lebanon

Cabinet Backs Army’s Disarmament Plan Despite Shia Ministers’ Walkout

The Cabinet met on Friday at the presidential palace in Baabda and approved the Lebanese Army’s plan to restore the state’s monopoly on weapons after reviewing its various phases, presented by Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal. The session, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, gave the green light to the military’s action plan in the absence ...

Hezbollah, Amal Supporters Stage Motorcycle Parades

Supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement held motorcycle parades on Friday along the road leading to Beirut International Airport (BIA) and in the neighborhood of Mar Mikhael, only hours after the Cabinet endorsed the Lebanese Army’s plan to confine weapons to state institutions. Earlier in the day, the Lebanese Army reinforced its ...

The Guardianship Syndrome

Lebanon’s modern history has been shaped by successive forms of foreign tutelage, beginning with the proclamation of Greater Lebanon 105 years ago. Over the course of half a century, the country experienced various mandates and occupations: 23 years under the French Mandate, 30 years under Syrian domination, alongside repeated Israeli invasions ...

Council of Ministers: A Moment of Truth on Disarmament

The Council of Ministers will meet today to examine the Lebanese Army’s plan for militia disarmament. Despite the uncertainty, three points are clear before the session: the meeting will take place, ministers from the Shia duo will attend, and the army’s plan will be formally submitted to the government. However, serious doubts remain that ...

The Empty Chair Policy That No Longer Works

The empty chair is not a strategy, it is a disguised escape. While the vast majority of Lebanese want a functioning state, Hezbollah maintains its destructive blocking tactics. But this approach can no longer succeed. Since replacing the Syrian patron in 2005, the pro-Iranian group has steadily taken over institutions and created a chronic ...

Disarming Hezbollah: The Lebanese Army Challenge

As Lebanon slowly recovers from the war between Hezbollah and Israel, the Lebanese Army faces a critical mission: extending state sovereignty across the entire country by establishing a monopoly on arms. This requires disarming the Iran-backed militia, a historic and high-risk operation that could redefine both the army’s role and the ...

The Lebanese Army Reinforces Presence Amid Hezbollah Support Rally

The Lebanese army intensified its presence on Thursday around the airport – a strategic location near the main access roads leading to the southern suburbs – and in southern Lebanon, following an internal directive that called for the “strict enforcement of the document issued on September 24, 2024, regarding raising the readiness rate to ...

General Security Seizes Smuggled Medicines in Tripoli

As part of ongoing efforts to curb smuggling, a patrol from the North Division of Lebanon’s General Security (GS) stopped a truck leaving the port of Tripoli on judicial orders. Upon inspection, the truck was found to be carrying smuggled medicines, prompting the judiciary to open an investigation and order the detention of those involved. This ...

Raggi Reaffirms Commitment to Tackling Illegal Arms

Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Raggi reaffirmed on Thursday the government's commitment to addressing the issue of illegal arms, aiming to extend state authority across all Lebanese territory Speaking at the 164th session of the Arab League Council in Cairo, Raggi described Lebanon’s recent decision to confine all weapons to state ...

MEA Clarifies Engine Crisis and Leased Planes

Middle East Airlines (MEA) announced Thursday that it was affected during the Summer 2025 season by the global Pratt & Whitney engine crisis, which powers its Airbus A321neo aircraft. This led to the temporary grounding of three modern aircraft from its fleet. MEA noted that the global aviation industry has been facing challenges due to issues ...