Abbie Cheeseman @cheesemanab.bsky.social · 21/05/2026Working for WaPo’s Middle East team was an honour. But I made the heartwrenching decision to leave the paper last month. I’m still in Lebanon and open for all kinds of new opportunities. If your newsroom is looking for narrative-driven accountability reporting (or other things!) do reach out 031
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanErin Cunningham @erinmcunningham.bsky.social · 30/01/2026Our 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. 04718
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanErin Cunningham @erinmcunningham.bsky.social · 21/10/2025Just 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...washingtonpost.comHow Israeli strikes that killed 5 journalists at a Gaza hospital unfoldedThe 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. 22014
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanJohn Hudson @johnphudson.bsky.social · 18/03/2025NEW: 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 mewashingtonpost.comTrump terminates program tracking mass abductions of Ukrainian childrenObservers fear the move has compromised evidence of war crimes by Russian officials and will hinder efforts to rescue thousands of missing Ukrainian children. 21507209
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanErin Cunningham @erinmcunningham.bsky.social · 10/03/2025Mahmoud 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...washingtonpost.comPalestinian protester arrested by ICE despite green card, lawyer saysMahmoud Khalil is being detained as his lawyer fights for his release. 184
Abbie Cheeseman @cheesemanab.bsky.social · 10/03/2025A 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...washingtonpost.comHundreds reported killed in sectarian violence in Syria’s Alawite heartlandThe killings occurred in the heartland of Syria’s Alawite minority, escalating after a nascent insurgency formed against the Sunni Islamist government. 55226
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanMatthew Hay Brown @matthewhaybrown.bsky.social · 24/02/2025BREAKING/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...washingtonpost.comTrump repeals Biden directive linking U.S. arms to human rightsRescission 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. 22318
Reposted by Abbie Cheesemansternbryanfellow.bsky.social @sternbryanfellow.bsky.social · 20/02/2025@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) 101
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanKareem Fahim @kareemf.bsky.social · 10/02/2025“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...washingtonpost.comLive briefing: Trump says Palestinians displaced by U.S. proposal would not return; Hamas delays hostage releaseHamas on Monday said it would delay “until further notice” the release of three Israeli hostages set for Saturday. 023
Abbie Cheeseman @cheesemanab.bsky.social · 06/02/2025Trump doubles down on his Gaza proposal in a post on Truth Social, after White House officials tried to tone them down yesterday 032
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanJared Malsin @jmalsin.bsky.social · 03/02/2025The 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...wsj.comExclusive | U.S. Readies New $1 Billion Arms Sale to IsraelThe 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 ... 287
Abbie Cheeseman @cheesemanab.bsky.social · 03/02/2025Ok, 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. 2101
Abbie Cheeseman @cheesemanab.bsky.social · 02/02/2025"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...washingtonpost.comIsrael is building outposts in Syria, raising local fears of occupationThe new construction, visible in satellite imagery, suggests an extended presence. Israel says its forces will stay as long as needed to protect its citizens. 14518
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanMeg Kelly @megkelly.bsky.social · 01/02/2025NEW: 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...washingtonpost.comArmy helicopter was alerted to plane’s presence two minutes before collisionIt was the first of two warnings before the crash that left 67 people feared dead, radio transmissions show. 032
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanMeg Kelly @megkelly.bsky.social · 20/01/2025“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/3CbxXdbwapo.stDespite truce, Israel has damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in LebanonThe Israeli military also moved into dozens of new positions across southern Lebanon in the first 40 days of the ceasefire. 242
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanAdam Baron @adammbaron.bsky.social · 20/01/2025As 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). 146
Abbie Cheeseman @cheesemanab.bsky.social · 20/01/2025"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 030
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanErin Cunningham @erinmcunningham.bsky.social · 19/01/2025The 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...washingtonpost.comDespite truce, Israel has damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in LebanonThe Israeli military also moved into dozens of new positions across southern Lebanon in the first 40 days of the ceasefire. 0137
Abbie Cheeseman @cheesemanab.bsky.social · 19/01/2025In 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...washingtonpost.comDespite truce, Israel has damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings in LebanonThe Israeli military also moved into dozens of new positions across southern Lebanon in the first 40 days of the ceasefire. 163
Abbie Cheeseman @cheesemanab.bsky.social · 15/12/2024Turkey 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...washingtonpost.comTurkey exploits post-9/11 counterterrorism model to target critics in exileTurkey has drawn extensively from the U.S. counterterrorism post-9/11 playbook to go after exiled political enemies, in particular the Gulen movement. 042
Abbie Cheeseman @cheesemanab.bsky.social · 04/12/2024Iran 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...washingtonpost.comIran 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. 140
Reposted by Abbie CheesemanErin Cunningham @erinmcunningham.bsky.social · 03/12/2024"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... 1610978
Abbie Cheeseman @cheesemanab.bsky.social · 20/11/2024Killed, 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/3AXiKLZwapo.stIsrael’s war on Hezbollah takes terrible toll on Lebanon’s childrenAt least 231 children have been killed and 1,330 injured, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. 12412