Lebanon

From Rubble to Life: Beirut 4 Years After August 4
From Rubble to Life: Beirut 4 Years After August 4

Four years after the Beirut harbor explosion, the scars of the past are still visible in Mar Mikhail and Gemmayze, but their streets are vibrating again, a symbol of Lebanese resilience.

August 4: Al-Rai Calls for International Investigation into Beirut Port Explosion
August 4: Al-Rai Calls for International Investigation into Beirut Port Explosion

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rai called for an international investigation into the Beirut port explosion as the tragedy marks its fourth anniversary. "We pray for the course of justice in the investigation of the Beirut Port explosion," he stated during his Sunday sermon from Diman. Patriarch Al-Rai renewed his condemnation of the ...

August 4: Weapons and Injustice
August 4: Weapons and Injustice

Far from over, the path to justice for the victims of the Beirut port explosion remains a long and winding one. After Judge Jamal Hajjar was designated interim Attorney General to the Court of Cassation to replace Judge Ghassan Oweidate – and despite Hajjar’s pledge to unblock the inquiry led by Judge Tarek Bitar – the investigation is still ...

Horror and Chaos: Timeline of August 4, 2020
Horror and Chaos: Timeline of August 4, 2020

At 6:07 PM on August 4, 2020, Lebanon’s fate took a drastic turn. One of the most devastating non-nuclear explosions in history rocked a part of Beirut, claiming the lives of over 200 people and injuring thousands of others, many severely. Four years later, the victims and their families have found neither rest nor justice. A recap on a ...

The Soulful Legacy of Beirut's Volunteer Army
The Soulful Legacy of Beirut's Volunteer Army

In the wake of the port of Beirut's tragic explosion, a remarkable force emerged on the city streets—hundreds of young volunteers armed with determination and compassion. Their collective efforts to clean up and rebuild in the aftermath of devastation not only restored physical structures but also nurtured a sense of community and shared ...

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"Leave Now" Says UK, as it Prepares for Possible Evacuation

The UK government on Saturday urged its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country immediately, as it deploys diplomatic and military officials to prepare for a possible evacuation amid fears of all-out war. In a statement, the foreign ministry said British nationals should depart the Middle Eastern country "now while commercial options remain ...

August 4 Memorial: Hennis-Plasschaert Meets Families of Victims
August 4 Memorial: Hennis-Plasschaert Meets Families of Victims

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert affirmed that “the tragedy of the Beirut Port explosion reverberated throughout the world,” emphasizing that it is “deeply moving to hear the testimonies of the families and bear witness to this painful anniversary.” While meeting the families of victims of the Beirut Port ...

Beatification of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy in Bkerke
Beatification of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy in Bkerke

On August 2, people gathered in Bkerke to honor Patriarch Estephan Douaihy, the 57th Maronite patriarch and a key historical figure, who was beatified and recognized as venerable by the Catholic Church in 2008. A mass is scheduled to be celebrated in his hometown of Ehden on Saturday, August 3.

FPM Ousts Alain Aoun
FPM Ousts Alain Aoun

The Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) expelled MP Alain Aoun. In a statement issued on Friday by the Central Committee for Media and Communication, the Council chaired by former President Michel Aoun issued two recommendations for the dismissal. The first recommendation stated that “Aoun failed to appear before the council several times and ...

Mikati to Security Council Members: Priority to 1701
Mikati to Security Council Members: Priority to 1701

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati received ambassadors from certain permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council at the Grand Serail on Friday. These included the ambassadors to the United States, France, Great Britain, China, Russia, Algeria, Japan, Switzerland and South Korea. Emphasis was placed on Lebanon's positions with ...

MEA: New Schedules for August 2 and 3
MEA: New Schedules for August 2 and 3

Middle East Airlines (MEA) announced on Friday that its daily flight schedules for August 2 and 3, 2024, will remain unchanged, except for some flights that have been delayed. These measures are due to the ongoing security situation in Lebanon and the region, which has escalated significantly since Tuesday. Following the attacks on the southern ...

Bassil Expected to Oust MP from FPM
Bassil Expected to Oust MP from FPM

The head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) Gebran Bassil is expected to issue a decision excluding MP Alain Aoun from the party without referring him to the 'Council of Sages', according to MTV. Aoun, who is the nephew of FPM founder and former President, Michel Aoun, was Bassil’s rival in the elections to the party’s presidency in ...