Lebanon

Israeli Strikes and Flyovers Escalate Tensions Across Southern Lebanon

This is Beirut 2025-05-09 11:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon South Lebanon Bekaa war

Southern Lebanon witnessed a sharp escalation in Israeli military activity on Friday, with intense aerial maneuvers disturbing the region’s airspace. An Israeli drone bombed the town of Majdal Zoun on Friday evening, injuring a civilian, according to the Ministry of Health. In the evening, an Israeli fighter jet dropped a stun grenade ...

SpotlightBeirut 1945: De Gaulle Is Near

Moncef Ait-Kaci 2025-05-09 11:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Europe Middle East United States

Before becoming the leader of Free France, the founder of the Fifth Republic or the symbolic figure of Gaullism, Charles de Gaulle was an officer stationed in the Levant, where he lived, commanded, observed. Lebanon always held a special place in his worldview—a relationship shaped by history, war and a certain idea of France. Between 1929 and ...

Aoun’s Kuwait Visit Marks Key Diplomatic Turn, Says Foreign Minister

This is Beirut 2025-05-09 10:50 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanon Raggi Kuwait Lebanese-Gulf relations

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is set to visit Kuwait on May 11 and 12, in what Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Rajji described as “an event in itself.” In an interview with Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai, Rajji emphasized the symbolic and political weight of the visit, while expressing Lebanon’s gratitude to Kuwait for its ...

SpotlightTripoli’s Municipal Battle: Power Gaps and Fractured Alliances

Rayan Chami 2025-05-09 10:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Tripoli Municipal Elections Al Mina

Tripoli district is gearing up for pivotal municipal elections on May 11, with 359 candidates competing across Tripoli city, al-Mina and Beddawi. In Tripoli municipality, 187 candidates are vying for 24 council seats in what observers call the city’s most fragmented and unpredictable race in decades. Al-Mina sees 69 candidates competing for 21 ...

Lebanese Leaders Welcome Election of Pope Leo XIV

This Is Beirut 2025-05-08 21:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Pope Francis Lebanese Forces Joseph Aoun Nawaf Salam Najib Mikati

Lebanese officials and political leaders extended their congratulations Thursday following the historic election of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new head of the Catholic Church, assuming the papal name Pope Leo XIV. His election, following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, was officially confirmed as white smoke billowed ...

Salam from Beqaa: Border Reform and Development

This Is Beirut 2025-05-08 19:50 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Baalbeck Lebanese Army UN Security Council Nawaf Salam

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam underscored the strategic importance of Lebanon’s official border crossings during a visit to the Beqaa Governorate on Thursday, describing them as “the mirror of Lebanese sovereignty” and the “first line of defense for internal stability.” Touring the Masnaa border crossing, Salam was briefed by General ...

Akkar: 3,569 Register for Municipal Elections as Dozens Win by Acclamation

This is Beirut 2025-05-08 17:20 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Akkar Municipal Elections Interior Ministry

Akkar’s Governorate announced that 3,569 candidates have registered for the upcoming municipal and mayoral elections, according to figures released by the Ministry of Interior after the close of nominations. Of these, 44 municipal councils and 48 mukhtar lists secured victories by acclamation, eliminating the need for voting in those areas. On ...

Bou Saab: Parliamentary Session to Be Scheduled Soon, Municipal Elections to Proceed on Time

This is Beirut 2025-05-08 17:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nabih Berry Elias Bou Saab Parliament Beirut Municipal Elections

Ahead of an upcoming parliamentary session, set to be scheduled soon, Speaker Nabih Berri chaired a meeting of Parliament’s Bureau on Thursday to review an agenda packed with long-delayed expedited law proposals. Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab announced that Berri intends to call for a legislative session once lawmakers have had around five ...

Israel Pounds South Lebanon in Major Strikes on Hezbollah Targets

This is Beirut 2025-05-08 14:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Nawaf Salam Lebanon Hezbollah South Lebanon

Israeli raids targeted the hills of Kfar Tebnit and Nabatieh al-Fawqa. Panicked residents also reported frequent overflights by fighter jets.

SpotlightLebanese-Syrian Border and UNIFIL Renewal: Two Critical Challenges Ahead

Bassam Abou Zeid 2025-05-08 13:35 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Lebanon France Border demarcation Joseph Aoun Emmanuel Macron Ahmad al-Sharaa Syria

France has stepped in decisively to take a leading role in the border demarcation process between Lebanon and Syria—an initiative announced by President Emmanuel Macron during the visit of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to France. According to French sources, Macron expressed his country’s readiness to provide both the Lebanese and Syrian ...

Israeli Strikes Target Hezbollah Sites in Southern Lebanon; Two Killed, Multiple Injured

This is Beirut 2025-05-08 13:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Nawaf Salam Israeli airstrikes South Lebanon war

An Israeli security source reported that the Israeli military targeted a Hezbollah military compound in Nabatiyeh. The source, speaking to Al-Arabiya, confirmed that the compound contained weapons and tunnels used by the group. In a tweet posted on Thursday, Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army spokesperson announced: "Israeli Air Force fighter ...

France Hands Over Border Maps to Raggi

This is Beirut 2025-05-08 12:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lebanon Syria France Lebanon-Syria border

Lebanon’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joe Raggi, received on Thursday the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro, who presented him with copies of documents and maps from French archives related to the Lebanon-Syria border. This handover follows Lebanon's official request and a promise made by French President Emmanuel Macron to Lebanese ...