Abby Sewell

A retired Lebanese security officer vanishes and his family thinks it was a covert Israeli abduction A retired Lebanese security officer has gone missing and his family says Israeli operatives kidnapped him to get information about a long-missing Israeli airman.

Months before Israel staged a commando operation aimed at finding the remains of a long-disappeared Israeli pilot in Lebanon, a retired Lebanese security officer vanished. His family thinks Israel abducted him as part of the Ron Arad case

Via @bmroue.bsky.social

apnews.com/article/leba...

Evidence suggests the deadly blast at an Iranian school was likely a US airstrike Satellite images and videos of an Iranian girls school damaged by large explosions at the start of a U.S.

Evidence suggests the deadly blast at an Iranian school was likely a US airstrike

Via Julia Frankel

apnews.com/article/iran...

Kurdish Iranian dissidents in Iraq deny attack plans but say they would join a US invasion of Iran Officials with one of the armed Kurdish Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq say they are not planning an imminent cross-border attack on Iran but would join a ground invasion if the U.S. w...

Officials with one of the armed Kurdish Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq told @AP they are not planning an imminent cross-border attack on Iran but would join a ground invasion if the U.S. were to launch one

Via Stella Martany

apnews.com/article/kurd...

Israel strikes Beirut’s southern suburbs after issuing a blanket evacuation order Israel launches strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs after ordering residents to evacuate, as fighting with Hezbollah intensifies.

Israel strikes Beirut’s southern suburbs after issuing a blanket evacuation order

apnews.com/article/leba...

Kurdish dissident groups say they are preparing to join the fight against Iran with US support Kurdish Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq are preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran, and the U.S. has asked Iraqi Kurds to support them, Kurdish officials hav...

Kurdish dissident groups say they are preparing to join the fight against Iran with US support

apnews.com/article/kurd...

Families take shelter in schools as Lebanon’s government calls Hezbollah’s strike on Israel illegal Lebanon is seeing civilians fleeing their homes in the south as Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs and Hezbollah stepped into the the U.S.-Israel war on Iran.

Lebanese civilians fled from the country’s south and from Beirut’s southern suburbs on Monday, seeking refuge in schools in Lebanon’s capital following a new and deadly escalation between Israel and the Iran-allied Lebanese militant group Hezbollah
apnews.com/article/leba...

Blow after blow to the power of Iran and its proxy militias set the stage for US-Israel attacks As Israel unleashed a sweeping military response to the brutal assault by Hamas on October 7, 2023, it aimed punch after punch at Iran, the militant group’s longtime sponsor, and its proxies.

Blow after blow to the power of Iran and its allies and proxies in the region set the stage for US-Israel attacks

apnews.com/article/iran...

Trump says the U.S. has begun 'major combat operations in Iran' President Donald Trump says the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran” after Israel launched strikes.

President Donald Trump says the U.S. has begun “major combat operations in Iran” after Israel launched strikes despite ongoing nuclear talks:

apnews.com/article/iran...

Public rift erupts between son of Iran's last shah and Kurdish Iranian dissidents Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi is clashing with Kurdish Iranian dissident groups, exposing splits in the Iranian opposition.

Public rift erupts between, Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran's last shah, and Kurdish Iranian dissidents

With Stella Martany

apnews.com/article/iran...

Syria's TV dramas are testing Ramadan series' boundaries after Assad's fall Syria's well-known TV dramas are returning to Ramadan screens as the industry tries to rebuild after years of war and the fall of the Assad dynasty.

Ramadan in the Arab world is a time of fasting and prayer, but it brings another beloved tradition: the much-anticipated TV drama series shot each year to be aired during the holy month.

I delved into Syria's TV industry as it seeks its footing in the post-Assad order:

apnews.com/article/syri...

A Kurdish-majority neighborhood in Syria recovers from clashes with hope for the future A month after violent clashes in a Kurdish-majority neighborhood in Syria's Aleppo, tens of thousands of residents have returned.

Kurdish-majority neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsoud in Syria's Aleppo recovers from clashes with hope for the future
apnews.com/article/syri...

Village in southern Lebanon buries a child and father killed in Israeli drone strike Mourners in southern Lebanon have buried a father and his young son killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting a Hezbollah member.

Village in southern Lebanon buries a child and father killed in Israeli drone strike

apnews.com/article/leba...

UN peacekeepers in Lebanon allege surge in Israeli violence toward them U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon say they have faced increased violence from Israeli forces over the past year.

U.N. peacekeepers with UNIFIL patrolling southern Lebanon have faced a dramatic surge of “aggressive behavior” by Israeli forces over the last year, including drone-dropped grenades and machine-gun fire, according to an internal report seen by @apnews.com

apnews.com/article/isra...

Lebanon's relations with Syria have made a dramatic positive shift post-Assad, deputy PM says Lebanon's Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri says relations with Syria have improved significantly since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Lebanon's relations with Syria have made a dramatic positive shift post-Assad, deputy PM Tarek Mitri says

apnews.com/article/leba...

