Lebanon elections

Teargas fumes erupt during clashes between supporters of the Lebanese Shiite Islamist movement Hezbollah and the Lebanese Army amidst a Hezbollah-organised rally to block the road to Beirut International Airport over a decision to bar two Iranian flights from landing there, in Beirut on February 15, 2025. An AFP correspondent said tear gas was fired to disperse crowds on February 15 after again blocking amidst calls by the Iran-backed group for a sit-in. (Photo by IBRAHIM AMRO / AFP) (Photo by IBRAHIM AMRO/

Lebanon extends Iran flight ban, will close airport during Nasrallah funeral

The flight suspensions come as Hezbollah supporters had been organizing daily protests around Lebanon’s only civilian airport in protest against a ban on Iranian flights to and from Beirut.

A commercial aircraft takes off from the runway of Beirut's international airport near the city's southern suburbs on Aug. 9, 2024.

Lebanon bars Iranian flight from landing in Beirut, sparking protests

The incident marks the latest in a series at the Beirut airport, which has been a key point of tension between Iran and people within Lebanon’s government who are cautiously distancing themselves from Iran’s influence.

Lebanon government

Meet the 5 women in Lebanon's new government

Lebanon’s prime minister on Saturday announced the formation of a new government cabinet, including five women who will serve as ministers of education, environment, social affairs, tourism and youth and sports.

People place a picture of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah over the rubble of the shrine of Shamoun al-Safa, built within a castle in the village of Shamaa in southern Lebanon's Tyre governorate on January 31, 2025, that was heavily damaged by Israeli bombing. The hilltop castle houses the Muslim Shiite pilgrimage site over a tomb said by some to be that of Simon the Zealot, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, and by others of Simon, second son of the Biblical patriarch Jacob. (Photo by Mahmoud Z

Analysis

Why Hezbollah, Amal want to control Lebanon's Finance Ministry

The ministry's strategic role in financial decision-making and postwar reconstruction has intensified political disputes, with opposition groups and international actors resisting Hezbollah's dominance.

Dario Sabaghi

By Dario Sabaghi

Latest News

Saudi FM set to travel to Lebanon, will press Beirut for 'real reform'

Saudi's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud attends the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Kuwait City, Kuwait, Dec. 26, 2024.

Analysis

Eyeing reconstruction, port investment, UAE resets Lebanon ties

The destroyed grain silos and a sculpture made from salvaged steel following the explosion stand in the port of Beirut as the sun sets on Lebanon, Jan. 11, 2024.

Jennifer Gnana

By Jennifer Gnana

In Dubai, reporting on Gulf energy policy and politics

Top US general in Mideast meets Lebanon's Aoun in bid to shore up ceasefire with Israel

Newly elected Lebanese president Joseph Aoun delivers a speech at the parliament building in Beirut on Jan. 9, 2025.

Nawaf Salam secures enough votes to be Lebanon's next prime minister

Nawaf Salam

Newly elected Lebanese president Joseph Aoun reviews an honor guard upon his arrival at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, on Jan. 9, 2025.

Analysis

With US-Saudi backing, can Lebanon’s new president rein in Hezbollah?

With top general’s election, the United States and Saudi Arabia aim to draw Lebanon further from Iran. To do that, a new government has to convince Hezbollah that their days of armed resistance are over.

Jared Szuba

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

TOPSHOT - Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati waves from the stage next to Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the Atreju political meeting organised by the young militants of Italian right wing party Brothers of Italy (Fratelli d'Italia) on December 14, 2024 in Rome. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon's Mikati set to meet Sharaa in Syria in wake of Aoun's election

Najib Mikati’s visit, the first in 15 years, comes amid pressure in Lebanon to release Islamists imprisoned during the civil war and just after the election of President Joseph Aoun.

Newly elected Lebanese president Joseph Aoun reviews an honor guard upon his arrival at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, on Jan. 9, 2025.

From Saudi to US, congrats pour in for Lebanon's new President Aoun

Lebanon's parliament elected Gen. Joseph Aoun as president on Thursday, ending the country's two-year presidential vacuum.

In this picture taken on Dec. 16, 2024, Army chief Joseph Aoun, 60, walks toward the Grand Serail in Beirut.

Joseph Aoun elected president of Lebanon, ending two-year void

The election of army commander Gen. Joseph Aoun garnered rare consensus among the Lebanese, backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia in the first presidential election for Lebanon following the fall of the Assad regime.

In this picture taken on Dec. 16, 2024, Lebanese army chief Joseph Aoun (C) walks toward the Grand Serail in Beirut.

Joseph Aoun emerges as front-runner for Lebanon president on eve of vote

Hezbollah’s candidate dropped out and endorsed the Lebanese Armed Forces leader on Wednesday, as Lebanon seeks to elect a president after more than two-year void.

Amos Hochstein

US envoy Hochstein in Lebanon as Israel ceasefire teeters, election looms

Amos Hochstein's visit comes amid uncertainty over the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah as well as an upcoming presidential vote in Lebanon's parliament.

A visitor looks at portraits of late Franco-Lebanese film director Maroun Baghdadi and pictures from his movies at the venue of an exhibition dedicated to his memory in Beirut on December 12, 2023, as Lebanon commemorates the 30th annivesary of his death in an accident at the age of 43. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon's resistance through culture: Return of Beirut’s Metropolis Cinema

As Beirut continues to navigate its path toward recovery, Metropolis Cinema stands as a symbol of the enduring power of art and culture to resist, unite and inspire.

An ambulance is pictured as Lebanese army deploy near the US embassy in Beirut on June 5, 2024, after a Syrian man was arrested following a shooting near the embassy.

Attack on US Embassy in Lebanon, Syrian gunman wounded

Investigations are ongoing into the shooting incident, which comes amid intensified cross-border fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the Grand Serail government headquarters in Beirut on May 2, 2024. During the visit, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced $1 billion in aid for Lebanon as the east Mediterranean country struggles with an economic meltdown exacerbated by a migrant crisis and the threat of war with Israel. (Photo by JOSEPH EID / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Fears mount EU's $1.1B migration aid to Lebanon will feed political corruption

Officials and experts who spoke to Al-Monitor highlighted the Lebanese government's history of misusing international aid meant to help the economy and address the country's migration crisis.

In Bristol, reporting on regional business, climate change, AI, tech

Supporters of the Lebanese Forces (LF) attend the funeral of Pascal Sleiman, a coordinator in the Byblos (Jbeil) area north of Beirut for the LF, in the northern city of Byblos on April 12, 2024. Sleiman was killed on April 8 in what the Lebanese army said was a carjacking by Syrian gang members, who took his body to Syria. (Photo by Ibrahim CHALHOUB / AFP) (Photo by IBRAHIM CHALHOUB/AFP via Getty Images)

Sectarian tension, anti-Syria sentiment haunts Lebanon as it buries Sleiman

Members of a Syrian gang have been accused of kidnapping and killing a Lebanese Forces official, prompting attacks against Syrians and raising concerns of sectarian escalation.

AFP via Getty Images

Israel strikes deeper, hits Lebanon's Baalbek in first since 2006 war

The strikes were the deepest inside Lebanese territory since border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah began nearly five months ago.

Former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri greets his supporters after he prayed at the grave of his father, slain prime minister Rafic Hariri, during a commemoration for the 19th anniversary of his assassination, in Beirut, on February 14, 2024. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Why Saad Hariri return to politics in Lebanon is still unlikely

Saad Hariri’s brief return to Lebanon this month fueled speculation that he might be eying a return to politics, but experts see it as far-fetched in current dynamics.