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

Lebanon

Lebanon

June 26, 2026

Beirut 11:08 pm

24°C

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C, back) looks on as (L/R, front row) Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter, State Department Chief of Staff Daniel Holler, and Lebanese Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh sign a framework agreement at the US Department of State in Washington, DC, on June 26, 2026. Lebanon, Israel and the United States on Friday signed a trilateral framework agreement aimed at paving the way for a peace deal between the two long-time Middle East adversaries. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP

Breaking | Last Updated: June 26, 2026, 3:56 pm

US brokers Lebanon-Israel framework agreement after days of talks

The deal establishes a US-facilitated military coordination group to oversee the creation of two pilot zones in southern Lebanon.

FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Gulf states push incentives for investors, expats after war dents image

Several Gulf states are working to recover their images as global havens of stability in the wake of the Iran war.

United Arab Emirates

brahim AMRO / AFP via Getty Images

As US talks stall, Hezbollah chief defiant, says Israel to leave Lebanon ’humiliated'

The speech comes as the Lebanese-Israeli talks appeared to reach a deadlock this week amid Israel’s refusal to withdraw from Lebanese territory as long as Hezbollah remains armed.

Latest News

Lebanon cancels national high school exams due to war: What to know

ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

Explainer

Lebanon advances controversial $500K golden visa law: What to know

A picture shows the four seasons hotel in Beirut with the snow covered mountain of Sannine in the background on March 8, 2019.

Analysis

Pilot zones at center of Israel-Lebanon talks as Trump pressures Netanyahu

Lebanese army forces deploy in the village of Bir al-Salasel in southern Lebanon on June 15, 2026. Iran's foreign ministry on June 15 said the US must ensure that Israel commits to stopping the war in Lebanon under a deal agreed upon with the US to end the Middle East war. Lebanon was pulled into the conflict in early March when Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader, prompting Israeli strikes and a ground invasion. (Pho

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

France s President Emmanuel Macron receives Lebanon s Prime Minister Najib MIKATI before their bilateral meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France on October 23, 2024. Context of war between Lebanon and Israel, extension of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, solidarity with lebanese people, the two men shake hands on the stoop at the top of the steps and look towards the photographers. (Photo by Amaury Cornu / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP) (Photo by AMAURY CORNU/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images)

Mikati says Lebanon ready to deploy 8,000 troops to border if Israel cease-fire reached

The announcement came during an aid conference organized by France to support Lebanon and its civilian population affected by the ongoing Israeli war.

France s President Emmanuel Macron receives Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati before their bilateral meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, on Oct. 23, 2024.

France seeks 3 objectives at Lebanon conference in Paris, aims to raise $400M

The Lebanon conference set to take place in Paris on Thursday will focus on raising financial aid and rallying the international community behind efforts for a cease-fire.

US special envoy Amos Hochstein leaves after his meeting with Lebanon's Parliament Speaker (not pictured) in Beirut on August 14, 2024, amid regional tensions during the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

US envoy Hochstein’s document for Israel-Lebanon cease-fire: What we know

According to a report by the Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper, the US envoy presented a document that includes several amendments to UN Resolution 1701 as a proposal to end the war in Lebanon, which Lebanese officials have repeatedly refused to change.

The Pentagon again postponed a key test of its troubled "THAAD'''' anti-missile defense rocket, seen this file photo, due to a commercial power failure, the Defense Department said. (photo by Lockheed Martin)

Exclusive

Inside US-Israel understanding to reward Netanyahu for not targeting Iran’s oil fields

The Israeli government might agree to refrain targeting Iranian oil sites in exchange for a security package offered by the Biden administration.

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

Ambulances and paramedics carry people wounded in an Israeli bombing of Beirut to Sahel Hospital.

Lebanon evacuates Beirut hospital as Israeli strikes expand

Lebanon on Monday evacuated its Sahel Hospital after the Israeli military alleged that Hezbollah stores cash and gold amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars in a bunker beneath it.

US Envoy Amos Hochstein (C) speaks with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit (L) and Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (R) in Beirut on October 21, 2024. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

US envoy Hochstein says 1701 'not enough' to end Israel war in Lebanon

US special envoy Amos Hochstein is in Lebanon for talks on a formula that would put a stop to the war in Lebanon, after Israel reportedly presented new conditions for a cease-fire.

A displaced Bangladeshi woman and her child sit inside their makeshift shelter on the seaside promenade in the Biel area of Beirut, Oct. 17, 2024.

Feature

Migrant domestic workers abandoned in Lebanon as Israel's war expands

Tens of thousands of workers are thought to be surviving in makeshift shelters and on the streets, deserted by their employers during the Israeli escalation.

Nicole Di Ilio

By Nicole Di Ilio

A woman walks past destroyed buildings in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip amid the ongoing war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the besieged Palestinian territory, October 17, 2024.

Analysis

With Sinwar gone, will Israel and Iran settle for deal in Gaza, Lebanon?

While some argue leveraging the Hamas leader's death to end the Gaza war and obtain the hostages' release, the Israeli prime minister may now have even bigger plans — for Lebanon and Iran.

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

JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images

Gulf governments silent as Iran, proxies mourn Hamas' Yahya Sinwar

Regional governments have not commented on Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar’s killing by Israeli forces in Gaza, but Iran and its proxy groups mourned his death, vowing that the resistance against Israel will continue.

Palestinian youths inspect a fallen projectile after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel.

Analysis

Israel lowers expectations on Iran strikes with eye on US election

Israeli leaders insist that a retaliatory strike against Iran is on its way, but reports say the attack could be a limited one and will focus on military targets.

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

Amir Levy/Getty Images

Hezbollah launches rocket attacks on central Israel after deadly Haifa strike

Hezbollah has launched several rocket and drone attacks at Israel in the past two days.

UNIFIL-armored vehicles patrol at the entrance of the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura near the border with Israel, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters, June 17, 2024.

EU foreign affairs chief Borrell condemns Israel over UNIFIL incident

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell demanded that Israel explain Friday’s incident, where a post of UNIFIL in southern Lebanon was damaged and two soldiers injured.