Analysts, however, said Salam and Aoun have a unique opportunity. The collapse of the al-Assad regime, a constant meddler in Lebanese affairs, the weakening of Iran and the willingness of the international community to provide foreign aid and backing to Lebanon’s new leaders mean there is support for a reform agenda that wasn’t previously there.

Photos released by Syrian media show assault rifles, RPGs and ammunition, in apparent second instance this month of authorities thwarting arms transfer

A key opportunity lies in Mediterranean natural gas deposits, which could provide economic relief and energy security for Lebanon and the world as a whole.

The Lebanese army must deploy in order for Israel to withdraw, and Hezbollah’s presence must end. However, as revealed by the smuggling, Hezbollah is trying to re-arm.

Israel’s withdrawal felt like a necessary end to an unwinnable entanglement. But it also left behind a vacuum quickly filled by Hezbollah, which entrenched itself as a military and political force, claiming victory over Israel and tying Lebanon’s fate to the ambitions of Iran and Syria.

Qatar's Emir arrived in Damascus, marking his first visit to Syria since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday. Reuters

Bloodshed over the weekend highlighted the brittleness of the cease-fires in both places. Still, Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah each have reasons to postpone a new escalation, at least for a few weeks.

Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence had a particularly controversial trip to the Middle East that even Hezbollah officials flagged.

Israel and Hamas reached a deal to resolve a disagreement over the exchange of a female civilian hostage that had threatened to derail the truce. Lebanon, however, saw the deadliest day since Israel’s truce with Hezbollah took effect.

Israel-Hamas war has profoundly altered the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape. Iran and Russia, once dominant forces, have suffered severe setbacks, while Israel, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar have all expanded their regional influence.

The Jewish Press reported that Israel had proposed to Ukraine the possibility of transferring to Kiev the Russian weapons captured from Hezbollah in Lebanon (Israel Offers to Give Ukraine R

Almost 30% of the millions of Syrian refugees living in Middle Eastern countries want to return home in the next year, following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, up from almost none last year, the head of the U.