The United Nations Security Council has unanimously approved an extension of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon’s (UNIFIL) mandate, allowing the military peacekeeping force to continue operating in southern Lebanon between the Litani River and the Israeli border. The vote, which saw all 15 member states in favor, highlights the international community's continued reliance on UNIFIL as a tool for maintaining a fragile peace in a region that has been repeatedly destabilized by Hezbollah's military actions and blatant violations of UN resolutions.

29 August 2024

Read more: UN Extends UNIFIL Mandate Despite Its Inability to Enforce Resolutions

than fear, Hezbollah's much-hyped "retaliation" against Israel has been reduced to nothing more than a punchline across the Arab world. The militant group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, had promised a significant and symbolic strike following the death of their military commander, Fuad Shukr, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike. Yet, instead of a powerful response that would shake the region, Hezbollah's attack on Sunday morning resulted in little more than damage to a few houses—and a chicken coop in the quiet Israeli Moshav of Ramot Naftali.

26 August 2024

Read more: See It: Hezbollah's Rocket Hits Chicken Coop, Sparking Arab Social Media Mockery

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarked on his ninth diplomatic mission to the Middle East since the fateful day of October 7th, when Hamas unleashed a devastating cross-border assault on Israel, igniting the ongoing conflict that has since gripped the region. Blinken’s latest journey commenced in Israel, a nation still reeling from the brutal attacks, where he secured a pivotal agreement from the Israeli government on a U.S.-proposed "bridging proposal" aimed at ceasing the hostilities between Israel and Hamas. This proposal represents a delicate compromise, forged from the differing responses of Israel and Hamas to initial U.S. peace efforts first introduced in May.

20 August 2024

Read more: Blinken Pivots To Hamas After Israel Gives Nod To US Hostage Proposal

According to a report out of Lebanon, it was a major security breach within Hezbollah’s internal communications network that led to the assassination of one of its most secretive and influential commanders, Fuad Shukr. The Wall Street Journal reports that Shukr, a figure who had successfully evaded U.S. authorities for over four decades, was killed in a precision Israeli airstrike in Beirut at the end of July, marking a significant blow to the Iran-backed militant group.

18 August 2024

Read more: Report: Israel Lured Hezbollah Commander To His Death With A Phone Call

For over a week, Israel has been on high alert, bracing for what many believe to be an imminent and severe attack from Iran that former President Donald Trump believes would not be happening if he was still in the White House. The anxiety Israelis are feeling stems from the recent elimination of an Iranian general in Damascus, setting off a chain of aggressive responses from Tehran. Following the general's killing, Iran took 13 days to meticulously plan and execute an attack on Israel, launching a formidable arsenal of hundreds of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Thanks to the robust defense systems and the concerted efforts of Israel and its coalition of allies, nearly all these threats were successfully intercepted.

13 August 2024

Read more: As Israelis Wait For Iran Attack, Trump Says "Weak" US Administration To Blame