Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran threatens Europe Iran threatened Wednesday to strike US bases in Europe and elsewhere beyond the Middle East if attacks resume on the Islamic Republic as mediators work to de-escalate the war. By Gabrielle Debinski In New York City, reporting on the Middle East
France, US push rival UNIFIL plans ahead of Lebanon mandate expiry With the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon due to expire in six weeks, France and the United States are advancing sharply different proposals for the country's future after UNIFIL's departure. Israel
Lebanon detains Hezbollah members as PM pledges end to impunity Concerns about internal strife are growing amid tensions between Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah. Lebanon
Lebanon’s AI ambitions face classroom test AI and technology proficiencies are needed to boost the country's economic growth, but as the education system struggles, student reliance on chatbots for learning is growing. Lebanon
Parliament Speaker Key to Lebanese Electoral Law Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri remains a critical player in Lebanese politics, including whether there will be passage of an electoral law, writes Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Hezbollah Says External Pressures Forced the Mikati Resignation Sources close to Hezbollah consider the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Mikati to be the result of pressure from outisde powers, writes Nasser Chararah. Lebanon
Arab League Summit Is About More Than Syria The Arab League summit dealt not only with the controversial issue of seating the Syrian opposition, but also with Arab citizenship and civil society, writes Clovis Maksoud. Lebanon
What Lebanon's Mikati Lacked To Succeed as Prime Minister Hadi Fathallah examines Najib Mikati's resignation as Lebanon's prime minister, where he failed in the job, and what he needs to succeed should he return. Lebanon
It's Time to Dust Off Arab Peace Initiative According to Nassif Hitti, the Arab Peace Initiative is the most comprehensive initiative in addressing the Arab-Israeli conflict. Lebanon
Tripoli: A Powder Keg of Fundamentalism The northern Lebanese city of Tripoli has been severely affected by the conflict in neighboring Syria, with heightened sectarian tensions threatening an outbreak of civil war, writes Jean Aziz. Lebanon
President Obama’s Visit: One Clear Outcome Israel is not an occupying power but a conquering one; this became clear when it was implied that previous negotiations were a “cover-up” to reach the current status quo, writes Clovis Maksoud. Lebanon
Lebanon Premier's Resignation Exposes Lebanon to Instability Lebanon's prime minister has resigned after two difficult years in office, opening the door to further instability in the country, writes Ali Hashem. Lebanon
Mikati’s Resignation Puts Lebanon At a Crossroads After two prior threats to quit, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati resigned, leaving Lebanon with its third power vacuum in 25 years, writes Jean Aziz Lebanon
Mikati Bites The Bullet, Resigns Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced his resignation, in a move many attribute to his government's inability to hold parliamentary elections on schedule, writes Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Lebanon: Syria War Spreads to Arsal The Lebanese government is concerned over the northern Lebanese town of Arsal’s becoming a futher target of Syrian government attacks, writes Elie Hajj. Lebanon
Lebanon Must Isolate Itself From Syria Crisis The competing Lebanese coalitions must consolidate their current policy of self-distancing from the crisis in Syria to avoid being dragged into the civil war and to prevent the war from exacerbating sectarian tensions and politics in Lebanon, writes Nassif Hitti. Lebanon