Banks

Naim Kassem Criticizes the State and “American Financial Tutelage”

Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Kassem continued his comments on the Lebanese government, urging it to adopt a firmer stance toward Israel. During the first commemoration of the assassination of Mohammad Afif and his companions, he once again took it upon himself to remind the Lebanese state of its “responsibility” to put in place a “plan ...

In Lebanon, Power Flows… at a High Price

According to World Population Review, the cost of electricity in Lebanon stands at $0.137 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This makes the country the most expensive in the region and ranks it 74th worldwide out of 146 countries analyzed. In the region, Morocco follows with $0.121/kWh (86th), Jordan with $0.090/kWh (99th), the United Arab Emirates with ...

Washington's New Ambassador, Michel Issa, Lands in Lebanon... Who is He?

The new United States ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, landed in Beirut on Friday to begin a particularly delicate mission. His arrival comes at a time when Washington is seeking to redefine the scope of its engagement in a country caught in a deep institutional crisis, latent tensions in the south, and growing international pressure over ...

Disarming Hezbollah Starts with the Banks

One billion dollars. That is the sum Hezbollah is said to have received from Iran in 2025. An astonishing figure, revealed during the highly political visit of the U.S. Treasury delegation led by Sebastian Gorka, the White House’s counterterrorism director. How did the militia manage to receive such an amount? Through currency exchange offices, ...

Hakim Calls for Urgent Reforms to Restore Trust and Protect Depositors

Lebanon’s financial and economic situation is going through an unprecedented crisis “that requires decisive measures to restore confidence and protect depositors’ funds, while clarifying the responsibilities of the State.” These are the words of Alain Hakim, former Minister of Economy, summarizing the depth of the country’s economic ...

Sebastian Gorka’s Visit and Lebanon’s Financial Crossroads

The Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka’s visit to Lebanon over the past two days has added an unexpected but timely dimension to the country’s search for economic and political stability. His meetings with local officials and policy advisors reportedly centered on policies to cut off ...

The Association of Banks in Lebanon Warn of “Systemic Crisis”

The economic collapse is systemic and cannot be resolved without the state assuming its share of responsibility, the Association of Banks in Lebanon (ABL) warned in its latest monthly report for October 2025. The statement directly challenges the government’s draft “financial gap” law, which omits any reference to a systemic crisis, a move ...

Disarmament in Lebanon’s Interest Amid Mounting International Pressure

According to an official Lebanese source, the process of placing all weapons exclusively under state authority is first and foremost a Lebanese initiative — not an Israeli, American, or broader international demand. Any delay or suspension of this process, the source warned, would have negative repercussions solely for Lebanon and its ...

Raed Khoury: Eliminating Banks and Deposits Would Be a “Catastrophe”

As the financial collapse continues and losses keep mounting with no clear plan yet for their distribution, attention is once again turning to the stalled negotiations between the Lebanese government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), amid conflicting official approaches on how to address the crisis and restructure the banking sector. The ...

Bsat: IMF Seeks to Impose Losses on Banks... Say Goodbye to Deposits!

Lebanese Economy and Trade Minister Amer Bsat made several key statements during his appearance on the television program “Sar El Waet.” He addressed multiple sensitive issues, including the financial-gap law, bank restructuring, and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Bsat emphasized that it is not possible to commit to ...