Rockets in South Lebanon: A Message of Military and Political Escalation
Bassam Abou Zeid 22/03 17:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanon USA Hezbollah Israel South Lebanon
Lebanese security services are working to identify those truly responsible for the rockets launched from southern Lebanon toward Israel on Saturday. Military intelligence views the attack as suspicious, believing it is an attempt to drag Lebanon back into war. In response, Lebanese authorities are intensifying diplomatic efforts—particularly ...
TotalEnergies’ Operations Linked to Politics as Lebanon Pursues Onshore Exploration
Bassam Abou Zeid 18/03 21:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Emmanuel Macron Hezbollah Israel Joseph Aoun
In his upcoming visit to France on March 28, President Joseph Aoun is expected to once again raise, with French President Emmanuel Macron, the issue of TotalEnergies resuming its operations in Lebanon. Aoun had previously requested Macron’s assistance during the French president's visit to Lebanon in January, but there has been no progress on ...
Washington Begins Addressing Border Issues Between Lebanon and Israel
Bassam Abou Zeid 11/03 20:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Israel Washington Amos Hochstein Donald Trump Hezbollah
The Americans and Israelis surprised the Lebanese by announcing the imminent launch of indirect negotiations to resolve the dispute along the southern border, specifically at the five points still occupied by Israel following the war in support of Gaza. The talks will also address the 13 remaining points of contention along the Blue Line. Notably, ...
Israeli Airstrikes: A Renewed Message to Hezbollah
Bassam Abou Zeid 09/03 11:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The recent wave of Israeli airstrikes, carried out between Friday night and Saturday across various areas of southern Lebanon, spanning both the southern and northern banks of the Litani River, has garnered significant attention and raised many questions. It is worth noting that these strikes, as well as targeted eliminations, have continued ...
Combating Paramilitary Financing: Key to Keeping Lebanon Off the Gray List
Bassam Abou Zeid 05/03 11:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon Central Bank Economy Hezbollah
Lebanon's inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray list can largely be attributed to the lack of cooperation from Lebanese authorities in combating the financing of paramilitary groups, particularly Hezbollah, as well as other organizations like Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Movement. The failure to address this issue was largely ...
A New Chapter for Lebanon in Saudi Arabia and the Arab Summit
Bassam Abou Zeid 02/03 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
lebanon Saudi Arabia Arab Summit
The first visit of President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, to Saudi Arabia marks the beginning of a series of future visits to the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly expressed its willingness to support a Lebanon that is committed to reforms, stability, and fostering strong ties both with the international community and Arab countries. This ...
Reconstruction in the Hands of the State and Hezbollah
Bassam Abou Zeid 22/02 12:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Hezbollah Iran Reconstruction World Bank
With Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s funeral set to conclude this Sunday, Hezbollah will soon face pressing challenges it has sought to evade — both within its own ranks and across Lebanese society. The Hezb urgently needs a massive influx of Iranian funds to fulfill its long-standing reconstruction promises. However, recent developments indicate a ...
The Aftermath of the War: Hezbollah’s Role and Responsibility
Bassam Abou Zeid 17/02 11:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah Gulf Israel
It is becoming increasingly clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran and Hezbollah have yet to come to terms with the end of Hezbollah’s military and security role as the armed wing of the Islamic Revolution. Therefore, they are attempting by all means to maintain a foothold that would allow Hezbollah to reassert itself. However, the prevailing ...
The New Hariri
Bassam Abou Zeid 14/02 20:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
The leader of the Future Movement, Saad Hariri, returns to the political arena after three years of suspended political activity. He has given his supporters a boost of enthusiasm, enabling them to first participate in municipal and electoral council elections, followed by parliamentary elections. However, the specifics of engaging in these ...
Government: Salam and the Lebanese Forces Get the Lion’s Share
Bassam Abou Zeid 08/02 21:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)
Joseph Aoun Nawaf Salam Lebanese forces government
The first government of President Joseph Aoun’s mandate reflects the shifting political balance in Lebanon after the war between Hezbollah and Israel, the collapse of the Syrian regime and Western — particularly American — and Arab (especially Saudi) efforts to help Lebanon engage on the path of building a state. Notably, Hezbollah and its ...
