Lebanon

You, and Only You, Against the Whole World…
You, and Only You, Against the Whole World…

What will happen on February 18, the deadline for the truce extension? Probably not much. The Israelis won’t have fully withdrawn, Hezbollah will call for “resistance” and the international community will exert pressure to avoid an unexpected escalation. Yelling and threatening mobs will likely rush into the neighborhoods that, not so long ...

Skeptical of Israeli  Withdrawal on Deadline, President Aoun Reaffirms Army’s Security Role
Skeptical of Israeli Withdrawal on Deadline, President Aoun Reaffirms Army’s Security Role

President Joseph Aoun on Monday reiterated the Lebanese Army’s responsibility for securing the country’s borders, emphasizing its full readiness for accountability. Addressing the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, Aoun stated that any resolution must be discussed among the Lebanese. President Aoun voiced concern that Israeli troops may not ...

Downtown Revival: Many Businesses Set to Reopen Near Nejmeh Square
Downtown Revival: Many Businesses Set to Reopen Near Nejmeh Square

After years of closure, void and stagnation of market activity, Nejmeh Square in downtown Beirut was finally reopened to the public, along with the surrounding roads — especially those near the Parliament building and the Banks’ Street, adjacent to the Grand Serail. These areas had been sealed off with metal and concrete barriers, as well as ...

The Aftermath of the War: Hezbollah’s Role and Responsibility
The Aftermath of the War: Hezbollah’s Role and Responsibility

It is becoming increasingly clear that the Islamic Republic of Iran and Hezbollah have yet to come to terms with the end of Hezbollah’s military and security role as the armed wing of the Islamic Revolution. Therefore, they are attempting by all means to maintain a foothold that would allow Hezbollah to reassert itself. However, the prevailing ...

Lebanon’s Stability and Peace at the Heart of the 61st Munich Security Conference
Lebanon’s Stability and Peace at the Heart of the 61st Munich Security Conference

Under the aegis of the 61st Munich Security Conference, the high-level side event organized by the Sovereign Order of Malta entitled "Kairos or Crisis? Unwinding Lebanon’s Path to Stability and Peace” was held. The event was divided into two panels with the participation of numerous guests from the political and institutional scene, including ...

The Regalian Function and the Poor Exercise of Power
AnalysisThe Regalian Function and the Poor Exercise of Power

The new government of Lebanon was welcomed as symptomatic of a new era. Nonetheless, its shortcomings are obvious, and its inaugural performance is not a good omen. The political subtext is plainly contradictory, and its steering committee doesn’t seem to realize that its multiple inconsistencies are self-defeating. Surfing on the false idea of ...

Beirut International Airport Turmoil: The Hidden Side of the Iceberg
EditorialBeirut International Airport Turmoil: The Hidden Side of the Iceberg

For those who remained skeptical, reluctant to acknowledge the reality before them, the past few days should have dispelled any lingering doubt. Hezbollah has once again provided undeniable proof that its political agenda and modus operandi stand in stark opposition to the construction of a unified, sovereign state. More than ever, the Lebanese ...

Naim Qassem Between Conciliation and Blame: 'Are We Employees of Israel?'
Naim Qassem Between Conciliation and Blame: 'Are We Employees of Israel?'

In a ritual now well mastered, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Naim Qassem placed his speech under two political banners, one rather reduced, regional, the other more elaborate, local. With regard to internal political developments, Qassem played the cards of “apparent good intention” and “innocence.” “We have endeavored to contribute ...

Saad Hariri's Comeback: A Turning Point for the Sunni Community?
Saad Hariri's Comeback: A Turning Point for the Sunni Community?

Saad Hariri was greeted with a massive crowd at Martyrs' Square on Friday, February 14. His return, eagerly awaited by his supporters, came more than three years after his withdrawal from the Lebanese political scene. In fact, much of the Sunni community has been feeling sidelined and underrepresented in recent years. For former Minister Rashid ...

One Killed, Several Injured in Israeli Gunfire in Southern Lebanon
One Killed, Several Injured in Israeli Gunfire in Southern Lebanon

Israeli forces opened fire toward the town of Hula on Sunday, killing one person and injuring several others, according to the National News Agency (NNA). The escalation followed an incident in which residents of the southern Lebanese town bypassed a barrier erected by the Israeli army and entered the area despite Israeli military ...