Kareem Chehayeb
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chehayebk.bsky.social
Kareem Chehayeb
@chehayebk.bsky.social
Middle East reporter at The Associated Press, usually reporting on Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. kchehayeb@ap.org
Death toll from Israel's overnight strikes in Gaza reaches 81. Hospital officials expect that number to go up.

Israel’s military has since said the ceasefire is back on.

apnews.com/article/isra...
Israel's military says ceasefire is back on as death toll from overnight strikes in Gaza reaches 81
The death toll in Gaza from overnight Israeli strikes has climbed to 81. Previously, at least 60 people, including many children, were reported killed.
apnews.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:47 AM
#Syria: Druze seek Sweida autonomy and some turn toward Israel, adding new twist to Syria’s tensions

Dozens of armed factions originally formed to counter drug gangs and Islamic State group extremists have banded together under the National Guard.

apnews.com/article/syri...
Druze seek Sweida autonomy and turn toward Israel, adding new twist to Syria's tensions
When Syrian government forces entered the minority Druze enclave of Sweida this summer, it backfired.
apnews.com
October 1, 2025 at 7:27 AM
A Lebanese dancer defies extremist threats and social norms with his sold-out performances

“They think if one looks a certain way, that means they have an agenda to convert society. If the society was going to convert, it would have happened hundreds of years ago.”

apnews.com/article/leba...
A Lebanese dancer defies extremist threats and social norms with his sold-out performances
Lebanese dancer Alexandre Paulikevitch takes to the stage in Beirut, defying extremist threats. His sold-out performance, which includes wearing dresses and dancing to classical Arabic music, has ange...
apnews.com
September 15, 2025 at 6:21 AM
US envoy: Saudi Arabia, Qatar to invest in Lebanon economic zone for disarmed Hezbollah

@apnews.com

apnews.com/article/leba...
US envoy: Saudi Arabia, Qatar to invest in Lebanon economic zone for disarmed Hezbollah
Saudi Arabia and Qatar are ready to invest in an economic zone in south Lebanon. This zone aims to create jobs for Hezbollah members and supporters if they disarm.
apnews.com
August 26, 2025 at 1:48 PM
#GAZA: Photos editors from the @apnews.com curated photos by Mariam Dagga.

She was often based at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

Israeli strikes that hit the hospital Monday killed at least 20 people, among them Mariam and three other journalists.

apnews.com/photo-galler...
Photos by journalist Mariam Dagga
Mariam Dagga, a visual freelance journalist for The Associated Press, chronicled the stream of wounded and dead that every day flowed into southern Gaza’s main hospital, where she was often based.
apnews.com
August 26, 2025 at 9:15 AM
#GAZA: Multiple journalists killed by Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital, including a freelance journalist who worked for @apnews.com.

At least 8 people were killed in a double-tap strike on the 4th floor, Gaza's Health Ministry said, the second attack came as rescue crews arrived.
August 25, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Iran orders a day of business and office closures to relieve electric grid in heat wave

apnews.com/article/iran...
Iran orders a day of business and office closures to relieve electric grid in heat wave
Iran has ordered government offices and banks across much of the country to close for a day. Surging summer temperatures and a worsening water crisis are straining the power grid.
apnews.com
August 5, 2025 at 10:02 AM
“We will do to them what every mother and father would do if someone killed their child"

#Beirut Port Blast 5 years later. We bring some of the latest on the ongoing investigation, and spoke to two families who lost loved ones in the explosion.

@apnews.com

apnews.com/article/leba...
A father's grief and a nation's hope: Lebanon awaits justice 5 years after Beirut blast
Five years after the Beirut port explosion, families of victims are still seeking justice. The blast, caused by detonated ammonium nitrate, killed at least 218 people and devastated the city.
apnews.com
August 4, 2025 at 5:51 AM
Fresh clashes break out in Syria as the interim government struggles to ease tensions

apnews.com/article/syri...
Fresh clashes break out in Syria as the interim government struggles to ease tensions
New outbreaks of violence overnight into Sunday have rocked Syria at two distinct flashpoints, straining a fragile ceasefire and calling into question the ability of the transitional government to exe...
apnews.com
August 3, 2025 at 1:39 PM
First group of Syrian refugees returns home from Lebanon under new UN plan

apnews.com/article/leba...
First group of Syrian refugees returns home from Lebanon under new UN plan
The first group of Syrian refugees has returned home from Lebanon under a new plan developed by the United Nations and the Lebanese government.
apnews.com
July 29, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Lebanon mourns iconic composer Ziad Rahbani. His mother Fayrouz, 90, one of the Arab world's most esteemed singers, makes rare appearance.

apnews.com/article/fayr...
Lebanon mourns iconic composer Ziad Rahbani as mother Fayrouz makes rare appearance
Hundreds of people in Lebanon have paid tribute to iconic composer, pianist and playwright Ziad Rahbani, who died over the weekend.
apnews.com
July 28, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Gaza's Health Ministry says 113 Palestinians have died of starvation since Oct 2023.

