Lebanon

Residents Protest Against UNIFIL Patrol in Deir Siryan

This is Beirut 20/08 22:05 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Lebanese Army Europe Hezbollah UN Security Council UNIFIL

On Wednesday, residents of Deir Siryan, close to Hezbollah, protested after a Finnish UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) patrol reportedly entered private olive groves without being accompanied by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). The incident comes ahead of a vote on the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate, with the UN Security Council ...

The Silent Crisis of Lebanese Apples

Christiane Tager 20/08 21:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Gulf Saudi Arabia agriculture

In many mountain communities, apples are far more than a dessert – they are an economic pillar. Families depend on the harvest to cover schooling, healthcare and daily expenses. When apples go unsold, the entire rural economy wobbles. Juice, jams, artisanal cider and vinegar exist as alternatives, but they are insufficient to handle ...

US Signals Conditional UNIFIL Extension Amid Lebanese Security Concerns

This is Beirut 20/08 21:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon UNIFIL Security United States Mandate Nabih Berri

A US State Department source overseeing the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mission said Wednesday that the one-year extension for the peacekeeping force is not open-ended, but comes with a clear timeline to end its role. Speaking to MTV Lebanon, the official emphasized that the naval component will remain until the mission’s ...

Patriarch Rai’s Call for Hezbollah Disarmament Draws Backlash and Support

This is Beirut 20/08 18:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Bechara Rai Hezbollah Disarmament Controversy

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai’s firm stance on the disarmament of Hezbollah in a recent interview received immediate backlash and provocations from the party’s allies, but also strong backing from political, religious and civil groups who defended Bkerke’s position on national sovereignty. While Hezbollah supporters accused the ...

UNIFIL and LAF Discover Tunnel and Unexploded Ordnance in South Lebanon

This is Beirut 20/08 16:55 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Lebanese Army South Lebanon UNIFIL Hezbollah Weapons

UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) peacekeepers have discovered a 50-meter-long tunnel and several unexploded pieces of ordnance near the town of al-Qusayr in southern Lebanon, the mission announced Wednesday. The discovery was made in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), according to a UNIFIL press release. “In ...

China Pledges Stronger Infrastructure Support for Lebanon

This is Beirut 20/08 16:30 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Fayez Rassamny China infastructure

Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny met Wednesday with China’s new Ambassador to Lebanon, Chen Chuandong, during a courtesy visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of transport and infrastructure. During the meeting, Rasamny raised the issue of a Chinese donation of 100 buses to support Lebanon’s public ...

Salam and Berri Call for Crucial Renewal of UNIFIL’s Mandate

This is Beirut 20/08 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Ceasefire Hezbollah UNIFIL Nabih Berri

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam underscored on Wednesday the crucial role of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, saying that renewing its mandate is essential for maintaining calm and helping the army assert state authority across the region. During a meeting at the Grand Serail, attended by U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin, members of the congressional ...

LAF Destroys Cannabis Crops, Seizes Drugs and Captagon-Making Equipment

This is Beirut 20/08 14:50 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Baalbeck Lebanese Army captagon

The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) announced on Wednesday that one of its units destroyed seven dunums of cannabis crops in the town of Zarazir, Baalbeck. In a statement, the Army Command said that as part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking, an army unit, supported by a patrol from the Intelligence Directorate, raided the homes of ...

Kataeb Condemn Hezbollah Threats

This is Beirut 20/08 13:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Joseph Aoun Iran

In a meeting on Wednesday under the chairmanship of its leader, Samy Gemayel, the Kataeb Party’s political bureau strongly condemned recent threats by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who warned that any attempt to disarm his group would “spark a civil war and end life in Lebanon.” The Kataeb reiterated their “rejection of ...

Economy Minister Warns Generator Owners of Legal Action Over Non-Compliance

This is Beirut 20/08 12:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Economy Ministry Energy Ministry Amer Bisat Generator

A high-level meeting on the private electricity generator sector brought together generator owners, representatives from the Ministries of Economy, Energy, Interior, and Environment, and security agencies. The session concluded with key regulatory decisions aimed at standardizing the sector. Speaking at a press conference following the meeting, ...

Rajji: State Monopoly Over Arms “Irreversible”

This is Beirut 20/08 12:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Hezbollah UN Security Council Joe Rajji

Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji affirmed Wednesday that the state’s monopoly over weapons is “irreversible,” stressing that the plan prepared by the army for this purpose will be submitted to the government in September. “The decision to place all weapons exclusively in the hands of state forces is a historic one taken by the government. ...

Rai: Pope Leo to Visit Lebanon Soon

This is Beirut 20/08 11:15 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Beshara Rai Pope Leo

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Rai revealed that Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Lebanon in December. Speaking in a television interview, Rai said, “We are waiting for the Vatican to announce the exact date of the visit.” When asked if he might visit Jerusalem again, the patriarch responded, “If the need arises, I will go.”