Lebanon

Wadi Khaled Totally Flooded Due to Torrential Rains
Wadi Khaled Totally Flooded Due to Torrential Rains

The towns of Wadi Khaled and Akroum in Akkar were hit by torrential floods on Friday night after heavy rain caused the nearby river to inundate the area. Akkar MP Mohammed Sleiman contacted Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Caretaker Minister of Interior and Municipalities Bassam al-Mawlawi, demanding the immediate dispatch of relief ...

The Intelligent Recap: This Week's AI News Report
The Intelligent Recap: This Week's AI News Report

Good evening, and welcome to the Intelligent Recap. It is Friday, February 9, and the 126th day of the war in Gaza. In tonight’s edition, we take a look at what’s happening at the Lebanese southern border, the cabinet holding a session amidst protests, Lebanon’s minister of foreign affairs sparking controversy, and more local news. On the ...

Rai Denounces Intentional Marginalization of Maronites in Lebanon
Rai Denounces Intentional Marginalization of Maronites in Lebanon

Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai asserted on Friday that Lebanon is “facing a deliberate process aimed at excluding Maronites from the State.” During his sermon at the St. Maron’s Day mass, Archbishop Rai elucidated that this process involves “the non-election of a president, the closure of the presidential palace, and a return to the ...

Southern Lebanon: Hezbollah Strikes Back at Nabatiyeh Attack
Southern Lebanon: Hezbollah Strikes Back at Nabatiyeh Attack

Hezbollah retaliated on Thursday night against the attack that targeted a car in Nabatiyeh earlier in the day, where several Hezbollah officials were present. According to various media reports, Ali Karaki, one of Hezbollah’s military leaders, was the primary target, but he was not in the targeted vehicle. Another Hezbollah official, Abbas ...

Moussa in Meerab: Quintet Committed to Helping Lebanon
Moussa in Meerab: Quintet Committed to Helping Lebanon

The Egyptian ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, underscored the Group of Five’s dedication to aiding Lebanon in addressing its presidential vacancy. Moussa made this statement on Friday during a visit to Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces Party, in Meerab. This visit is part of the Group of Five’s initiative to engage in ...

Joumblatt Meets Lavrov in Moscow, Discusses Regional Affairs
Joumblatt Meets Lavrov in Moscow, Discusses Regional Affairs

Walid Joumblatt, the former leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, visited Moscow on Friday to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Special Representative of the President of Russia for the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov. The discussion centered on regional and international affairs, particularly in the wake of ...

Le Drian in Cairo Saturday to Resume Quintet Mission
Le Drian in Cairo Saturday to Resume Quintet Mission

Jean-Yves Le Drian, the former French Foreign Minister and President Emmanuel Macron’s Special Envoy to Lebanon, is expected in Cairo on Saturday for a meeting on Sunday with Egyptian officials to resume the Quintet mission, which consists of assisting Lebanon in electing a president of the republic. As reported by Asharq Al-Awsat, Le Drian ...

Morounoye Lo Mtaxe, What Bogs Us Down
Morounoye Lo Mtaxe, What Bogs Us Down

Morounoye lo mtaxe, which means “the Maronite is undisciplined,” is essentially the first "lesson" that the Maronite bishop of Batroun, Mounir Khairallah, imparted to his theology students in Kaslik at the beginning of the year. It's a lesson with a dual nature, both commendable and bitter. Yes, Maronites are strong-willed, and there's nothing ...

Saudi-Iranian Truce in Lebanon… For the Time Being
Saudi-Iranian Truce in Lebanon… For the Time Being

According to informed Arab sources, Saudi-Iranian communication has resulted in a political “truce” on the Lebanese scene for the time being and under the current regional situation. However, opposition circles are skeptical that such a truce could be beneficial or sustainable since “Iran’s arms” in the region are put on hold, awaiting ...

Agenda of Cabinet's Exceptional Saturday Session
Agenda of Cabinet's Exceptional Saturday Session

The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers announced the agenda of the exceptional Cabinet session scheduled for Saturday. It will be mainly focused on the issue of public servant salaries and retiree pension and compensation. The meeting was scheduled on Thursday amid protests by Army and Security Forces retirees, who were calling for ...

August 4: Sit-In by Victims' Families in Front of the Courthouse
August 4: Sit-In by Victims' Families in Front of the Courthouse

Families of the victims of the August 4 double explosion held a sit-in in front of the Beirut Justice Palace on Thursday, condemning the maneuvers being used by the political class to block the investigation, the latest being Judge Sabouh Sleiman's revocation of the arrest warrant in absentia against Youssef Fenianos, a former minister accused ...

Cabinet Appoints Army Chief of Staff, Approves 2024 Budget
Cabinet Appoints Army Chief of Staff, Approves 2024 Budget

The Council of Ministers appointed a new Army chief of staff and approved the 2024 budget on Thursday in a session that was delayed for three hours due to protests by retired military personnel attempting to block the entrances to the Grand Serail. The Cabinet appointed General Hassan Audi as Chief of Staff of the Army after he was promoted to ...