Paula Astih

Paula Astih
Arab World Smoke rises over Baalbek, Hezbollah stronghold near Syria border – AFP

Israel Strikes Hezbollah's 'Radwan Force' Deep Inside Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley

Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes on eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley on Tuesday, targeting Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force in what Israeli officials…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar (NNA)

Lebanon Ready for Syria Pact to Repatriate Non-Terror Convicts

Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar said Beirut had received no warnings from Damascus about potential retaliatory measures to push for the release of…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Lebanese Shiite mourners gathered on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashura in a ceremony organized by Hezbollah (AFP)

Lebanese Parties Warn Against Hezbollah Keeping Light Weapons

A recent proposal circulating in Lebanon that would allow Hezbollah to retain its light weapons while surrendering heavy and medium arms has triggered…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World A billboard on the road to Beirut International Airport promoting tourism in Lebanon (AP). 

Iran-Israel War Disrupts Lebanon’s Tourism Season

The outbreak of war between Iran and Israel has upended weeks of preparation aimed at delivering Lebanon’s most promising tourism season in years. Amid the…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World A poster in the Shatila Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut shows a Hamas fighter… (AFP) 

Will Regional Tensions Stall Palestinian Arms Handover in Lebanon?

The escalation of the Israeli-Iranian conflict has disrupted Lebanon’s internal agenda, pausing progress on several sensitive files, including the handover of…

Paula Astih
Arab World The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro (UNIFIL)

UNIFIL Chief Says Israeli Occupation Threatens Lebanon Peace Track

The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lázaro, is currently focused on the growing harassment of his forces in the…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)

Hamas Comes Under Pressure in Lebanon

Relations between Hamas and the Lebanese state have entered a critical phase not seen since the country’s civil war era. In a rare and direct move, Lebanon’s…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Aid and Reconstruction Tied to State Control over Arms

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister, Youssef Rajji, said that the Lebanese government has been explicitly informed that there would be no international aid or…

Paula Astih (Beirut)