Lebanon

Israeli Military Begins Lebanon Withdrawal as Deadline Approaches
Israeli Military Begins Lebanon Withdrawal as Deadline Approaches

A Lebanese official said Israeli troops had started withdrawing Monday from some border villages, after Israel's military said it would remain in five "strategic points" hours before a ceasefire deadline to pull out. "Israeli forces are beginning to withdraw from border villages, including Mays al-Jabal and Blida, as the ...

The Ministerial  Statement Reflects the President’s Inaugural Speech, but...
The Ministerial Statement Reflects the President’s Inaugural Speech, but...

  The government, approved on Monday evening the ministerial statement upon which it must seek the Parliament's confidence. However, some amendments were introduced to the text drafted by a ministerial committee chaired by designated Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The amendments strengthen the principle of state primacy, which President Aoun ...

You, and Only You, Against the Whole World…
You, and Only You, Against the Whole World…

What will happen on February 18, the deadline for the truce extension? Probably not much. The Israelis won’t have fully withdrawn, Hezbollah will call for “resistance” and the international community will exert pressure to avoid an unexpected escalation. Yelling and threatening mobs will likely rush into the neighborhoods that, not so long ...

Skeptical of Israeli  Withdrawal on Deadline, President Aoun Reaffirms Army’s Security Role
Skeptical of Israeli Withdrawal on Deadline, President Aoun Reaffirms Army’s Security Role

President Joseph Aoun on Monday reiterated the Lebanese Army’s responsibility for securing the country’s borders, emphasizing its full readiness for accountability. Addressing the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, Aoun stated that any resolution must be discussed among the Lebanese. President Aoun voiced concern that Israeli troops may not ...

Downtown Revival: Many Businesses Set to Reopen Near Nejmeh Square
Downtown Revival: Many Businesses Set to Reopen Near Nejmeh Square

After years of closure, void and stagnation of market activity, Nejmeh Square in downtown Beirut was finally reopened to the public, along with the surrounding roads — especially those near the Parliament building and the Banks’ Street, adjacent to the Grand Serail. These areas had been sealed off with metal and concrete barriers, as well as ...

The Aftermath of the War: Hezbollah’s Role and Responsibility
The Aftermath of the War: Hezbollah’s Role and Responsibility

It is becoming increasingly clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran and Hezbollah have yet to come to terms with the end of Hezbollah’s military and security role as the armed wing of the Islamic Revolution. Therefore, they are attempting by all means to maintain a foothold that would allow Hezbollah to reassert itself. However, the prevailing ...

Lebanon’s Stability and Peace at the Heart of the 61st Munich Security Conference
Lebanon’s Stability and Peace at the Heart of the 61st Munich Security Conference

Under the aegis of the 61st Munich Security Conference, the high-level side event organized by the Sovereign Order of Malta entitled "Kairos or Crisis? Unwinding Lebanon’s Path to Stability and Peace” was held. The event was divided into two panels with the participation of numerous guests from the political and institutional scene, including ...

The Regalian Function and the Poor Exercise of Power
AnalysisThe Regalian Function and the Poor Exercise of Power

The new government of Lebanon was welcomed as symptomatic of a new era. Nonetheless, its shortcomings are obvious, and its inaugural performance is not a good omen. The political subtext is plainly contradictory, and its steering committee doesn’t seem to realize that its multiple inconsistencies are self-defeating. Surfing on the false idea of ...