lebanon

Southern Lebanon Municipal Elections Reveal a Politically Divided Map

Preliminary, unofficial results from municipal elections in southern Lebanon and Nabatieh suggest a fragmented political landscape, with each major bloc securing strongholds in different areas. Lists backed by the Amal-Hezbollah alliance are reported to have scored victories in the cities of Tyre and Nabatieh. In Jezzine, candidates supported by ...

Lebanese Authorities Threaten Sanctions Against Palestinian Factions Rejecting Disarmament (Al-Arabiya)

In a landmark decision during the first meeting of the joint Lebanese-Palestinian executive committee on Friday, Lebanese authorities approved a phased plan to seize all weapons – heavy, medium and light – from Palestinian refugee camps across the country. According to a report by Al-Arabiya citing government sources, factions that refuse ...

Syrian Authorities Hand Over Gang Leader in Pascal Sleiman Case

On Saturday, Syrian authorities extradited Ahmad Noun – the alleged ringleader behind the kidnapping and murder of Pascal Sleiman, the Lebanese Forces (LF) coordinator for the Jbeil region – to Lebanon. This marks a significant development in the high-profile case that has gripped the country for over a year. The handover ...

Lebanon’s Exports Surge 30% in Q1 2025

Lebanon’s exports surged by 30% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching $957 million, up from $735 million during the same period in 2024. This marks a significant improvement for a country with a chronically negative trade balance. Jewelry, Lebanon’s top export category (43% of total exports), played a major role in this increase, with ...

Voting Far from Home in Tyre

At Tyre’s polling stations, residents from war-ravaged border regions are casting their votes for their representatives. With their local voting centers destroyed and relocated far from their devastated villages, they are casting their ballots amid a complex mix of hope and resentment. These sprawling polling centers, disconnected from their ...

A Power Revolution with No Current

It’s a quietly growing trend. Since Lebanon’s 2021 fuel crisis, the electric vehicle market has been steadily gaining ground. Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), in particular, are spearheading the shift. Their futuristic designs are increasingly becoming common sights on Lebanon’s roads. The numbers are still small but rising. In the absence ...

Lebanon’s $4.5 Billion Price Tag: The Hidden Cost of the Syrian War

Since 2011, hosting Syrian refugees has posed a severe economic challenge for Lebanon. According to the latest World Bank report, the direct annual cost of accommodating these refugees is estimated at around $4.5 billion. However, this figure only accounts for direct expenses. When indirect costs are included, the total cost rises to roughly ...

Morgan Ortagus Calls for Disarming Hezbollah and Reforming Lebanon to Attract Investment

US Deputy Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus called on Friday for the urgent and complete disarmament of Hezbollah, stressing that legitimate arms must remain solely in the hands of the Lebanese state. In an exclusive statement to Al Jadeed, Ortagus emphasized that genuine economic and financial reforms are not only vital for building a ...

Israeli Airstrikes Hit Aita al-Shaab and a Vehicle in Kfar Kila

An Israeli drone dropped a bomb on the town of Aita al-Shaab on Friday afternoon. No injuries were reported from the strike, though it heightened concerns in the already tense border area. Earlier in the day, Israeli forces opened fire on a civilian vehicle in the town of Kfar Kila near the Fatima Gate. The car was struck by several bullets while ...