Beirut Explosion Claims the Life of Lady Yvonne Sursock Cochrane

Lady Yvonne Sursock Cochrane, the owner of Sursock Palace in Ashrafieh
Lady Yvonne Sursock Cochrane, the owner of Sursock Palace in Ashrafieh
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Beirut Explosion Claims the Life of Lady Yvonne Sursock Cochrane

Lady Yvonne Sursock Cochrane, the owner of Sursock Palace in Ashrafieh
Lady Yvonne Sursock Cochrane, the owner of Sursock Palace in Ashrafieh

Lady Yvonne Sursock Cochrane, the owner of Sursock Palace in Ashrafieh, passed away at the age of 98. Cochrane was hit during the Beirut explosion on Aug. 4 while sitting in one of the palace halls.

She lived on the ground floor of the historical mansion, while her son Rodrigue and his family occupy the second floor. At the moment of the explosion, she was sitting, as usual, in one of the palace rooms, and was wounded and rushed to the hospital.

The palace, on the Sursock Street in the Ashrafieh area, suffered great material losses, as the two floors, in addition to its lush garden, were severely damaged by the explosion of the port in Beirut.

Cochrane, who was keen on preserving the heritage buildings in Beirut, established in 1960 the APSAD Foundation to encourage the protection of heritage sites. On National Heritage Day every year, Yvonne Cochrane opens the doors of her palace to visitors, to get a closer look at its ancient and artistic features.

The Sursock Palace is one of the oldest heritage buildings in Beirut, and it is known as “Lady Cochrane” Palace. It is home to rare historical artifacts dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Lady Yvonne Cochrane has European roots from her mother, Donna Maria, of Italian descent. As for the palace, it was built in 1860 by Moussa Sursock, Yvonne’s grandfather.

Donna Maria married an Irish lord of the Cochran family, and she carried his surname. As the only child of her father, Alfred Cochrane, Yvonne inherited the palace, in which she lived until her death on Aug. 31.



Israeli Ambassador to US Says Hezbollah Cease-fire Deal Could Come 'Within Days'

Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)
Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)
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Israeli Ambassador to US Says Hezbollah Cease-fire Deal Could Come 'Within Days'

Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)
Part of the destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday (Reuters)

The Israeli ambassador to Washington says that a cease-fire deal to end fighting between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah could be reached "within days."
Ambassador Mike Herzog told Israeli Army Radio on Monday that there remained "points to finalize" and that any deal required agreement from the government. But he said "we are close to a deal" and that "it can happen within days."
Among the issues that remain is an Israeli demand to reserve the right to act should Hezbollah violate its obligations under the emerging deal. The deal seeks to push Hezbollah and Israeli troops out of southern Lebanon.
Israel accuses Hezbollah of not adhering to a UN resolution that ended the 2006 war between the sides that made similar provisions, and Israel has concerns that Hezbollah could stage a Hamas-style cross-border attack from southern Lebanon if it maintains a heavy presence there. Lebanon says Israel also violated the 2006 resolution. Lebanon complains about military jets and naval ships entering Lebanese territory even when there is no active conflict.
It is not clear whether Lebanon would agree to the demand.
The optimism surrounding a deal comes after a top US envoy held talks between the sides last week in a bid to clinch a deal.
Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, a day after Hamas´ raid on southern Israel, setting off more than a year of fighting. That escalated into all-out war in September with massive Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and later an Israeli ground incursion into the country´s south.
Hezbollah has fired thousands of rockets into Israeli cities and towns, including some 250 on Sunday.