Lebanon

Hezbollah’s Threats: A Misreading of Lebanon’s Real Fabric
EditorialHezbollah’s Threats: A Misreading of Lebanon’s Real Fabric

In a country that truly upholds the rule of law, Hezbollah’s secretary-general, Sheikh Naim Qassem, would have faced prosecution for undermining national security, inciting sedition, and threatening civil peace. As the figurehead of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ outpost in Lebanon, he has reached new heights of recklessness, veering into ...

Terrorists' Brinkmanship
AnalysisTerrorists' Brinkmanship

The riddled negotiations taking place in Lebanon and Gaza and the equivocations of the Syrian transition are quite compelling since they convey the ambiguities undermining political stability in these different environments. Nonetheless, they illustrate the difficulties of political transitioning in countries partially or totally controlled by ...

President Joseph Aoun: Hezbollah’s Weapons Are an Internal Matter for the State
President Joseph Aoun: Hezbollah’s Weapons Are an Internal Matter for the State

The President of the Lebanese Republic, General Joseph Aoun, affirmed in an exclusive interview with Al-Arabiya channel on Sunday that “Iran is a friendly country, but on the basis of mutual respect and the preservation of sovereignty. It must be a friend to all components of the Lebanese society, not to one faction alone.” He stressed that ...

Sheikh Akl of the Druze Defends Walid Joumblatt’s Positions
Sheikh Akl of the Druze Defends Walid Joumblatt’s Positions

The spiritual leader of Lebanon's Druze community, Sheikh Akl Samy Abi el-Mona, has rejected accusations against Walid Joumblatt, saying that his positions “are the antithesis of betraying history and identity.” In a statement issued after consulting with leading religious dignitaries, the sheikh denounced “the project aimed at uprooting ...

Barrack-Ortagus in Brief: Support for Government and Army, Conditions on UNIFIL Renewal
Barrack-Ortagus in Brief: Support for Government and Army, Conditions on UNIFIL Renewal

Early on Monday morning, US envoy Tom Barrack, accompanied by Morgan Ortagus, will meet with President Joseph Aoun to discuss two interlinked essential issues: the second phase of consolidating state control over all weapons, and the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate in South Lebanon at the end of this month. According to official Lebanese sources, ...

Lebanese Army Denies Syrian Airspace Violations Amid Cross-Border Threats
Lebanese Army Denies Syrian Airspace Violations Amid Cross-Border Threats

The Lebanese Army has denied recent media claims that its Air Force breached Syrian airspace to monitor military activity along the border. Some news sources had suggested that the patrols were in response to threats from armed Syrian groups intending to enter Lebanon and carry out security operations.  In an official statement, the Army ...

Differences Between Paris and Washington Over UNIFIL’s Mandate
Differences Between Paris and Washington Over UNIFIL’s Mandate

Al-Jadeed TV revealed on Saturday differences between the United States and France over the renewal of the mandate of the UNIFIL force operating in southern Lebanon. Washington wants a one-year renewal, which would be the last, while Paris wants a renewal without specifying a duration. Political sources told the channel that meetings held in ...

President Aoun Inspects the Presidential Guard
President Aoun Inspects the Presidential Guard

The President of the Lebanese Republic, Joseph Aoun, paid a visit to the Presidential Guard company of the Internal Security Forces, where he was welcomed by the unit commander, as well as several officers and other personnel. During his tour, President Aoun inspected the company's building, inquired about the progress of the missions entrusted ...

‘Standard & Poor’s’ Maintains Lebanon’s Foreign Currency Rating at SD, Warns of Weak Governance
‘Standard & Poor’s’ Maintains Lebanon’s Foreign Currency Rating at SD, Warns of Weak Governance

The international credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s has raised Lebanon’s long-term local currency rating to CCC with a stable outlook, while maintaining its foreign currency rating at SD, according to Reuters. The agency explained that the risks of Lebanon defaulting on local debt remain, due to spending pressures, limited access to ...

South Lebanon: Mayor of Mari Targeted by Israeli Fire
South Lebanon: Mayor of Mari Targeted by Israeli Fire

The mayor of Mari, Youssef Fayad, narrowly escaped death after being hit by a barrage of Israeli fire that flew just above his head while he was accompanying an employee of the Southern Council near the Abbasiya-Majidiyeh intersection. An Israeli drone also targeted an excavator in the town of Aitaroun. Another dropped a sound bomb near farmers ...