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

An airstrike carried out by Israel on Monday hit a vehicle in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, resulting in the death of one individual. The attack came just one day before the deadline for an Israeli troop withdrawal under a fragile ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah. According to a Lebanese security source, the person killed was a military unit commander …

In retaliation for Israeli threats, Lebanon twice this week denied Iranian flights permission to land at Beirut. Lebanese officials informed Iran on Thursday that a flight already scheduled was not to depart. The action followed an Israeli threat, relayed through the United States, to bring down the plane if it tried to land in Lebanon. After consultation between the prime …

A shipment of United States-made bombs overnighted into Israel has arrived, Israel’s defense ministry reported, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the country for the first time. The shipment, consisting of MK-84 heavy aerial bombs, had only been cleared by President Donald Trump’s administration. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has termed the shipment a strategic asset for the Israeli …

Lebanese officials are convening an emergency session following an assault on a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) convoy near Beirut’s airport, which resulted in injuries to the outgoing deputy force commander, Major General Chok Bahadur Dhakal. The incident occurred amid protests by Hezbollah supporters against the Lebanese government’s decision to deny landing rights to two Iranian aircraft, a …

Saudi Arabia is set to host a high-level summit on February 20, bringing together the leaders of four key Arab nations to discuss the controversial proposal put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the future of Gaza. The meeting will include the heads of state from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, with discussions expected to focus …

Israeli soldiers will be departing Lebanese territory, transferring control of the area to the Lebanese Army under a French-American-brokered ceasefire agreement, a senior Israeli security minister stated. This truce, in effect from November 27, requires the deployment of Lebanon’s military in the south alongside United Nations peacekeepers, with the withdrawal of the Israeli army initially scheduled for more than 60 …

The Israeli military has stated that it is ready to pull out of Lebanese territory and transfer control to the Lebanese army within the timeframe established by a U.S.-French-mediated ceasefire agreement. This ceasefire, effective November 27, stipulates that Lebanon’s military and United Nations peacekeepers will take over the south as Israeli soldiers withdraw within 60 days, later extended until February …

Hamas has proceeded with the scheduled release of three Israeli hostages, defying a previous threat to delay in response to what it alleged were Israeli violations of the ceasefire accord. The step follows mediation by Egypt and Qatar to uphold the fragile truce in the Gaza Strip. The truce, which commenced on 19 January 2025, was initiated to allow for …