Today, the future in Lebanon looks quite dim. We once again have to rely on Israel's benevolence and American assurances (each as reliable as Lebanese electricity). Internally, polarisation is higher than I can ever recall, with each side creating scarecrows of their opponents.

April 13 is the anniversary of the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil war, which began in 1975. For The Public Source, I wrote about the twisted nostalgia many of us feel for those dark days: thepublicsource.org/civil-war-le...

How Many People Have the US and Israel Killed in Iran?

"We sold the Gulf states a security guarantee, armed them to the teeth, triggered the threat we promised to protect them from, and now the weapons don't work. Other than that, great deal!" themiccheck.substack.com/p/the-abraha...

“Israeli strike kills infant girl in south Lebanon during father’s funeral” — headline that tells you all you need to know about Israel’s war on Lebanon

With unwavering US support under both Biden and Trump, is it any surprise that Netanyahu concluded that Israel can bomb virtually anyone and anywhere in the Middle East, with impunity? — my latest for @theguardian.com | www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Confused why Pakistan is playing such a key role on an issue in the Middle East? I’ve got a book about that - and its free if you want it. abuaardvarkghost.ghost.io/what-is-the-...

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 2,000 people, and wounded more than 6,400, since March 2nd: — 165 children killed. — 248 women killed. — 85 healthcare workers killed. (Source: Lebanese Ministry of Health)

The UAE tried to strong-arm Pakistan by demanding an immediate repayment of a loan. It also took a hardline stance against the ceasefire. Today, the UAE is unhappy about being excluded from the Islamabad Talks, 3 weeks after UAE FM AbZ said on X, 'We will never be blackmailed by terrorists.'

A day late but: www.yaffaps.com/en/page-9432...

Happening online tomorrow! Sign up now by donating to a local org and sending me the receipt. linktr.ee/lebanonfundr...

Why is Israel continuing to attack Lebanon, despite the ceasefire? Expert Q&A

Beirut, 1982 — being bombed by the Israeli military during its invasion. Your reminder that Israel has been bombing Lebanon since before Hezbollah existed. (Photo by Yan Morvan)

A lot of people just assumed the issue of Palestine would go away and it hasn't. It's fine that your assumption was wrong but maybe a little introspective?

Western countries are so lucky to have such a wonderful ally as Israel

"The vice president must not realize how ridiculous he sounds when he talks about foreign policy." daniellarison.substack.com/p/vances-dip...

With unwavering US support under both Biden and Trump, is it any surprise that Netanyahu concluded that Israel can bomb virtually anyone and anywhere in the Middle East, with impunity? — my latest for @theguardian.com | www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

I think the number one, two, and three reasons for Israel's public relations crisis is that it's doing this to four separate countries simultaneously

“With unwavering US support under both Biden and Trump, Netanyahu realized that he has little incentive to avoid escalating conflicts and taking risks that could engulf the Middle East in a devastating war. He concluded that Israel can bomb virtually anyone with impunity”— my latest @theguardian.com

UPDATE: US confirms it's hosting Lebanon-Israel talks next week, the first of kind in Washington. Unclear if it's ambassador level or more officials will join. Watch this space: www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

The death toll of Israel's attack on Lebanon yesterday is now at least 303 1150 injured so numbers are likely to go up megaphone.news/cards/%D8%AD...

Israel has released more evacuation warnings for Dahiyeh, though the map and areas listed is growing. They included Jnah this time, where hits have happened in the past but without warnings.

Israeli military just issued its latest (illegal) evacuation order that includes almost the entire southern suburbs of Beirut. Yet another tactic to sow fear and chaos ahead of committing new massacres in Lebanon.

People need to understand how bad, how devastating, how unjustified Israel’s bombardment of Beirut is — it’s not just yet another of the strikes that have become routinized. Catastrophic civilian harm and human suffering that simply must not be shrugged off as normal and forgotten. Stop the madness.

This seems to be the most recent update of the death toll in Lebanon following today’s Israeli strikes

A quick recap of the day’s events in #Lebanon for @nymag.com #beirut nymag.com/intelligence...

Once again, the US is on the verge of squandering a ceasefire that serves its own interests — and the world’s larger interests. All for the interests of a genocidal regime in Israel.

A bit of context: Israel has been attacking Lebanon and violating its sovereignty since at least 1968, when Israeli commandos landed in helicopters at Beirut airport and destroyed 12 passenger planes

When I spoke to one of my displaced cousins in Beirut today, he said: “Now that Israel isn’t sending its warplanes to bomb Iran, they have a lot of extra time to bomb us”

More attacks on Beirut just now. White House saying Lebanon not included in ceasefire. Iran saying attacks must stop or they will not take part in discussions.

Israel's concept of a ceasefire: we bomb what we choose, on any pretext, with total confidence that the world won't hold us accountable for violating the ceasefire that we've agreed to.

400 dead so far, over 1000 injured, dozens and dozens missing. This is one hour into the massacre. I have no idea what the death toll will be in the end. Also, they have announced “another wave” of attacks coming

Every single country that does not cease all relations with Israel is complicit in today's massacres in Lebanon

Netanyahu is already trying to undermine the US-Iran ceasefire — saying it doesn't include Israel's attacks on Lebanon

Israeli media is reporting that Lebanon is not included in the Iran ceasefire deal — meaning that Israel will most likely intensify its invasion of south Lebanon and attacks throughout the country. Already, Israeli attacks have killed more than 1500 people in Lebanon since March 2nd.

Read some version of this exact nonsense a million times from Iran hawks over the last two decades. They must be thrilled that their policy ideas finally got a real world test. Right?

Dial Magazine asked me to keep a diary for the last month of the war. www.thedial.world/articles/new...

I truly cannot bear to see what this evening will bring.

Peak DC think tanker tweet on Trump’s threats to commit war crimes and mass atrocities in Iran: “He is speaking to them in their language.” Good to see 19th century imperialism alive and well in DC.

All of these people who have offered bullshit analysis about Iran for the past 10-20 years, should just stay quite. Don’t add more harm to what you have done. Media has to hold these “Iran experts” accountable for ripping up the JCPOA, predicting revolution at every turn, and so much more

Israel has hit Beirut’s southern suburbs at least 8 times today, in one of the most violent days since the intensification restarted in March.

This is where I was vaccinated as a kid. Many Iranians are posting their Pasteur certificate of vaccination online 😞

I wrote for @theguardian.com on Jared Kushner’s latest double-dealing, as he tries to raise money for his investment firm from Gulf Arab states while working as Trump’s peace envoy | www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

“Jared Kushner is leveraging his influence over US policy – and his proximity to the president – to drum up billions of dollars in new business for his company” — my latest for @theguardian.com on Trump family corruption

The US and EU set up a perverse incentive structure in which they only respond to the crisis of Palestine in any meaningful way when there is bi-directional violence. They don't respond when the violence is directed only against Palestinians. That's the rub. Want the calculus to change, change that.

A View from Tehran: War caused a new Kind of Stability

“One month into the latest intensification of strikes on Lebanon, Israel has killed 53 medical workers, destroyed 87 ambulances or medical centers, and forced the closure of five hospitals”— excellent reporting by @justinsalhani.bsky.social on Israel’s campaign to destroy healthcare in south Lebanon

Those pilots shouldn't have been in the skies above Iran this entire war is illegal

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 1,345 people and wounded 4,040 since March 2nd: — 125 children killed. — 91 women killed. — 53 healthcare workers killed. (Source: Lebanese Ministry of Health)