lebanon

Mikati Reaffirms Lebanon's Commitment to UN Resolution 1701

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to fully implementing United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 during a meeting on Wednesday. Mikati also called on Israel to “honor the ceasefire agreement” announced on November 27, and urged the country to “withdraw from the towns and villages in southern ...

Festive Agenda (1): December in the Spirit of Christmas

Beirut Chants: A Celebration of Artistic and Cultural Resilience The Beirut Chants festival, held from December 4 to 23, 2024, provides a space for unity and togetherness through free concerts highlighting culture and prayer. Among the highlights already past are Mozart’s Coronation Mass, the Nativity Hymns, and various performances by local ...

Presidential Election Session Scheduled for January 9, Multiple Rounds Expected

The Egyptian Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, confirmed on Wednesday that the Lebanese presidential electoral session, called by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, will begin on January 9. The session will proceed with multiple rounds of voting until a new president – a position that has remained vacant since October 2022 – is ...

New Momentum Building Up, What Future Role for Anti-Hezbollah Shiites?

The setbacks suffered by Hezbollah in over a year of confrontations and a most devastating conflict with Israel in the past months usher in a new phase in Lebanon. The ceasefire agreement that took effect on November 27, calling for Hezbollah’s disarmament and the Army’s deployment in southern Lebanon, places the Iran-backed group at a ...

Lebanese Complaint Against Assad Over Detainees

The Lebanese Forces (LF) and the Change Movement filed a complaint on Wednesday against former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and members of his regime, accusing them of abducting Lebanese nationals. At the Palace of Justice, Elie Mahfoud, president of the Change Movement, stated, “We have submitted documented evidence and testimonies from ...

TGS Secures 3D Seismic Survey License for Block No. 8

The license granted by the ministry allows TGS to conduct a comprehensive 3D seismic study spanning 1,300 square kilometers, making Block No. 8 the only block among Lebanon's ten offshore blocks to undergo such a survey for the first time. In his address, caretaker Minister of Energy Walid Fayad described this development as a pivotal milestone ...

Israeli Raid on Ainata, Bint Jbeil

On Wednesday morning, the Israeli army launched a raid on the Aïnata area of Bint Jbeil, killing one person and wounding another. Meanwhile, as the Lebanese army (LAF) attempted to re-enter its positions in Khiam, it was confronted by Israeli forces, preventing the LAF from entering the northern quarters of the village. Earlier in the ...

Ogero Addresses Internet Slowdown Issues

Ogero, the state-owned telecom provider in Lebanon, attributed internet disruption to issues with the global network accessed through an external service provider, Century Link (Level 3). The company disclosed on Wednesday, in a statement on its official X account, the reason behind the recent internet slowdown that some users have been ...

Cumulative Decline in Real GDP Since 2019 to Over 38% According to WB

According to the latest World Bank (WB) report on Lebanon’s economy (LEM), published on Tuesday, Lebanon’s real GDP growth was reduced by approximately 6.6% in 2024 due to the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, bringing the cumulative decline in real GDP since 2019 to over 38%. This growing contraction reflects the devastating impact of ...

The Missing and Detained in Syria: Between Confusion and Inaccurate Estimates

An independent emergency committee has been established by the national commission for missing and forcibly disappeared persons to investigate the fate of these individuals. The number of people reported missing during the Lebanese Civil War was previously estimated at 17,415. Additionally, between 200 and 700 Lebanese were believed to have been ...

Interior Minister and PM Comment on Syrian Regime Personnel Entering Lebanon

Caretaker Minister of Interior Judge Bassam Mawlawi affirmed on Tuesday that “no security personnel from the former Syrian regime have entered Lebanon, and the regulations applied at official border crossings are strict.” “Our standards are that anyone wanted for a crime in Lebanon or abroad will be arrested and will not be allowed to enter ...

Halabi: Rebuilding Schools Is Costly, Requires Donor Mobilization

Caretaker Minister of Education Abbas Halabi emphasized on Tuesday the high costs associated with rebuilding and restoring war-damaged schools across the country. He made this statement during a meeting of the emergency committee responsible for managing the education sector during crises. Some schools were partially or totally destroyed by ...