Syria, Lebanon stress noninterference as Damascus mulls Hezbollah talks When asked whether Damascus would be willing to meet with Hezbollah in the future, Syria’s foreign minister indicated that it would not rule out such a meeting. Syria
Culture Lebanon arrests man after video of public assault on wife goes viral The man seen violently beating a woman at a restaurant has been arrested, but the incident has reignited debate over domestic violence amid warnings that such abuse can increase during periods of war. Lebanon
Newsletter: Security Israel-Lebanon deal faces rocky road The agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel last week has reintroduced debate over the US military's role in southern Lebanon, even as Washington appears intent on limiting its direct involvement. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Qatar reports progress in US-Iran talks Syrian FM in Lebanon; Pro-Palestinian candidate unseats long-serving Democrat in Colorado; Turkish jets strike al-Shabab targets in Somalia; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Araghchi warns Israel as US, Iran hold technical talks in Doha By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Analysis For Israel, Lebanon deal 'historic' despite fears Hezbollah will rebuild By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Graphic novel illustrates life of Syrian refugees in Lebanon A French NGO launched a project, with the help of five artists from Syria, Lebanon and France, to publish a graphic novel on the financial, emotional and social struggle of Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Lebanon
Is Lebanon on the path to decriminalizing homosexuality? Education and awareness seem to be the solutions to creating a society and legal system that are more tolerant toward the LGBT community in Lebanon. Lebanon
How Iran-Saudi rapprochement is impacting Lebanon Iran has been hinting at potential rapprochement with Saudi Arabia for quite some time now, and in Lebanon, historical rival parties are showing signs of consensus as well. Saudi Arabia
Radical sheikh still wields influence from Lebanese prison A suspect in the failed Jan. 21 suicide attack on a Beirut coffee house has reportedly admitted to being a homegrown terrorist aligned with the Islamic State and a follower of Salafist Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir. Lebanon
Hezbollah torn between local, regional roles In light of the raging regional crises, Hezbollah has been intervening outside Lebanon's border in support of its foreign allies in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, raising controversy inside the country about the movement’s local and regional influence. Lebanon
Lawyers struggle to pursue legal action over trash burning in Lebanon Even though trash burning is illegal in Lebanon, judges have failed to hold municipal heads accountable for allowing the burning of waste. Lebanon
Will Iraq succeed in bringing Iran, Saudi Arabia closer? Iraq has been stepping up its mediation efforts to achieve a Saudi-Iranian reconciliation amid a conducive political and economic environment. Legacy: Gulf
After Aleppo victory, what's next for Hezbollah? With recent military victories in the Syrian war, Hezbollah has consolidated its political power and influence in Lebanon as well as in the greater region. Lebanon
Is Turkey’s shift on Assad beginning of the end of Syria’s war? Turkish deputy prime minister says "we just have to work with what we have"; no sectarian divide in Aleppo; the Syrian Kurdish fault line. Lebanon
How a landfill poses danger to Beirut flights Although the Costa Brava landfill, which is in close proximity to Lebanon’s only airport in Beirut, was closed, seagulls attracted to the waste pose a major threat to planes, while the government has yet to find a final solution to the two-year trash crisis. Lebanon
New Lebanese president makes Gulf priority With a visit to Saudi Arabia on Jan. 10, new Lebanese President Michel Aoun has signaled that warmer relations with the Gulf is at the top of his priority list. Legacy: Gulf
Lebanon's new women's affairs minister fails to charm Lebanese women's rights organizations are unimpressed with the creation of the new Ministry of Women’s Affairs, saying women need more representation across the board, not the attention of a single body, particularly one run by a male appointee. Lebanon
