Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas holds first talks with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal
Latest reports from Syria say government forces have launched air raids right up to Lebanon's border town of Arsal. Observers say this is a significant advance in the Assad regime's drive to seal the Lebanese border and sever rebel supply lines. Earlier this week, Syria exchanged cross-border shelling with Israel. RFI spoke to Mona Yacoubian, a Middle East expert, about whether these attacks are likely to further escalate.