lebanon

Rai: National Interest Must Come First

Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai stressed in his Sunday homily that Lebanon’s salvation lies in prioritizing the nation and its people above all other interests. Addressing politicians, economists, citizens, educators and youth, he urged leaders to restore trust in the economy, citizens to remain rooted in their land, educators to instill hope ...

Cocaine Market: Low Prices, High Health Risks

Cocaine prices are falling, but the risks are rising. In Lebanon, as elsewhere, a gram has never been cheaper. It may seem like a “good deal,” but behind the low price lies a harsh reality: regulated use, a growing number of addicts and mounting health risks. Cocaine, or “coke” to regular users, is circulating more freely than ever. ...

Lebanon Advances Cooperation with US

Lebanon is advancing its cooperation with the United States, with President of the Republic General Joseph Aoun urging Washington on Saturday to press Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanese territories. Aoun also reaffirmed the importance of US backing for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). Aoun stressed the need to fully implement last ...

Lebanon Must Dare to Choose Peace

In Lebanon, the word “peace” has for too long been confiscated, reduced to an empty slogan or an untouchable taboo, synonymous with “treason.” Yet if our country is to survive, rebuild its economy, and restore hope to its citizens, it can no longer afford to remain trapped in a logic of perpetual war. Peace, including with Israel, must ...

From Montpellier to Beirut: Sharing Medical Innovation

The conference hall of the Hôpital Français du Levant buzzed on Friday with unusual excitement. Impeccable white coats, understated suits, attentive gazes: doctors, researchers, diplomats and institutional representatives gathered for a rare moment in the recent history of Lebanese medicine. Beneath the large bay windows flooding the room with ...

⁠Lebanon Blinks First: Berri Smiles, Hezbollah Wins

Today’s much-anticipated Lebanese cabinet session made headlines—but not for decisive action. While the army unveiled its plan to disarm Hezbollah and restore a state monopoly on arms, the meeting concluded without any clear implementation timeline, sparking frustrations across the political spectrum. Strikingly, Speaker Nabih Berri ...

Cabinet Backs Army’s Disarmament Plan Despite Shia Ministers’ Walkout

The Cabinet met on Friday at the presidential palace in Baabda and approved the Lebanese Army’s plan to restore the state’s monopoly on weapons after reviewing its various phases, presented by Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal. The session, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, gave the green light to the military’s action plan in the absence ...

Hezbollah, Amal Supporters Stage Motorcycle Parades

Supporters of Hezbollah and the Amal Movement held motorcycle parades on Friday along the road leading to Beirut International Airport (BIA) and in the neighborhood of Mar Mikhael, only hours after the Cabinet endorsed the Lebanese Army’s plan to confine weapons to state institutions. Earlier in the day, the Lebanese Army reinforced its ...

The Guardianship Syndrome

Lebanon’s modern history has been shaped by successive forms of foreign tutelage, beginning with the proclamation of Greater Lebanon 105 years ago. Over the course of half a century, the country experienced various mandates and occupations: 23 years under the French Mandate, 30 years under Syrian domination, alongside repeated Israeli invasions ...

Council of Ministers: A Moment of Truth on Disarmament

The Council of Ministers will meet today to examine the Lebanese Army’s plan for militia disarmament. Despite the uncertainty, three points are clear before the session: the meeting will take place, ministers from the Shia duo will attend, and the army’s plan will be formally submitted to the government. However, serious doubts remain that ...

The Empty Chair Policy That No Longer Works

The empty chair is not a strategy, it is a disguised escape. While the vast majority of Lebanese want a functioning state, Hezbollah maintains its destructive blocking tactics. But this approach can no longer succeed. Since replacing the Syrian patron in 2005, the pro-Iranian group has steadily taken over institutions and created a chronic ...