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Over decades, and then very quickly, Lebanon lost so much. Things can never be as they were before. @KimGhattas writes of Beirut, and the lessons it holds for America: on.theatln.tc/PFDEpHf
Kim Ghattas
49.5K posts
Kim Ghattas
@KimGhattas
@TheAtlantic @FT contributor. Visiting prof Dartmouth College. Author: BLACK WAVE on Saudi-Iran rivalry. Top 100 NYT books for 2020. Next book out Oct 2026.
- Bashar al Assad shook hands and had a pretty blonde wife. He also slaughtered half a million Syrians. The debate about handshakes is tedious, ignorant, superficial. Focus on how/whether Sharaa and co apply governance, rule of law and build an inclusive state, handshake or not.
- *Massive operation/incursion by Hamas inside Israel. V different from anything in past. *Well planned, must have taken months. *Must have had outside support - Iran/Hezb. *Huge intel failure by Israel, caught totally unaware, barley any response in first hours 1/4
- Some Syrian friends in Beirut already on road to Damascus. No one ever wants to be a refugee, live in a foreign land, close or far but no one wants to live under murderous regime, risk prison or death. Friends in Damascus reporting celebrations on streets. It's 5.30 am there.Syria rebels: "To the displaced all over the world, free Syria awaits you."
- What this means is that Israel's goal is to make sure no one is going back to these villages... for a long time... Unbearably painful. Mhaibib is home to a historical site.🚨🚨🚨 Another footage for Mhaibib Village Gone, All Gone with 1 button
00:00 - Where will they go? How can they leave? There is a blockade in place, the border with Egypt is closed …Israeli PM Netanyahu promises "revenge" and calls on the people of Gaza to "leave"
- 1 THREAD: Middle East waking up to incredible news of Qassem Suleimani's killing in US strike in Iraq, at Baghdad airport. He had reportedly just flown back from Beirut. He was like a Middle East viceroy, trotting around region, giving orders, masterminding small and large ops
- Jaw dropping statement, thinly veiled threat. Also, UNIFIL is under the authority of the UNSC not the UN Sec General.PM Netanyahu: "I appeal to the UN Secretary General; Your refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers has turned them into hostages of Hezbollah." Full remarks >> gov.il/en/pages/spoke…
00:00 - This is insanity. Calling for the evacuation of a whole city is a first since this war started. Aside from what this means in terms of hell for people, Baalbek is a historic city with the largest Roman temple still standing in the world.NEW - Israeli army issues bombing notice to the entire eastern city of Baalbeck and surrounding areas -- a first.
- Outrageous and ominous. First, his supposed goal was to push Hezbollah away from border so Israelis could return home. Now goal is for the Lebanese to "free themselves from Hezbollah" or face "abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza.”This is a message to the people of Lebanon:
00:00 - This could have landed her in jail under Assad regime. Some unease among the giggly girls: "Can we really laugh?" It will take some getting used to. But to hear Syrians speak so freely now is beyond belief after 54 yrs of oppression. Also Syrians have the best sense of humor...A teacher in Syria jokes with her young students saying: “Everyone must pass because it’s not right for us and Bashar to fail in the same year.” 😂
00:00 - Meanwhile in Barcelona ... unbelievable violence by riot police against protestors. There’s been violence in #Lebanon, beatings and arbitrary arrests but nothing like this.
- "Please save me and I'll work for you as a maid" Childhood robbed of everything, even hope, in Syria. This girl and her little brother have been trapped for 17 hours. The rescuer was trying to keep her busy by talking to her about toys and nice things to do when she comes out...هذا الفديو كسر قلبي 💔 تقول الطفله للمنقذ عندما وصل لها: "عمو طالعني بصير عندك خدامة" بسبب التعب الذي عاشته، بقيت هي وأختها لمدة 17 ساعة تحت الأنقاض ولا تستطيع الحراك. #زلزال_سوريا
00:00 - Agonisingly painful. Imagine your wife and children are killed, you lose your home, and you’re also displaced. Wael, the journalist from Al Jazeera remains calm and dignified but the layers of trauma are unspeakable and the grief will take years to processThis is heartbreaking on so many levels.. when I was in Gaza I asked Wael if he ever thinks about retiring in another country and he answered: this is my land, there is no meaning for safety if you are not in your land. Wael is originally from Gaza, his family has lands. And
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