hezbollah

Nawaf Salam Appeals for Support in Disarming Hezbollah

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced on Friday that the Lebanese government was moving forward with the plan to disarm Hezbollah. He stressed that Lebanon’s fragile state institutions and army will require significant international support to implement the plan successfully. Salam highlighted the urgent financial needs of the country, citing ...

Tom Barrack Calls on Netanyahu to Show ‘Tolerance and Understanding’ Toward Lebanon

In an interview held after his departure from Lebanon, US special envoy Tom Barrack urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show “tolerance and understanding” toward Lebanon, stressing that such an approach would benefit both countries. “I come from your region, I have Lebanese blood,” said Barrack, whose family hails from ...

Washington Steps up Pressure on Hezbollah

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has toughened his stance against Lebanon's Hezbollah, calling for decisive measures to "put an end to its existence" and raising the possibility of military force as an alternative solution. “The time has come to finish with Hezbollah,” he declared, emphasizing that the group “is trained by Iran and completely ...

Lebanese Lieutenant and First Adjutant Killed in Israeli Drone Blast

Two Lebanese soldiers, a lieutenant and a first adjutant, were killed Thursday in Naqoura while a military unit was inspecting an Israeli drone that had crashed while carrying an unexploded bomb. According to preliminary information, the drone was attempting to drop the device on an excavator before crashing. Ambulance teams rushed to the scene ...

Defense Minister: Lebanon to Centralize All Arms Under State Authority

Defense Minister Michel Menassa reaffirmed that the government has taken a clear strategic decision: to unify all weapons under state authority. He said the army has been tasked with drafting an operational plan to implement the disarmament before the end of the month. In an interview with Kuwait’s Al-Jarida, Menassa commented on recent remarks ...

America’s Beirut Gamble: Barrack, Ortagus and Graham Push Lebanon Toward Peace

When Tom Barrack, Morgan Ortagus and Senator Lindsey Graham touched down in Beirut, it was clear that the United States was no longer willing to watch Lebanon’s crisis unfold from the sidelines. Their visit was not ceremonial. It was an intervention, part carrot, part stick, designed to push Lebanon into one of the most consequential decisions ...

UN Security Council to Vote Thursday on UNIFIL’s Future

The UN Security Council is set to vote Thursday on the future of the blue helmet peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon, which has faced U.S. and Israeli opposition. The Panamanian presidency of the Council announced that the session, repeatedly postponed, will be held on Thursday. Some 10,800 peacekeepers have been acting as a buffer between ...

Hezbollah: The Voice of Its Master

Hezbollah and its weapons, a never-ending tale. Same story, on repeat. Giving up the arsenal? Never. Without it, there is no arbitrary power, no rent to collect. And like any loyal client, Hezbollah clings to its dealer: Iran. Each time an Iranian leader takes the stage or embarks on a “diplomatic” tour, the pattern is predictable. Days ...

Hezbollah Escalates Rhetoric After Barrack’s Visit

Hezbollah raised its tone once again on Wednesday, a day after US envoys Tom Barrack and Morgan Ortagus’ visit to Beirut, during which international support for restoring Lebanese sovereignty over the entire national territory was reaffirmed. Hussein Khalil, political aide to Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, renewed threats and leveled ...

Lebanon and Syria: A New Diplomatic Era

A Syrian delegation is expected in Beirut later this month to address outstanding issues between the two countries. Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and the election of Ahmad al-Sharaa as Syria’s president, a new dynamic has emerged. For Lebanon, this represents both an opportunity to build a more balanced relationship with ...