This is Beirut

America’s Beirut Gamble: Barrack, Ortagus and Graham Push Lebanon Toward Peace

Salam El Zaatari, 11:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Ceasefire Damascus Gulf Hezbollah

When Tom Barrack, Morgan Ortagus and Senator Lindsey Graham touched down in Beirut, it was clear that the United States was no longer willing to watch Lebanon’s crisis unfold from the sidelines. Their visit was not ceremonial. It was an intervention, part carrot, part stick, designed to push Lebanon into one of the most consequential decisions ...

Hezbollah: The Voice of Its Master

Marc Saikali, 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Hezbollah and its weapons, a never-ending tale. Same story, on repeat. Giving up the arsenal? Never. Without it, there is no arbitrary power, no rent to collect. And like any loyal client, Hezbollah clings to its dealer: Iran. Each time an Iranian leader takes the stage or embarks on a “diplomatic” tour, the pattern is predictable. Days ...

A Few Extra Hours of Power: Kuwait Helps Bring Back Light to Lebanon

Christiane Tager, 25/08 18:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Even a small relief can feel like a breath of fresh air in the daily lives of Lebanese families. But this shipment is more than just a tank of fuel: it represents a political gesture, much-needed financial support and a symbol of warming diplomatic ties with the Gulf monarchies. In a country where electricity has become a luxury and every hour of ...

When Rifts Shake the Mullahs’ Republic

Michel Touma, 25/08 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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One of Donald Trump’s key campaign pledges was to bring peace and prosperity to the Middle East. In a region as volatile as the Levant, the path to any lasting peace runs through stability and security, which means dismantling factions that can only exist in a climate of perpetual conflict. These goals are nothing short of ambitious in a part of ...

The Silent Crisis of Lebanese Apples

Christiane Tager, 20/08 21:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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In many mountain communities, apples are far more than a dessert – they are an economic pillar. Families depend on the harvest to cover schooling, healthcare and daily expenses. When apples go unsold, the entire rural economy wobbles. Juice, jams, artisanal cider and vinegar exist as alternatives, but they are insufficient to handle ...

Beirut Traders Index Points to Fragile Economic Rebound

This is Beirut, 19/08 16:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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The latest index of the Beirut Traders Association-Fransabank (Q2 2025) shows the first signs of a recovery in local markets, a welcome development as the World Bank forecasts 4.7% GDP growth for Lebanon in 2025 and a sharp drop in inflation. The retail trade index rose to 33.13 points in Q2 2025, up from 30.01 the previous quarter (base 100 = Q4 ...

Lebanon, a Transit Hub for Iraqi Oil

Liliane Mokbel, 18/08 11:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

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Will Iraqi oil once again flow through Tripoli, capital of North Lebanon? The project is back on the table, but its outcome remains uncertain. Baghdad is signaling determination. Oil Minister Hayan Abdel Ghani confirmed that the option is under serious study. To show goodwill, he also mentioned the possible rehabilitation of Kirkuk-Baniyas ...

Tehran’s Unease About the Zanguezur Corridor

Mario Chartouni, 12/08 18:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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The peace agreement signed on August 8 between Armenia and Azerbaijan could mark a turning point for the South Caucasus. However, for Tehran, one of its most significant elements – the creation of the Zanguezur Corridor, linking Azerbaijan directly to its Nakhchivan exclave through southern Armenia – poses a serious strategic ...

Mossad’s Reach: How Israel Penetrated Iran’s Inner Sanctum

Soumia Benmerzoug, 11/08 13:00 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

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In June 2025, Iran was struck by a wave of operations of an unusual kind: targeted sabotage, “accidental” explosions, digital disruption, targeted assassinations… The whole affair bears the hallmarks of a hybrid offensive, silent yet devastatingly effective. But beyond technological prowess, the structural collapse of a paranoid regime ...

GCC Welcomes Lebanon’s Decision to Place All Weapons Under State Control

This is Beirut, 08/08 12:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has welcomed the Lebanese government’s decision to place all weapons under the exclusive control of the state throughout Lebanon. In a statement released Friday by the Qatar News Agency (QNA), GCC Secretary-General Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf described the decision as “an important step toward strengthening ...

UAE Rejects Sudan Claim it Destroyed Emirati Plane Full of Mercenaries

This is Beirut, 07/08 16:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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The United Arab Emirates rejected on Thursday an announcement from Sudan's armed forces saying they had destroyed an Emirati plane ferrying Colombian mercenaries into the country to back its paramilitary rivals. Sudan has been locked in a war between its army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, with the military long ...

Sudan says Army Destroys Emirati Aircraft, Killing 40 Mercenaries

This is Beirut, 07/08 09:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

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Sudan's air force has destroyed an Emirati aircraft carrying Colombian mercenaries as it landed at a paramilitary-controlled airport in Darfur, killing at least 40 people, the army-aligned state TV said Wednesday. A military source, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the UAE plane "was bombed and completely destroyed" at Darfur's ...

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