Lebanon

French president in Lebanon to meet the country's new leaders

Josiane Hajj Moussa for bnm Beirut bureau January 17, 2025

French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Lebanon reinforces France’s unwavering support for the country's sovereignty and stability.

ICJ's Nawaf Salam appointed as Lebanon's new Prime Minister

Josiane Hajj Moussa for bnm Beirut bureau January 13, 2025

Nawaf Salam, the former President of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), has been appointed as Lebanon’s new Prime Minister.

Lebanon faces a new phase: will Hezbollah surrender its weapons to the state?

Josiane Hajj Moussa for bne Beirut bureau January 12, 2025

Lebanon stands on the brink of a new political phase following the election of President Joseph Aoun, who pledged in his inaugural speech to work towards building a state based on institutions, under the rule of law and the judiciary.

Lebanon ends two-year void with military chief Aoun as president

Josiane Hajj Moussa for bnm Beirut bureau January 9, 2025

After more than two years of presidential vacancy, the Lebanese Parliament has finally elected the army's commander, Joseph Aoun, as the country's new president.

Lebanon seizes alleged Iranian cash transfer to Hezbollah from diplomat

bne Gulf bureau January 3, 2025

Lebanese authorities searched an Iranian commercial aircraft at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport on January 2 following intelligence about an alleged attempt to transfer funds to Hezbollah.

Turkey, Syria tandem could mean piped Qatari gas for Europe and a supercharged Middle East clean energy transition

bne IntelliNews December 21, 2024

Prize could be huge for Ankara and Damascus if the Syrian fighting is really over.

Iranian ambassador claims US sets conditions on Syrian-Iranian relations

bnm Gulf bureau December 21, 2024

Iran's ambassador to Lebanon has alleged that the United States has established specific conditions regarding Iran's future role in Syria.

Israeli settlers from extremist sect cross into Lebanon, IDF confirms

bnm Tel Aviv bureau December 18, 2024

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has confirmed that settler activists crossed into Lebanese territory earlier this month near the village of Maroun al-Ras, in what the military described as a “grave incident.”

How Assad turned Syria into a narco-state

By Josiane Hajj Moussa for bne Beirut bureau December 14, 2024

A video circulating on social media this week shows a warehouse in Syria filled with Captagon. This highly addictive amphetamine-based drug has transformed the country into a narco-state under the rule of former President Bashar al-Assad.

Lebanon may be at the dawn of a new economic era

Josiane Hajj Moussa for bne Beirut bureau December 9, 2024

Economic issues have returned to the spotlight in Lebanon, with prospects of a financial collapse taking centre stage as the country reels from its more than one-year war with Israel.

Is Israel embarking on a land grab in Syria?

Mathew Cohen in Tel Aviv December 9, 2024

As Israel’s ceasefire with Hezbollah takes effect and the war with Hamas in Gaza continues to rage, it appeared as if the news spotlight was shifting away from the Jewish state as the fall of the Assad regime in Syria took centre stage.

ISTANBUL BLOG: After “conquering” Damascus, Erdogan turns his eye to the Kurds

Akin Nazli in Belgrade December 9, 2024

US controls eastern Euphrates airspace. Will Trump White House return mean Kurdish forces lose their air cover? In wider picture, fears Syria will become “second Afghanistan” are all too real.

As jubilant Syrian refugees in Turkey celebrate Assad downfall, analysts wonder what comes next in power vacuum

bne IntelliNews December 9, 2024

Ankara, meanwhile, already criticised for trying to use chaos as cover for attacks on Kurds as it tries to change map in its favour.

Lebanon's Christian factions rejoice over Assad regime fall

Josiane Hajj Moussa for bne Beirut bureau December 9, 2024

Celebrations erupted across several areas in Lebanon following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. Opposition factions took control of Damascus, leading to public gatherings in Lebanese squares, where revellers set off fireworks.

Erdogan sets Damascus as final target for “rebels” advancing in Syria

Akin Nazli in Belgrade December 7, 2024

Since his regime’s hailing of its “reconquest” of Aleppo, Turkey’s leader has been in no mood to talk peace.

ISTANBUL BLOG: Has Turkey “re-conquered” Aleppo?

Akin Nazli in Belgrade December 5, 2024

HTS militia that led attack dwells near Turkish border under Erdogan regime patronage, while FSA was directly established by Ankara. And both are not Syrian “rebels”, they are foreign mercenaries.

Hezbollah-linked financial institution reopens in Lebanon

Josiane Hajj Moussa for bne Beirut bureau December 3, 2024

Following more than a year of cross-border violence between Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah, a sense of calm is slowly returning to Beirut. Al-Qard Al-Hassan, a financial institution that provides interest-free loans, has reopened some of its branches.

Israel, Lebanon in disarray over reports of ceasefire failure

bne Gulf bureau November 28, 2024

Israel's air force struck what it said was a Hezbollah rocket storage facility in southern Lebanon on November 28, as both sides accused each other of violating a day-old ceasefire meant to halt more than a year of cross-border fighting.

BEIRUT BLOG: Ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah takes effect amid mixed emotions

Josiane Hajj Moussa for bne Beirut bureau November 27, 2024

The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect at 4:00 AM on November 27, bringing a temporary end to over a year of cross-border strikes and months of intense military escalation that claimed thousands of lives.

TEHRAN BLOG: Iran welcomes Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, calls for truce in Gaza

bne Tehran bureau November 27, 2024

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmael Baghaei, welcomed the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire and called on the international community to exert effective pressure on Israel to stop its war in Gaza.

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