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

Lebanese farmer and part-time minibus driver, Abdallah Abdallah, returned to his village near the Israeli border on Saturday, only to find his house heavily damaged and his tractor destroyed due to the recent bombing. Abdallah, 50, lamented the destruction, citing Israel’s history of targeting civilian areas. His home in Aitaroun, located near an Israeli military post, now bears the scars …

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, speaking on Sunday, expressed his disapproval of limiting the presidential election to a specific individual, agenda, or influence-driven reason. Al-Rahi also emphasized his objection to any actions that could damage the unity, stability, and self-confidence of the army and its leadership. He stressed the critical nature of this issue, especially given the precarious security situation the …

Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Presidential Envoy for Lebanon, is set to arrive in Beirut next week to focus on the presidential election process, as reported by the media on Sunday. Le Drian’s agenda includes appointments with key Lebanese political figures. He is scheduled to meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Wednesday, according …

An interim truce agreement, intended to facilitate the release of numerous hostages taken during Hamas’ incursion into Israel, is expected to provide much-needed relief to the beleaguered residents of Gaza and offer a ray of hope to the families of those held captive. The deal, which faced last-minute challenges, was activated a day later than initially planned. It stipulates a …

Israel’s military operations have drastically transformed much of northern Gaza into a desolate landscape, akin to a lunar surface. Entire neighborhoods have vanished, with homes, schools, and hospitals demolished by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. While some structures still stand, they are largely hollowed-out remnants. The conflict has driven nearly a million Palestinians from their homes, including those in …

On Friday, under a ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the first group of hostages taken during a devastating attack in Israel, marking the deadliest assault in the nation’s history. In exchange, Israel freed 39 Palestinian women and children from its prisons. Thirteen Israeli hostages, including four children and six elderly women, returned to Israeli territory. They were to undergo medical examinations …

U.S. President Joe Biden, addressing the media in Nantucket, Massachusetts, where he was celebrating Thanksgiving with his family, referred to the recent release of hostages by Hamas as just the beginning. He highlighted the substantial opportunity to extend the temporary ceasefire in Gaza. Biden also mentioned the need to refocus efforts on establishing a two-state solution as a path to …

On Saturday, the second day of a ceasefire, Hamas was poised to continue exchanging hostages for prisoners held by Israel. This truce has not only enabled the crucial delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza but also provided civilians a much-needed reprieve after seven weeks of intense conflict. The ceasefire’s first day saw significant developments: Hamas released 24 of the approximately …