Lebanon

Mahmoud Abbas Expected in Beirut: Will Palestinian Disarmament Be Addressed?
SpotlightMahmoud Abbas Expected in Beirut: Will Palestinian Disarmament Be Addressed?

The Palestinian issue has long weighed on Lebanon, with consequences that have directly undermined its sovereignty. The Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, shook the region and left little room for any return to the old status quo. As the political landscape across the Middle East continues to shift, Lebanon faces its own urgent ...

Official Municipal and Mukhtar Election Results Out for Beirut, Zahle, Baalbeck, Rachaya, West Bekaa, and Hermel
Official Municipal and Mukhtar Election Results Out for Beirut, Zahle, Baalbeck, Rachaya, West Bekaa, and Hermel

The Ministry of Interior has published partial official results for the municipal and mukhtar elections held on May 18 in the governorates of Beirut, Bekaa, and Hermel. The results for Beirut were announced on Tuesday. The "Beirut Btejma3na" list won 23 seats while one seat was secured by Mahmud Mehyeddine el-Jamal, a candidate ...

The ‘Sunn Pest:’ A Tiny Insect and a Major Threat to Lebanon’s Wheat
The ‘Sunn Pest:’ A Tiny Insect and a Major Threat to Lebanon’s Wheat

As Lebanon’s farmers grapple with worsening drought, labor shortages and rising tensions along the border, another crisis is taking root – literally. A familiar pest, the sunn pest, is back, and it’s putting the country’s wheat harvest at serious risk. The sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps), commonly known as the wheat bug, may be small, ...

With Assad Down and Sanctions Lifted, Are Syrian Refugees Finally Being Pressed to Leave?
Behind the ScenesWith Assad Down and Sanctions Lifted, Are Syrian Refugees Finally Being Pressed to Leave?

The startling decision by United States President Donald Trump to lift economic sanctions on Syria, coupled with the collapse of the Assad regime, could fundamentally reshape how the Syrian displaced population in Lebanon is managed – unless their permanent return to Syria remains excluded from the agreement being brokered among the key parties ...

Hajjar: Full Election Results to Be Announced Within 24 Hours
Hajjar: Full Election Results to Be Announced Within 24 Hours

Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar confirmed Monday that the complete results of Lebanon’s elections would be released within 24 hours, denying any delays or irregularities in the vote-counting process. “There are no issues, and if there were, we would have addressed them. There is no delay,” Hajjar stated during an inspection tour alongside ...

President Aoun Meets al-Sissi, Urges Global Pressure on Israel to Honor Ceasefire
President Aoun Meets al-Sissi, Urges Global Pressure on Israel to Honor Ceasefire

On an official visit to Cairo, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for its breaches of the ceasefire agreement signed in November 2024. Speaking alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi at a joint press conference, Aoun emphasized the urgent need to halt Israeli violations in ...

Unofficial Municipal Elections Results Show Strong LF Performance in Zahle
Unofficial Municipal Elections Results Show Strong LF Performance in Zahle

On Monday, the Lebanese Forces released the final results of the municipal elections in Zahle, showing a strong performance by their backed list, “Heart of Zahle,” despite a close race with the “Vision and Decision” list, backed by MP Michel Daher, the Kataeb Party, former MP Cesar Maalouf and Myriam Skaff’s Popular Bloc. Preliminary ...

Municipal Elections: Preliminary Lessons and Takeaways
EditorialMunicipal Elections: Preliminary Lessons and Takeaways

The municipal vote held on Sunday, May 18—much like those earlier this month—was largely local in scope. In small villages, elections often took on a personal, familial or even clan-based dynamic. However, in larger cities such as Zahle, Baalbeck and Hermel, the contests were more clearly partisan, though not necessarily aligned with broader ...

New Middle East US Foreign Policy Shifts Put Lebanon at a Crossroads
SpotlightNew Middle East US Foreign Policy Shifts Put Lebanon at a Crossroads

As Lebanon finds itself at a crucial juncture, the implications of recent US diplomatic maneuvers cannot be overstated. As the US focuses more on its relationships with Sunni Gulf states, tensions with Iran are on the rise, changing the complex political dynamics in Lebanon. These changes come at a time when Iran's influence appears to be ...