Mena Today

Lebanon, once known as the “Switzerland of the Middle East,” has been grappling with profound political, economic, and social challenges in recent decades. 

Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem said in comments broadcast on Tuesday that his movement supports efforts to reach a ceasefire for Lebanon, but for the first time omitted any mention of a Gaza truce deal as a pre-condition to halting the group's fire on Israel.

Israel's military said on Tuesday it had begun ground operations in southwest Lebanon, expanding its incursions to a new zone a year after exchanges of fire began with armed group Hezbollah and amid pleas by the U.N. for a diplomatic solution.

Air France has announced an extension of its suspension of flights between Paris and Tel Aviv until October 15, and between Paris and Beirut until October 26, due to ongoing security concerns in the region. A spokesperson for the airline confirmed the decision on Monday, citing the uncertain situation in the Middle East.

Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal said the Palestinian group would rise "like a phoenix" from the ashes despite heavy losses during a year of war with Israel, and that it continues to recruit fighters and manufacture weapons.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati presided over a crucial meeting on Monday focused on strengthening security at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport (AIB). The discussion centered on addressing potential security gaps at the airport, a vital hub for Lebanon’s connectivity with the world.

Centrist and center-right parties won city halls and consolidated control of town councils across Brazil in Sunday's municipal elections, underscoring a conservative shift in the country's electorate as the ruling Workers Party lost ground.

The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on an international Hamas fundraising network, accusing it of playing a critical role in external fundraising for the Palestinian militant group, in action marking the first anniversary of the Gaza war.

On October 6, King Abdullah II of Jordan welcomed King Felipe VI of Spain as the two nations celebrated a significant milestone in their longstanding relationship.

Israel's security cannot be guaranteed with military force alone and will require a diplomatic solution, France's foreign minister said on Monday, and Paris would continue efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Lebanon.

To mark the first anniversary of the pogrom carried out by Hamas in the northwestern Negev (1,200 dead, 250 hostages—the largest attack against Jews since the Holocaust), Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the Far Left party “La France Insoumise” (Indomitable France) found nothing better than to call for flying the Palestinian colors. 

This week marks a somber anniversary in Israel, as the nation mourns the massacre of 1,200 civilians—men, women, children, and infants—carried out by Hamas. In addition, hundreds of innocent individuals were kidnapped.