Lebanon

One Person Killed in Israeli Fire in Kfar Kila

One person was killed and two others were wounded by Israeli fire at the Fatima Gate in the village of Kfar Kila late on Thursday. In a statement, the Lebanese Army denounced “the continuing Israeli aggressions by land, sea and air against Lebanon’s sovereignty, the latest being a series of attacks on civilians in the South and the ...

Cabinet Approves 2025 Budget, Initiates Reforms

PM Nawaf Salam confirmed the 2025 budget’s approval and pledged reforms to ease its impact. Work on the 2026 budget is underway, and future Cabinet sessions will move to a new venue. Information Minister Paul Morcos highlighted Saudi Arabia’s reform-linked support for Lebanon and announced work on tax exemptions for war victims and new ISF ...

A US Bill That Aims to Dismantle Hezbollah?  

The US Congress has taken things to a whole new level. Dubbed the “Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Extremism Act” (PAGER Act), this legislation, spearheaded by Republican Congressman Greg Steube, is not just about sanctioning Hezbollah—it’s about forcing Lebanon into a political and military reckoning. The bill lays out an ...

Syria, Such a Troublesome Neighbor

Since its independence, Lebanon has served as a mirror reflecting the events unfolding in its much larger neighboring country. Damascus has long cast a covetous eye on Lebanon, disturbed by its freedoms and economic achievements. Despite all the challenges, Lebanon has managed to preserve a semblance of political democracy, even in its darkest ...

Independent Arabiya Unveils US Congressional Bill Targeting Hezbollah and LAF

Independent Arabiya has published details of a draft bill introduced to the US Congress by Republican Representative Greg Steube, aimed at pressuring the Lebanese government and military to curb Hezbollah’s influence. The proposed legislation, titled  "Preventing Armed Groups from Engaging in Extremism Act," calls for stringent measures against ...

If You Loved the Canals of Venice, You’ll Adore the Canals of Beirut!

Every year, winter brings rain. A statement so ordinary it could hardly be more clichéd. Yet in Lebanon, every downpour turns the roads into rivers. Cars become makeshift gondolas, and honking horns replace gondoliers’ songs. It’s safe to say that romance is hardly in the air. Water covers the gaping holes, which elsewhere are called ...

BDL’s Gold: An Untouchable Treasure or a Last Resort?

Following the government’s policy statement and the president’s inaugural speech, it is clear that a new momentum is emerging to address the pending economic issues. Controversial proposals are emerging, notably the idea of using Lebanon's Central Bank gold reserves (BDL) to partially bridge the financial deficit. However, it is evident that ...

Vehicle Targeted in Ras Naqoura, Several Injuries Reported

Several people were injured on Wednesday morning after an Israeli drone fired a missile and dropped bombs on a van in Ras Naqoura. The vehicle, belonging to two brothers of the Jouheir family, was targeted as its owners were travelling to the area to inspect land belonging to them. The van's passengers were seriously injured, but survived the ...

The Druze: Riding the Tide in a Turbulent Middle East

The Druze question has reemerged at the forefront of the current regional scene, following the regime change in Syria and Israel’s incursion into Syrian territory through the demilitarized zone in the occupied Golan Heights. All this is compounded by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s warning that Israel would intervene in Syria to ...