Lebanon

Lebanon Must Become Independent of Saudi Arabia Too

If Lebanon’s Shia are to finally divorce Iran and reclaim patriotism for their nation, other sects must also place Lebanon’s national interests above the diktats of foreign patrons. That means the Sunnis, the Christian Lebanese Forces, and Walid Jumblatt’s Druze political bloc must end their humiliating dependence on Saudi Arabia. For too ...

Syria and Lebanon: Who Is Moving Forward in 2026?

Entering 2026, Syria and Lebanon stand at an inflection point along the region’s active fault line. While both nations shook off paralysis at roughly the same time a year ago, neither has become truly stable. What separates them is the nature of the risks they face in the near and medium-term as the Middle East undergoes uneasy post-war ...

Do Syria’s Former Regime Networks Really Command 168,000 Fighters?

As Syria tries to stabilize after years of devastating war, a new and unsettling narrative has emerged: claims that remnants of Bashar al-Assad’s former regime command an armed force of up to 168,000 fighters, allegedly preparing for renewed confrontation. The figure, revealed through leaked documents and intercepted communications obtained ...

Lebanon Probes Syrian Anti-Sharaa Operations from Its Soil

Lebanese authorities have stepped up security measures following reports from Al Jazeera that groups loyal to the former Syrian regime may be preparing military operations against Syria’s current government from Lebanese territory. Sources say the issue is a top priority for Lebanese security agencies, particularly military intelligence. ...

Israel Shells Hezbollah Radwan Force Sites

The Israeli army announced Friday that it carried out a series of intense air raids targeting what it described as a training complex belonging to Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, along with military buildings in southern Lebanon. In a post on the platform X, the Israeli army’s Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said the strikes targeted a ...

Ahead of 2026, Washington's Tougher Terms for Lebanon

Heading into 2026, U.S. engagement in Lebanon has become explicitly conditioned on measurable progress toward Hezbollah’s disarmament, marking a clear break from the strategic ambiguity that long defined Washington’s approach. The aftermath of the 2024 Israel–Hezbollah conflict, alongside Lebanon’s deepening economic and political crises, ...

Israel Prepares for “Days of Fighting” Along the Lebanese Border

Israel is preparing for possible “days of fighting” along the Lebanese border, as the deadline set by the U.S. for the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah by the end of 2025 expires on Wednesday, Israeli media reported. The U.S. news site Axios, citing American officials, reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised the ...

Fatah Hands Over Weapons to LAF in Ain al-Hilweh

Members of the Fatah movement on Tuesday handed over their weapons to the Lebanese Army (LAF) from the movement’s center in Jabal al-Halib, located on the outskirts of the Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in the Saida district of southern Lebanon. The LAF deployed in the vicinity of the handover site and reinforced security measures to ...

Trump, Netanyahu Signal Hard Line on Lebanon as Hezbollah Disarmament Takes Center Stage

U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a tougher stance toward Hezbollah following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday in Florida, warning that the group is “behaving badly” and stressing that efforts to disarm it remain a central focus of U.S. policy toward Lebanon. Speaking after the meeting at his ...

From Gaza to Iran: Trump and Netanyahu Review Regional Flashpoints

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held wide-ranging talks in Florida on Monday, addressing key regional crises including Gaza, Iran, Syria, and broader Middle East stability, as both leaders signaled continued strategic alignment despite ongoing regional tensions. The meeting, held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago ...

Peace with Israel: Lebanon's Path to Economic Revival

An unconditional peace treaty with Israel, inspired by the Abraham Accords' success, could reduce Lebanon’s security risks, unlock billions in foreign investments, revive trade, agriculture, and services, and create jobs—offering economic salvation while preserving Lebanon’s support of Palestinians.  Normalization could boost Lebanon’s ...