Lebanon

Border Tensions: Lebanese Army Clashes with Syrian Gunmen

This is Beirut 03/01 15:20 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanese Army Baalbeck Internal Security Forces Baalbeck

Multiple people were injured in Friday’s firefight between Syrian gunmen and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) in the town of Maarboun in the Baalbeck caza, which escalated security events near the Syrian border. Furthermore, in Akkar, armed Syrians crossed the border to illegally cut down trees. According to a statement issued by the Lebanese ...

Lebanese Nationals Barred From Entering Syria, Investigation Underway

This is Beirut 03/01 14:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Damascus Lebanese Army

Several Lebanese nationals were denied entry into Syria at the Masnaa border crossing on Thursday, taken aback by strict conditions newly imposed by Syrian authorities. A senior official from the Lebanese General Security (SG) stated to the local channel MTV on Friday that the department had not been informed of these new measures. According to ...

Chamoun: Joseph Aoun Is the Most Prominent Candidate

This is Beirut 03/01 14:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Joseph Aoun Lebanese Army opposition

MP Camille Chamoun announced on Friday that Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun is the opposition’s leading presidential candidate. He made this statement during a meeting with MP Samy Gemayel, the head of the Kataeb Party, at Gemayel’s residence in Bikfaya. Chamoun emphasized that the phase leading to the upcoming electoral session ...

Rising Tensions Between Hospitals and Insurers

Christiane Tager 03/01 11:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hospital Insurance Patients

A heated conflict has erupted between the Syndicate of Hospital Owners in Lebanon and the Association of Insurance Companies. The Syndicate of Hospital Owners in Lebanon, led by Sleiman Haroun, has announced that, starting February 2, 2025, hospitals will increase the rates agreed upon with insurance companies by 15%. This increase is aimed at ...

Incessant Ceasefire Violations as Israel Escalates Border Operations

This is Beirut 03/01 11:10 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Lebanese Army Israel South Lebanon

Civil Defense teams retrieved the bodies of three people from under the rubble in eastern Khiyam on Friday, as they continue their search for missing people. The General Directorate of the Civil Defense indicated in a statement. that “the search operations will resume Saturday morning until all missing persons are found.” Meanwhile, ...

Op-edElecting a President vs. Agreeing on One!

Johnny Kortbawi 03/01 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

President Election Lebanon MP

In the forthcoming session, Lebanon does not need to elect a president but rather to agree on one. This distinction is significant and critical, especially given the current circumstances. Electing a president could have been achieved before former President Michel Aoun left office, during successive and uninterrupted parliamentary sessions that ...

A second Iranian plane searched on Friday

This is Beirut 03/01 09:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Airport Lebanon Iran Bassam Maoulaoui

A second plane originating from Iran was thoroughly searched at Beirut International Airport on Friday, without causing any problems similar to those which erupted the previous day on arrival of the Iranian Mahan Air plane. Speaking in a television interview, caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi pointed out: “We only want to protect ...

Magro Hopes January 9 Will Be the Start of a New Era for Lebanon

This is Beirut 02/01 21:44 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron Israel Saudi Arabia UN Security Council United Nations

Hervé Magro, the French Ambassador to Lebanon, reiterated that France would “not relax its efforts to work together (with the Lebanese) so that Lebanon and its people regain the future they deserve” during his New Year’s greetings for 2025. After two years and two months of presidential vacancy, Magro said in a press release from the ...

Israel Raids Iqlim al-Tuffah for First Time Since Ceasefire Agreement

This is Beirut 02/01 20:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Ceasefire Hezbollah Israel

For the first time since the ceasefire, Israeli fighter jets launched two successive attacks on Thursday, targeting the heights of Iqlim al-Tuffah and Rihan–Jabal al-Zaghreen. Shortly thereafter, the Israeli army took responsibility for targeting Hezbollah rocket launchers, claiming that the Lebanese army “did not respond” to its request to ...

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 ...

Israel Retreats from Naqoura

This is Beirut 02/01 10:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel

Israeli forces retreated on Thursday from Naqoura toward Ras Al-Naqoura and Alma Al-Shaab, accompanied by sweeping operations using machine guns. Meanwhile, an Israeli drone has been flying at a low altitude over Beirut and its southern suburbs since Thursday morning. According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, the Israeli army reportedly ...

EditorialAudacity... Taken to a Whole New Level!

Marc Saikali 02/01 10:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon

In truth, however, as they feel the ground shifting beneath them and witness dissent growing even among their most loyal followers, Hezbollah's leaders are desperately trying to keep a confident front. It’s no surprise—criticism is becoming harder to ignore. Those who once believed in the victory narrative are now asking when they will be able ...