Hezbollah

The Wand and the Magic Ring

The ring on the finger of the new U.S. deputy envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus  was given more attention than it deserved, but its symbolism was far greater than what Lebanon could endure. Opponents did not differentiate between it being a religious symbol—perhaps because Judaism in Lebanon is often associated with Zionism, which led ...

Europe Closely Monitoring Israel’s Feb 18 Withdrawal Deadline

The new US administration’s rigorous way of handling foreign affairs was reaffirmed by US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who openly called for excluding Hezbollah from the next Lebanese government while applauding its defeat at Israel’s hand. The approach that is bound to alienate and provoke Lebanon’s Shiite ...

Ortagus: Hezbollah Should Not Be Part of the Government

Morgan Ortagus, the US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East, said that Hezbollah should not be part of the new Lebanese government that Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam is trying to  form. “Hezbollah has been defeated by Israel, and we are grateful for that,” Ortagus said after meeting with President Joseph Aoun at Baabda ...

Meeting Between President J. Aoun and Ortagus: Striving for Lasting Stability and a Hezbollah-Free Lebanon

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a meeting in Baabda with Morgan Ortagus, the US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, to discuss key issues of security, stability and cooperation between Lebanon and the United States. President Aoun stressed that stability in southern Lebanon is closely tied to the completion of Israel's withdrawal ...

Gallant Reveals Details of the Attack on Hassan Nasrallah

In an exclusive interview with Israeli Channel 12 on Thursday, former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant spoke for the first time about the circumstances surrounding the death of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s former Secretary-General. Nasrallah was killed on September 27, 2024, in an Israeli airstrike targeting the group’s headquarters in ...

Israeli Raids in Southern Lebanon and Beqaa

Speculation is growing about a possible extension of the ceasefire until March 1, while the Israeli army continues its raids and military operations in certain areas of southern Lebanon, amid violations of the ceasefire agreement on both sides. On Friday morning, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Tabna region in Baissariyeh, while Israeli forces ...

Government Formation Stalled Over Shiite Representation

The government formation appeared imminent on Thursday amid a flurry of visitors to Baabda’s Presidential Palace. Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam visited Baabda, where he met with President Joseph Aoun. Shortly after, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri joined them for a trilateral meeting. Meanwhile, government secretary-general Mahmoud ...

The President at the Forefront of Expanded Decentralization

Expanded administrative decentralization is a contentious issue in Lebanon, periodically resurfacing and sparking heated debates among political factions. President Joseph Aoun has revived the issue of expanded decentralization, viewing it as a means to promote balanced development, address disparities in marginalized regions and strengthen ...

Government Formation: Berri Blocks Progress

The trilateral meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam concluded this Thursday afternoon after an hour and a half of discussions. According to MTV, Berri's insistence on appointing a fifth Shiite minister hindered the government formation process. Diplomatic sources ...

The Golden Pager and the Irony of Espionage in the Middle East

History is often written in treaties. Sometimes, it’s forged in war. And sometimes, apparently, it’s written in golden pagers. Yes, you read that correctly. In a moment that blended Middle Eastern geopolitics with the aesthetics of a 1990s tech museum, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gifted US President Donald Trump a golden pager, ...

Lebanon: A State of Insecurity? Where Exactly?

The ostrich policy: look away and pretend that security is under control. For the past few weeks, in a scattered yet synchronized manner, acts of delinquency have been multiplying in certain neighborhoods of Beirut. Of course, there’s no proof that these incidents are coordinated. However, in Lebanon, there’s always a “but!” The profile ...

Iran's Khamenei names Hezbollah leader as Lebanon 'representative'

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has named Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem as his "representative" in Lebanon, Iranian media reported Wednesday. "The leader of the revolution, in a decree, introduced Sheikh Naim Qassem, secretary general of Hezbollah, as his representative in Lebanon," Tasnim news agency said. Tasnim carried a copy of ...