Lebanon - AL-MONITOR: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Lebanon

Lebanon

July 5, 2026

Beirut 8:58 pm

27°C

Motorists drive past a billboard bearing a picture of Iran's slain supreme leader Ali Khamenei, ahead of his funeral in Tehran on July 3, 2026. Iranian leaders began paying their respects on July 3 before the coffin of the country's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, killed in the US-Israeli strikes that triggered the Middle East war, as Tehran prepared for a vast funeral. Khamenei's body arrived at Tehran's Grand Mosalla on July 3 ahead of ceremonies which are expected to draw millions. (Photo by AFP via Ge

Analysis

As US-Iran talks falter, Israel views war outcome as 'total strategic failure’

Israeli officials believe the US failure to attain the kind of agreement with Iran that it originally sought stems from the strategic mistakes made during and after the recent war.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

The court stands at the start of the first hearing at the International Court of Justice in which Myanmar is accused of committing genocide against the country's Muslim minority, the Rohingya, in the Hague on January 12, 2026. The Gambia filed the genocide case in cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 2019. Myanmar's military deliberately targeted the Rohingya minority in a bid to destroy the community, Gambia's Justice Minister Dawda Jallow told the International Court of Justice Mond

Explainer

Does provision 13 of Lebanon-Israel deal bar Beirut from pursuing war crimes claims?

Part of the Israeli-Lebanese agreement has led to calls for Beirut to grant the International Criminal Court jurisdiction in Lebanon or sign the Rome Treaty to allow prosecutions.

Nawaf Salam and Asaad al-Shibani shake hands in Beirut on July 2, 2026.

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.

An activist takes part in a demonstration against sexual harassment, rape and domestic violence in the Lebanese capital Beirut on December 7, 2019. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

Latest News

Analysis

For Israel, Lebanon deal 'historic' despite fears Hezbollah will rebuild

Shia Muslim devotees gather for a mourning ritual near the shrine of Hassan Nasrallah, the slain leader of the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah who was killed in a 2024 Israeli-airstrike, in Beirut's southern suburbs on June 26, 2026 at the peak of Ashura, a 10-day period commemorating the seventh century killing of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussein. (Photo by JOSEPH EID / AFP via Getty Images)

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Francesco Schiavi

In Bologna, reporting on security, defense, economy, governance

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Joyce Karam

Editor-in-Chief

Ali Hashem

In Doha, reporting on Iran, regional politics, conflict

Hanna Davis

In Beirut, reporting on politics, migration, human rights

Rodayna Raydan

In Boqaata, reporting on culture

People inspect the site of the explosion that occurred on Tuesday in Beirut's southern suburbs July 10, 2013. A massive car bomb ripped through a Beirut stronghold of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group that has been fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's civil war, wounding 53 people on Tuesday. None of those hurt were seriously wounded, Health Minister Hassan Khalil told Reuters, and there were no fatalities. REUTERS/Sharif Karim (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX11INJ

Hezbollah Regions Targeted As Syria War Spreads to Lebanon

Amid rising sectarian tensions and following Hezbollah’s decision to fight in Syria's civil war, attacks against Hezbollah-controlled regions throughout Lebanon have increased.

A Jewish settler recites morning prayers before some families began moving out of the Ulpana neighbourhood of the Beit El settlement near the West Bank city of Ramallah June 26, 2012. Settlers on Tuesday began moving out of apartment blocs that Israel's Supreme Court ruled had been built illegally on Palestinian-owned land, after reaching an agreement with the government to go quietly. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR34608

EU Right on Sanctions On Israeli Settlement Trade

Lebanese oppositon Christian leader and head of the Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun (C), accompanied with his parliamentary bloc, speaks during a news conference, after meeting Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman at the presidential palace in Baabda, near Beirut, during the start of the two-day parliamentary consultations to choose a new prime minister, January 24, 2011. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said Monday he will not take part in a government lead by Hezbollah and its allies.

Lebanese Alliance Shifts Ultimately Depend on Syria

After Lebanon’s parliament failed to pass a new electoral law, speculation began to circulate that Gen. Michel Aoun might end his long alliance with Hezbollah and Amal.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem July 14, 2013. REUTERS/Abir Sultan/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX11MDX

Squeaks in US-Israeli Relations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments on "Face the Nation" about what the US should do about Iran stir controversy.

