Lebanon news stories on Newser

Syrian Violence Spills Into Lebanon

Kevin Spak — Mon, 21 May 2012 12:33:12 CDT

Don't look now, but the Syrian conflict might not be confined to Syria anymore. Gun battles broke out in Beirut today between factions supporting and opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the New York Times reports, in Lebanon's most intense outbreak of violence since the Syrian uprising began. The fighting...

Syria Studding Refugee Routes With Mines

Kevin Spak — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 07:04:30 CDT

Earlier reports accused Syria of planting landmines along its Lebanese border, and according to witnesses, the practice shows no sign of waning. Mines are being placed along the routes refugees typically use to flee into neighboring Lebanon and Turkey, Human Rights Watch said today, citing eyewitness reports. One former Syrian...

Trapped French Journalists Escape Syria

Matt Cantor — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 06:31:00 CST

After being trapped for more than a week in Homs, a pair of French journalists have been smuggled out of Syria. "Edith Bouvier and William Daniels are currently safe on Lebanese territory and will within moments be under the protection of our embassy in Beirut," Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters, according...

CIA Spies Captured in Middle East

Matt Cantor — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:47:05 CST

More than a dozen CIA spies have been caught in Lebanon and Iran over the last six months, and the US worries they’ll be executed—or already have been. "If they were genuine spies, spying against Hezbollah, I don't think we'll ever see them again," an ex-CIA officer tells ABC...

As People Try to Flee, Syria Plants Mines Along Border

Kevin Spak — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:25:05 CDT

Syria is burying landmines along its border with Lebanon in what one official says is an effort to deter arms trafficking—but which the AP notes comes amidst an exodus of refugees fleeing the country to avoid the regime's violent crackdown on dissent. "Syria has undertaken many measures to control...

Only 10% of Arab World Likes Obama

Kevin Spak — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:36:40 CDT

You know President Obama’s plan to reach out and win hearts and minds in the Middle East? It’s not going well. In a stunning new Pew Poll spotted by Glenn Greenwald of Salon , only 10% of residents in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates said they...

Gaga Album Banned in Lebanon

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:40:05 CDT

Lady Gaga's new album has had insane sales , but apparently not in Lebanon, the Sun reports. The Middle Eastern country banned Born This Way from its stores and impounded a shipment of the album. The government, which had already banned her song "Judas" from the radio, reportedly finds the album...

Ohio Couple Pleads Guilty in Terror Funding Case

Mon, 23 May 2011 12:39:05 CDT

An Ohio husband and wife pleaded guilty today to charges that they plotted to help finance a Mideast terrorist group, under a deal that spares them from potential life sentences. Hor and Amera Akl, dual citizens of the US and Lebanon, were arrested in June 2010 after authorities said an...

Egypt Forces Clash With Pro-Palestinian Protesters

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 16 May 2011 01:20:50 CDT

Egyptian police fired live ammo and tear gas at pro-Palestinian protesters today as violence continued following yesterday's clashes at Israel's borders. More than 350 protesters were injured, one critically, outside the Israeli embassy in Cairo, AP reports. At least 16 people were killed yesterday when Israeli troops opened fire in...