UN Syria envoy's last Astana meeting ends with mixed results

While the UN envoy to Syria lamented the 11th meeting of the Astana talks as a "failed possibility" to make progress, other participants felt differently about the results.

Jordan

US sanctions unlikely to crack Iran’s support for Syria

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have perfected low-budget warfare; Putin draws his own red line with Israel and Iran; Erdogan’s zero-sum approach to Syrian Kurds.

Israel

Iran’s shift of tactics endangers Israel

Israel Defense Forces are confronted with a new reality in which Hezbollah receives weapons from Iran by air cargo landing in Beirut and not by truck convoys from Syria.

Israel

Lebanese groups work to protect striped hyenas

Misconceptions have led to fear of the striped hyena, the national animal of Lebanon, and the shy creature is often illegally hunted despite the key role it plays in the country's ecosystem.

Lebanon

How Netanyahu outdid his rivals, again

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is the expert in exploiting security threats for political means, which is what he did in his speech after the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman.

Palestine

Syria's political prisoners share stories of abuse on Beirut stage

A play by former political prisoners in Syria is showing audiences the devastating reality of abuse in Middle Eastern jails while offering a kind of therapy for those effected.

Lebanon

Can startups help solve Middle East water crisis?

Young entrepreneurs are coming up with new projects and systems in a bid to cater to the water needs of the populations in the Middle East, where water scarcity could become a problem in the coming decades.

Near East

Intel: What’s behind latest US sanctions and bounties on Hezbollah and Hamas

Lebanon

Portraits of Lebanon’s domestic workers confront social prejudices

Lebanese artist Chaza Charafeddine explores the dreams and discrimination of domestic workers by making them dress up as their heroes.

Lebanon

Lebanon's only carnivorous plant kept safe in private nature preserve

Two decades ago, a restauranteur bought a chunk of unique land that he considered paradise — and now he's discovered just how special it is.

Lebanon

Beirut vendor's growing business bears fruit

The popular store Fadi Fruits, a family business in Beirut, has expanded rapidly over the years with a combination of local and exotic produce.

Lebanon

Israel, Hamas should adopt ‘tacit bargaining’

Much like the tacit bargaining between Israel and Hezbollah following the IDF's 1996 Operation Grapes of Wrath, Israel must now negotiate with Hamas.

Palestine