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Rebel forces claim Aleppo: ‘Preoccupied’ Russia and ‘weakened’ Iran offered ‘window of opportunity’

A preoccupied Russia and a weakened Iran – the principal backers of President Assad’s regime – have provided rebel groups in Syria with the opportunity to launch a lightening offensive on Syria’s second biggest city and capturing large parts of Aleppo. F

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Rebel forces claim Aleppo: Strategic timing of Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire

Rebel forces have taken control of large parts of Aleppo, Syria's second biggest city, after launching a surprise attack since Wednesday. The lightening assault led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions was years in the making, FRANCE 24’s Wa

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Live: Gaza rescuers say three aid workers killed in Israeli airstrike

Gaza rescuers said three aid workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis on Saturday that the Israeli military said targeted a "terrorist" involved in the October 7 Hamas attacks. Israel said it also struck Hezbollah weapons smuggling site

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Rebel forces claim Aleppo: HTS capitalised on 'popular discontent', expert says

Rebel forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad – mainly composed of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied factions – have launched their biggest offensive in years this week, controlling a majority of Syria's second city of Aleppo according to a monitor

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Returning residents seek to rebuild homes and businesses in Lebanon

Returning people have been taking stock of devastation across wide areas of Lebanon hammered by Israeli attacks - from Beirut's southern suburbs to the southern border region and the Bekaa Valley since Israel and Hezbollah ceased fire on Wednesday. In Na

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Live: Hamas releases Gaza hostage video as Israeli strike kills aid workers

Hamas's armed wing published a video Saturday of an American-Israeli hostage held in Gaza, in which he pleads for US President-elect Donald Trump to secure his release. Earlier, the US-based charity World Central Kitchen paused its Gaza operations after

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Rebel forces claim control of Syria's city of Aleppo

A monitor of Syria's war said on Saturday that jihadist rebels now control a majority of Aleppo city, reporting Russian air strikes on parts of Syria's second city for the first time since 2016. The rebels have pressed a lightning offensive against force

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Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo in major setback for Assad regime

Syrian insurgents led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham captured most of Aleppo on Saturday, in the biggest challenge to President Bashar al-Assad's authority in years. The Syrian army said its forces had redeployed and were preparing f

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Rebels take control of Aleppo: ‘Total collapse’ of Syrian regime, specialist says

Rebel forces opposing President Bashar al-Assad have launched their biggest offensive in years this week, controlling a majority of Syria's second city of Aleppo according to a monitor. The opposition forces' who managed to capture large parts of Aleppo

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Yesterday

Islamic rebel forces breach Syria's second largest city

Islamic rebel forces and Turkish-backed allies reached Syria's second city of Aleppo Friday, as they pressed a lightning offensive against forces of the Iranian- and Russian-backed government. The fighting is some of the deadliest in years, with 255 peop

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Returning Lebanese find destroyed homes and razed neighbourhoods among rubble

In Lebanon, thousands of displaced people began returning to their homes this week after a ceasefire was announced between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group. Many found their homes reduced to rubble after intense Israeli airstrikes over the past tw

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Jihadists and allies reach Syria's second city of Aleppo as deadly campaign continues

Syrian jihadists and their Turkish-backed allies reached the country's second city of Aleppo on Friday as they pushed ahead with their lightning advance. The rebels have seized more than 50 towns and villages in northern Syria, according to a monitoring

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Hezbollah chief hails ‘great victory’ in first address since ceasefire

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem on Friday declared a "great victory" against Israel in his first speech since a ceasefire went into effect in Lebanon earlier this week. Four Israeli tanks earlier Friday entered the western side of the Lebanese border village

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Thursday, november 28, 2024

Syrian jihadists and their allies cut off key highway as escalating violence kills around 200

Syrian jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and their allied factions cut access on Thursday to the key highway linking Damascus to Aleppo as part of an offensive that has led to the deaths of nearly 200 people, including civilians. A day earlier, t

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After Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire: Too soon to call it de-escalation?

