Lebanon

Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — At least 41 people were killed and nearly 200 injured in two suicide bombs targeting a Hezbollah stronghold in the south of the Lebanese capital of Beirut, according to local news reports. Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk said initial reports indicated that two suicide bombers blew […]

Displaced and Refugees

Over 1 mn. Syrian Refugees in Lebanon fear Unrest will Expel them Again

contributors

RT | (Video News Report) – – “More than a million Syrian refugees feel unwelcome guests in Lebanon, where anti-government protests are only worsening. Many fear the Syrian scenario may repeat there and they will have to flee again.” RT: “Syrian refugees in Lebanon fear fleeing unrest again, may head to Europe”

Lebanon

“You Stink!” Movement Gives Lebanese Gov’t 72 Hours to Meet Protesters Demands

contributors

By Amira Al Hussaini | (Global Voices Online) | – – Lebanese protesters at Martyrs’ Square in Beirut earlier today. Photo credit: You Stink Movement official Facebook page Lebanese protesters today gave the government a 72 hour ultimatum to meet their demands or face further protests on Tuesday. The demands include the resignation of Environment […]

Corruption

Youth Revolts are back– Lebanon, Iraq Shaken by demand for Services, end to Corruption

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The master narrative of much Western journalism is that the youth protests of 2011 have been replaced by civil war and terrorism. But while there is plenty of both in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Libya, in fact here and there in the region youth protests have […]

Bahrain

Iran’s Khamenei Praises Nuclear Deal, but slams US Foreign Policy

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s clerical Leader, appeared to be attempting to mollify hard liners on Friday in his Friday prayers addresses. On the one hand, he praised the negotiators at Vienna who in long and arduous negotiations crafted the deal on Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. He […]

Children

Wars targeting Children: 20 mn Homeless, 300K Conscripted & now Mass Abductions by ISIL

contributors

By Beatriz Ciordia | (Inter Press Service) | – – UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – Whether in Palestine, Ukraine or Somalia, wars result in millions of children threatened by the brutality of armed conflict. The numbers speak for themselves: more than 300,000 child soldiers are currently exploited in situations of armed conflict and six million children […]

journalism

The #SaudiCables reveal how Money Controls Media, Politicians & … MTV?

contributors

By Mohamed Hassan | ( Global Voices Online) | – – The half million leaked cables to be released about Saudi Arabia’s foreign policy by WikiLeaks, which have sparked debates across the Gulf’s social media, offer an invaluable insight into the kingdom’s foreign policy. The information in the leaked cables range from issues with visas […]

Bashar al-Assad

Are the Houthis in Yemen really Iranian “Proxies”? What does that even Mean?

contributors

By Ari Heistein | (Informed Comment) — A 2014 al-Monitor headline declared “Yemen’s Houthis Proxy, not Ally for Iran” but then neglected to explain the difference. It is certainly unlikely that the Iranian-Houthi relationship is as strong as the U.S.-Israel or U.S.-Saudi relationship. Why then are the Houthis Iranian proxies but Israel and Saudi Arabia […]

Bashar al-Assad

Hizbullah, Syrian Army push back al-Qaeda in Qalamoun as Christian militia mobilizes

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – Smarting from a string of losses, the proregime coalition of Hizbullah and the Syrian Arab Army is looking for some victories against the al-Qaeda-linked Support Front (Jabhat al-Nusra). They seek them in the Qalamoun mountain range near the Lebanese-Syrian border, where Hizbullah was victorious last year this […]