US embassy in Lebanon evacuating non-essential staff 'due to security situation in Beirut' | LIVE

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US Embassy in Lebanon confirms evacuating non-essential personnel 'due to security situation in Beirut'

Some 50 employees of the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon were evacuated on Monday, an embassy source told Reuters, adding that 32 embassy staff members, accompanied by their families, left the country via Beirut's international airport, according to an airport official.

"On Feb. 23, the State Department ordered the departure of non-essential U.S. government personnel and their family members due to the security situation in Beirut. U.S. Embassy personnel in Beirut are not permitted to travel for personal reasons without prior authorization," the embassy announced around 8 p.m. (Lebanon time) in a statement published on X.

The embassy remains operational with a reduced staff in place. "This is a temporary measure designed to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist American citizens,” a State Department official also added, amid growing concerns about the risk of a new military confrontation with Iran.

Washington confirms its participation in Thursday's talks with Iran in Geneva

The United States will participate in the new round of indirect talks mediated by Oman, to be held on Thursday in Geneva with Iran, an official U.S. source confirmed to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Tehran had already confirmed its attendance through its Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, amid increasingly insistent threats of U.S. strikes against Iran.

At least 1 Palestinian killed, eight injured in Gaza in the past 24 hours

The Gaza Strip's Health Ministry announced in a statement that it had recorded one person killed by Israeli army attacks carried out across the Palestinian enclave in the past 24 hours, which also injured eight people.

For its part, the Israeli army stated that it had killed a Palestinian who had "crossed the Yellow Line" in the southern part of the besieged enclave, which occupies more than half of Gaza's territory.

This brings to 615 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli army fire or airstrikes since the start of the cease-fire on Oct. 10, 2025, during which time 1,651 have been injured and 726 bodies have been recovered from rubble.

In total, at least 72,073 Palestinians have been killed, and another 171,749 have been injured since the start of the Israeli offensive against the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023.

According to studies, these official figures from the enclave's health authorities underestimate the actual number of deaths by 35 percent.

'We will retaliate with a force Iran cannot even imagine': Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran that if it were to launch an attack against Israel, its army would retaliate “with a force it cannot even imagine,” according to Haaretz.

“I made it clear to the Ayatollah’s regime that if it were to commit what would perhaps be the most serious mistake in its history by attacking the State of Israel, we would retaliate with a force it cannot even imagine,” he declared Monday before the Israeli parliament.

The Israeli prime minister also called on Israeli lawmakers to unite in this context. “This is not the time to quarrel. We must close ranks and stand shoulder to shoulder. I have confidence in our strength and in our fighters,” he added.

He also stated that the alliance between Israel and the United States "has never been stronger."

Four Syrian security forces killed in IS attack

Four members of the Syrian internal security forces were killed in an attack by the Islamic State (IS) group in Raqqa, in northeastern Syria, a city recently recaptured by the central government from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the state-run SANA news agency reported Monday.

The attack targeted a checkpoint located at the western entrance to the city, the Interior Ministry said, adding that one of the assailants was killed.

In its first audio message in two years on Saturday, IS called on its fighters to defy the new Syrian authorities.

US military has begun withdrawing from its main base in northeastern Syria

U.S. forces began withdrawing Monday from Qasrak Air Base in Hasakah province, their largest base in northeastern Syria, according to Syrian military and security sources cited by Reuters.

Dozens of trucks, some carrying armored vehicles, left Qasrak Air Base along the highway toward Qamishli, according to witnesses.

Qasrak has been a hub for the U.S.-led international coalition in its fight against the Islamic State group in Syria, where U.S. troops deployed more than a decade ago in partnership with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

This move is part of a broader U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria, expected to take about a month, according to these sources.

Since the Syrian government army took control of large areas of northeastern Syria previously held by the SDF last month, the U.S. military has already withdrawn from a base in al-Shaddadi, south of Hasakah, and from a garrison in al-Tanf, located at the intersection of the borders between Syria, Iraq and Jordan.

The date of Rubio's visit to Israel could be changed, according to Washington

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio still plans to visit Israel, but his schedule is "subject to change," a senior U.S. State Department official told Reuters.

The State Department had initially announced that Rubio would travel to Tel Aviv on Feb. 28, where he is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Washington evacuates non-essential staff from US embassy in Beirut

The United States has ordered non-essential U.S. government personnel and eligible family members to leave the U.S. embassy in Beirut, according to a senior U.S. State Department official quoted by Reuters.

The U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald Ford has arrived off the coast of Crete

Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford arrives in Souda Bay, Crete, on Feb. 23, 2026. (Credit: Stelios Misinas/Reuters)

The U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, the largest in the world, has arrived off the coast of Crete, according to images of the ship taken by Reuters.

Washington has decided to deploy this aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean, amid the intensification of military deployment decided by Donald Trump, who is threatening intervention in Iran.

India urges its citizens to leave Iran

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has urged its citizens to leave Iran as Washington steps up military pressure on the country.

"In view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals currently in Iran ... are advised to leave the country by available means of transport, including commercial flights," its embassy in Tehran said in a message posted on social media. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs estimates that there are around 10,000 Indian nationals living in Iran.

On Jan. 5, in the midst of anti-regime protests, Indian diplomats had already advised its nationals to avoid all "non-essential" travel to the Islamic Republic.

Syria: US forces must complete their total withdrawal within a month

U.S. forces must complete their total withdrawal from Syria within a month, a Syrian government official, a diplomat and a Kurdish source, who requested anonymity, told AFP.