Is it a mere lull? Or the first time in more than a year, can the Middle East point to genuine de-escalation? We ask about the timing of guns going mostly silent in Lebanon after both Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire. A ceasefire; n

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Why Israel and Hezbollah's fragile ceasefire may already be faltering

Hezbollah and Israel traded accusations of ceasefire violations on Thursday, just a day after a US-brokered truce aimed at ending months of conflict took effect. While the agreement initially garnered international praise, experts warn of significant cha

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Did France backtrack on Netanyahu arrest warrant in exchange for Israel-Lebanon ceasefire?

PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, November 28: The French government's revelation that it may not enforce the ICC arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu draws ire in the press. Some dailies wonder if this "about face" was a requirement in order for France to broke

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Live: Israel, Hezbollah accuse each other of violating ceasefire

Hezbollah accused Israel Thursday of attacking people returning to border villages, with Israel's military saying it had opened fire on an arrival of "suspects" detected in several areas in southern Lebanon – a violation, it said, of the ceasefire declar

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More than 130 killed as Syrian rebels seize territory from army in Aleppo province

Syrian rebels on Wednesday launched a massive offensive against the Syrian regime in Aleppo province, making the first territorial gains since a ceasefire came into force in 2020, army and rebel sources said. More than 130 have been killed in the fightin

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Wednesday, november 27, 2024

France says Netanyahu is 'immune' to the ICC's arrest warrant. We did a legal deep dive

The French government has claimed Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has immunity from the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for war crimes – on the grounds that Israel isn't an ICC member. This position has garnered criticism, in cont

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UN Resolution 1701 is the linchpin of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. Will it hold?

The ceasefire deal agreed to by Lebanon and Israel aims to reinvigorate a UN Security Council resolution adopted in 2006 after a previous war between Hezbollah and Israel. Observers say that circumstances are now more complicated than they were nearly tw

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As ceasefire begins, a look back at the Israel-Hezbollah conflict

Israel and the Lebanese based militant group Hezbollah have reached a ceasefire agreement. The two sides have been exchanging fire for more than a year, but in the past two months the conflict escalated greatly when Israel launched aggressive air and gro

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'Diplomacy finally gets a win': Papers react to ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah

PRESS REVIEW – Wednesday, November 27: We look at reactions and analysis as an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal is agreed. The local and international press ponder if peace will be long lasting and what the deal means for the war in Gaza.

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REPLAY: Netanyahu says he supports proposed Lebanon ceasefire in address to nation

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Tuesday recommended his cabinet approve a US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting linked to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. Wat

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Israeli military imposes restrictions on nighttime movement in south Lebanon

The Israeli army announced restrictions Wednesday on people's movements in south Lebanon after dark, hours after a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect. The army will also bar them from returning to villages it has ordered evacuated, a military spokesper

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The Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire seems to be holding, but Gaza sees no end to war

A US-France-brokered ceasefire agreement to the 14-month conflict between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that came into power on Wednesday morning seems to be holding. But for Palestinians in Gaza – and the families of hostages still held t

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Tuesday, november 26, 2024

Explainer: What we know about the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal

Israel approved a US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Lebanon's Hezbollah on Tuesday, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. Here is a look at some of the deal's key provisions.

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Israel's security cabinet has reservations about Lebanon ceasefire, France 24 reports

Israel’s security cabinet will meet Tuesday to consider a proposed ceasefire in the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Jerusalem Noga Tarnopolsky reports. She says that some members of the cabinet are opposed to the truce.

