hezbollah

Defense Minister: Lebanon to Centralize All Arms Under State Authority

Defense Minister Michel Menassa reaffirmed that the government has taken a clear strategic decision: to unify all weapons under state authority. He said the army has been tasked with drafting an operational plan to implement the disarmament before the end of the month. In an interview with Kuwait’s Al-Jarida, Menassa commented on recent remarks ...

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

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 ...

UN Security Council to Vote Thursday on UNIFIL’s Future

The UN Security Council is set to vote Thursday on the future of the blue helmet peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon, which has faced U.S. and Israeli opposition. The Panamanian presidency of the Council announced that the session, repeatedly postponed, will be held on Thursday. Some 10,800 peacekeepers have been acting as a buffer between ...

Hezbollah: The Voice of Its Master

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 ...

Hezbollah Escalates Rhetoric After Barrack’s Visit

Hezbollah raised its tone once again on Wednesday, a day after US envoys Tom Barrack and Morgan Ortagus’ visit to Beirut, during which international support for restoring Lebanese sovereignty over the entire national territory was reaffirmed. Hussein Khalil, political aide to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, renewed threats and leveled ...

Lebanon and Syria: A New Diplomatic Era

A Syrian delegation is expected in Beirut later this month to address outstanding issues between the two countries. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the election of Ahmad al-Sharaa as Syria’s president, a new dynamic has emerged. For Lebanon, this represents both an opportunity to build a more balanced relationship with ...

Complaint Against Naim Qassem Puts Lebanese Judiciary to the Test

The complaint, lodged Wednesday by lawmakers and members of the Sovereignist Front, comes after an August 19 meeting during which several parliamentarians and political figures announced their intention to take legal action against Qassem and refer the case to the Court of Cassation. They argue that Qassem’s August 15 statement warning that ...

Politicians File Complaint Against Hezbollah’s Naim Qassem

A group of politicians and public figures filed a criminal complaint at the Palace of Justice on Wednesday against Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Sheikh Naim Qassem, for inciting civil war and sectarian tensions. Elie Mahfoud, the head of the Change Movement, emphasized, “This is not a mere incident report, but a direct complaint accompanied ...

Unit 4400: Hezbollah’s Vulnerable Logistical Backbone

In the Beqaa Valley, once bustling with heavily loaded night convoys, silence now reigns. The routes that Unit 4400 used to transport weapons, drones and spare parts from Iran via Iraq and Syria are currently heavily monitored, relentlessly targeted by Israeli airstrikes and patrolled by the Lebanese Army. Once hailed as the backbone of ...

Barrack-Ortagus Mission: Advancing Lebanese Sovereignty

On Tuesday, the US delegation led by envoys Thomas Barrack and Morgan Ortagus highlighted growing alignment between Washington and Lebanese authorities, working with international support toward restoring Lebanese sovereignty. The collaboration was evident during a marathon day of meetings. Barrack and Ortagus, joined by Senators Jeanne Shaheen ...

Morgan Ortagus’s Visit: A Strategic Boost for Lebanon’s Sovereignty and Stability

In a critical moment for Lebanon, the recent visit by U.S. Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus—alongside Senator Lindsey Graham—offered more than just diplomatic formalities. It sent a clear, resounding message: the United States stands firmly with the Lebanese state, its institutions, and its people. Beyond the headlines, Ortagus’s visit marked a ...

Lebanese Forces Blame Hezbollah for Israeli Violations of Sovereignty

The ‘Lebanese Forces’ (LF) party said Tuesday that Hezbollah is to blame for Israel’s repeated incursions into Lebanon and for undermining the country’s sovereignty. In a statement released by its media office, the LF was responding to remarks made a day earlier by Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem. It said the ...