Lebanon

President Aoun in Jordan to Deepen Ties, Address Refugee Crisis

President Joseph Aoun arrived in Amman on Tuesday for a high-level visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation with Jordan, particularly in addressing the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis and promoting regional stability. Aoun was received at Marka Military Airport with full honors by Jordan’s King Abdullah II. The visit included formal ...

UNIFIL and the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Condemn Attacks on Peacekeepers

The Lebanese government expressed strong concern on Tuesday following two separate incidents in southern Lebanon, where civilians believed to be affiliated with Hezbollah targeted patrols from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The attacks have reignited debate over the freedom of movement granted to UN forces under UN Security ...

Salam Emphasizes Security and Sovereignty for Rebuilding Lebanon

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam revealed that the government has successfully dismantled over 500 weapons depots in southern Lebanon, a significant step toward stabilizing the region. Additionally, security enhancements have been made at Beirut’s international airport to ensure safer conditions for citizens and international visitors alike. At the ...

2027 Asian Cup: Lebanon Put to the Test by Yemen

It all comes down to this. On Tuesday at 8:30 PM (Beirut time), the Lebanese national team takes on Yemen at Jaber al-Ahmad Stadium in Kuwait City, in what is arguably the most important match of this third qualifying round for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. At stake: first place in Group B, which means a direct ticket to Saudi Arabia. Lebanon kicked ...

The Iranian Regime of War and Death

When I was in elementary school in Baghdad, in the early 1980s, teachers took us to the streets to shout angry slogans against “Khomeini the Hypocrite” for refusing to end Iran’s war with Iraq. Little did I know that, decades later and well into middle age, I would still be discussing the seemingly endless wars driven by the Islamist ...

US Messages to Lebanon: Is the Government Listening?

Sources familiar with the matter report that President Donald Trump is undertaking a sweeping reassessment of his administration’s inner circle ahead of the self-imposed June deadline for negotiations with Iran. The shake-up comes amid rising internal friction—particularly between Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s son, Donald Trump ...

Palestinian Disarmament: Is Pandora’s Box Forever Closed?

For the first time since the signing and subsequent annulment of the Cairo Agreement, a formal and tangible process has been launched to disarm Palestinian factions in the country’s refugee camps. On May 21, 2025, President Abbas met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Presidential Palace. In a joint statement released after the ...

Israeli Drone Strike Kills One in Nmairiya, South Lebanon

An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle on the Wadi al-Nmairiya, Zefta road, near an unfinished mosque, killing Hassan Hijazi, a resident of Kawthariyat al-Sayyad. The attack occurred around 5:10 PM, when two guided missiles hit the car, setting it on fire and pushing it off the road. Following the strike, Israeli drones continued flying at ...

Beirut Airport Sees Record Passenger Traffic in May 2025

Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BIA) recorded a major uptick in passenger traffic in May 2025, posting its highest numbers for the month since 2019. Nearly 300,000 travelers arrived in Lebanon, reflecting a significant rebound in international travel and renewed momentum ahead of the summer holiday season. In total, 560,050 passengers ...

Finance Ministry Responds as Garbage Crisis Resurfaces

As mounting piles of uncollected garbage reappear in several districts of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, the long-standing controversy over the state’s management of the waste sector has flared up once again. At the center of the debate are delayed payments to the companies responsible for waste collection, treatment, and landfill operations, delays ...

Plan to Repatriate Syrian Refugees in Lebanon Finalized (Asharq al-Awsat)

The Lebanese ministerial committee tasked with resolving the Syrian refugee crisis has finalized a comprehensive repatriation plan, which it intends to present to the Cabinet for approval in the coming days, Asharq al-Awsat reported on Monday. Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, who heads the committee, said the first phase of the voluntary return ...