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Iran welcomes end of Israel's 'aggression' in Lebanon as ceasefire comes into force

A US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel came into force on Wednesday at 4am local time (02:00 GMT), setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. The deal was announced as waves of Israeli strikes pounded

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Monday, november 25, 2024

Netanyahu credibility at low point as Israeli security cabinet poised to vote on Lebanon ceasefire

Israel's security cabinet was preparing to decide whether to accept a proposed ceasefire in its war with Hezbollah, an official said Monday, as the White House announced it believed a deal to end the fighting in Lebanon was "close". FRANCE 24's Noga Tarn

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What pressure? Netanyahu defies adversaries at home and abroad

Is it about the man or the nation? The International Criminal Court’s indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has sparked global debate, highlighting just how much Israel and its longest-serving leader have lost international sympathy sin

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UAE arrests three Uzbek nationals as remains of murdered rabbi repatriated to Israel

United Arab Emirates authorities revealed on Monday the identities of the three suspects arrested for the murder of UAE-based Israeli-Moldovan rabbi Tzvi Kogan. All three suspects "are Uzbek nationals”, the interior ministry said. A plane carrying Kogan'

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Israeli government boycotts Haaretz, one of the country's leading newspapers

PRESS REVIEW – Monday, November 25: Haaretz, one of Israel's leading newspapers, is boycotted by the Israeli government. Elsewhere, key talks aimed at reducing global plastic pollution begin in South Korea. Also, Donald Trump looks set to expel all trans

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Ceasefire deal between Israel, Hezbollah ‘close’, US says

The United States believes a ceasefire deal between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is "close" but negotiations are still ongoing, the White House said Monday. The announcement came as Israel again hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, with state m

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Sunday, november 24, 2024

UAE arrests three suspects in murder of Israeli rabbi

The UAE's interior ministry said Sunday that it had arrested three people in connection with the murder of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who was living and working in the Gulf state. Israel condemned the killing as a ‘terrorist attack’.

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Hezbollah fires about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel in massive barrage

Hezbollah fired about 250 rockets and other projectiles into Israel on Sunday, wounding seven people in one of the militant group's heaviest barrages in months, in response to deadly Israeli strikes in Beirut. This comes as the EU's foreign policy chief

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EU's Borrell tries to persuade Israel, Hezbollah to accept US ceasefire proposal

The European Union's foreign policy chief called on Sunday during a visit to Beirut for pressure to be exerted on both the Israeli government and on Lebanon's Hezbollah to accept a US ceasefire proposal. Speaking at a news conference in Beirut, Josep Bor

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Saturday, november 23, 2024

Israeli PM's speech was 'a declaration of war directed inside Israel'

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu's speech on Saturday was, "a declaration of war directed inside Israel", said FRANCE 24's correspondent in Jerusalem Noga Tarnopolsky. 'The Prime minister, in his video statement, said that he and the state have

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More than 55 killed in Israeli strikes, Lebanon says

Lebanon said Israeli air strikes on Saturday killed more than 55 people, many of them in central Beirut. The news came as Israel's defence minister vowed decisive action against Hezbollah, in a call with his US counterpart. Read our liveblog to see how t

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Friday, november 22, 2024

Netanyahu becomes a wanted man, 1,000 days of war in Ukraine, G20 summit

This week saw the International Criminal Court issue arrest warrants for Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant. They are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, alongside the Hamas commander Moh

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ICC arrest warrants: Binyamin Netanyahu's world has 'shrunk considerably'

Arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif mark a "historic moment" in the history of the court

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UNESCO 'enhanced protection' for 34 Lebanon heritage sites

Dozens of heritage sites in Lebanon were granted "provisional enhanced protection" by UNESCO Monday, the UN cultural body said, offering a higher level of legal shielding as fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah militants. Report by Rawad Taha

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Israel's Netanyahu accuses ICC of antisemitism after it issued an arrest warrant for him

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Netanyahu condemned the arrest wa

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What international reactions to the ICC's warrant for Israel's Netanyahu?

