Will Christou
@will_christou
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Writing for the Guardian in Lebanon. Past: @The_NewArab @AlJazeera @SyriaDirect
Beirut
Joined February 2019
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Israel used white phosphorus on a town in Lebanon, potentially committing a war crime due to the indiscriminate use of the weapon
Today,
@mmkelly22
@AlexHortonTX
& I can reveal the US gave them the weapons used in the attack
W/comment from
@TiranaHassan
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One of the men arrested in this video is our colleague Al-Araby Correspondent Diaa Kahlot, along with his family, who are most definitely not members of Hamas.
He and other captives were stripped naked in the street and taken to an unknown location.
Journalism is not a crime!
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The doctor said that the injuries were unlike anything they had seen before:
“It’s transforming 2,000 people into disabled [people] at the same time.”
‘Sophisticated evil’: Beirut medics and civilians horrified by pager attacks.
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492 dead, 1,645 wounded in Israeli airstrikes today as per Lebanon health ministry. The death toll will rise as bodies are found and rubble is cleared.
Unfathomable death and suffering today in Lebanon. Impossible to put into words.
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INTERPOL confirmed to me that Syria has been re-added to the org.
That means that Syria now has the ability to issue international arrest warrants with virtual impunity. A powerful tool for a regime with no tolerance for dissent.
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Confusion among gunmen who they are fighting. I ask one who he’s shooting at, he shrugs. Another screams “We’re shooting at walls!”
They ask me to film them as they shoot an RPG towards aforementioned walls
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Gaza's telecom workers go out amid Israeli bombing to repair cables & refill generators - risking their lives to ensure that Gaza stays online. Already, 5 have been killed
Their work is key to humanitarian operations in the strip
Here are their stories.
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Around 70 Syrians from Daraa were on the boat that sank off the Greek coast. Relatives back in Syria are circulating lists of names, desperately trying to confirm who has been found so far.
Family members say each person paid €5000 to escape Syria.
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#BREAKING
: Syria is re-admitted to the Arab League, 12 years after it was expelled for its bloody crackdown on peaceful protesters during the Syrian revolution.
Human rights orgs have said the ongoing normalization of Assad w/o asking for reform is a blow to human rights.
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Exchange of gunfire in Amal neighbourhood following protest in front of Qadr al adaleh in Beirut
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Critically, the use of US weapons by Israel in potential war crimes could have implications for future military aid to Israel.
"[Congress] should take reports of Israel’s use of white phosphorus seriously enough to reassess U.S. military aid to Israel.”
@TiranaHassan
said.
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Clashes continue in Tayouneh as gunmen shoot behind cover. The building behind me had one woman killed from a stray gunshot, according to her son.
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My article for the Guardian detailing a years-long intimidation campaign Jordanian intelligence conducted against LGBT activists, culminating in the forced closure of two LGBT orgs in early 2023
Activists were abducted & forcibly outed to their families.
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Syria’s wheat production ‘lowest in 50 years’ with fears of mass starvation.
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Two loud sonic booms by Israeli jets over Beirut just now, no one pauses their conversations at the cafe I’m at.
How quickly this becomes normalised.
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Syria conducts its biggest prisoner release since 2011. But many saw the move as cruel, as the chaotic nature of the release gave thousands hope that loved ones would be let out. Those hopes were quickly dashed.
Comments from
@KreaseChan
&
@WafaMustafa9
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Personal news:
Today is my last day at
@The_NewArab
. I am proud that over the last 3 years we managed to produce critical, progressive coverage of the region.
The team there is committed to deep coverage of issues that often get overlooked. Follow them and their work!
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The WP attack hospitalized at least 4 people & displaced the entire town.
Residents were stuck in their homes for hours as toxic smoke blew into their windows.
The residents of the primarily agricultural town fear their crops will be unsafe to eat due to the chemical's residue
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A Guardian investigation can reveal that Israel used a US weapon in an unlawful strike which killed 7 healthcare workers in south Lebanon in late March.
