Beirut

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In Beirut, Clinton Reassures About US Overtures to Syria

Election could see pro-US gov't ousted from Lebanon

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton reassured the Lebanese people today that Washington supports "voices of moderation" and will never make a deal with Syria that undermines the country's interests. Clinton spoke on a surprise visit to Beirut ahead of a critical June 7 election that could see the pro-US Lebanese government ousted...

Divisive Camps Square Off in Lebanon Vote
Divisive Camps
Square Off in
Lebanon Vote
ANALYSIS

Divisive Camps Square Off in Lebanon Vote

One pushes liberal economy, the other Islamic militancy

(Newser) - Hezbollah is inching towards greater control in Lebanon as the nation gears up for June’s parliamentary elections. The Shiite group, which favors spurning the West and resisting Israel with arms, is in a minority coalition, but winning a handful of seats could change that, GlobalPost reports. Its opposition, led...

Slate Scribe Gets in Syrian Street Brawl

Hitchens, two others jumped during junket

(Newser) - Three journalists—including columnist and author Christopher Hitchens—were jumped by thugs during a press junket in Beirut, reports Lawrence Osborne in a column for Forbes. Hitchens “rather gallantly insulted the swastika flag” of a “Syria-loving skinhead party called the SSNP” by scrawling an obscenity on it. He...

Freed Militants Vow to Continue Fight With Israel

Fighters aim to follow steps of 'martyred' Hezbollah leader

(Newser) - A day after being freed in a prisoner exchange, Hezbollah fighters vowed to continue to fight Israel as they prayed at the grave of a fallen commander, the AP reports. “At this moment, I am yearning more than before to confront them,” Samir Qantar, who had been jailed...

Freed Terrorists Enjoy Hero's Welcome

Hezbollah brass band greets child killer released after nearly 30 years

(Newser) - Freed terrorist Samir Qantar, who bludgeoned a 4-year-old child to death with the butt of his rifle in a raid on an Israeli community, was given a red-carpet and rose-petals hero's welcome yesterday by Lebanese president Michel Suleiman and Hezbollah leaders, reports the Times of London. Qantar, who has been...

Lebanon Picks Prez, Ends 6-Month Crisis

But foreign policy, Hezbollah arsenal still divide nation

(Newser) - Lebanon elected its first leader in 6 months today by naming Gen. Michel Suleiman as president, the Washington Post reports. Fireworks filled the sky to a chorus of car honks after Suleiman secured the post with a near-unanimous 118 of 127 parliamentary votes. But the nation remains torn between US-Saudi...

Lebanon Pays High Price to Avert Civil War
Lebanon Pays High Price to Avert Civil War
ANALYSIS

Lebanon Pays High Price to Avert Civil War

Deal achieves short-term peace, but strengthens Hezbollah

(Newser) - The agreement that ended Lebanon's 18-month political crisis is nothing less than a sea change for the country, writes the Washington Post, strengthening Hezbollah and dealing a blow to America and its Middle East allies. The US-backed government in Beirut said that the last-minute deal averted a civil war, but...

Deal Brings Lebanon Thaw, Promise to Talk

Opposition clears roadblocks; Beirut airport reopens

(Newser) - As Beirut International Airport welcomed the first commercial flights in a week, the Arab League announced today a deal that would end the worst fighting in Lebanon since the civil war and lead to talks aimed at ending the 18-month political crisis, Reuters reports. The talks, set for tomorrow in...

Hezbollah Pulling Gunmen From Beirut

Political group wins concessions from neutral Lebanese army

(Newser) - Hezbollah began withdrawing gunmen today from Beirut after winning concessions from the Lebanese army to overturn the government measures that sparked days of fierce fighting. The army, a neutral player in the ongoing struggle between the insurgent political group and the Western-backed government, said it would reinstate Beirut airport’s...

Lebanon Condemns 'Armed Coup'
 Lebanon Condemns
 'Armed Coup' 
UPDATED

Lebanon Condemns 'Armed Coup'

Hezbollah doing bidding of Syria, Iran in Beirut firestorm, government claims

(Newser) - Hezbollah’s takeover of Beirut is nothing less than an “armed coup,” Lebanon’s ruling party said today. “The armed and bloody coup which is being implemented aims to return Syria to Lebanon and extend Iran's reach to the Mediterranean,” one official in the US-backed government...