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas military leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. How did countries around

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ICC issues warrant for Israel's Netanyahu as Gaza death toll soars past 44,000

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and a Hamas military leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The announcement came as

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Israeli strike in east Lebanon kills hospital chief and six colleagues, health ministry says

An Israeli air strike near Baalbek in eastern Lebanon killed the director of Dar al-Amal hospital and six of his colleagues on Friday, the country’s health ministry said. Read our liveblog to see how the day's events unfolded.

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New IAEA resolution berates Iran for nuclear activities, poor cooperation

One day after commending Iran's agreement to cap its uranium stockpiles, the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency passed a censure motion on Thursday denouncing Iran's lack of transparency on its nuclear activities, with Western nations suspecting the

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Thursday, november 21, 2024

Lebanon's beloved Fairuz turns 90 amid Israel-Hezbollah conflict

Legendary Lebanese singer Fairuz celebrated her 90th birthday as tributes poured in from around the world. Known for her songs of love, Lebanon, and the Palestinian cause, Fairuz remains a unifying figure in a divided country, with her enduring music cap

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Gaza strikes kill dozens as ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas’s Deif

Israeli strikes killed dozens of people in Gaza on Thursday as the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif for war

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ICC prosecutor Khan urges all nations to cooperate with arrest warrants

The International Criminal Court's top prosecutor Karim Khan on Thursday urged the body's 124 members as well as non-members to cooperate with the arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav G

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Wednesday, november 20, 2024

No, this viral photo doesn't show Iran's supreme leader 'in a coma'

Social media was abuzz with misleading, out-of-context images from Iran this week: dated, decade-old images being used to claim Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was hospitalised in a coma, and a slew of footage from 2022 demonstrations being

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Israel more likely to attack Iran's nuclear sites under Trump, ex-intelligence chief says

FRANCE 24 spoke to Amos Yadlin, a former head of Israeli military intelligence (2006-2010), to analyse the shifting balance of power in the Middle East as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House. Yadlin noted that there is "a lot of considerat

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Palestinian UN envoy says 'no justification' for US veto of Gaza ceasefire resolution

The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations, Majed Bamya, said Wednesday that there was "no justification" for Washington's veto of a Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The declaration came after Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said

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Tuesday, november 19, 2024

Photographer Aline Deschamps on documenting Lebanese resistance

Aline Deschamps is a photojournalist who has documented life in Lebanon as the country was once again drawn into conflict with Israel. Having lived in Beirut for five years, Deschamps did not initially set out to be a war photographer. Her work focuses o

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More than 43,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war

Nearly 44 thousand people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war between Hamas and Israel. Story by Solange Mougin.

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Israeli strike hits the heart of Beirut and kills 5

Israel staged a new bombing raid on central Beirut Monday, killing five people according to the health ministry, as firefighters said a rocket launched from Lebanon killed one woman in Israel. Story by Jennie Shin.

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Monday, november 18, 2024

Netanyahu says Israel offering $5 million reward for each Gaza hostage freed

Speaking from within Gaza itself during a visit, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Israel had not given up on locating the remaining hostages in Gaza, and is offering a $5 million reward for each Gaza hostage freed. "Anyone w

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Large Gaza food convoy violently looted, UNRWA says

A convoy of 109 trucks was violently looted on Nov. 16 after entering Gaza, resulting in the loss of 98 trucks in what aid workers say is one of the worst such incidents in the more than 13-month-old war, said an UNRWA aid official.

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Battle for northern Gaza: FRANCE 24 investigates the Israeli 'generals' plan'

Is the Gaza war’s final battle being fought in the north of the besieged enclave? The Israeli army launched a major operation there on October 6, targeting the towns of Jabalya and Beit Lahya, where Hamas is attempting to regroup and rebuild. For now, ne

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Israeli strike on Beirut kills Hezbollah media chief Mohammad Afif, long-time adviser to Nasrallah

Lebanese armed group Hezbollah confirmed its media relations chief Mohammad Afif was killed by an Israeli strike on a building in central Beirut on Sunday. Details with FRANCE 24 correspondent in Beirut, Rawad Taha.

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