lebanon

Guerrilla Tactics: The Israeli Army's Ongoing Struggle

After a year of war, the Israeli army is still struggling to “destroy” Hamas and has launched a ground offensive in Lebanon, making the “total victory” promised by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seem uncertain. Despite Israel's advanced technology and continuous financial and military support from the United States, the world's leading ...

Interfaith Plea to the UN: Save Lebanon

Lebanese religious communities unanimously appealed to the UN Security Council yesterday, urging it to address the crisis in Lebanon and to rescue the country from Israel’s grip by imposing an immediate ceasefire. This call followed a broad interfaith assembly held in Bkerke, convened at the invitation of the Maronite Patriarch and attended by ...

For Netanyahu and the Others, It’s All Yiddish!

The Lebanese Prime Minister sought to reassure the public: "We have American guarantees to scale down strikes on Beirut." The US had expressed concern over the intense bombings, stating they urged Israel to show restraint. This gave Lebanese citizens, glued to their screens and sharing updates, a flicker of hope. A ceasefire was even ...

War Diary: Day 376

This is Beirut brings you a daily recap of the war and its repercussions on the region. Here are the main highlights for October 16, 2024.

Habtoor Grand Hotel in Beirut Decides to Close its Doors Tomorrow

The management of the Habtoor Grand Hotel in Beirut has decided to close the establishment as of tomorrow, without specifying a date for a possible reopening.  According to information obtained by This is Beirut, a conflict lasting several days pitted the management against a television channel using the hotel as a base for its offices, studios, ...

Basketball - Lebanon: Hope Interrupted by War

As basketball fans in Lebanon were eagerly anticipating an extraordinary season, the war abruptly shattered this momentum, leaving deep scars on the sport. The Lebanese basketball championship, once flourishing, was hit hard by the conflict, drastically altering the trajectory of what should have been a historic season. Before the conflict began, ...

Iraq to Provide 200,000 Tons of Flour to Lebanon

Iraq pledged to supply 200,000 tons of flour to Lebanon as part of an emergency humanitarian aid package designed to alleviate the burden of the ongoing crisis in Lebanon, following the Israeli attacks on the country. This was announced on Wednesday by caretaker Minister of Economy Amin Salam following a phone call with his Iraqi counterpart, ...

What Is THAAD, the US Missile Defense System Sent to Israel?

Washington announced on Sunday the deployment of a powerful American missile defense system to Israel, along with one hundred soldiers to operate it. Known as THAAD, the system is intended to bolster Israel's defenses against threats from Tehran and its allies. This is not the first time Washington has deployed such a weapons system on Israeli ...

On the Theory of "the Right to Self-Defense"

There is a significant distortion in some political concepts within the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict, which has taken new and dangerous turns in recent months following the events of October 7, 2023. A key aspect of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with all its complexities and challenges, is the battle over narratives. It is well ...

Al-Qard Al-Hassan: Is Hezbollah's 'Bank' in Jeopardy? (2/2)

Many legal experts agree on the idea that "the Al-Qard Al-Hasan Association is a loophole in Lebanese law." The change in terminology does not alter the legal nature, which means that it is, in essence, a bank under legal reality and cannot be considered a non-profit charity organization, as it identifies itself. Specific circulars about Al-Qard ...

Kataeb Call for Militia Disarmament and Army Deployment in South Lebanon

The Kataeb Party urged Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati to immediately adopt "a clear and explicit stance regarding Hezbollah, in order to secure an immediate ceasefire without external interference." During a meeting of its political bureau, it also called for the deployment of the Lebanese Army along the border ...

Where Have the Displaced Lebanese Fled to?

Having fled the relentless Israeli bombardment, the displaced Lebanese find themselves on the streets, lacking basic human necessities. With the ministries doing “the best they can,” according to caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, 1,000 shelters have been established. While more than a million displaced Lebanese have been reported as a ...