Latest from Alex Martin Astley
Hezbollah’s Attack on Israel Drags Lebanon Back to War
After Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel to avenge the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Israeli airstrikes resumed across Lebanon, killing civilians and displacing some 700,000 people.
The Undimmed Passion of Damascus’ Pigeon Fanciers
Above Damascus, pigeons flying in tight formation trace arcs in the sky that crisscross and collide. It is a choreography as old and enchanting as the city itself. But as the country recovers from years of war, the centuries-old tradition of pigeon fanciers could be on its final flight.
Clearing Lebanon’s War Rubble
Lebanon is grappling with 32 million tons of rubble — and counting — created since war with Israel broke out in 2023. A controversial proposal to dump the debris in the Mediterranean is raising environmental concerns, while some advocate recycling it for reconstruction, amid government inaction and a financial crisis.