- 13h ago
US tells citizens to leave Middle East as Trump threatens new Iran strikes and Tehran readies retaliation
The United States has told its citizens across the Middle East to consider leaving immediately, as President Trump threatens new military strikes on Iran and Tehran warns of an "extensive" retaliation plan that could target American and Israeli energy infrastructure.
- 23h ago
US embassies across Middle East tell Americans to prepare to leave as Iran conflict widens to Egypt
Diplomatic missions in Amman, Jerusalem, Muscat, Baghdad and Beirut issued coordinated alerts on Saturday after a drone strike hit a Greek gas carrier and a US floating gas depot at an Egyptian port.
- Jul 24
Kozo Okamoto, Japanese militant behind 1972 Tel Aviv airport attack, dies at 78 in Beirut
The former Japanese Red Army member, who killed 26 people at Lod Airport in 1972, spent decades in Lebanese exile after a 1985 prisoner swap.
- Jul 22
Trump authorizes direct US-Lebanon flights, ending 40-year suspension
President Donald Trump ordered the resumption of direct flights between the United States and Lebanon on July 21, 2026, after a White House meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. The route had been suspended since 1985 following the hijacking of two TWA planes at Beirut airport by Hezbollah.
- Jul 21
Trump lifts 41-year ban on direct US flights to Lebanon after meeting with President Aoun
President Trump announced Tuesday that US carriers may resume direct flights to Lebanon, reversing a ban imposed by Ronald Reagan in 1985 after the TWA Flight 847 hijacking. The move followed a White House meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who sought US support for lasting calm after months of Israel-Hezbollah war.
- Jul 21
Mediators push for 10-day Iran war ceasefire as US strikes hit tenth night and Trump hosts Lebanon's Aoun
Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan and other regional mediators have proposed a ten-day truce between the US and Iran as American airstrikes entered their tenth consecutive night, while President Trump prepared to host Lebanon's president to shore up a separate ceasefire with Hezbollah.
- Jul 21
Lebanon's president to meet Trump as US announces pilot zones for Israeli withdrawal
President Joseph Aoun seeks US backing for reconstruction and security as three southern villages become test cases for the US-mediated framework with Israel.
- Jul 19
Lebanon's Aoun to press Trump for Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah disarmament in first White House visit since 2009
Joseph Aoun will present a written plan to disarm Hezbollah and secure Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon during his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump on Tuesday.
- Jul 14
Israel and Lebanon hold 'fruitful' Rome talks on pilot-zone withdrawal, Hezbollah stays out
Delegations from Israel, Lebanon and the United States met at the US embassy in Rome on Tuesday, with Israel signalling readiness to pull back from two areas in southern Lebanon. Talks resume Wednesday.
- Jul 12
US military delegation arrives in Beirut to negotiate Israel's phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon pilot zones
An American military delegation began talks with Lebanon's army on 11 July 2026, aiming to turn a June ceasefire framework into concrete Israeli withdrawals from two designated pilot zones in the south. Lebanon also confirmed it will attend the next round of talks with Israel in Rome next week.
- Jul 12
US military delegation in Beirut negotiates first Israeli withdrawal pilot zone as Lebanon ties Rome talks to pullout
A US military delegation met with Lebanon's army command in Beirut on Saturday to discuss mechanisms for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from a first 'pilot zone' under a June 26 framework agreement, Lebanese officials said.
- Jul 8
Haley Stevens attacks Abdul El-Sayed as Michigan Senate debate turns on Israel and corporate cash
Haley Stevens went on the attack against progressive rival Abdul El-Sayed in a televised debate Tuesday, accusing him of chasing publicity while he painted her as a tool of corporate and pro-Israel interests.
- Jul 8
EASA tells airlines to avoid Iran, Iraq and Lebanon airspace until 31 August after new US-Iran strikes
The EU aviation safety agency has told carriers to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq and Lebanon through 31 August, citing a fragile US-Iran truce and the risk of further military action after a new round of strikes.
- Jul 5
Netanyahu claims Christian villages in southern Lebanon asked to be annexed by Israel
The Israeli prime minister told Fox News that some Christian communities in southern Lebanon have requested protection from Hezbollah by joining Israel, a claim made as Israeli forces remain in a border security zone.
- Jul 5
Twin bombings near Macron's Damascus hotel wound 18; French president presses on with Syria visit
Two improvised bombs detonated near the Four Seasons hotel in Damascus on Tuesday, wounding 18 people including four police officers, as French President Emmanuel Macron began the second day of his landmark visit to Syria. Macron, who had already left for the presidential palace, was unharmed and vowed to continue his trip.
- Jun 29
Israel and Lebanon sign US-mediated framework agreement, but Hezbollah rejects and clashes persist
A trilateral framework agreement signed in Washington aims to end decades of war, but Hezbollah calls it 'null and void' and fighting continues in southern Lebanon.
- Jun 28
Hezbollah rejects Israel-Lebanon pact as Israeli drones strike hours after Washington signing
A framework agreement signed in Washington to end hostilities between Israel and Lebanon was rejected outright by Hezbollah, and Israeli forces struck southern Lebanon within 24 hours.
- Jun 27
US and Iran trade strikes in Strait of Hormuz, ceasefire teeters on its tenth day
Washington and Tehran accused each other of violating a June 17 ceasefire protocol after a commercial vessel was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting US airstrikes on Iranian missile sites and retaliatory strikes by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.
- Jun 27
Hezbollah leader rejects US-brokered Israel-Lebanon deal as 'humiliating, shameful' surrender, Israeli drone strikes south
One day after Lebanon and Israel signed a US-mediated framework agreement to end months of conflict, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem dismissed the deal as humiliating and vowed to continue armed resistance, as an Israeli drone struck southern Lebanon.
- Jun 26
Israel and Lebanon sign framework peace deal but Hezbollah immediately rejects it and new airstrike hits south
A 14-point framework agreement signed in Washington aims to end decades of conflict between Israel and Lebanon, but Hezbollah’s immediate rejection and a fresh Israeli airstrike on Saturday underscore the fragile path ahead.
