Hezbollah Leader’s Assassination: Lebanon at a Crossroads
Joanne Naoum 28/09 23:19 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Today marks a significant turning point for Lebanon and Hezbollah, which has suffered a devastating blow with the killing of its Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, after decades of leadership in the Iran-backed group. Nasrallah and other key commanders were killed in a major Israeli airstrike targeting the group’s underground headquarters ...
Rush at Lebanese-Syrian Border as People Flee War in Lebanon
Joanne Naoum 25/09 20:47 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Photos and videos circulating across Lebanese media of long queues of cars at the Lebanese-Syrian border illustrate the exodus triggered by Israel’s ongoing massive air offensive on Lebanon. For the past few days, Lebanon has been grappling with relentless Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah’s strongholds amid mounting fears of an imminent ...
The Government Turning a Blind Eye to Hezbollah’s Weapon-Laden Tunnels
Joanne Naoum 27/08 16:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
In his latest speech, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah called on the Lebanese to “rest” and “go back to their homes,” in southern Lebanon, announcing that revenge for the killing of top Hezbollah commander Fouad Shokr in an Israeli strike in Beirut’s Southern suburb had been “accomplished.” But incessant cross-border ...
Political Obstacles to Building a New Airport: A Closer Look
Joanne Naoum 15/08 22:57 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
With Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport as Lebanon's only operational airport, the urgent need for a second airport is critical. Lebanon teeters on the brink of an all-out war, fueled by the Gaza conflict and the ongoing cross-border skirmishes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army. Should tomorrow's Doha negotiations fail to ...
The Role of Psychological Warfare on the Battlefield
Joanne Naoum 10/08 07:54 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
In times of war, the language of power dominates, with the growl of artillery filling conflict zones, leaving behind devastation and fear. Alongside physical confrontations, a non-lethal battle unfolds through "psychological propaganda". This psychological warfare wields an influence as powerful as the violence of war, impacting both military ...
Fleeing Lebanon Becomes a Costly Nightmare Amid Escalating Conflict
Joanne Naoum 06/08 20:38 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The war between Hezbollah and Israel has shifted gravely. The Middle East is in turmoil waiting for what seems to be a devastating all-out war. Diplomatic efforts to prevent a conflagration are relentless. Foreign embassies call on their nationals to “leave Lebanon immediately by taking any available flight.” The fear and apprehension ...
Gaza 'Support Front:' The Staggering Cost on Lebanon
Joanne Naoum 17/07 11:19 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Palestine Hassan Nasrallah Hezbollah Israel
After the July war in 2006, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah flabbergasted the Lebanese by declaring a “divine victory” against Israel. Lebanon had paid a heavy cost for this so-called “victory” with countless human losses and massive destruction, from which it took years to recover. Once again, Nasrallah disregarded the ...
Beirut’s Downtown Under Siege: Why Are the Concrete Barriers Still There?
Joanne Naoum 27/06 13:03 - Reading : 5 minute(s)
Walking through Beirut’s downtown ghost town feels surreal. Sieged from every angle, what was once a vibrant city, now resembles a prison. Yet, Downtown Beirut is reviving. New boutiques, cafes, and hotels are emerging, defying all odds, particularly in the shadow of an all-out war looming between Hezbollah and Israel. Some say this is what ...
Registration of Syrian Refugee Births... A Persisting Challenge
Joanne Naoum 20/06 13:33 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Syrian refugees and migrants in Lebanon, whose number is believed to have exceeded two million, compared to the Lebanese population of six million, are a hot subject of local debates. However, what is even more concerning, is the fast-growing number of unregistered Syrian births. Thirteen years have passed since the war in Syria, and yet, ...
Zouk Power Plant: Inflammable Chemicals Yet to Be Removed
Joanne Naoum 13/06 18:13 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Three years on, hazardous inflammable materials that have been stored at the Zouk Mikael thermal power plant in Keserwan have yet to be relocated. The issue is on the agenda of the caretaker government’s meeting on Friday. In the meantime, Lebanese officials are trading blame for the lack of action. Minister of the Environment Nasser Yassine ...
Why Did Hezbollah Launch an Appeal to Finance its Armament?
Joanne Naoum 07/06 14:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Hezbollah did not stop at involving Lebanon unwillingly in the war against Israel “in support of Gaza”, but went as far as involving civilians in a donation campaign to finance the purchase of missiles, and the acquisition of drones to continue its fight against the Hebrew state. At war since October 8, the pro-Iranian party has broadcasted, ...
Hazardous Materials in Zouk’s Thermal Plant: Another Ticking Bomb?
Joanne Naoum 29/05 16:56 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
In 2020, while Lebanese citizens were still reeling from the devastating Beirut port explosion, alarming news surfaced about the presence of ammonium nitrate at the Zouk Mikael thermal plant factory in Keserwan, Mount Lebanon. This revelation sparked fears of another possible deadly catastrophe. Four years later, no official has been held ...
Crimes Involving Syrians Increasing amid State's Weak Capacities
Joanne Naoum 06/05 19:19 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Amid a national outcry about the protracted presence of displaced Syrians, compounded by calls to tighten control on their illegal residence, the rise in criminality in recent weeks involving Syrians is increasing tensions with their Lebanese hosts. The latest of these crimes occurred on Saturday (May 4) at Universal residence in Beirut, ...
Attieh to TIB: A Meeting Is Due This Afternoon With the Quintet Ambassadors
Joanne Naoum 17/04 13:29 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The National Moderation parliamentary bloc initiative is hanging by a thread. The MPs are set to meet with the ambassadors of the Quintet committee this afternoon at their headquarters in Saifi to try to find common grounds for a potential breach in the deadlock in the presidential election. "It's our last opportunity, and regardless of the ...
Berri – FPM Meetings, a Prelude to a Rapprochement?
Joanne Naoum 04/04 20:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) led by Gebran Bassil is reportedly seeking to improve relations with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, but the question of a rapprochement between the two adversaries was utterly denied by the Speaker’s circle. Nonetheless, a new dynamic in relations between the FPM and Berri’s Amal Movement was ushered in ...
Why Did Hezbollah Deploy Heavily in Dahyeh Yesterday?
Joanne Naoum 21/03 17:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
In a scene that raised concern among residents, masked and armed members of Hezbollah deployed heavily on Wednesday night in Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahyeh), checking people’s identities in a move aimed at tightening control over the party’s stronghold. Security concerns are the main motive for Hezbollah’s heightened control amid its ...
Is the National Moderation Initiative Rolling Against All Odds?
Joanne Naoum 11/03 20:17 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
The initiative that MPs of the National Moderation Bloc have been trying to sell to opposing political parties in an attempt to pave the way for the long-delayed presidential election is still under scrutiny, despite the urgency of filling the state’s top post amid Lebanon’s multiple crises. Bloc member MP Walid Baarini is hopeful ...
International Support Grows for LAF Amid Ceasefire Negotiations
Joanne Naoum 01/03 17:12 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Significant international support is currently being extended to the Lebanese Army. The international community places great reliance on the institution's pivotal role and legitimacy as the sole and legal protector of the country, a sentiment shared by the majority of the Lebanese population. Diplomatic envoys have consistently advocated ...