This comes as Sec of State Blinken reports to congress on whether Israel is using US arms lawfully.
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For the first time since we’ve been in Antakya, we’re waiting for good news. We’ve heard voices from under a collapsed floor, and first responders are urgently trying to dig out at least six people trapped under rubble.
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Members of Syrian civil society have cast blame on the Biden admin for normalisation of the Syrian regime within the Middle East, saying lack of sanctions enforcement & "de-prioritization" of Syria contributed.
W/comments from
@MhdAGhanem
&
@aabnour
.
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A vicious troll campaign has been launched against human rights defender
@Hala_Deeb
, for her work on women's issues and human rights in Jordan.
Solidarity for her constant work defending the rights of others in the face of threats.
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Amal gunmen shoot in the air as the army enters the neighbourhood. Most are retreating as the army advances. Some stay and shoot warning shots. Things seem to be calming
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“Destitute” alright calm down
Destitute U.S. citizens who need assistance returning to the United States may apply for a repatriation loan. For more information, go to
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Activists claim Syrian regime cut electricity off from the provinces as punishment as mass protests intensify, with demonstrators burning pictures of a Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and calling for his removal from office.
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Hezbollah’s unveiling of new drones and anti-aircraft missiles is meant to send a message:
Israel can’t expect to “mow the grass” in Lebanon without paying a heavy toll itself.
W/
@amalsaad_lb
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Smoke pours from a residential apartment building after Amal fighter shoots an RPG at it. They believed someone was shooting at them from there.
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Did not have Hezbollah threatening to strike Cyprus on my 2024 dartboard
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To many, a Russian military invasion of Ukraine & on the European continent was a shock.
To Syrians, however, Russia’s actions and the inability of the international community to stop it was no surprise.
W/comments from
@rallaf
@FARED_ALHOR
@ruslantrad
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A delegation from Lebanese civil society is in DC pushing for sanctions against Lebanese officials and cronies obstructing financial reforms and the port investigation
They will meet w/house and senate, as well as w/'high-ranking' members of Biden admin
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Hezbollah officially announced its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, is dead. Israel killed the Nasrallah, who led the group for 32 years in an airstrike on Dahieh, Beirut yesterday.
The group said that it will keep fighting Israel in support of Gaza.
No one knows what comes next.
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Antakya completely in ruins, so many buildings levelled or teetering, with shards of glass and pieces of walls falling off with gusts of wind.
Rescue crews still pulling bodies out from the rubble, where they lay in the streets.
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Israeli shelling has killed one Lebanese soldier and wounded three others, the first time that a member of the Lebanese Armed Forces has been killed by Israel in the current conflict.
Hezbollah, and not the Lebanese army, has been fighting Israel over the past two months.
بتاريخ ٢٠٢٣/١٢/٥، تعرض مركز عسكري للجيش في منطقة النبي عويضة - العديسة لقصف من قبل العدو الإسرائيلي ما أدى إلى استشهاد عسكري وإصابة ٣ آخرين، نقلوا إلى أحد المستشفيات للمعالجة.
#الجيش_اللبناني
#LebaneseArmy
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Nice to write a happy story every now and again.
@molhamteam
raised $2 million to provide housing to Syrian IDPs in NW Syria in just 5 (!) days, mostly from individual contributions.
Read below
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Hezbollah’s military media office asks residents of border towns to disable and disconnect any cameras they have, such as ring and other wi-fi connected cameras, as it says Israel has been hacking into these cameras to surveil Hezbollah.
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Another RPG fired despite other gunmen urging the shooter not to fire it. Chaos
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Syrians fleeing Lebanese border fighting have faced racism & lack of state support.
- Patrols established in towns to prevent them from entering
- Accused of being spies for Israel
- Soc. Affairs Minister says state "cannot accept Syrians" in shelters
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Israeli use of white phosphorus is having dire environmental effects in Lebanon.
New analysis of soil in south Lebanon found 900x the normal amount of phosphorus & increased levels of heavy metals like lead, known to cause birth defects.