A father awaits Rafah crossing reopening after 2-year separation from family in Gaza Tens of thousands of Palestinians await the reopening of the Rafah crossing into Gaza so they can reunite with family.

Stranded in Egypt for the past two years, Raed Belal has had to watch helplessly as his wife and children in the Gaza Strip endured bombardment, displacement and hunger. Now he finally has hope he might return to them

apnews.com/article/rafa...

A US shift marked Kurdish-led forces' fall from power in Syria The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have fallen from power in Syria as the U.S. shifts its backing to the country's new leaders in Damascus.

After months of stalled negotiations, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces lost most of their territory to a government offensive in a matter of days. They may have miscalculated by counting on U.S. support.

Who's on Trump's Board of Peace and who said no Several countries have said they'll join President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace. A few European nations have declined invitations.

Several countries have said they will sign onto Trump’s Board of Peace, while a few European nations have declined their invitations. Many have not yet responded to Trump’s invites. Here is a tally by The Associated Press on what countries are joining, which are not and which are undecided.

A US shift marked Kurdish-led forces' fall from power in Syria The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces have fallen from power in Syria as the U.S. shifts its backing to the country's new leaders in Damascus.

Analysts say the SDF miscalculated, taking a hard stance in negotiations with the new leaders in Damascus on the assumption that if a military conflict erupted between them, Washington would support the SDF

apnews.com/article/syri...

Kurdish separatist group claims to have mounted ‘armed operations' in Iran to defend protesters A representative of an Iranian Kurdish separatist group in Iraq says the group’s armed wing has launched attacks on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for Tehran's violent crackdown on proteste...

Kurdish separatist group claims to have mounted ‘armed operations' in Iran to defend protesters

With Stella Martany:

apnews.com/article/iran...

US to suspend immigrant visa processing from 75 countries over public assistance concerns The State Department says it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries whose nationals are deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United State...

Syria is on the list but was already under a ban anyway. Lebanon is newly added. Iraq is there as well. (As are many others, clearly, but I'm just naming the ones in my patch. Full list in the story)

US to suspend immigrant visa processing from 75 countries

apnews.com/article/trum...

Kurdish fighters evacuated from Aleppo after days of violent clashes Kurdish fighters have been evacuated from a contested neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria, after days of violent clashes with government forces.

Kurdish fighters evacuated from Aleppo after days of violent clashes

apnews.com/article/alep...

Civilians flee Aleppo as clashes between Syrian government and Kurdish forces escalate Fighting has escalated in Syria's northern city of Aleppo. Tens of thousands fled two Kurdish neighborhoods on Wednesday after the military ordered evacuations amid deadly clashes between government f...

Civilians flee Aleppo as clashes between Syrian government and Kurdish forces escalate
apnews.com/article/syri...

Syrian and Israeli officials set to resume US-mediated talks in Paris Syrian and Israeli officials are set to resume U.S.-mediated talks in Paris, aiming for a security agreement to ease tensions.

Syrian and Israeli officials set to resume US-mediated talks in Paris

apnews.com/article/syri...

List of aid groups working in Gaza that Israel is suspending Israel says it's suspending humanitarian organizations that have failed to meet its new rules to vet international groups working in Gaza.

List of aid groups working in Gaza that Israel is suspending.

They include some of the world’s most prominent and outspoken aid organizations, including Doctors Without Borders:

apnews.com/article/gaza...

Hundreds mourn in Syria's Homs after deadly mosque bombing Hundreds of mourners have gathered outside a mosque in Homs, Syria, after a bombing killed eight people and wounded 18.

Hundreds mourn in Syria's Homs after deadly mosque bombing

apnews.com/article/syri...

Gate of the Sun is like The Brothers Karamazov for me. Every few years I return and read it again and every time I discover something new and different in it

Terribly sad story about the attack on a small congregation in June. Three men died jumping on a suicide bomber. In total, 25 died.

Thana al-Masoud, widow of hero Boutros Bechara: “There’s no holiday, neither this year nor next year nor the one after it."

“Our Lord chose them to be saints."

Syrian church marks Christmas and reaffirms faith months after deadly attack Hundreds of worshippers have gathered at Mar Elias Church in Syria to remember those lost in a suicide attack.

Syrian church marks Christmas and reaffirms faith months after deadly attack

apnews.com/article/syri...

Clashes flare as top Turkish officials visit Syria ahead of a deadline for Kurdish integration Clashes have erupted between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters in the city of Aleppo. This comes as top Turkish officials visited Damascus on Monday to discuss a deal between the government ...

Clashes erupted between Syrian security forces and Kurdish fighters Monday as top Turkish officials visited Damascus ahead of a deadline to implement a deal between the government and the #SDF

apnews.com/article/turk...

Israeli military expansion in Syria raises tensions as they carve out a buffer zone Israel’s military raids and strikes over the past year aiming to carve out a buffer zone in southern Syria have raised tensions, frustrated locals and also appear to have scuttled chances — despite U....

Israeli military raids in Syria raise tensions as they carve out a buffer zone

Via @chehayebk.bsky.social

apnews.com/article/syri...