This is Beirut - Lebanon

UNIFIL Chief Abaniara Reaffirms Mission in South Lebanon

This is Beirut, 21/08 13:05 - Reading : less than a minute

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Major General Diodato Abaniara, commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), on Thursday reaffirmed the mission’s commitment to supporting the Lebanese Army (LAF) in extending its authority, maintaining security, and protecting residents of southern Lebanon. Responding to questions about UNIFIL’s priorities following the ...

Gemayel Slams Rhetoric Against Patriarch Rai

This is Beirut, 21/08 12:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Kataeb Party Chief Sami Gemayel on Thursday condemned recent remarks targeting Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, describing them as “unacceptable.” In his remarks after a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Gemayel warned that such rhetoric is “counterproductive to efforts for national consensus.” In parallel, he reaffirmed his ...

Russia, Ukraine, Hezbollah: Drained by Endless Wars

Marc Saikali, 21/08 08:15 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Some wars drag on endlessly. Not because they are unsolvable, but because certain leaders have decided their political survival depends on keeping them alive. Two examples stand out today: the war in Ukraine and Hezbollah’s self-proclaimed “resistance” in Lebanon. Since February 2022, Moscow has clung to a military adventure ...

Residents Protest Against UNIFIL Patrol in Deir Siryan

This is Beirut, 20/08 22:05 - Reading : less than a minute

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On Wednesday, residents of Deir Siryan, close to Hezbollah, protested after a Finnish UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) patrol reportedly entered private olive groves without being accompanied by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). The incident comes ahead of a vote on the extension of UNIFIL’s mandate, with the UN Security Council ...

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 ...

US Signals Conditional UNIFIL Extension Amid Lebanese Security Concerns

This is Beirut, 20/08 21:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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A US State Department source overseeing the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) mission said Wednesday that the one-year extension for the peacekeeping force is not open-ended, but comes with a clear timeline to end its role. Speaking to MTV Lebanon, the official emphasized that the naval component will remain until the mission’s ...

Ahmad Farran Finally Takes the Reins of Lebanon’s National Team

This is Beirut, 20/08 19:20 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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After a long wait, Ahmad Farran has been officially named coach of the Lebanese national basketball team. Currently the coach of Riyadi Beirut, one of the country’s most decorated clubs, Farran has proven his ability to build strong and ambitious teams. The disappointment of the last Asian championship is still fresh, but today, it’s time to ...

Patriarch Rai’s Call for Hezbollah Disarmament Draws Backlash and Support

This is Beirut, 20/08 18:25 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

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Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai’s firm stance on the disarmament of Hezbollah in a recent interview received immediate backlash and provocations from the party’s allies, but also strong backing from political, religious and civil groups who defended Bkerke’s position on national sovereignty. While Hezbollah supporters accused the ...

UNIFIL and LAF Discover Tunnel and Unexploded Ordnance in South Lebanon

This is Beirut, 20/08 16:55 - Reading : less than a minute

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UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) peacekeepers have discovered a 50-meter-long tunnel and several unexploded pieces of ordnance near the town of al-Qusayr in southern Lebanon, the mission announced Wednesday. The discovery was made in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), according to a UNIFIL press release. “In ...

China Pledges Stronger Infrastructure Support for Lebanon

This is Beirut, 20/08 16:30 - Reading : less than a minute

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Public Works and Transport Minister Fayez Rasamny met Wednesday with China’s new Ambassador to Lebanon, Chen Chuandong, during a courtesy visit aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fields of transport and infrastructure. During the meeting, Rasamny raised the issue of a Chinese donation of 100 buses to support Lebanon’s public ...

Salam and Berri Call for Crucial Renewal of UNIFIL’s Mandate

This is Beirut, 20/08 15:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

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Prime Minister Nawaf Salam underscored on Wednesday the crucial role of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon, saying that renewing its mandate is essential for maintaining calm and helping the army assert state authority across the region. During a meeting at the Grand Serail, attended by U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin, members of the congressional ...

LAF Destroys Cannabis Crops, Seizes Drugs and Captagon-Making Equipment

This is Beirut, 20/08 14:50 - Reading : less than a minute

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The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) announced on Wednesday that one of its units destroyed seven dunums of cannabis crops in the town of Zarazir, Baalbeck. In a statement, the Army Command said that as part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking, an army unit, supported by a patrol from the Intelligence Directorate, raided the homes of ...

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