Lebanon

Parliamentary Committee Approves New Banknote Amid Currency Collapse

The Finance and Budget Committee, chaired by MP Ibrahim Kanaan, approved on Wednesday a legislative amendment authorizing the Central Bank of Lebanon (BDL) to issue new banknotes, including a denomination of LBP 5 million. The move, seen as emblematic of the national currency’s collapse, was justified as a technical step to facilitate daily ...

Lebanese Army Receives Italian Donation of Medical Equipment

The Lebanese Army (LAF) received on Wednesday a donation of 30 tons of medical equipment and supplies from the Italian authorities during a ceremony at the Military Medical Center. The event was attended by Silvia Tosi, representing Italian Ambassador Fabrizio Marcelli, the head of the Military Medical Center on behalf of Army Commander General ...

MP Alameh: Up to 400,000 Syrian Refugees Would Return Home Soon

Lebanon may see up to 400,000 Syrian refugees return home in the near future, MP Fadi Alameh said on Wednesday, noting that between 200,000 and 250,000 have already gone back. Speaking after chairing a session of the Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Committee, Alameh said the meeting focused on the refugee return file and was attended by Deputy ...

Football: Lebanon Joins Asia's Elite

In the sweltering heat of the Thai capital, Lebanon gave a masterclass in efficiency and control. Facing a tenacious Mongolian side, Michel Sfeir's players held their nerve and quickly took control of the match at Thammasat Stadium. In the 8th minute, Danny Istambouli opened the scoring with an unstoppable cross-shot. Just before halftime (45+1), ...

Cabinet to Reconvene Thursday in Baabda

The Council of Ministers is set to hold a meeting on Thursday at Baabda Palace to discuss a ten-point agenda, with particular focus on international proposals aimed at securing internet access in Lebanon. The issue, brought forward by Minister of Telecommunications Charles Hage, was previously reviewed during a cabinet session held at the Grand ...

Lebanon Condemns Israeli Strikes on Doha

Lebanon condemned on Tuesday Israel’s military operation targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, denouncing it as a violation of international law and Qatari sovereignty. In separate statements on social media, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam described the strikes as “an attack on the sovereignty of a brother Arab state and a ...

Raggi: Lebanon to Disarm Hezbollah Near Israel Border Within 3 Months

Lebanon's army is set to fully disarm Hezbollah near the border with Israel within three months, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi told AFP on Tuesday. In August, the Lebanese government ordered the military to draw up plans to disarm the once-dominant militant group by the end of the year, having come under pressure from the United States and ...

When Immorality Becomes a Profession

There is no precise or scientific description of the moral collapse Lebanon has been experiencing for years. Yet in recent weeks, this decline has taken on unprecedented forms, with public discourse sinking to new lows. The Lebanese Shias are enduring hardships at every level. What is even more troubling is that some deliberately seek to ...

Will Lebanon Disarm Hezbollah, or Not?

The Lebanese cabinet heard, on Friday, a presentation from Army Chief Rodolphe Haykal on a confidential plan to monopolize arms, as tasked by the government on August 5. The cabinet then issued a statement, and Information Minister Paul Morcos held a press conference. The vague responses left observers divided, with each side interpreting the ...

Run the City 2025: Beirut Runs Its Heart Out

Last weekend, Beirut put on its running shoes. Two thousand six hundred runners took to the streets of the capital for the second edition of Run the City, organized by the Beirut Marathon Association. Between sporting achievements, a festive atmosphere and patriotic spirit, the city beat to the rhythm of the runners’ footsteps. A City on the ...

UNIFIL: Lebanese Army Expands Deployment in South in Line with Resolution 1701

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced on Monday that the Lebanese Army has redeployed to more than 120 positions across southern Lebanon, reinforcing state authority in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701. In a statement on X, UNIFIL said its peacekeepers are working “closely with the Lebanese Armed Forces to ...

Aoun Urges Unified Arab Stance and Calls for Common Market

President Joseph Aoun on Monday underscored Lebanon’s call for a “unified Arab position on all Arab issues,” reaffirming the country’s commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative adopted at the Beirut Summit. Speaking before an Arab Parliament delegation led by its president, Mohammed bin Ahmed al-Yamahi, Aoun stressed the need for deeper ...