TRIPOLI, Lebanon: Lebanese commandos, backed by helicopter gunships, seized the headquarters of an Islamist militant leader Monday, on the fourth day of clashes that have rocked Lebanon’s second city, leaving 42 people dead and some 150 wounded. A military source confirmed that the Abdullah bin Masoud Mosque, the stronghold of Shadi Mawlawi and his […]

  Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed on Tuesday that Christians should help Muslims to confront the assault against Islam by terrorists. “The developments in the Middle East are not related to ethics or humanity in any way,” al-Rahi said during his visit to the state of Victoria in Australia. He pointed out that the “terrorist […]

  BEIRUT: There was no deal to allow gunmen to flee and end the four days of battles between militants and the Lebanese Army in the northern city of Tripoli, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel said Tuesday, dismissing media reports of a compromise brokered by political leaders. "We have heard talk of compromises in Tripoli, but […]

The Islamic State (or ISIS) is “the best-funded terrorist organization we’ve confronted,” but “we have no silver bullet, no secret weapon to empty ISIS’ coffers overnight.” These were the words of David Cohen, the undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence at the U.S. Department of the Treasury in a speech yesterday, in which he outlined the U.S. government’s assessment of ISIS finance and a strategy to counter it.

According to Cohen, ISIS’ principal source of finance is still derived from its control and sale of oil, which he assessed was still bringing in $1 million a day. Additional funds come from kidnap for ransom, extortion networks, criminal activities, and donations from external individuals, the latter being of least significance in terms of scale.

  BEIRUT: Two Lebanese soldiers being held hostage by ISIS on the outskirts of the northeast town of Arsal telephoned their families Monday, urging them to stage violent protests for their release. Rabih Mawri, the uncle of captive soldier Khaled Moqbel, told The Daily Star that Moqbel called his wife to relay the militant’s demands […]

  The army deployed heavily in the Bab al-Tabbaneh neighborhood in the northern coastal city of Tripoli on Monday and detained a number of militants, who have engaged in deadly battles with the military since Friday. The military said in a communique that troops found several arms depots and a factory for manufacturing bombs during […]

  BEIRUT: In another show of solidarity for the Lebanese Army in its ongoing battle against jihadi militants, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale said Monday that the Lebanese government could count on the United States for continued support to the military and security forces. “I can say speaking for the United States of America, […]

Riyadh (AFP) – Activists pushing for women’s right-to-drive in Saudi Arabia declared their online campaign a success Sunday, in the world’s only country where women are not allowed to operate cars.

The campaign that began last year and revved up again since the beginning of the month encouraged women to post online images of themselves driving.

Dozens of women have driven and posted during the latest campaign, one activist said, although she knew of only two who hit the streets Saturday and Sunday as the campaign peaked.

"A day hasn’t gone by without receiving one or two videos" of women driving, said the activist.

Men and women have also posted messages of support.

More than 2,800 people have signed an online petition at www.oct26driving.com asking authorities to lift the ban on women driving.