This is Beirut

UAE Summons Israel Envoy to Condemn 'Cowardly' Qatar Attack

This is Beirut, 12/09 15:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Israel United Arab Emirates Benjamin Netanyahu Gulf Qatar Hamas

The United Arab Emirates said it summoned Israel's deputy ambassador in Abu Dhabi on Friday, in a formal rebuke of his country's attack targeting Hamas leaders in Gulf neighbour Qatar. The UAE, along with Bahrain, was the first Gulf country to normalize ties with Israel in 2020 and has been a frequent critic of its military actions in Gaza. It ...

Lebanese Potatoes: Tubers, Challenges and Export Hopes

Christiane Tager, 11/09 10:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

European Union Gulf Saudi Arabia agriculture farmers

In a country where even bread is becoming a luxury, one might think the potato – king of family meals and star of mezze – is guaranteed a smooth ride. Yet behind every plate of crispy “batata” lies the story of farmers digging the soil… and digging deeper into debt. The Roots of the Problem According to the Ministry of Agriculture, ...

Disarmament: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way

Michel Touma, 08/09 08:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

European Union Gulf Hezbollah Joseph Aoun Tehran

The political decision has been made. What matters now is to move to the essentials, cutting through the media noise stirred up by Hezbollah for domestic consumption. From this point forward, it is bold action on the ground that will test the executive branch’s real determination to implement the disarmament of all militias, Lebanese and ...

America’s Beirut Gamble: Barrack, Ortagus and Graham Push Lebanon Toward Peace

Salam El Zaatari, 28/08 11:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Ceasefire Damascus Gulf Hezbollah

When Tom Barrack, Morgan Ortagus and Senator Lindsey Graham touched down in Beirut, it was clear that the United States was no longer willing to watch Lebanon’s crisis unfold from the sidelines. Their visit was not ceremonial. It was an intervention, part carrot, part stick, designed to push Lebanon into one of the most consequential decisions ...

Hezbollah: The Voice of Its Master

Marc Saikali, 28/08 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hezbollah Gulf Middle East Tehran Turkey Lebanon Iran

Hezbollah and its weapons, a never-ending tale. Same story, on repeat. Giving up the arsenal? Never. Without it, there is no arbitrary power, no rent to collect. And like any loyal client, Hezbollah clings to its dealer: Iran. Each time an Iranian leader takes the stage or embarks on a “diplomatic” tour, the pattern is predictable. Days ...

A Few Extra Hours of Power: Kuwait Helps Bring Back Light to Lebanon

Christiane Tager, 25/08 18:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Kuwait Beirut Port EDL Gulf Hezbollah

Even a small relief can feel like a breath of fresh air in the daily lives of Lebanese families. But this shipment is more than just a tank of fuel: it represents a political gesture, much-needed financial support and a symbol of warming diplomatic ties with the Gulf monarchies. In a country where electricity has become a luxury and every hour of ...

When Rifts Shake the Mullahs’ Republic

Michel Touma, 25/08 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Donald Trump Gulf Hamas Hezbollah Israel

One of Donald Trump’s key campaign pledges was to bring peace and prosperity to the Middle East. In a region as volatile as the Levant, the path to any lasting peace runs through stability and security, which means dismantling factions that can only exist in a climate of perpetual conflict. These goals are nothing short of ambitious in a part of ...

The Silent Crisis of Lebanese Apples

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

Gulf Saudi Arabia agriculture lebanon

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 ...

Beirut Traders Index Points to Fragile Economic Rebound

This is Beirut, 19/08 16:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Gulf lebanon economy

The latest index of the Beirut Traders Association-Fransabank (Q2 2025) shows the first signs of a recovery in local markets, a welcome development as the World Bank forecasts 4.7% GDP growth for Lebanon in 2025 and a sharp drop in inflation. The retail trade index rose to 33.13 points in Q2 2025, up from 30.01 the previous quarter (base 100 = Q4 ...

Lebanon, a Transit Hub for Iraqi Oil

Liliane Mokbel, 18/08 11:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Gulf Turkey lebanon iraq syria

Will Iraqi oil once again flow through Tripoli, capital of North Lebanon? The project is back on the table, but its outcome remains uncertain. Baghdad is signaling determination. Oil Minister Hayan Abdel Ghani confirmed that the option is under serious study. To show goodwill, he also mentioned the possible rehabilitation of Kirkuk-Baniyas ...

Tehran’s Unease About the Zanguezur Corridor

Mario Chartouni, 12/08 18:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Tehran Banks Europe European Union Gulf

The peace agreement signed on August 8 between Armenia and Azerbaijan could mark a turning point for the South Caucasus. However, for Tehran, one of its most significant elements – the creation of the Zanguezur Corridor, linking Azerbaijan directly to its Nakhchivan exclave through southern Armenia – poses a serious strategic ...

Mossad’s Reach: How Israel Penetrated Iran’s Inner Sanctum

Soumia Benmerzoug, 11/08 13:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Banks Gulf Israel Tehran

In June 2025, Iran was struck by a wave of operations of an unusual kind: targeted sabotage, “accidental” explosions, digital disruption, targeted assassinations… The whole affair bears the hallmarks of a hybrid offensive, silent yet devastatingly effective. But beyond technological prowess, the structural collapse of a paranoid regime ...

Gulf