Lebanon

The Pope in Lebanon: A Dual State–Apostolic Visit

As he arrives in Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV will undertake a unique visit that brings together two complementary dimensions: a state visit and an apostolic visit. This dual status reflects the two identities of the pontiff, head of state of Vatican City and spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.  

81 Journalists Travel with Pope Leo XIV on Historic Journey

81 international journalists are traveling with Pope Leo XIV on his apostolic journey from Turkey to Lebanon. The group includes cameramen and photographers representing around twenty media outlets from 15 countries. Major American networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and CNN are part of the pool, highlighting the global attention given to this ...

Michel Issa: Disarming Hezbollah Is a Prerequisite for Peace

In an interview with Haaretz, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa stressed that Israel “does not need Washington’s permission to defend itself,” noting that the U.S. administration is in constant contact with the Lebanese government and is urging it to disarm Hezbollah. Issa added that dismantling the weapons of Hezbollah and other ...

Silos of Beirut: Autopsy of an Announced Pollution

On 4 August 2020, Beirut exploded a first time, in a flash of ammonium nitrate, debris and shattered glass. Since then, the city has continued to explode in a muffled way: in the bronchi of the inhabitants, in the lungs of the children of Karantina, in the gutted silos that spit back out heat, smoke and dust. Last Thursday, the file came back ...

Michel Issa: Negotiations Between Lebanon and Israel Are Necessary for Lasting Peace

U.S. Ambassador Michel Issa stressed that “negotiations between Lebanon and Israel are essential for lasting peace, and both sides are ready to engage in U.S.-mediated talks when the conditions are right.” In an interview with MTV, Issa stated that “the Lebanese Army has significantly expanded its deployment in the South and has already ...

Qassem: “We Have the Right to Respond”, Adraee: Lebanese State Must Continue Disarming Hezbollah

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem said Friday evening in a televised address that Israel’s assassination of Haytham Ali Tabatabai was “a blatant attack and a heinous crime.” He added, “We have the right to respond, and we will decide the appropriate time to do so.” Marking one year since the signing of the cease-fire, Qassem ...

King Charles III Cedar Trail Opens in Lebanon

The British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell and Minister of Environment Tamara El Zein inaugurated the King Charles III Cedar Trail in the Shouf Biosphere Reserve on Friday. The ceremony brought together the mayors and mokhtars of Ain Zahalta, Bmahray, and Mokhtara; the head of the reserve committee, Faisal Abu Ezzeddine; and the reserve ...

Lebanon Files UN Complaint Over Israeli Concrete Wall

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry filed a formal complaint through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on Friday, protesting against Israel’s construction of two T-shaped concrete barrier walls inside internationally recognized Lebanese territory near the southern town of Yaroun. In a press release, the Foreign Ministry described ...

Lebanon and Cyprus Seal Landmark Maritime Boundary Agreement

The official signing of the Maritime Boundary Agreement (MBA) between Lebanon and Cyprus is a major achievement, one that confers important advantages on both parties. This process was delayed for a very long time for no good reason, so President Joseph Aoun and the government deserve congratulations for having seized the initiative and for having ...

Lebanese Army Reports Progress Under Weapons Containment Plan

The Lebanese Army (LAF) announced Friday that it has uncovered 177 tunnels since the launch of the “Homeland Shield” plan, an initiative aimed at ensuring the exclusive control of weapons by the state. The army also reported that it had closed 11 crossings along the Litani River and seized 566 rocket launchers. During a media tour in the ...

Ahead of the Pope’s Visit, Lebanon Mobilizes

Preparations are intensifying nationwide, reflecting the significance of the long-anticipated visit of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon. He will arrive in Lebanon on November 28 and will tour the country until December 2.  From new installations to renewed public spaces, the capital is reshaping itself ahead of the event. Teams are deployed across key ...