat fields, Jos Ubels gently holds a newborn Blonde d’Aquitaine calf, a new member of his large dairy cattle herd. However, Ubels is concerned about the future of farming like his. Europe’s efforts to combat climate change are imposing more regulations on farmers, affecting Ubels who now dedicates one day …

Over the past 45 years, Iran has been subjected to an extensive array of Western sanctions, intensified by various international incidents and policy decisions. Here’s a breakdown of the key sanctions and their triggers: – **1979 Hostage Crisis**: After Iranian students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran in November 1979, capturing 52 hostages, the U.S. severed diplomatic ties with Iran …

Israel continued its intense military operations in Gaza on Thursday amid mounting international concern, following a retaliatory strike by Iran over the weekend. This marks the sixth month of what is the deadliest conflict in Gaza to date. The prospects for a ceasefire have dimmed, according to Qatar’s Prime Minister, who indicated difficulties in mediating between Israel and Hamas. Israeli …