There were contradictory statements this week as to whether Hezbollah would proceed with an offensive in Qalamoun. An unidentified “security source” told this newspaper, “Hezbollah, after an in-depth military assessment, concluded that there was no need for a costly wide-scale offensive.” Often, a security source means someone from the military, meaning the statement was… اقرأ المزيد
BEIRUT: Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah said Tuesday his fighters would deal with Islamist militant threat on Lebanon’s eastern border but gave no specific details on the location, scope and timing of any military operation. Nasrallah said his party would be taking action as the Lebanese state was incapable of confronting threats from Syria-based jihadis,… اقرأ المزيد
It is tempting but difficult to identify a single dynamic at the level of state and society that explains the many different conflicts across the Arab world. We do not lack candidates for the single answer that explains our messy region: A struggle for the soul of Islam? The end of the modern Arab state?… اقرأ المزيد
The Daily Star BEIRUT: Hezbollah and the Syrian army are unlikely to launch an all-out offensive against Islamist militants based in the Qalamoun region, but are determined to cut off all access ISIS and the Nusra Front might have to any towns in Lebanon or Syria, security sources said Monday. “Hezbollah, after an in-depth military… اقرأ المزيد
Hasan Lakkis| The Daily Star BEIRUT: Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah has thrown his weight behind MP Michel Aoun’s demand for the appointment of new security and military chiefs, implicitly rejecting attempts to renew the mandate of the Army and police commanders, sources close to the Free Patriotic Movement head said Sunday. The agreement over… اقرأ المزيد
| The Daily Star U.S. and Iranian officials have been insisting the last several years that they wanted to resolve the nuclear issue before discussing the sectarian wars that are raging across the Middle East. Not anymore. As the battles have escalated in recent months, so has talk about regional diplomacy. The interest in peace… اقرأ المزيد