Syria
Syria and Israel to hold rare talks in Baku
In a surprising development, senior officials from Syria and Israel are expected to meet Saturday on the sidelines of a visit by Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Shaarah, to Azerbaijan.
US intelligence: Without Gaza deal large-scale war coming between Hezbollah, Israel
1 min Mena Today
US intelligence estimates that a large-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is expected to break out in the coming weeks if a cease-fire agreement is not reached between Israel and Hamas.
U.S. officials are working to try to convince both sides not to escalate the situation © Mena Today
US intelligence estimates that a large-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is expected to break out in the coming weeks if a cease-fire agreement is not reached between Israel and Hamas, Politico reported on Thursday, in the wake of the announcement by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut which it suggests that American citizens "reconsider" travel to Lebanon.
U.S. officials are working to try to convince both sides not to escalate the situation, and estimate that this task will be simpler if there is an agreement to calm Israel's southern border.
But it is not certain that an agreement will be reached based on the proposal that is on the table.
Meanwhile, according to two senior U.S. officials, the IDF and Hezbollah have already prepared combat plans and are working to obtain weapons and ammunition in preparation for a possible conflict.
Another senior official in the Biden administration estimated that "the risk of war at this time is the highest in recent weeks."
Related
Iran
Iran says it will work with IAEA but inspections may be risky
Iran plans to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog despite restrictions imposed by its parliament, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday, while stressing that access to its bombed nuclear sites posed security and safety issues.
Gaza
Doha negotiations deadlocked: Hamas refuses to shift
Talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza are stalling over the extent of Israeli forces' withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave, Palestinian and Israeli sources familiar with the negotiations in Doha said on Saturday.
Subscribe to our newsletter