US Priorities in Lebanon: From Government Reforms to UN Resolution 1701
Bassam Abou Zeid 06/02 08:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon government Resolution 1701 USA Donald Trump
The American delegation visiting Lebanon on Thursday carries several important messages, particularly regarding Morgan Ortagus, who has succeeded Amos Hochstein. Ortagus has been given the responsibility of managing Lebanon's portfolio, which includes critical issues such as government formation, policy programs, Israeli withdrawal, the release of ...
Hezbollah and the Upcoming Phase
Bassam Abou Zeid 03/02 13:35 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Lebanon Hezbollah Government President Nawaf Salam Joseph Aoun
Hezbollah’s participation in the government, whether directly or indirectly, raises many questions about its political role in the coming period and whether it will contribute to Lebanon’s openness, reform, economic recovery and reconstruction. Some argue that the group’s position after the war with Israel has rendered its presence in the ...
South Lebanon: Israel to Remain Temporarily in Five Locations
Bassam Abou Zeid 25/01 07:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Israel South Lebanon Benjamin Netanyahu United Nations Hezbollah
Tel Aviv announced on Friday that its army will not withdraw completely from the areas it occupies in southern Lebanon when the 60-day ceasefire agreement expires on Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the phased withdrawal process would continue after January 27, “in agreement with the United States.” According ...
Taif Agreement Carries No Provision of Monopoly on Ministerial Portfolios
Bassam Abou Zeid 24/01 13:17 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Amal Hezbollah Taif agreement Finance Ministry government
For some in Lebanon, everything takes precedence over the law and the Constitution. Terms such as the National Pact, consensus, custom or even the “minutes of the Taif Agreement” are frequently misused to justify allocating the Ministry of Finance to the Shiite duo Amal-Hezbollah. This is not the first time the minutes of the Taif Agreement ...
Is a Fait Accompli Government on the Horizon?
Bassam Abou Zeid 22/01 16:25 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Amal Hezbollah Joseph Aoun Nawaf Salam
Will Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam and President Joseph Aoun succeed in forming a government that aligns with their expectations and meets the needs of the Lebanese people, all while resisting political pressures, particularly from Amal and Hezbollah? Although this outcome cannot entirely be ruled out, there are warnings against its ...
Tug of War Ahead of Government Formation to Address Upcoming Challenges
Bassam Abou Zeid 20/01 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Free Patriotic Movement Lebanese Forces Amal Hezbollah
The process of forming the first government under the new presidential term remains focused on defining the qualifications and criteria for appointing ministers. While it is acknowledged that ministers cannot be entirely detached from political considerations—even if they are not directly affiliated with parties—the challenge lies in balancing ...
What Form of Government for Nawaf Salam?
Bassam Abou Zeid 15/01 17:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Joseph Aoun Nawaf Salam government
The Lebanese, as well as the international community, notably the five nations making up the Quintet Committee (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, France, the United States and Qatar), are closely monitoring the formation of a government to be led by Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam. Informed political sources maintain that the government’s formation is ...
The State to Oversee Security and Arms in the Palestinian Camps
Bassam Abou Zeid 13/01 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Fatah Hamas Hezbollah Joseph Aoun
President Joseph Aoun's recent inaugural address resonated with a pivotal call to disarm Palestinian factions within refugee camps and reinstate security control to the state. This longstanding issue, lingering since the 2006 dialogue, now stands at a unique crossroads, offering a chance to address a critical chapter that fueled the Lebanese Civil ...
Regional and International Support for Joseph Aoun's Presidency
Bassam Abou Zeid 10/01 16:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon Presidency Joseph Aoun
The President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, enjoys significant regional and international support, notably from Saudi Arabia and the United States. Major European powers such as France, the United Kingdom and Germany also back the president. The Vatican, for its part, has expressed satisfaction with the election results. This regional and ...
Moumanaa’s Group of Three Backs a President to Maintain Control
Bassam Abou Zeid 07/01 14:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
President Lebanon Parliament FPM
Hezbollah, Amal and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) are deeply concerned about the intensifying political pressure they face in the wake of Hezbollah’s significant losses in the war, the collapse of the Syrian regime and growing Arab and international calls for a presidential election. They vehemently oppose any candidate who ...