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The target was unseen and the enemy’s identity was unknown.
The violence was unorganised and there was no leadership to direct the mostly-young men slinging powerful weapons.
Story from today for
@The_NewArab
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As regional normalization of the Assad regime progresses, Syrian activists in neighbouring countries fear that their work monitoring and publicizing human rights violations in Syria could be in danger.
W/comments from
@WafaMustafa9
&
@FADELABDULGHANY
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1/7 Thread because I always forgot to tweet my stories:
@mohamma59717689
and I did an investigation into the use of child soldiers by the
#SDF
and uncovered some good info on recruitment methods and statistics on child soldiers in the northeast.
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In a landmark ruling, the European Court of Human RIghts ruled that France violated the rights of two French nationals by refusing their requests to repatriate their children & grandchildren from detention camps in NE Syria.
W/Comments from
@RTC_Swe
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Nearly 65 hours after the initial quake in Turkey, survivors are still being found.
This 12-year old girl was pulled out of the rubble in Anatakya, inspiring hope for others awaiting to see the fate of their relatives still trapped.
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Sawa Li Lubnan, financed by Bahaa Hariri, will be putting forward its own list in Lebanon's 2022 elections.
Bahaa tells me that he doesn't want to be PM, but is "more than happy" to show leadership. With Saad on the ropes, this could be his chance.
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Fantastic, life-saving announcement & amazing work from
@syrianetf
But if aid is being delivered by US military planes, as activists & residents argued for years was possible, why wasn't this done sooner? Untold suffering could have been avoided if this was done 8-years earlier
🎉 GREAT NEWS!
We are thrilled to announce that today we broke the years-long siege on the
#Rukban
camp in southern Syria. Despite Assad and his allies Russia and Iran, we were able to deliver aid to residents for the first time in a very long time.
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Shooting resumes as older gentleman is hit by a bullet in what looks to be his stomach. Unclear if that bullet came from fellow Amal fighters by mistake or the army.
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Just over 100 protesters join the family of the victims of the port explosion to protest the charging of Tarek Bitar, the judge leading the investigation.
Family has appealed to the Intl’ community for an intl investigation as the state has moved to kill the domestic probe.
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Hiba Abu Taha, a Jordanian journalist was arrested on Monday for an article she wrote about Jordan's alleged role in exporting goods to Israel.
Her arrest comes as part of a greater crackdown by Jordanian authorities on pro-Palestine activism.
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Jordan’s public prosecutor has summoned famed Jordanian political satirist
@alzoubi_ahmed
in what activists and monitors are calling an attempt to muzzle free speech.
W/
@adamcoogle
@Hala_Deeb
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Protesters gather to March towards Beirut port on the 2nd anniversary of the Beirut blast. No one charged 2 years after the fact.
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@IsabelIvanescu
Hindsight is 20/20. “Experts” in Washington are the ones who got the US to invade Iraq and Afghanistan in the first place, not sure why they would have the answer now. Maybe we should give them another 20 years to get it right
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As all eyes are on the UN to see if Russia vetoes the Syria cross-border aid resolution, a Plan B is quietly being prepared to ensure the flow of aid doesn't stop.
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The White Helmets have declared a state of emergency in NW Syria, calling for all NGOs in the area to “join forces” in providing emergency relief.
Also asks Intl’ community to pressure Russia and Assad regime to not bomb affected areas.
Dozens were killed and hundreds injured.
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Jordan’s king signed the new Cybercrime amendments into law today
The law basically gives a blank check to authorities to imprison and fine anyone for a slew of vague phrases, including “immoral behavior” online.
Dark day for free expression in Jordan
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Once again, a medical emergency in al-Rukban camp.
Yaqeen, 18-days old, is on oxygen & will die without treatment. Camp nurses say they don't have capacity to treat her, while US army will not medically evacuate her to neighbouring Jordan to save her.
