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

Following a sequence of earthquakes on Monday, Japan activated tsunami warnings and initiated evacuations along its west coast. The tremors, which began shortly after 4 p.m., included one with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, centered off the coast of Ishikawa and neighboring prefectures. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a significant tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level alerts for the western …

Sheikh Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, has stated that Israel lacks the authority to dictate terms regarding Hezbollah’s presence along the Lebanese border, especially amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Israel-Lebanon border has experienced heightened tensions, marked by increased exchanges of fire, primarily between the Israeli army and the Iran-supported Hezbollah. This escalation followed the outbreak of …

On Sunday, Israel executed a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon, coupled with artillery assaults on several border towns. According to Lebanon’s National News Agency, Israeli aircraft and unmanned drones targeted a residence and a gas station in Kfarkila with two separate attacks. Additionally, Israeli jets launched multiple missiles at the al-Labbouneh forests, located between Naqoura and Alma al-Shaab, and …

In a sermon during the New Year’s Day Mass, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi emphasized that Lebanon’s presidential election should remain separate from the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Al-Rahi expressed dissatisfaction with the excuses being used to delay the presidential election, deeming them unsatisfactory. He specifically addressed claims, as reported in the media, that some factions are demanding a permanent ceasefire …

Israel has alerted that its conflict with Hamas is anticipated to extend through 2024, as continuous airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the death of two dozen individuals, and in retaliation, Hamas launched a barrage of rockets at midnight. Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, indicated in a New Year’s message that some of the 300,000 army reservists might …

Lebanon, a country known for its rich cultural tapestry and Mediterranean charm, often intrigues visitors with its social norms and practices. A common question among tourists and expatriates is: Can you kiss in public in Lebanon? This query reflects the broader discussion of public displays of affection (PDA) in a culturally diverse and multifaceted society. Understanding Lebanon’s Cultural Diversity Lebanon …

The White House announced on Sunday that it does not intend to expand the conflict in the Middle East following an incident where US helicopters sank three Houthi boats in the Red Sea. The US helicopters were responding to an attack when they engaged and sank the Houthi boats, resulting in the first direct US action against members of the …

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amidst growing criticism for his handling of the situation following the October 7 attacks, firmly stated in a press conference that he has no intention of resigning. Facing questions about his accountability, Netanyahu focused on his commitment to confronting Hamas, rather than stepping down from his role. The ongoing conflict in Gaza and …