"Within a month, they will have withdrawn from Syria and there will be no military presence at the bases," the government official said.

The diplomat specified that "the withdrawal should be completed within 20 days." The U.S. began withdrawing on Monday from a major base in a north-eastern region still under Kurdish control.

South Lebanon: Israeli gunfire on Kfar Kila and Aita al-Shaab

An Israeli army drone fired a stun grenade on Kfar Kila (Marjayoun) and fired machine gun artillery on Aita al-Shaab (Bint Jbeil), reports our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

US army withdraws from base in north-eastern Syria

The United States has begun withdrawing from a major base in Syria, in a region still under the control of Kurdish forces in the north-east of the country, according to a Kurdish official who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.

An AFP team saw a convoy of dozens of heavy goods vehicles loaded with armored vehicles and prefabricated buildings on the road linking the province of Hassakeh, where the Qasrak base is located, to the border with Iraq.

U.S. forces had already withdrawn from two bases in the past two weeks, al-Tanf (southeast) and al-Shaddadi (northeast).

Pezeshkian: 'Encouraging signs' in negotiations with the United States

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a message on X that recent discussions between Tehran and Washington on Iran's nuclear programme had yielded "encouraging signs", but that the Islamic Republic remained prepared to deal with "any potential scenario ."

"The recent negotiations [with the United States] have resulted in an exchange of concrete proposals and have produced encouraging signals," Mr Pezeshkian wrote on his account. This cautious optimism follows confirmation by Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi of a third round of indirect talks between the two sides in Switzerland. Mr Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's commitment to peace in the region, but stressed that Iran continues to closely monitor the actions of the United States.

Iran will consider even limited strikes by US as act of 'aggression'

Iran has warned that it will consider any attack on its territory, including limited strikes, as an "act of aggression," following comments by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting this option, at a time when Washington is stepping up its military pressure.

"Regarding the first question about a limited strike, there is no such thing as a limited strike. An act of aggression will be considered an act of aggression," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said at a press conference attended by AFP.

He was asked to respond to Donald Trump's comments on Friday that he was "considering" a limited strike against Iran if the country did not quickly reach a nuclear agreement with the United States.

"Any state would respond forcefully to an act of aggression under its inherent right to self-defense, and that is what we would do," Baghai said.

"All I can say is that I am considering it," Donald Trump replied laconically to the following question from the press: "Are you considering a limited strike if Iran does not reach an agreement?"

Iran: EU foreign policy chief calls for 'diplomatic solution'

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has called for a "diplomatic solution" in Iran at a time when the country, threatened by the United States, is, in her view, in a position of great weakness.

"It is true that Iran is at its weakest point ever, and we should really take advantage of this period to find a diplomatic solution," she said shortly before the start of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

US forces set to complete full withdrawal from Syria within a month

U.S. forces – who lead the anti-jihadist coalition – are set to complete their withdrawal from Syria within a month, according to a Syrian government official, a diplomat, and a Kurdish source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity.

“Within a month, they will have withdrawn from Syria, and there will be no military presence left at the bases,” said the government official.

The diplomat added that “the withdrawal should be completed within twenty days.”

The U.S. started pulling out on Monday from a major base in a northeastern region still under Kurdish control.

Israeli forces open fire in southern Lebanon

An Israeli army drone dropped a sonic bomb on Kfar Kila (Marjayoun), and medium machine gun fire was reported in Aita al-Shaab, in Bint Jbeil district, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

South Lebanon: Israeli artillery fired on of Ras Naqoura

Israeli artillery shelling targeted the Ras Naqoura (Sour) this morning, according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

On Sunday night, at around 11.30 p.m., an Israeli drone dropped explosive charges on a house in Odaisseh (Marjayoun).

Syria closes al-Hol as last residents of IS-linked camp moved out

Syrian authorities announced yesterday the closure of the al-Hol camp, which was evacuated and emptied after thousands of relatives of suspected jihadists who had been detained there for years under the control of Kurdish forces escaped.

"Syrian and non-Syrian families have been relocated," the camp's interim manager, Fadi al-Qassem, told AFP.

Al-Hol, the largest camp for relatives of Islamic State (IS) jihadists in Syria, was controlled by Kurdish troops until the end of January.

They withdrew under military pressure from the central government, which then took control, raising fears of possible security breaches.

Meanwhile, thousands of women and children have fled the camp, which housed some 24,000 people, including about 6,300 foreigners, to an unknown destination.

Authorities evacuated the remaining families earlier this week and security forces are conducting final checks of the tents, the official said.

Oman confirms third round of Iran-US talks on Thursday in Geneva

Negotiators from Iran and the United States will meet again in Geneva on Thursday, the foreign minister of regional mediator Oman confirmed, as reported by AFP.

In a social media post from his own account, Badr Albusaidi said talks would resume "with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal."

Hello and welcome to our live news blog

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of events happening in Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Iran, and elsewhere in the region and beyond.

After a deadly Friday evening for southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, Israel's cease-fire violations over the weekend have appeared more mild. This morning, Israeli artillery shelling targeted Ras Naqoura in the south.

We are also keeping a close eye on developments between the U.S. and Iran, as the U.S. keeps oscillating between pushing for diplomacy versus using military force. Oman has confirmed a third round of talks will be held in Geneva on Thursday, though the possibility of a U.S. attack on Iran remains high.

Catch up on this weekend's news in our Morning Brief.