Hezbollah Seizes Muslim Beirut
 Hezbollah Seizes Muslim Beirut 

Hezbollah Seizes Muslim Beirut

Major blow to US-backed government

(Newser) - Hezbollah militants have taken control of Muslim areas of Beirut and now control all the roads to the Lebanese capital's airport, Reuters reports. Gunmen forced a pro-government TV station off the air. At least 11 people have been killed, including those trying to flee the city, as sectarian violence continued...

Pope Appeals for Lebanon Peace
Pope Appeals for Lebanon Peace

Pope Appeals for Lebanon Peace

Pontiff calls for end to infighting, election of 'president for all'

(Newser) - Pope Benedict XVI expressed concern today over the escalating tensions in Lebanon, calling on its people to find a “president for all Lebanese” to end the months of infighting that have stalled elections. After his noontime blessing, the pontiff told the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square that...

Deadly Violence Erupts in Beirut
Deadly Violence Erupts in Beirut

Deadly Violence Erupts in Beirut

Riots, gun battles in Hezbollah districts

(Newser) - Street protests over power cuts erupted yesterday into deadly violence in Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut with several people killed or wounded—some by sniper fire—as youths torched cars. The Lebanese army mobilized to stop the violence from spreading to Sunni and Christian neighborhoods, reports AFP.  Fears of more...

Beirut Car Bomb Kills 7
Beirut Car Bomb Kills 7

Beirut Car Bomb Kills 7

Police captain among victims in Christian suburb of Lebanese capital

(Newser) - At least seven people are dead and more injured after what appeared to be a car bomb ripped through a Christian suburb of Beirut this morning. Lebanese TV showed footage of a black crater surrounded by burning, mangled vehicles. One of the victims was a captain in the country's police...

Beirut Blast Rips US Car, Kills 4
Beirut Blast Rips US Car, Kills 4

Beirut Blast Rips US Car, Kills 4

At least 19 wounded in latest in spate of attacks on Western targets

(Newser) - An explosion blasted a US embassy car just north of Beirut today, killing at least four in a predominantly Christian neighborhood, CNN reports. It was unclear whether the car was the target of the blast or tripped a roadside bomb. The driver of the US vehicle was injured, as were...

Lebanese General Killed in Blast
Lebanese General Killed in Blast

Lebanese General Killed in Blast

Death of official about to head army could jeopardize presidential deal

(Newser) - An explosion outside of the Lebanese presidential palace near Beirut has killed at least four people, including a prominent general. Gen. Francois al-Hajj had been slated to become army chief if the current leader, Michel Suleiman, becomes president. The army believes that the bomb was a coordinated attack on Hajj,...

Lebanon PM Tries to Ease Fears of Unrest

He takes control as nation begins stretch without president

(Newser) - Lebanon's PM called for calm today and said his cabinet would run the nation while it remains without a president, Reuters reports. Fouad Siniora also pledged to push for quick elections. The developments come a day after President Emile Lahoud's term ended without a successor in place. Siniora rejected Lahoud's...

Car Bomb Kills Lawmaker in Lebanon
Car Bomb Kills Lawmaker in Lebanon

Car Bomb Kills Lawmaker in Lebanon

Anti-Syrian MP among victims of massive pre-election blast

(Newser) - Anti-Syrian lawmaker Antoine Ghanem was one of at least seven people killed by a car bomb in Beirut today, just days before Lebanon’s parliament is set to select a successor to pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud. Ghanem was a member of an anti-Syrian governing coalition, which has been locked in...

Iran Scoffs at Paying $2.65B for Bombing

Tehran hints at countersuit in Beirut barracks case

(Newser) - Iran reacted to a federal court ruling today by scoffing at paying a $2.65 billion penalty for its alleged role in a 1983 bombing, the AP reports. "The American judge's ruling is baseless," a spokesman said of yesterday's decision. "This ruling against Iran is politically motivated....

Judge Fines Iran $2.65B for '83 Blast in Beirut

Families of 241 slain servicemen awarded record amount

(Newser) - A federal judge ruled today that Iran must pay $2.65 billion to the families of the 241 Americans killed in the 1983 suicide bombing of a Marine barracks in Beirut. Iran allegedly supported Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which claimed responsibility for the attack. The judge called the judgment the...

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