lebanese army

Joseph Aoun in Spain: the Army, UNIFIL, and Regional Stability at the Heart of the Discussions.

President Joseph Aoun on Monday outlined the achievements of the Lebanese Army (LAF) south of the Litani River, stressing the restoration of the state’s exclusive authority in the area, alongside ongoing efforts to secure borders and combat smuggling, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration. In his remarks following a meeting with Spanish ...

UNIFIL Says Israeli Aerial Operation Disrupted Peacekeeping Activities

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) announced on Monday that Israeli forces informed the mission a day earlier of plans to conduct an aerial operation involving the release of what Israel described as a non-toxic chemical substance over areas near the Blue Line. In a press release, UNIFIL said Israeli forces instructed ...

Haykal’s U.S. Visit Signals Bid to Translate Military Gains into Political Trust

Lebanese Army (LAF) Commander General Rodolphe Haykal kicked off an official visit to the United States on Monday with a stop at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa, in a trip that goes beyond routine military protocol and carries clear political implications. At CENTCOM, Haykal met with Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, presenting detailed maps and ...

Israeli Strike Kills One in South Lebanon

One person was killed on Friday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a car in the town of Siddiqine, in the Tyre district of southern Lebanon. Following the raid, the Israeli army declared that it had eliminated a Hezbollah member.  Earlier Friday, the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) deployed patrols in the border town of Yaroun after Israeli ...

From Armed Deterrence to Durable Peace: Rethinking Shiite Security in Lebanon

Despite failing to instill ideological allegiance to Iran's Wilayat al-Faqih among Lebanon's Shia, Hezbollah has succeeded in forging a sense of collective belonging to Iran’s political project. The party achieved this more consequential outcome by recasting its weapons as a political doctrine and overarching identity, portrayed as superior to ...

Parliament Budget Debate Highlights Weapons Issue and Criticism of Gap Law

Lebanon’s parliament continued its debate on the 2026 budget on Wednesday, with lawmakers focusing on the financial gap law, the rights of depositors, and the need to restrict weapons as key obstacles to the country’s recovery. The session, chaired by Speaker Nabih Berri, marked the second day of discussions on the draft budget, which was ...

Lebanese Neutrality: The Strategic Interest Shared by Beirut and Jerusalem

Lebanon's neutrality in regional conflicts is the single most important strategic choice it can make today, serving its core national interests and those of Israel in equal measure. If the Lebanese understand this, their country will be well on its way not only to recovery but to an economic boom. More than a year after the November 2024 ...

Qatar Pledges Continued Economic and Political Support to Lebanon

During a visit to Beirut, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi announced a new aid package for Lebanon, including $40 million dedicated to the electricity sector, alongside development, and humanitarian initiatives. President Aoun reaffirmed the importance of Qatar’s support and expressed gratitude for ...

Qatar Pledges $480 Million and Plans to Rebuild Three Destroyed Villages in South Lebanon

Qatar has decided to allocate $480 million to fund projects and investments in Lebanon, while preparing to rebuild three destroyed villages in the south, according to information obtained by daily An-Nahar. The initiative is reminiscent of Doha’s role in post-war reconstruction following the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. The ...

Israel Strikes Northern Bekaa as South Sees Escalation

Israel struck the northern Bekaa Valley on Friday, causing material damage but no reported casualties. The first strike hit the public road linking Majdaloun and Baalbek with two missiles, while the second targeted a site near Dar Al-Amal Hospital in Baalbek. Local reports said the Baalbek strikes were aimed at a military official affiliated with ...

PM Salam: Arms Consolidation Plan Covers All Lebanese Territory

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reiterated on Thursday that the Lebanese Army’s (LAF) plan to consolidate all arms under state authority applies to the entirety of Lebanon, not only areas south of the Litani River, underscoring the government’s commitment to restoring the state’s exclusive control over weapons. In an interview with ...

Lebanon and Syria Seek Rapprochement Amid Lingering Distrust

Since the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime in December 2024, Lebanon and Syria have been in the process of rebuilding trust and repairing relations. The challenging endeavor, supported by Saudi Arabia with Washington’s backing, follows decades of recriminations and Lebanon’s former subjugation under Syria’s Baathist rule. Syria did not ...