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Kareem Chehayeb

@chehayebk.bsky.social

6K followers 71 following 180 posts

Middle East reporter at The Associated Press, usually reporting on Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. [email protected]

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Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · 7d

#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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · 23d

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...

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Aug 26

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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Aug 26

#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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Aug 25

#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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Aug 5

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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Aug 4

“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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Aug 3

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...

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 29

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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 28

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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 24

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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 20

#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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 18

#Syria’s #Druze find bodies in the streets while searching for loved ones after days of clashes

@apnews.com

apnews.com/article/syri...

Syria's Druze find bodies in the streets while searching for loved ones after days of clashes

Members of Syria's Druze community are searching for loved ones and counting their dead after days of clashes in a southern province that left bloodied bodies of civilians on the streets and homes loo...

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 17

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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 16

#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...

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 7

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...

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 7

#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 ...

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 6

apnews.com/article/gaza...

Israeli airstrikes kill 38 Palestinians in Gaza

Hospital officials in Gaza say that Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 38 Palestinians. On Sunday, strikes killed 20 people in Gaza City and 18 in southern Gaza.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jul 3

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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jun 24

Professional stuff aside...man, what a time to be alive.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jun 23

#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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jun 22

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.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jun 22

And now we do.

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jun 19

“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.

Reposted by Kareem Chehayeb

Kareem Chehayeb @chehayebk.bsky.social · Jun 16

"I am living in the basement of a small hotel” - Hussein from Afghanistan trapped in Tehran

Airports close across the Mideast as the Israel-Iran conflict shutters the region’s airspace

apnews.com/article/isra...

Airports close across the Mideast as the Israel-Iran conflict shutters the region's airspace

The conflict between Israel and Iran has forced many countries in the Middle East to close their airspace, as Israeli jets and Iranian exploding drones and missiles fly over their night skies.