hezbollah

Trump’s Regional Peace Play: A New Pax Americana?

Donald Trump’s whirlwind tour of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE was far more than a ceremonial diplomatic visit. Grounded in deep strategic, political and economic stakes, it marked a decisive attempt to recast the American role in a region long scarred by conflict and fractured alliances. Arriving with a regional peace blueprint in hand, ...

Municipal Elections: Preliminary Lessons and Takeaways

The municipal vote held on Sunday, May 18—much like those earlier this month—was largely local in scope. In small villages, elections often took on a personal, familial or even clan-based dynamic. However, in larger cities such as Zahle, Baalbeck and Hermel, the contests were more clearly partisan, though not necessarily aligned with broader ...

Municipal Elections in Beirut and Beqaa: Political Messages Emerge Amid Low Turnout

The third round of Lebanon’s municipal and mukhtar elections was held on Sunday across the capital Beirut and in the governorates of Beqaa and Baalbeck-Hermel. Over one million voters were eligible to cast their ballots. Voter turnout varied significantly: 20% in Beirut, 46.73% in Baalbeck, 45.16% in Zahle, 41.41% in West Beqaa, 34.56% in ...

Jailbreaking 

The proactive diplomacy of President Donald Trump is proceeding steadily on multiple fronts. The very fact that he is moving on multiple fronts and breaking the taboos that have hobbled international political life is a good omen. The sanctioning tariffs seem to open up the fray for negotiations on the outside and for renewed investment dynamics ...

Baalbeck Votes: A Usual Election Draped in Yellow

On Sunday, May 18, Baalbeck heads to the polls draped in yellow and green. The dominance of the Hezbollah-Amal alliance remains strong, while civil society struggles to make an impact. Amid the city’s lingering wounds from war, hope for change persists.

State Must Safeguard UNIFIL, as Attacks Violate Resolution 1701

Since the ceasefire took effect in Lebanon on November 27, UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) peacekeepers stationed south of the Litani River have come under multiple attacks, attributed to Hezbollah-affiliated groups. These incidents represent a direct violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and undermine ...

Ortagus Urges Full Disarmament of Hezbollah

Deputy United States Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus delivered a strong message on Thursday, declaring that the path to peace and prosperity lies in the full disarmament of Hezbollah, not just in southern Lebanon, but across the entire country. In an interview with LBCI, Ortagus emphasized the unified stance of the US, Saudi ...

US Sanctions Four Key Hezbollah Financiers in Lebanon and Iran

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed sanctions on two senior Hezbollah officials and two financial facilitators based in Lebanon and Iran for coordinating funding to support the group’s “terrorist activities.” According to a press release issued by the Department of the Treasury on ...

Riyadh Without Beirut: Lebanon’s Omissive Absence From a Key Regional Summit

Riyadh, May 2025—In the heart of the Saudi desert, a private summit between US President Donald Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and Syrian President Ahmad el-Chareh reignited crucial conversations on the Middle East’s future. But one absence was consistently noted: that of Lebanon. While Lebanon’s persistent crises were ...

83 Draft Laws Submitted, Only One Passed

On Thursday, May 15, MPs gathered at Nejmeh Square for a legislative session with an exceptionally heavy agenda: 83 draft laws were submitted for review, underscoring a chronic governance crisis oscillating between institutional paralysis and reform efforts. Only one law was approved by the end of the session: an amended law criminalizing ...