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1/6
@Karam__Shaar
and I argue if US sanctions are to justify the harm they cause civilians, they need to actually push the regime to make behavioral changes. In their current form, they clearly fail to do that.
Forgive me for making a thread but....
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@Kagombe_Kiarie
@iyad_elbaghdadi
By this logic colonization was no problem because colonized countries weren’t modern day nation states. If only the Congo had a prime minister! Then Belgium wouldn’t have had to occupy and brutally enslave its population!
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Jordan has joined the UAE in banning
@AlHudoodNet
, the best satire in the Middle East whose irreverent commentary spares no politician or autocrat.
A worrying step for civil freedom in Jordan.
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Lebanon, where you have to stick up a bank to get your own money back.
3rd time this happens this year, none of the last two cases have resulted in charges.
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Israeli army spox says Israel won't allow any weapons transfers to Hezbollah including through Beirut airport
"Airforce planes are now patrolling the Beirut airport area," the spokesperson said, announcing they will not allow planes with weapons to land at the "civilian airport"
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Ongoing bank holdup in Hazmieh, depositor is armed with handgun and a bottle of petrol.
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The conditions in al-Rukban are dire. Child & maternal care are sorely needed. However, the camp has no doctors
An initiative by
@MedGlobalOrg
could change this. But will Jordan & the US allow it to happen?
W/comments from
@adesnik
@simonajeger
@sahloul
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My latest: How will annexation of the West Bank affect US-Jordan security ties?
With expert commentary from
@MarwanMuasher
and
@Curtisryan1
.
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Proud to be a research fellow with
@OPC_Syria
, a research center whose knowledge on Syria is unrivaled.
Check out my study on
#AlRukban
at the below link!
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The US National Security Spokesperson John Kirby has commented on our investigation, saying the White House is “concerned” about the report and will “be asking questions” to learn more.
Israel used white phosphorus on a town in Lebanon, potentially committing a war crime due to the indiscriminate use of the weapon
Today,
@mmkelly22
@AlexHortonTX
& I can reveal the US gave them the weapons used in the attack
W/comment from
@TiranaHassan
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This week’s episode of our podcast tells the story of the Beirut blast, and the painful quest for accountability that has ensued.
With
@sas_yvonne
@Aya_Majzoub
and
@Ghidaf
Listen below 👇
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Israel's military says that it has killed Nabil Kaouk, one of Hezbollah's few remaining senior leaders.
Kaouk was one of those being considered to succeed Hassan Nasrallah as the new head of Hezbollah. His death is the latest blow to the group's leadership, already decimated.
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At 1 in the morning, in the freezing cold, relatives wait for their loved ones to be pulled from the rubble in Adana, Turkey.
After almost a full day since the earthquake, optimism is fading but people still hope to see their family members emerge alive.
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Al-Rukban camp received first healthcare in almost 2 years, with opposition group
@MaghaweirThowra
and
@CJTFOIR
admitting 50 patients to a clinic.
However, clinic was only open for one day and one day only. MaT Spox says they hope they can reopen soon.
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The march towards the Beirut port has started, led by the families of the victims of the blast, to demand justice on the 3rd anniversary of the man-made disaster.
To date, no one has been held accountable and authorities have blocked the investigation into port blast case.
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Ahmad and Hussein, two Syrian refugees, tried to reach Cyprus by boat in search of a better life. The Cypriot coast guard sank their boat & returned them to Lebanon, w/o hearing their asylum request
Now, they are suing for their rights
W/
@nadine_talaat
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The biggest threat facing the MENA region today is Greta Gerwig’s Barbie Movie.
By
@Kareemios
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#Syria10
What has always inspired me while covering Syria is the courage of its revolutionaries, who fight for a better future in face of overwhelming adversity.
My article on a decade of revolution with comments from
@walid_ALnofal
and
@lisaroman
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For background on why former Lebanese Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh was arrested today, read this investigation by
@MaucourantNada
, who revealed the corruption scandal back in April.
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Molham, an excellent local NGO, has launched a fundraising campaign to provide emergency relief to northwest Syria which was devastated by an earthquake early this morning.