The State, a Lifeline for Hezbollah’s Political Survival
Bassam Abou Zeid 02/01 17:59 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Army Lebanese State
Hezbollah, which unconditionally agreed to the terms of the ceasefire with Israel, is now leveraging certain Israeli actions in southern Lebanon as a pretext to disengage from the agreement and keep its arsenal. Simultaneously, it seeks to convince the Shiite community that their security hinges solely on their military strength, claiming that ...
Ongoing Negotiations Ahead of the January 9 Presidential Election
Bassam Abou Zeid 2024-12-27 14:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Lebanon President Election Parliament
As of today, it appears unlikely that the parliamentary session scheduled for January 9 will result in the election of a new president. However, the days leading up to this session are expected to see intense political activity, with hopes remaining high for a breakthrough—whether through consensus or by securing the necessary 65 votes. Many ...
Addressing Ceasefire Violations and Israeli Withdrawals: Efforts Underway in the Coming Days
Bassam Abou Zeid 2024-12-21 15:42 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Amos Hochstein Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel
According to sources close to Speaker Berri, Hochstein is expected to chair the next meeting of the monitoring committee after the Christmas and New Year holidays, as he promised to Berri. A Western diplomatic source following the committee's work noted that an assessment of the situation in the south after the November 27 ceasefire reveals ...
Palestinian Disarmament in the Context of Resolution 1701 Implementation
Bassam Abou Zeid 2024-12-19 18:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Fatah Hamas camps Palestinians Arms
In the context of the ceasefire agreement and the implementation of Resolution 1701, as well as previous resolutions such as 1559 and 1680, there is no mention of Palestinian weapons in Lebanon and the need to remove them, in line with international resolutions. And even though the National Dialogue held in March 2006 agreed on the need to ...
Assad Followers and Officers Sneaking into Lebanon
Bassam Abou Zeid 2024-12-11 15:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Damascus Hezbollah Assad Border Entry
The Lebanese-Syrian border, particularly the eastern sector, is in disarray as thousands of Syrians – mostly supporters of ousted President Bashar al-Assad's regime – illegally enter Lebanon. Security sources anticipate that, in the coming days, Syrian rebel factions will establish control over this border, focusing on the official crossings ...
Military Activity at the Eastern Borders
Bassam Abou Zeid 2024-12-07 13:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
With the escalation of the war in Syria and the expansion of areas controlled by opposition forces reaching the outskirts of the Homs area, concerns in Lebanon have grown about the possibility of the conflict spreading to its territory, particularly through the eastern borders in Arsal and Hermel. These concerns are heightened by Hezbollah’s ...
As Ceasefire Falters, Lebanon Urges Quick Action on Monitoring Committee
Bassam Abou Zeid 2024-12-02 20:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel Lebanon Ceasefire USA
The ceasefire in southern Lebanon is faltering, raising concerns among local, regional, and international key players about its potential collapse. In response, many of these parties rushed to initiate a series of contacts aimed at stabilizing the situation. However, their efforts have so far proven unsuccessful. Hezbollah retaliated against what ...
Le Drian Welcomes Election Date and Hopes for Tangible Outcomes
Bassam Abou Zeid 2024-11-28 19:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Donald Trump Joseph Aoun Lebanese Army Saudi Arabia UN Security Council USA
The announcement came as Le Drian was meeting with the Quintet ambassadors (United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar) at the Pine Residence, shortly before heading to Parliament. Berri invited Le Drian to observe part of the legislative session, during which Army Commander-in-Chief General Joseph Aoun’s term was extended. Aoun is ...
Le Drian's Mission: Swift Presidential Election or Negative Consequences
Bassam Abou Zeid 2024-11-28 08:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
Hezbollah Israel Lebanese Forces Saudi Arabia UN Security Council United Nations United States
A French diplomatic source disclosed that the visit of French presidential envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian, following the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, is aimed at pushing for the swift election of a president. Any delays in this process would reflect poorly on Lebanon in the eyes of the international community, which is closely monitoring the ...
Hochstein’s Visit: Outcome Still Pending
Bassam Abou Zeid 2024-11-19 20:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)
United States presidential envoy Amos Hochstein and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri have not yet concluded negotiations on a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Berri assigned his advisor, Ali Hamdan, to coordinate with Hochstein's team on resolving the remaining points of contention. Hochstein is pushing to finalize a framework that aligns ...