Lebanon

SpotlightPeace vs. Normalization: Distinct Paths, Diverging Logics in ME Diplomacy

Mario Chartouni 02/06 20:05 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Middle East United Arab Emirates Bahrain Hezbollah Israel

From the peace treaties signed between Israel and certain Arab States – most notably Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994 – to the wave of diplomatic normalizations initiated in 2020 with the Abraham Accords, two concepts have consistently shaped discussions about regional diplomacy: peace agreements and normalization. Although these terms are ...

Bank Reform in Lebanon: Central Authority Under Growing Pressure

This is Beirut 02/06 17:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

lebanon Banking Parliament Reform finance auathority

The parliamentary subcommittee tasked with banking reform held a pivotal session to examine Articles 5 and 6 of the draft law proposing the creation of an independent banking authority. Two competing visions are at the center of the debate. The first, supported by Banque du Liban (BDL), calls for the establishment of a new, autonomous body ...

Joe Saddi Seeks US Support to Reform Lebanon’s Energy Sector

This is Beirut 02/06 16:50 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Lebanon Washington Energy Reform Syria WorldBank

Lebanon’s Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Saddi, is on an official visit to Washington, where he has held a series of high-level meetings with United States officials and World Bank representatives in a bid to secure international backing for Lebanon’s ailing energy sector. Saddi met with Laura Lochman, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for ...

Pharmaceutical Syndicate Urges Immediate Action Against Counterfeit Drugs

This is Beirut 02/06 16:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Bilal Abdallah Adel Nassar Rakan Nassereddine

The Pharmaceutical Importers’ Syndicate called on Monday for the immediate implementation of a unified plan to combat the surge of counterfeit and smuggled medications in Lebanon. The group stressed the urgent need for strict oversight from relevant ministries and agencies to protect citizens’ right to safe and effective medicines. In a ...

Judicial Appointments: Is the Deadlock About to End?

Natasha Metni Torbey 02/06 16:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Judicial reform

Lebanon appears poised to move forward with long-delayed judicial appointments and reshuffles, according to well-placed judicial sources – an overdue step after more than five years of political deadlock. The process had been blocked since 2020, when then-President Michel Aoun rejected a package of proposed judicial transfers submitted by the ...

Salam Reaffirms Support for Arab Peace Initiative and Commitment to Policy Statement

This is Beirut 02/06 14:00 - Reading : less than a minute

Israel Lebanon Nawaf Salam Nabih Berry

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Monday reiterated his firm support for the Arab Peace Initiative, emphasizing the refugees’ right of return and the need for a two-state solution, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Speaking after a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Salam underlined that his remarks were ...

Aoun Vows No Immunity for Wrongdoers

This is Beirut 02/06 13:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Joseph Aoun Lebanon

President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering stance on accountability and transparency, declaring that “no case will remain closed and no official will be granted protection.” His remarks came after a meeting on Monday with a delegation from the International Federation of Lebanese Businessmen and Businesswomen. “No ...

Rubio's Warning About a Potential Syrian Civil War Puts Lebanon on the Edge

Amal Chmouny 02/06 11:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanese Army Hezbollah US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent warning about Syria's potential descent into a "full-scale civil war of epic proportions" has not gone unnoticed. This cautionary note has raised alarm bells not only within Syria's borders but also in neighboring Lebanon, which remains precariously balanced on a fragile socio-political ...

From the UAE to Lebanon: Flights Fully Booked for the Summer

This is Beirut 02/06 11:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Joseph Aoun United Arab Emirates Lebanon

Lebanon's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Fouad Dandan, announced that flight reservations from the UAE to Lebanon for the upcoming summer season are fully booked. The surge in travel follows the recent decision to lift the travel ban on Emirati citizens visiting Lebanon — a move that Dandan described as opening new horizons for ...

Syria Reopens Arida Border Crossing with Lebanon

This is Beirut 02/06 10:35 - Reading : less than a minute

Hezbollah Israel Syria Arida

The General Authority for Land and Sea Ports in Syria announced on Monday that the Arida border crossing with Lebanon, located in rural Tartus, will reopen to passenger traffic starting Tuesday morning, June 3, 2025. In an official statement, the authority said, “We inform travelers that the Arida border crossing with Lebanon will be opened for ...

Op-edHezbollah’s Arms Dependence: A Calculated Business Model

Michel Touma 02/06 09:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Hezbollah Damascus Donald Trump Israel Joseph Aoun

Syrian authorities recently intercepted two large shipments of weapons and ammunition — just days apart — being smuggled into Lebanon as part of Iranian-led efforts to replenish Hezbollah’s military arsenal. Similar attempts had also been thwarted in recent weeks by security services loyal to the Damascus regime. The ongoing arms smuggling ...

AnalysisThe Iranian Regime's Deadly Entanglements

Charles Chartouni 02/06 09:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Iran Gaza Israel Palestine Lebanon Hezbollah

The Middle Eastern landscape is becoming more complicated, with its issues bordering intractability. The heightening tensions are far from being incidental; they are part of the Iranian sabotaging politics. Iranians have always been duplicitous when negotiating their nuclear deals. Hezbollah’s obstructionism is hobbling normalization in ...