Lebanon

Syrian Close to Assad-era Commander Killed in Lebanon

This is Beirut 23/12 21:45 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Syria Lebanon Bashar al-Assad Suhail al-Hassan Ghassan al-Sukhni

A former Syrian intelligence officer who was close to one of ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad's top army commanders was killed in Lebanon, a judicial official said Tuesday, with the army announcing it had arrested a suspect. It was the first confirmation since Assad's ouster in December last year of a former Syrian government official being present ...

Lebanon Probes Officer’s Disappearance Amid Suspected Mossad Involvement

This is Beirut 23/12 19:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Amal Internal Security Forces Israel Ron Arad

Lebanese security is conducting investigations under the supervision of Public Prosecutor Judge Jamal Hajjar into the disappearance of retired General Security officer Ahmad Shukr, who has been missing for a week, amid conflicting information about his fate, according to a judicial source quoted by Saudi daily Asharq al Awsat. The source ...

Pharmacists' Syndicate Warns Against Gap Law

This is Beirut 23/12 16:05 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Pharmacists' Union

The Pharmacists’ Syndicate on Tuesday issued a statement warning that the draft gap law threatens the protection of union and pension fund deposits and infringes on long-established rights, representing decades of pharmacists’ labor. Speaking to Houna Loubnan, Pharmacists’ Union President Abdul Rahman Marqabawi stressed that the ...

Hezbollah 'Dissatisfied' with Iran Funding, Demands $2 Billion for Reconstruction

This is Beirut 23/12 16:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hezbollah Lebanon Israel Tehran Turkey

Hezbollah has reportedly requested $2 billion from Iran for reconstruction efforts, double the amount Tehran had initially planned to provide, citing a shortage of funds, according to The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation. The report noted that “despite Hezbollah continuing to purchase weapons, and despite the economic situation not affecting ...

Geagea: LF Ministers to Reject Financial Regularization Law

This is Beirut 23/12 13:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Hezbollah Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea Banks Central Bank of Lebanon

Chief of the Lebanese Forces (LF) party, Samir Geagea, confirmed on Tuesday that LF ministers will vote against the Financial Regularization Law in the Council of Ministers, citing its failure to return depositors’ funds. In his remarks at the Graduates’ Body dinner at the party headquarters in Maarab, Geagea said, “the criterion is simple: ...

IMF Reservations Fuel Dispute Over Financial Gap Law

This is Beirut 23/12 13:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

International Monetary Fund Lebanon Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Hezbollah

Nidaa al-Watan reported Tuesday that controversy persists over the leaked draft Financial Gap Law, amid claims that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is dissatisfied and has raised reservations. While the draft is expected to be circulated to ministers ahead of a possible Cabinet vote, political and diplomatic circles cited by the newspaper ...

Lebanon Denies Israel’s Claim Linking Killed Soldier to Hezbollah

This is Beirut 23/12 12:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

IsraeliArmy LebaneseArmy Lebanon Israel

The Israeli Army on Tuesday claimed that a Lebanese soldier killed in an Israeli strike near the southern city of Saida on Monday was linked to Hezbollah, describing the alleged coordination as a “serious matter”. In a statement posted on X, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Israeli forces carried out what he ...

AnalysisWhy was Sharaa Invited to Washington, but not Aoun?

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 23/12 10:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Washington Lebanon Lebanese Army Syria Joseph Aoun Ahmad al-Sharaa

Until late 2024, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was a U.S.-designated terrorist with a $10 million bounty on his head for leading the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. By contrast, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who served as commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) until his election in January 2025, was widely regarded as one of ...

Lebanon’s Cabinet Divided Over Controversial Financial Gap Law

This is Beirut 22/12 20:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Nawaf Salam International Monetary Fund Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Gap Law

The controversial financial Gap Law presented as key to resolving Lebanon’s enduring banking crisis that deprived depositors of their savings, topped discussions at Monday’s cabinet meeting, exposing differences among ministers. The session, attended by Central Bank Governor Karim Souaid, was adjourned and will resume Tuesday to ...

Israeli Strike in Saida District Kills Three

This is Beirut 22/12 14:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Saida South Lebanon

Israel said Monday it launched a drone strike in Quneitra’s Saida district, targeting a car carrying what Israel said were Hezbollah operatives, killing three people. One of the deceased is reportedly a Lebanese Army soldier. Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a post on X, “A short while ago, the Israel Defense ...

Hezbollah Allegedly Strengthens Hold on Beirut Port Amid Disarmament Doubts

Michael al-Andary 22/12 13:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Beirut Port Hezbollah Nawaf Salam Beirut International Airport Lebanese Army Israel United States

Despite the Lebanese cabinet’s move to impose a firm deadline for the disarmament of militias, developments on the ground point to a “lack of seriousness” in enforcing the decision against Hezbollah, a security source told This is Beirut on condition of anonymity, questioning whether the government’s commitment is backed by concrete ...

US Senator Accuses Hamas and Hezbollah of Rearming

This is Beirut 21/12 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lindsey Graham Hamas Hezbollah Lebanon Israel United States

US Senator Lindsey Graham accused Hamas and Hezbollah of rearming during a visit to Israel on Sunday and charged that the Palestinian Islamist group was also consolidating power in Gaza. After two years of war between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territory, a fragile ceasefire has held since October, despite both sides trading accusations ...