Sarah El Deeb

Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces fighters, take their positions at the defense wall of Gweiran Prison, in Hassakeh, northeast Syria, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022 (AP Photo/Hogir Al Abdo)

January 24, 2022, 6:50 am

IS using hundreds of minors as human shields as Syrian prison standoff continues

Faceoff follows bold assault by the extremists that breached the premises of Gweiran Prison, allowing an unknown number of militants to escape

By Sarah El Deeb

A general view of a petrol station on the main highway that links the Capital Beirut to south Lebanon as cars come from every direction to try and fill their tanks with gasoline, in the coastal town of Jiyeh, south of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 (AP Photo/ Hassan Ammar)

January 16, 2022, 3:21 pm

Tens of thousands of Lebanese left without internet amid fuel crisis

Only one provider remains online, after a resident donates diesel; nation sinks deeper into worst financial and economic crisis in its history

By Sarah El Deeb

Former Lebanese foreign minister Gebran Bassil, speaks to journalists at the presidential palace, in Baabda east of Beirut, Lebanon, October 22, 2020. (AP/ Hussein Malla, File)

January 2, 2022, 8:29 pm

Lebanese Christian leader: Our alliance with Hezbollah is no longer working

TV speech by Free Patriotic Movement head Bassil signals unprecedented level of frustration with terror group, suggests 2006 alliance credited with maintaining peace in jeopardy

By Sarah El Deeb

Illustrative: Syrian refugee Ayesha al-Abed, 21, right, prepares food as her Husband Raed Mattar, 24, left, plays with their daughter Rayan, 18 months old, before they break their fast on the first day of fasting month of Ramadan, at an informal refugee camp, in the town of Bhannine in the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

January 2, 2022, 2:16 pm

4 Syrian refugees die after burning coal for heat in southern Lebanon

Mother and three young children declared dead of asphyxiation in the southern village of Kharayab

By Sarah El Deeb

Syrian Kurd Bushra, who only gave her first name, poses for a photograph in Minsk, Belarus, Sept. 22, 2021 (Bushra via AP)

December 21, 2021, 10:18 am

New Syrian migrants seek Europe, driven by post-war misery

Though horrors of war have abated, many have lost hope in a future at home amid poverty and corruption, while some still fear for their personal safety

By Sarah El Deeb and CHRISTOPH NOELTING

Lebanon's Information Minister George Kordahi speaks during a press conference to announce his resignation at the Ministry of Information in Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday, December 3, 2021. (AP/Bilal Hussein)

December 3, 2021, 9:19 pm

Lebanese minister who criticized Saudi war in Yemen resigns in gesture to Riyadh

George Kordahi expresses hope much-anticipated move will open way for easing unprecedented diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab countries

By Zeina Karam and Sarah El Deeb

In this May 26, 2021 file photo, Syrian President Bashar Assad, center, waves to his supporters at a polling station during the Presidential elections in Douma, Syria. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

October 22, 2021, 10:41 pm

Syria lined pockets with millions in aid using distorted exchange rate — study

Think tank says manipulations helped Damascus evade sanctions and deny help to worst hit in civil war-wracked country; UN reviewing donations

By Sarah El Deeb

An employee looks through an office window riddled with bullet holes after the deadly clashes that erupted a week earlier along a former 1975-90 civil war front-line between Muslim Shiite and Christian areas, in Ain el-Rumaneh neighborhood, Beirut, Lebanon, October 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

October 20, 2021, 6:00 pm

Beirut clashes fire up sectarian anger along 1975-90 civil war lines

Memories of the years-long conflict and sectarian passions triggered by last week’s deadly scenes of gunmen in streets and schoolchildren ducking under desks

By Sarah El Deeb

Protesters gather in front of the 'October 17 torch' near the devastated port of Beirut, during a rally to mark the second anniversary of the beginning of a nationwide anti-government protest movement, on October 17, 2021. (Anwar Amro/AFP)

October 19, 2021, 10:40 pm

Judge renews Beirut blast probe, summons ex-ministers, after deadly protests

Tarek Bitar reissues order for Ghazi Zeitar and Nohad Machnouk to provide testimony related to last year’s massive port explosion, as ‘battle of immunities’ starts back up

By Sarah El Deeb

Lebanese Prime Minister-Designate Saad Hariri, center, arrives to his meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at the presidential palace, in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, on July 14, 2021. (Dalati Nohra/Lebanese Official Government via AP)

July 15, 2021, 6:47 pm

Lebanon PM-designate Saad Hariri steps down after months of deadlock

‘God help the country,’ Hariri says 9 months after being named to post by parliament; move likely to plunge country further into chaos; Lebanese pound hits new low

By Sarah El Deeb

Diana Moukalled, a Lebanese journalist who closely follows social media checks the Clubhouse application, at her office in Beirut, Lebanon, April 7, 2021 (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

April 9, 2021, 11:37 am

Loud debates, taboo topics, fun banter: Arab world finds outlet in Clubhouse

Replacing monarchs, abortion, homosexuality and atheism are all up for discussion in no-holds-barred atmosphere, fueled by the liveliness of group conversation

By Sarah El Deeb

Jordan's King Abdullah II laughs with his half-brother, then-crown prince Hamzah Bin Hussein, right, on April 2, 2001 (AP Photo/Yousef Allan)

April 7, 2021, 7:48 pm

Jordan papers over royal feud, but major challenges loom

Kingdom’s status as a dependable Western ally in a volatile region comes under threat, as it copes with an economic crisis made worse by COVID and palace intrigue

By Sarah El Deeb and Joseph Krauss

Displaced Syrians are seen leaving opposition-held areas of Daraa on June 26, 2018. ( Mohamad ABAZEED/AFP)

March 18, 2021, 7:04 pm

From exile, Syrian conflict’s first protesters reflect on a decade of death

Unable to return home, activists from Daraa who set aside their lives to join marches in the streets continue to support a cause that they hope can still prevail

By Sarah El Deeb and Bassem Mroue

In this Nov. 22, 2018 file photo, Lebanese President Michel Aoun, left, whispers to Prime Minister Saad Hariri, during a military parade to mark the 75th anniversary of Lebanon's independence from France, in downtown Beirut, Lebanon. Lebanon's president called Wednesday, March 17, 2021 on the prime minister-designate to form a government immediately or step aside as the country plunges deeper into economic crisis. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

March 18, 2021, 5:52 am

Amid crisis, Lebanese president tells PM-designate to form a government or quit

Retaliating, Saad Hariri challenges President Michel Aoun to step down, indicating country headed toward prolonged political paralysis alongside economic crash

By Sarah El Deeb

Smoke rises after an explosion the day before at the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, August 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

February 18, 2021, 6:11 pm

Court orders lead investigator of Beirut port blast to step down

Judges tell prosecutor Fadi Sawwan to leave post after senior officials he accused of negligence claim he violated legal and constitutional procedures

By Sarah El Deeb