Paula Astih

Paula Astih
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)
Features Men stand at the scene of an Israeli strike on a building in Beirut's southern suburbs on April 1, 2025. (AFP)

Israel’s Messages Behind Strikes on Beirut’s Southern Suburb

Israel’s latest airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburb, known as Dahiyeh, have moved beyond mere retaliation for rocket fire, signaling a shift in the rules of…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Hezbollah supporters are seen at a mass funeral for 100 people killed in Aitaroun in southern Lebanon during the latest war with Israel. (AP)

Hezbollah Acknowledges ‘Shortcomings, Breaches’ in Operations, Security

For the first time in more than three months since its truce with Israel took effect, a Hezbollah official acknowledged on Tuesday “shortcomings and security…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Getty photo from the parliamentary elections in 2022

Lebanese Interior Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Holding Municipal Elections on Time

Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar has stressed commitment to holding the municipal elections on time, saying administrative preparations are underway…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World People visit the site where late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed by the Israeli airstrike on 27 September 2024 in the Haret Hreik neighborhood, in the Dahieh suburb, southern Beirut, Lebanon, 21 February 2025. (EPA)

Hezbollah Pressures its Supporters to Attend Nasrallah Funeral

Hezbollah has for over a month been preparing to hold a mass funeral for its slain leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, who were killed by Israel in…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World People clear debris at an amusement park that was hit in an Israeli airstrike a day earlier, in southern Lebanon's Nabatiyeh el Faouqa village on January 29, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP)

Israel Steps Up Provocations in Southern Lebanon

Israel has ramped up its provocations against both the Lebanese government and Hezbollah, striking the southern town of Nabatieh, intensifying aerial activity,…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Features MP Gebran Bassil and members of his bloc after naming Nawaf Salam as prime minister. (Reuters)

Gebran Bassil: From Joseph Aoun’s Fierce Opponent to Supporter

Head of Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Movement MP Gebran Bassil has demonstrated his ability to change his stances and adapt to changes in the country. This was…

Paula Astih (Beirut)