As the Lebanese army continues to pound Fatah al-Islam positions at the Nahr el Bared refugee camp, fighting also broke out June 3 with a second Islamist faction, Jund al-Sham, at Ein al-Helweh, Lebanon’s largest refugee camp. Mediators from other… Read moreLebanon: new front opens at Ein al-Helweh refugee camp
Artillery shelling against the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon resumed on Friday, as fighting broke out between the army and Fatah al-Islam fighters. As tanks surrounded the camp, artillery struck the north and north-west entrances of the camp,… Read moreLebanese army resumes bombardment
From the Chinese news agency, Xinhua, June 1: Israeli army fire kills two children in northern Gaza GAZA — Israeli soldiers stationed in northern Gaza Strip shot dead on Friday afternoon two Palestinian children, paramedics and eyewitnesses said. The witnesses… Read moreIsraeli forces kill two children in occupied Gaza Strip
The United States has sped up its commitment of military aid to the Lebanese army. Three out of a proposed eight military supply planes have arrived in Beirut thus far. The steps are designed to bolster efforts to dislodge Fatah… Read moreUS steps up military support for Lebanon
Israeli fighter jets carried out an air strike in close proximity to the Gaza residence of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya on [May 24], yet Israeli officials have insisted that Haniya was not the intended target. Another strike leveled the… Read moreIsraeli air strike near Haniya residence
Fighting has resumed at Lebanon’s Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, where authorities are demanding that Fatah al-Islam lay down arms and turn over its leaders. Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr said the group has two choices: “Surrender or the army will… Read moreLebanon crisis escalates
Thirty-three senior Hamas officials have been arrested by the Israel Defence Force (IDF). Among those detained were legislators, mayors and even the Education Minister, Nasser Shaer. [Haaretz, May 24]. Overnight, Israeli Air Force fighter jets targeted Palestinian money exchanges accused… Read moreIsrael detains senior Hamas officials
Syria distanced itself May 22 from the Islamist militants battling Lebanese army troops for control of Tripoli’s Nahr al-Bared refugee camp. “We renounce Fatah al-Islam,” said Foreign Minister Walid Muallem. “Members of the group are wanted by the Syrian security… Read moreLebanon: Syria or al-Qaeda behind Fatah al-Islam?
Patriarch Alexy II, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, gave Russian President Vladimir Putin an icon May 17, as a token of appreciation for his contribution to the unification of the Moscow-based Church and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside… Read moreRussian Orthodox reunification: more fodder for West Bank conflict?
Gunmen climbed down from rooftop positions in Gaza late May 19, as Hamas and Fatah leaders agreed to end a week of factional bloodshed in in response to new Israeli airstrikes on the Strip. May 19 marked a fifth day… Read moreGaza: Israeli airstrikes bring Palestinian truce
Lebanese security forces fought militants linked to al-Qaeda in the northern city of Tripoli and at the adjacent Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared early May 20, leaving at least 10 dead, including four police. Witnesses said gunmen from the… Read moreLebanon: army clashes with al-Qaeda?
An Israeli airstrike targeting a minivan supposedly carrying a Hamas fighter in northern Gaza City killed three people and wounded 12 on May 18. Israeli tanks also fired five shells near a housing project in the northern Gaza town of… Read moreGaza: towards re-occupation?
