Lebanon

Beirut Building Collapse Renews Fears Over Unsafe Structures
Beirut Building Collapse Renews Fears Over Unsafe Structures

A residential building collapsed on Tuesday afternoon near the Tayouneh roundabout in southern Beirut, prompting urgent warnings from the Lebanese Real Estate Association about the country’s deteriorating infrastructure. According to Civil Defense officials, the building gave way due to structural cracks caused by repeated Israeli airstrikes ...

In Washington, Morgan Ortagus Praises President Joseph Aoun’s Leadership
In Washington, Morgan Ortagus Praises President Joseph Aoun’s Leadership

At a reception held on Tuesday at the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, Morgan Ortagus, Deputy Special Envoy of US President Donald Trump for the Middle East, reaffirmed the Trump administration’s focus on the region and delivered a strong message of support for Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. A Tribute to President Aoun In her remarks, Ortagus ...

Israeli Strikes Kill Hezbollah Commander and Islamist Group Leader
Israeli Strikes Kill Hezbollah Commander and Islamist Group Leader

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border intensified on Tuesday following a series of Israeli drone and artillery strikes that killed two high-ranking militants, including a Hezbollah commander and a senior figure in the Islamist group Jamaa Islamiya. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army’s Arabic-speaking spokesperson, confirmed that the strike ...

Lebanon to Overhaul Groundwater Drilling Licensing System
Lebanon to Overhaul Groundwater Drilling Licensing System

Lebanon's Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Saddi, announced on Tuesday a major reform of the country's groundwater drilling licensing system, as part of an effort to improve water resource management. The reform is being developed in collaboration with experts from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and ...

Sandstorm Sweeps Across Lebanon: Dusty Skies and Health Warnings Issued
SpotlightSandstorm Sweeps Across Lebanon: Dusty Skies and Health Warnings Issued

A powerful sandstorm is sweeping across Lebanon, turning skies hazy and covering major regions—including the Bekaa, Tripoli, Beirut, and Saida—in a dense layer of dust. Visibility has dropped dramatically, and the entire country feels cloaked in a golden fog. Where’s It Coming From? This storm is the result of a collision between a ...

Hezbollah to Aoun: Bring It On!
Op-edHezbollah to Aoun: Bring It On!

Hezbollah is thumbing its nose at President Joseph Aoun. In response to the Lebanese President saying that he was in talks with the militia over surrendering its arms, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said, “We will confront whoever assaults the resistance and tries to disarm it the same way we faced Israel.” Now what? While Aoun remained silent, ...

Parliament Sets Legislative Priorities, Rejects Municipal Election Delay
Parliament Sets Legislative Priorities, Rejects Municipal Election Delay

The Lebanese Parliament Bureau met on Tuesday in Ain el-Tineh under the leadership of Speaker Nabih Berri to finalize the agenda for the legislative session scheduled for Thursday. The meeting focused on several high-priority draft laws, including a proposal to amend Lebanon’s banking secrecy regulations and plans for the upcoming municipal ...

Lebanon: Army Retirees Demand Pension Hike, Threaten Protests
Lebanon: Army Retirees Demand Pension Hike, Threaten Protests

In a press conference held Tuesday, retired Lebanese army personnel intensified their demands for immediate salary adjustments and improved living conditions, citing years of neglect and financial marginalization. They called on the government to act swiftly, warning of continued protests if their grievances remain unaddressed. The retirees ...

Municipal Elections: How Will Amal and Hezbollah Adjust?
Municipal Elections: How Will Amal and Hezbollah Adjust?

May appears to be a pivotal moment for Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, as Lebanon heads toward municipal elections that could serve as a litmus test for broader political shifts leading up to the 2026 parliamentary vote. These elections will take place against the backdrop of a deeply altered national climate, marked by a major war that has ...

Lebanon’s Banking Secrecy Reform: A Threat to Privacy, Legal Security, and Economic Trust
SpotlightLebanon’s Banking Secrecy Reform: A Threat to Privacy, Legal Security, and Economic Trust

As Lebanon grapples with a deep financial crisis and seeks to overhaul its banking system, a proposed amendment to the country’s banking secrecy law has sparked major controversy. Though introduced under the banner of transparency and reform, the changes raise serious concerns about individual privacy, data protection, investor confidence, and ...

FM Reportedly Summoned Iranian Ambassador Over Hezbollah Arms Remarks
FM Reportedly Summoned Iranian Ambassador Over Hezbollah Arms Remarks

Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has reportedly summoned Iran’s ambassador to Beirut, Mojtaba Amani, following controversial statements made by the diplomat on social media, according to the al-Markazia news agency. The Iranian ambassador’s remarks, posted on X (formerly Twitter), were viewed as politically sensitive in Lebanon’s ...

Beirut's Municipality: A Small-Scale Republic
Op-edBeirut's Municipality: A Small-Scale Republic

Beirut’s municipality is, in truth, more than a municipal body, yet smaller than a republic. It is effectively a quasi-state, given the sheer number of people who enter the city each day for work or residence — a figure that amounts to nearly half of Lebanon’s population. More than 60 percent of the country’s registered vehicles also enter ...