Lebanon

Qassem’s Speech Sparks Political Firestorm in Beirut

Hezbollah’s chief, Sheikh Naim Qassem, made unacceptable and controversial remarks, in which he threatened civil strife and linked the survival of Lebanon to the presence of their weapons. These remarks have triggered a wave of condemnations from political and institutional figures committed to defending Lebanese sovereignty. Minister ...

Larijani and the Original Sin

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, is among the closest officials to the Supreme Leader Khamenei and a successor to figures like Qassem Suleimani, who shaped Iran’s regional security and political influence. Larijani’s latest visit to Lebanon, coming after recent Lebanese government decisions and ...

Asia Cup: Lebanon Cracks, New Zealand into the Semifinals

At King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Lebanon started their quarterfinal on the right foot. A Blistering Start Right from the tip-off, the machine roared to life: Karim Zeinoun and Hayk Gyokchyan lit the fuse from three-point range, Youssef Khayat and Dedric Lawson outran the Kiwi defense on the fast break, and defensive pressure cut off New ...

Four-Stage Military Plan Begins in Awali River Area

Lebanon’s army is preparing a detailed security plan expected to unfold over four or more stages. The plan will likely be presented at the next government session scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, unless an urgent issue requires it to be moved to Thursday, September 4. The operation is expected to begin in the area around the Awali River and ...

The Court of First Instance in Mount Lebanon Allows the Lifting of Seizures on Bank Assets

The Court of First Instance in Mount Lebanon, through its Third Chamber handling real estate matters and composed of judges Yamen El-Hajjar (presiding), Elissia Abou Jaoudeh, and Fatima Bazzi, issued a key ruling in a case filed by Mrs. Sara Audi Attaya, represented by her attorney Riad Hallaj, challenging a decision by the Baabda Land Registry ...

When Roads Become Death Traps

During a visit to Beirut’s municipal police on Thursday, Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar stressed that road safety is a collective responsibility of all relevant authorities—not just law enforcement—and urged stronger coordination to improve traffic in the capital and across Lebanon. Just days earlier, on August 6, the National Road Safety ...

Beirut Officials Unite to Tackle Port Truck Traffic Crisis

Beirut’s port and traffic authorities are joining forces to untangle the gridlock choking the city’s streets. On Thursday, a joint meeting at the Port of Beirut, called by Minister of Public Works and Transport Fayez Rasamny and Minister of Interior and Municipalities Ahmad al-Hajjar, brought together top officials, port managers, customs ...

Families of Tleil Explosion Victims Hold Sit-In Demanding Justice

On the fourth anniversary of the Tleil fuel tank explosion in Akkar, families of the victims gathered on Thursday in front of the Beirut Palace of Justice, demanding an expedited trial and accountability for those responsible. Carrying photographs of their loved ones, the protesters called for justice, a full investigation, and punishment of the ...

LAF Arrest Suspect in Pascal Suleiman Kidnapping Case

The Lebanese Army (LAF) Intelligence Directorate arrested B.J., a suspect implicated in the 2024 kidnapping and killing of Pascal Sleiman. In a press release issued Thursday, LAF described the operation as “precision-targeted,” noting that B.J. was among the most wanted individuals, with dozens of arrest warrants for kidnapping, theft, ...

Forest Fire Ravages Al-Bira Amid Heatwave

A large fire on Thursday swept through the forests of al-Bira in the northern Akkar Governorate, destroying vast areas of olive groves. Local authorities and firefighting teams worked to contain the blaze, which caused significant environmental and agricultural damage. The incident occurred amid an extreme heatwave gripping Lebanon, expected to ...