Lebanon

IMF Reservations Fuel Dispute Over Financial Gap Law

This is Beirut 2025-12-23 13:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

International Monetary Fund Lebanon Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Hezbollah

Nidaa al-Watan reported Tuesday that controversy persists over the leaked draft Financial Gap Law, amid claims that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is dissatisfied and has raised reservations. While the draft is expected to be circulated to ministers ahead of a possible Cabinet vote, political and diplomatic circles cited by the newspaper ...

Lebanon Denies Israel’s Claim Linking Killed Soldier to Hezbollah

This is Beirut 2025-12-23 12:10 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

IsraeliArmy LebaneseArmy Lebanon Israel

The Israeli Army on Tuesday claimed that a Lebanese soldier killed in an Israeli strike near the southern city of Saida on Monday was linked to Hezbollah, describing the alleged coordination as a “serious matter”. In a statement posted on X, Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said Israeli forces carried out what he ...

AnalysisWhy was Sharaa Invited to Washington, but not Aoun?

Hussain Abdul-Hussain 2025-12-23 10:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Washington Lebanon Lebanese Army Syria Joseph Aoun Ahmad al-Sharaa

Until late 2024, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was a U.S.-designated terrorist with a $10 million bounty on his head for leading the al-Qaeda-linked Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. By contrast, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who served as commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) until his election in January 2025, was widely regarded as one of ...

Lebanon’s Cabinet Divided Over Controversial Financial Gap Law

This is Beirut 2025-12-22 20:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon Nawaf Salam International Monetary Fund Banks Central Bank of Lebanon Gap Law

The controversial financial Gap Law presented as key to resolving Lebanon’s enduring banking crisis that deprived depositors of their savings, topped discussions at Monday’s cabinet meeting, exposing differences among ministers. The session, attended by Central Bank Governor Karim Souaid, was adjourned and will resume Tuesday to ...

Israeli Strike in Saida District Kills Three

This is Beirut 2025-12-22 14:40 - Reading : less than a minute

Lebanon Hezbollah Israel Saida South Lebanon

Israel said Monday it launched a drone strike in Quneitra’s Saida district, targeting a car carrying what Israel said were Hezbollah operatives, killing three people. One of the deceased is reportedly a Lebanese Army soldier. Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a post on X, “A short while ago, the Israel Defense ...

Hezbollah Allegedly Strengthens Hold on Beirut Port Amid Disarmament Doubts

Michael al-Andary 2025-12-22 13:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Beirut Port Hezbollah Nawaf Salam Beirut International Airport Lebanese Army Israel United States

Despite the Lebanese cabinet’s move to impose a firm deadline for the disarmament of militias, developments on the ground point to a “lack of seriousness” in enforcing the decision against Hezbollah, a security source told This is Beirut on condition of anonymity, questioning whether the government’s commitment is backed by concrete ...

US Senator Accuses Hamas and Hezbollah of Rearming

This is Beirut 2025-12-21 16:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Lindsey Graham Hamas Hezbollah Lebanon Israel United States

US Senator Lindsey Graham accused Hamas and Hezbollah of rearming during a visit to Israel on Sunday and charged that the Palestinian Islamist group was also consolidating power in Gaza. After two years of war between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territory, a fragile ceasefire has held since October, despite both sides trading accusations ...

The IMF Sets an Example Through Lebanese Depositors: Unpacking One the Most Dangerous Laws in the Country’s History

This is Beirut 2025-12-21 15:40 - Reading : 6 minute(s)

Lebanon Banque du Liban International Monetary Fund economy banking system banks

What the government presented as the ‘Financial Gap Law’ is not merely a piece of financial legislation; it is a text that lays the foundations for the post-adoption economic order. It does not conceal its objective but states it calmly: ending a crisis that has lasted for years instead of resolving it, writing off deposits instead of ...

FocusGap Law: The Programmed Destruction of the Banking Sector

This is Beirut 2025-12-21 15:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon Economy Banks BDL Gap Law

Presented as a restructuring measure, the Gap Law organizes a methodical liquidation of the Lebanese banking sector. Behind complex technical mechanisms—loss hierarchy, balance-sheet cleanup, recapitalization—lies a clear political choice: to sacrifice banks to settle a public crisis that the state refuses to assume. This text does not reform ...

SpotlightGap Law: A Legalized Expropriation of Deposits

This is Beirut 2025-12-21 12:05 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Banks BDL Lebanon Economy Gap Law

Wrapped in the technical language of financial restructuring, the Gap Law is presented as a necessary step to correct the imbalance of Lebanon’s banking system. Behind this rhetoric lies a far more serious reality: the legalization of a massive expropriation of bank deposits, in blatant disregard of property rights, legal certainty, and the very ...

ReportChristmas in South Lebanon: Villages Orphaned of Their Youth

Katia Kahil 2025-12-21 11:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Lebanon South Lebanon USA Displacement

In the villages of South Lebanon, Christmas flickers like a fragile flame. Despite the ever-present fear and palpable tension, church bells toll and evening gatherings are held. In Alma al-Shaab, Yaroun, Deir Mimas, Khiam, and Marjayoun, garlands and nativity scenes timidly pierce the deserted streets. Once alive with laughter and reunion, these ...

FocusThe Law of Financial “Massacre”: When Nawaf Salam and “Kulluna Irada” Strip Depositors of Their Savings

Eleonore Stephan for Huna Lubnan 2025-12-21 09:05 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Lebanon IMF Banks BDL Economy

At one of the darkest moments in Lebanon’s national life, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is promoting a so-called “financial gap law” as a technical solution, while in reality it legalizes suffering and formalizes the confiscation of Lebanese citizens’ savings. The so-called “Kulluna Irada” law does not merely steal money; it also ...