48 of them died this month alone. International organizations have called Israel to lift its aid blockade

Hamas earlier said that it delivered its response to a ceasefire proposal to mediators.
July 24, 2025 at 11:37 AM
#Syria’s armed Bedouins say they have withdrawn from Druze-majority Sweida after weeklong fighting

Dozens of aid convoys are en route to the city.

More updates as we get them.

@apnews.com

apnews.com/article/syri...
Syria's armed Bedouins say they have withdrawn from Druze-majority city after weeklong fighting
Armed Bedouin clans in Syria have withdrawn from the southern city of Sweida after over a week of deadly clashes. A U.S.
apnews.com
July 20, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Syrian forces withdraw from Sweida after ceasefire goes into effect

Druze factions and clerics have been appointed to maintain internal security in Sweida, Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa said in an address broadcasted early Thursday.

@apnews.com

apnews.com/article/syri...
Syrian forces withdraw from Sweida after ceasefire goes into effect
Syrian government forces have started withdrawing from the southern province of Sweida following days of vicious clashes with militias from the Druze minority.
apnews.com
July 17, 2025 at 10:17 AM
#Sweida, #Syria: “They shot my husband in the hip ... The ambulance took him to the hospital. Since then, we have no idea what has happened.”

Israel strikes in Damascus as clashes between gov't forces and #Druze groups rage on in southern Syria

@apnews.com

apnews.com/article/syri...
Israel strikes in Damascus as clashes between government forces and Druze groups in Syria rage on
Clashes raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatened to escalate its involvement, saying it’s in su...
apnews.com
July 16, 2025 at 12:07 PM
US Envoy Tom Barrack said he was satisfied with #Lebanon's response to a proposal to disarm Hezbollah.

“What the government gave us was something spectacular in a very short period of time and a very complicated manner."

@bmroue.bsky.social @apnews.com

apnews.com/article/leba...
U.S. envoy receives the Lebanese government's response to Hezbollah disarmament proposal
A U.S. envoy says he is satisfied with Lebanon’s response to a proposal to disarm Hezbollah. Speaking Monday after meeting Lebanon’s president, the envoy, Tom Barrack, said both sides are committed to...
apnews.com
July 7, 2025 at 12:01 PM
#Syria has not had more than four hours of state electricity per day for years, but Washington's recent lifting of most sanctions might change that in the not too distant future...

apnews.com/article/syri...
With sanctions lifted, Syria looks to solar power as more than a patchwork fix to its energy crisis
Syria is working to rebuild its energy sector after years of civil war and crippling sanctions. The country has suffered severe electricity shortages, with only those who can afford them using costly ...
apnews.com
July 7, 2025 at 8:36 AM
82 Palestinians killed in Gaza, including 38 people waiting for aid, authorities say

apnews.com/article/isra...
82 Palestinians killed in Gaza, including 38 people waiting for aid, authorities say
Israel’s military did not have immediate comment on the strikes Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
apnews.com
July 3, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Professional stuff aside...man, what a time to be alive.
June 24, 2025 at 11:08 AM
#Qatar says its air defenses intercepted 18/19 Iranian missiles targeting the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base

Barrage 7 missiles intercepted over water, and then the other 11 were intercepted over land.

One landed on the base, but there were no casualties. Extent of damage unclear.
June 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Suicide bomber kills at least 20 in Greek Orthodox church in #Syria during Divine Liturgy

apnews.com/article/syri...
Suicide bomber kills at least 20 in Greek Orthodox church in Syria during Divine Liturgy
State media says a suicide bomber in Syria has detonated himself inside a church filled with people, killing at least 20.
apnews.com
June 22, 2025 at 7:28 PM
And now we do.
June 22, 2025 at 8:59 AM
“I may do it, I may not do it ... I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.” - U.S. President Donald Trump

As Israel strikes #Iran, many wonder if the US will deepen its involvement

Joseph Krauss for @apnews.com

apnews.com/article/isra...
As Israel strikes Iran, many wonder if the US will deepen its involvement
As Israeli strikes kill top Iranian generals, take out air defenses and damage nuclear sites, many wonder if President Donald Trump will deepen U.S. involvement in the conflict.
apnews.com
June 19, 2025 at 5:15 AM