UN Security Council extends peacekeeping mission in Lebanon

The U.N. Security Council has extended the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) for another year, saying the situation there remains a threat to international peace and security.

The council on Tuesday praised the role of the U.N. peacekeeping force, which is deployed with the Lebanese Armed Forces. (more…)

U.S. Sanctions Syrian Foreign Minister and Assad Adviser

The Obama administration sanctioned two of Syria’s main interlocutors with the West, intensifying U.S. efforts to isolate President Bashar al-Assad for his regime’s bloody crackdown on political dissent. (more…)

Japan’s Parliament Selects New PM

Japan’s parliament has elected a new prime minister. The fiscal conservative of the governing left-of-center party appears to have little support among the public.

There was never any doubt about the outcome after the majority Democrats selected Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda as their new party president. (more…)

Eid protests across Syria defy tanks, troops

Security forces shot dead four demonstrators on Tuesday as people streamed out of mosques after prayers to mark the end of Ramadan and renewed protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, activists and residents said. (more…)

Tuesday is Eid al-Fitr

Al-Arabiya reported that Saudi Al-Ikhbariya news agency reported that the moon crescent signaling Eid al-Fitr was spotted (more…)

Syrian forces kill six as Russian envoy visits

Syrian security forces killed six people on Monday, activists said as a Russian envoy visited Damascus and the EU agreed to ban oil imports from the country over its brutal crackdown on protesters. A child was among five people killed (more…)

Tens of Syrian refugees flee unrest into Lebanon

Several Syrian refugees, including one suffering gunshot wounds, poured into northern Lebanon on Monday from the border town of Hitt, as shooting was heard and smoke billowed across the border. (more…)

Syrian-issued Visa, MasterCard credit cards blocked

Syrians in the UAE have been left stranded after Visa and Mastercard blocked all credit cards issued by Syrian banks. (more…)

Will Hezbollah desert Assad before the end?

External pressure is building on President Bashar al-Assad. Along with the EU and US, key regional actors including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have taken steps to distance themselves from the faltering Syrian regime. Further, as Meir Javedanfar argues on this site, the Iranian clerical leadership will only support Assad to the degree that this support serves their ongoing Islamic revolution. (more…)

Syrian opposition leaders banned from travel, report

Three prominent Syrian opposition figures were prevented by border officials from leaving the country on Sunday as they tried to cross into Lebanon, one of the three men said.

Fayez Sara said they had planned to travel to Beirut (more…)