Lebanon

Naim Qassem Stands Firm: Weapons or Karbala
Naim Qassem Stands Firm: Weapons or Karbala

Hezbollah continues its standoff with the Lebanese state, issuing yet another threat. “We refuse to be disarmed, and we will wage this battle as we did in Karbala,” declared Hezbollah’s Secretary General Naim Qassem on Saturday. Speaking during a ceremony commemorating the assassination of his predecessor, Hassan Nasrallah, on September ...

Larijani in Beirut Praises Qassem’s Initiative Toward Saudi Arabia
Larijani in Beirut Praises Qassem’s Initiative Toward Saudi Arabia

While in Lebanon for the commemoration of the assassination of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain el-Tineh. After the meeting, Larijani hailed Lebanon as a “friendly country,” describing his talks with Berri as ...

Enemy or Peace?
AnalysisEnemy or Peace?

According to Carl Schmitt, the concept of the enemy lies at the heart of politics. It stands apart from morality, aesthetics, and economics. To identify an enemy is thus a strictly political act, carrying no moral weight and showing no regard for historical accuracy. Within this realm, free from any claim to objectivity, an enemy can be conceived ...

Hezbollah: From Military Power to Spoiler Power
AnalysisHezbollah: From Military Power to Spoiler Power

By defying an official ban and illuminating Pigeon Rock in Raouche with portraits of its two former leaders assassinated by Israel in 2024, and mobilizing thousands of supporters for a flagrantly ostentatious show of force, Hezbollah once again pushed the boundaries of its provocative maneuvers. This time, it was through deeds rather than words ...

Nasrallah’s Assassination: Raoucheh Instead of Jerusalem
EditorialNasrallah’s Assassination: Raoucheh Instead of Jerusalem

No one could have imagined it for a single moment. At the time, it never occurred to anyone that an operation of such magnitude was possible or even conceivable. The massive resources mobilized for the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, exactly one year ago to the day, sent shockwaves not only through the ranks of the pro-Iranian party but also ...

 Meeting at the Serail to Address Raoucheh Rock Illumination Defiance
Meeting at the Serail to Address Raoucheh Rock Illumination Defiance

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam convened a ministerial meeting at the Grand Serail on Thursday afternoon to address the repercussions of Hezbollah’s illumination of Raoucheh Rock in defiance of a government decision.  According to sources, Minister of Health Rakan Nassereddine, Minister of Environment Tamara el-Zein and Minister of Administrative ...

Netanyahu at UN: Conditional Peace with Lebanon, a New Middle East
Netanyahu at UN: Conditional Peace with Lebanon, a New Middle East

In an address to the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reopened the door to peace with Lebanon. He declared that “peace between Israel and Lebanon is possible,” contingent on the disarmament of Hezbollah. “If Lebanon takes action to disarm Hezbollah, I’m confident peace will follow,” he ...

Lebanese Army Launches Raids Against Fugitives in Baalbeck
Lebanese Army Launches Raids Against Fugitives in Baalbeck

The Lebanese Army carried out raids in Dar al-Wasaa, Baalbeck, on Friday, deploying air force units and drones in pursuit of wanted individuals and contraband. Field reports confirmed that a prominent fugitive, identified as H.J. and known by the alias “al-Sabee’,” was killed during the operation. In a statement, the Army Command said that ...

Hezbollah vs. the State: A Sisyphus Moment at Raouche
Op-edHezbollah vs. the State: A Sisyphus Moment at Raouche

In a bold display of power that lays bare Lebanon’s fragile balance of forces, Hezbollah flouted every law and directive, trampling both state decisions and promises to its own allies. On Thursday evening, despite an explicit ban from Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud, the Pigeon Rock in Raouche, an iconic national and tourist landmark, was ...

The End of an Era: Hezbollah Without Its Anchor
SpotlightThe End of an Era: Hezbollah Without Its Anchor

September 27, 2024, marked a turning point for Hezbollah. At 6:30 PM, a powerful shockwave tore through Beirut’s southern suburb and its surroundings, but the deeper tremor was political. In a matter of seconds, the “Party of God” entered free fall. Hassan Nasrallah, the movement’s towering figure, its uncontested leader and the symbol of ...

Former BDL Governor Riad Salameh Released on Reduced Bail
Former BDL Governor Riad Salameh Released on Reduced Bail

Former Central Bank (BDL) Governor Riad Salameh was released on Friday evening. He was discharged from Bhannes Hospital after completing all legal formalities, with his legal representative, lawyer Mark Habka, overseeing the release under tight security supervision. Habka pointed out that “Salameh's release marks a new chapter in his ...