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

Arriving in Lebanon Thursday for her maiden visit as the new U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, replacing Amos Hochstein, was Morgan Ortagus. Ortagus commenced a tour of inspections with a visit to the US Embassy, where she received from US Major General Jasper Jeffers, chairman of the ceasefire monitoring committee, briefings about what the committee’s missions were …

In a press meeting on Friday, the Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea, was keen to underline the dividing line between responsible political parties and those acting irresponsibly. He believed that all political parties should not be regarded as equal, and doing so would definitely nullify the very meaning of political governance. Geagea commented on an ongoing debate going on, with …

Ahmad al-Sharaa, previously known as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, is now going to take over the presidency of Syria in what is an unexpected new chapter for the country. He has been propelled into leadership after a protracted war that saw the demise of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, who ruled for decades. The statement was given by Hassan Abdel Ghani, the spokesman …

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has released a statement confirming the names of three Israeli hostages set to be freed from Gaza on Thursday. The release also mentioned that five Thai hostages are scheduled to be freed, although it did not release their names. These include hostages Arbel Yehoud, 29, Agam Berger, 19, and Gadi Moses, 80, among others. In …

This Sunday, February 2, 2025, promises to be an action-packed one as Arsenal take on Manchester City at Emirates Stadium. Two title-chasing sides come into perhaps a season-defining clash in this highly anticipated match, Matchday 24, kicking off at 17:30 local time. While Manchester City, positioned fifth with 38 points, are looking to get back in the groove for a …

A very interesting Premier League encounter between Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur will take place on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 15:00 at the Brentford Community Stadium. In Matchday 24, Brentford, which sits in 11th place with 28 points, welcomes a struggling Tottenham, sitting 15th with 24 points. Given the differential form and ambitions of both sides, this could prove to …

Israeli forces have conducted a series of operations in southern Lebanon’s borders, arresting three and wounding two in the village of Maroun al-Ras, sources in Al-Manar TV say. Apart from the arrests, Israeli soldiers shot at civilians and an ambulance at the village gate, Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reports. A little earlier, a drone attack wounded civilians in the …

Syria’s newly installed government demanded that Israel withdraw its presence in Golan Heights, a region it occupies for decades, in a move following its ally Bashar al-Assad’s fall. The demand during negotiations with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, head of U.N.’s peacekeeping, according to Syrian state media reports. The country’s willingness to cooperate with U.N. in full, according to its representatives, during Lacroix’s …