A soldier and a policeman secure a field as a man uses a tractor to uproot hashish plants in Boday village, near Baalbek city, July 23, 2012. Farmers armed with assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars forced Lebanese government troops to abandon an operation to destroy their illegal cannabis crop in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Monday, a witness said. The farmers' attack halted a morning raid by security forces, who had been flattening the tall spiky marijuana plants with tractors, accompanied by

Illegal Marijuana Trade Thrives in Lebanon

While the Lebanese government is preoccupied with domestic and regional conflicts, efforts to combat the country’s growing cannabis trade are put on the back burner.

Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi hold a banner with his picture as they gather at the Rabaa Adawiya square, where they are camping, in Cairo July 12, 2013. Tens of thousands of Egyptians packed into squares and marched along streets in Cairo on Friday to protest against the military overthrow of Islamist President Mursi, and the United States called for the first time for him to be freed. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL U

Egypt Question Takes Priority in Arab Politics

Egypt is taking the place of Syria on the front burner of regional politics as the world waits to see how the Muslim Brotherhood and its allies will react to the president's ouster.

Ahmad Mohamed Al-Sayed, managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) at Qatar Holding, speaks during a news conference at the Qatar Motor Show in Doha, January 26, 2011. Qatar Holding's call for a higher price has threatened to derail commodities trader Glencore's $26 billion bid for miner Xstrata. With assets in excess of $100 billion, Qatar's sovereign fund has built a stake of around 11 percent in Xstrata since February. Picture taken January 26, 2011. To match Factbox QATARHOLDING-INVESTMENTS/

Emir Signals Change by Replacing Head of Qatar Investment Authority

In the second article of a two-part series, the new Qatari emir seeks to separate politics and business.

A man with a poster of the chief of Egypt's armed forces General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on his car, talks to a protester in Tahrir square, in Cairo, July 9, 2013. Sign reads, "I love Egypt". REUTERS/ Asmaa Waguih (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY CIVIL UNREST) - RTX11HPZ

Egyptian Army Enables Democratic Transition

It is time to end the debate of whether what took place in Egypt was a coup or revolution.

$Caretaker Energy Minister Gebran Bassil points at a map during a tour of areas believed to have gas reserves, off Lebanon's coast near Beirut May 30, 2013. Offshore seismic surveys suggest Lebanon has at least 30 trillion cubic feet in just a small fraction of its Mediterranean waters Bassil said. Lebanon has selected 46 international oil companies to bid to explore for gas off its coast, where survey ships have been assessing prospects after discoveries in waters off neighbouring Israel and Cyprus. Pictur$

Will Offshore Gas Spark New Lebanon-Israel Conflict?

As exploration and exploitation of offshore gas fields in Lebanese waters has yet to get going, concerns have been raised that bordering Israeli fields could serve as a pretext for Israel to steal Lebanese gas.

Bomb Shakes Hezbollah Stronghold

A first-hand account from the Bir el-Abed neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburbs, the scene of a bombing today, July 9, which injured 53.

Civil Defence members, security personnel and civilians gather at the site of an explosion in Beirut's southern suburbs July 9, 2013. At least 18 people were wounded by a car bomb blast in Beirut's southern suburbs on Tuesday, a stronghold of the Lebanese Shi'ite Hezbollah militant group that has been fighting in Syria's civil war, security sources said. The sources were unable to confirm initial reports from medics at the scene that an unspecified number were killed in the massive blast. REUTERS/Issam Kobe

The Message Behind The Bomb in South Beirut

Given that the recent car bomb in Beirut’s southern suburbs occurred in a location that was part of Hezbollah’s security perimeter prior to the 2006 war, some may be trying to send a message that Hezbollah will pay a price for its involvement in Syria.

Lebanese military police inspect the remains of a vehicle, at the site of an explosion in Beirut's southern suburbs, July 9, 2013. A car bomb exploded on Tuesday in a Beirut stronghold district of the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group that has been fighting in Syria's civil war, wounding at least 38 people, a hospital official told Reuters. REUTERS/Hasan Shaaban (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTX11HK5

International Community Reacts To Beirut Bombing

In the wake of the car bombing in southern Beirut on July 9, international actors expressed their commitment to Lebanon’s security and stability.