Abbie Cheeseman

Our int’l correspondents and local reporters around the world are the finest, most impressive and dedicated people I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. It is beyond belief that WaPo leaders could end all of this as soon as next week, retreating from the globe at such a perilous moment.

How Israeli strikes that killed 5 journalists at a Gaza hospital unfolded The strikes on Nasser Hospital fit what military and legal experts said has been a pattern of reckless targeting and weaponeering by Israeli forces in Gaza.

Just weeks before a ceasefire, Israel killed 5 Palestinian journalists at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, twice firing high-explosive tank rounds at the stairwell where they were operated. Experts said the strike fit a "pattern of recklessness" on the part of the IDF. www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...

NEW: The Trump administration's termination of a sensitive program tracking the mass abduction of Ukrainian children may have compromised the database, rendering it inadmissible in court, U.S. lawmakers tell me

Palestinian protester arrested by ICE despite green card, lawyer says Mahmoud Khalil is being detained as his lawyer fights for his release.

Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, whose pregnant wife is a U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE for his role leading negotiations between pro-Palestinian protesters and university officials at Columbia. His lawyer cannot find him. www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...

Hundreds reported killed in sectarian violence in Syria’s Alawite heartland The killings occurred in the heartland of Syria’s Alawite minority, escalating after a nascent insurgency formed against the Sunni Islamist government.

A team of doctors fled Al Qadmus hospital on foot through the woods yesterday, fearing execution. The vast majority of the injured and bodies they received were civilians, one doctor said -- almost all had gunshot wounds. "Entire families are being wiped out."
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Trump repeals Biden directive linking U.S. arms to human rights Rescission of the order, imposed by President Joe Biden as he struggled with the civilian toll caused by Israel’s war in Gaza, comes as Trump puts his mark on U.S. foreign policy.

BREAKING/EXCLUSIVE Trump has rescinded Biden regulation aimed at ensuring allies didn’t violate international law with U.S. weapons @megkelly31.bsky.social Missy Ryan and @alexhorton.bsky.social report
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

@cheesemanab.bsky.social on her experience last year as the @sternbryanfellow.bsky.social 'There are simply no other opportunities in British journalism like the Stern-Bryan fellowship. It is a life changing opportunity that the Post packs full of unforgettable experiences. (1/3)

Live briefing: Trump says Palestinians displaced by U.S. proposal would not return; Hamas delays hostage release Hamas on Monday said it would delay “until further notice” the release of three Israeli hostages set for Saturday.

“Our bookshop has made noise for them for many, many years. I know in my mind, they are trying to frighten us.” Israeli police raid storied Palestinian bookstore, seize books @cheesemanab.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Trump doubles down on his Gaza proposal in a post on Truth Social, after White House officials tried to tone them down yesterday

Exclusive | U.S. Readies New $1 Billion Arms Sale to Israel The Trump administration has asked congressional leaders to approve new transfers of roughly $1 billion worth of bombs and other military hardware to Israel, according to U.S. officials familiar with ...

The Trump administration has asked congressional leaders to approve new transfers of roughly $1 billion worth of bombs and other military hardware to Israel, according to U.S. officials familiar with the sale | New from me and Nancy Youssef: www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Ok, it's time to formally migrate over here. Hi! 👋

I'm also in a slightly different and new role, focusing on breaking news across the Middle East for @washingtonpost.com.

We're set for busy times ahead and I am all ears.

All tips and information welcome, securely, on Signal.

Israel is building outposts in Syria, raising local fears of occupation The new construction, visible in satellite imagery, suggests an extended presence. Israel says its forces will stay as long as needed to protect its citizens.

"Satellite imagery examined by The Post shows more than half a dozen structures and vehicles in the walled Israeli base, with nearly identical construction five miles to the south."

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Army helicopter was alerted to plane’s presence two minutes before collision It was the first of two warnings before the crash that left 67 people feared dead, radio transmissions show.

NEW: Army helicopter was alerted to plane’s presence two minutes before collision

from me, Ian Duncan, @samueloakford.bsky.social @evanhill.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

Despite truce, Israel has damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in Lebanon The Israeli military also moved into dozens of new positions across southern Lebanon in the first 40 days of the ceasefire.

“They are building the ship as they are sailing it,” a diplomat said of the committee meant to monitor the Nov. 27 cease fire.

Destruction across the south of Lebanon slowed but has not stopped since cease fire --> the latest from me +
@cheesemanab.bsky.social

Read here 🎁 wapo.st/3CbxXdb

As many have predicted for some time, in a new speech, Abdulmalek al-Houthi signals the group will hold fire in the Red Sea as long as the ceasefire in Gaza holds (albeit in the midst of a decent amount of typically martial rhetoric).

"For the first time, IPC Phase 4, or 'emergency' hunger conditions have been recorded in Lebanon, in the historic city of Baalbek, meaning households are facing high rates of malnutrition and resorting to extreme coping strategies," says
@savechildrenuk.bsky.social

Despite truce, Israel has damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in Lebanon The Israeli military also moved into dozens of new positions across southern Lebanon in the first 40 days of the ceasefire.

The most comprehensive look at the state of play in Lebanon since a 60-day ceasefire went into effect in November. Israeli forces have damaged or destroyed 100s of buildings in the border region since then, by @cheesemanab.bsky.social & @megkelly.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

But a senior member of the mechanism confirmed that the IDF is not regularly giving them notification ahead of strikes or military operations in the south, despite that being requested of them for every operation.

The U.S.-led mechanism to monitor the agreement will not say whether the 800+ buildings that have been detonated/bulldozed and the advancements are violations of the agreement. Lebanon says they are, Israel says they are not.

Despite truce, Israel has damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in Lebanon The Israeli military also moved into dozens of new positions across southern Lebanon in the first 40 days of the ceasefire.

In a ceasefire with Hezbollah Israel has been damaging & destroying buildings in southern Lebanon at a greater rate than during a year of cross-border fighting. It's also advanced into dozens more areas in search of weapons & tunnels. w/ @megkelly.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Turkey exploits post-9/11 counterterrorism model to target critics in exile Turkey has drawn extensively from the U.S. counterterrorism post-9/11 playbook to go after exiled political enemies, in particular the Gulen movement.

Turkey using ‘war on terror’ tactics, such as abductions and secret detentions, on critics in other countries. A wild ride of a read from @gregpmiller.bsky.social

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...

Iran is sending regional fighters to Syria. Can they save Assad again? Fighters from Hezbollah and Iraq’s Shiite militias have deployed to Syria to support government forces, but it’s unclear if they are capable of turning the tide.

Iran is scrambling to mobilize regional fighters to help prop up Assad & has deployed members of Hezbollah and Iraq’s Shiite militias to Syria, soldiers & commanders told the Post... but it’s unclear if they're capable of turning the tide @sgreports.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/1...

"Everything will burn" — A year of videos posted by Israeli soldiers in Gaza show the destruction of neighborhoods, torching of homes and schools, and troops posing next to dead bodies while calling for the extermination and expulsion of Palestinians. www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

Israel’s war on Hezbollah takes terrible toll on Lebanon’s children At least 231 children have been killed and 1,330 injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Killed, maimed, displaced & forced to work: war is exacting a heavy toll on Lebanon's children.

Over the past month we visited sites where kids were killed in airstrikes, hospitals treating the injured & displacement shelters.

Here are some of their stories: wapo.st/3AXiKLZ