Link below.
The situation is currently catastrophic, and any help from you wil alleviate their pain and will help them in this difficult day.
Contribute now:
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Emergency responders rescue a 32-year old man from beneath the rubble in Anatakya, Turkey. He had been pinned under the fallen structure for more than 36 hours his uncle told us.
He’s injured and suffering from extended time in freezing temperatures, but alive.
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As protests rage in Syria's south, a new opposition group has been spreading, originating from regime-friendly cities like Latakia
The Aug. 10 Movement says it has thousands of members, a cell in every city & is growing by the day.
Read my profile below
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#AlRukban
is suffering from a severe food shortage after the Syrian regime cracked down on smuggling routes into the camp.
Residents have had to adopt unhealthy coping mechanism to deal with the hunger.
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"We are on maximum alert to rescue those trapped under the rubble. Tens of thousands of families are homeless. There are hundreds of destroyed buildings and thousands of damaged buildings."
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A group of 20 Kenyan migrant workers have been camped out in front of the Beirut consulate for 2 weeks, demanding to go home.
Their stories of abuse & neglect say everything that is wrong with Lebanon's kafala system.
W/Pics from
@MattKynaston
(1/4)
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Lebanese border town abandoned after Israeli white phosphorus attack.
"No one is left in the village. We were stuck in our homes, covering our faces with wet blankets to breathe through the smoke from the phosphorus bombs."
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A group of Kenyan migrant workers have been camped out in front of their consulate in Beirut for about two weeks, demanding repatriation. Some told me horrific stories of abuse at the hands of their employers & work agency, and that they don’t know who has their passport.
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Good article by
@aronlund
breaking down diplomatic contact with Bashar al-Assad post-quake, and how the UAE and Saudi are crucial to his regional rehabilitation moving forward.
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@SashRu88
Might be of interest to you: we published a report about Assad security services presence in Germany & their Co-op with AfD.
1
9
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Saudi-Jordan relationship has been rocky since MbS took power, got worse after Prince Hamzah affair. The visit is a sign of warming ties, but KSA's strategic interests might no longer align as much with Jordan.
3
7
14
The municipality of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon, says Syrians in the area should register with municipality before Friday or else “be immediately deported with their family to the Lebanese border”
This comes on the back of a wave of deportations of Syrians from Lebanese authorities.
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An Ethiopian worker, "MH" was imprisoned by her Lebanese employer for more than 7 years. Now, she's bringing her employer to court under the accusation of slavery, a historic first.
The case could have massive implications for Lebanon's Kafala system.
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The threat of deportations has already been used as a cudgel against Syrians in different parts of the country.
Syrians regularly face torture, sexual violence and enforced disappearance upon return to Syria.
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PalTel announces that all telecom generators in Gaza Strip have run out of fuel, so the entire telecoms network will shut off in the next few hours.
Israel has prevented the entry of fuel into Gaza under the justification that it could be “diverted by Hamas.”
1
18
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Hot off the (audio) presses: Join
@hugogoodridge
and I as we delve into Lebanon’s crisis in this 3 part podcast on
@TheNewArabVoice
.
The first episode discusses Lebanon’s revolution and how it all unraveled from there.
Listen below 👇
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Lebanon’s FM tells The Guardian that he did not expect Israel to strike Beirut, after receiving intl’ assurances that its strike would be “limited.”
“We thought these were red lines that the Israelis would respect,” FM Bouhabib said.
With
@_EmmaGH
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6
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In our final podcast episode, we talk about the more quiet parts of Lebanon’s collapse. Grinding poverty and children growing fluent in the vocabulary of crisis.
And ask the question, what’s next?
W/
@najat_saliba
@samermakarem
.
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7
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Lebanese farmers returned to their fields this weekend to find discolored plants, burnt trees & olives covered in the remnants of white phosphorus launched by Israel.
WP can last up to 10 years in the soil, threatening long-lasting environmental damage.
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