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

Lebanon

Lebanon

October 28, 2026

Beirut 9:20 am

22°C

tunnel

Lebanon uncovers new tunnel amid tensions with Hezbollah: What to know

A tunnel was discovered near Beirut as tensions between Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah have been running high over the seizure of weapons shipments destined for the Iran-backed group.

Israeli troops stand guard on the dividing line between the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights and Syrian, near Majdal Shams, July 16, 2025.

Analysis

'The problem and the solution': Netanyahu-Sharaa call exposes Israel's Syria dilemma

The Israeli leader revealed that he spoke with the Syrian president last year, but stalled talks and Israel's fortification of a security zone on Syrian land underscore his mistrust of Sharaa.

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

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani

Qatar PM in Beirut as Lebanon seeks economic relief: What to know

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani’s visit to Beirut coincides with the Lebanese authorities’ ongoing efforts to curb Hezbollah’s influence in the country.

Mihrac Ural, who was also known as Ali Kayali, was arrested

Explainer

Syria arrests Mihrac Ural, ex-Assad militia head also wanted by Turkey

The Turkey-born militia chief and a longtime ally of the Assad-regime, was sought by Ankara over the deadly Reyhanli bombings and by Damascus over his alleged role in massacres on the Mediterranean coast.

Latest News

Syria denies meeting with Lebanon’s Hezbollah in Turkey: What to know

Lebanon seeks Turkey’s help to join Syria-Saudi rail link: What to know

A picture taken on May 1, 2019 shows a railroad of Mar Mikhael neighborhood in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Lebanon PM meets Rubio as Israel talks stall: What to know

SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon's PM calls for international force to replace UNIFIL: What to know

Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images

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

An aerial view shows Lebanon's capital, Beirut, in darkness during a power outage on April 3, 2021. As Lebanon battles its worst financial crisis in decades, the local currency has lost more than 85% of its value on the black market. Even the country's once richest city council says it is struggling to maintain its streets, as the economic squeeze puts pressure on already rundown infrastructure.

Lebanon loses some electricity after Turkish company ceases operations

Karpowership said they stopped providing electricity to crisis-stricken Lebanon due to 18 months of no payments.

Men parade with a model of a rocket with "Qassam Brigades" (Hamas armed wing) written in Arabic, during a demonstration called by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in the southern Lebanese city of Saida late on May 11, 2021.

IDF claims three rockets fired from Lebanon toward Israel

Lebanese media reported that Palestinian groups in the country launched the rockets, which landed in the sea.

Hezbollah marchers

US sanctions 7 over Hezbollah finances

The sanctions indicate continued US pressure on the Lebanese organization under US President Joe Biden.

Beirut food basket

Lebanese parties distribute food baskets as economy continues to sink

Lebanese parties are distributing aid and food baskets to people suffering under difficult economic and social conditions but at the same time are ignoring the root of the crisis.

French President Emmanuel Macron (2nd-L) and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (3rd-L) meet with UN representatives and NGOs mobilized for the reconstruction of Beirut port, on Sept. 1, 2020. Macron pressed his "risky" drive for political change in Lebanon, as the former French mandate marked its centenary while teetering on the brink of the abyss.

French FM visits Lebanon to send message of ‘great firmness’ to bickering politicians

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian met with President Michel Aoun, who briefed him on the stalled efforts to form a government.

A picture shows heaps of metal scraps from the rubble of destroyed structures at the port of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on April 9, 2021, still reeling from the destruction due to a catastrophic blast in a harbor storage unit last August that killed more than 200 people and damaged swathes of the capital.

German company removes dangerous material from Beirut port

The Lebanese government is also seeking satellite images other countries have of the Beirut port explosion site.

Lebanon's parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (R) meets with US envoy David Schenker (C) and US Ambassador to Algeria John Desrocher (L) in Beirut, Lebanon, Oct. 15, 2020.

US to send mediation team for Israel-Lebanon maritime talks next week

The resumption of talks, which stalled in November, could unlock significant economic benefits for debt-ridden Lebanon.

Pope Francis speaks about the situation in Lebanon as a Lebanese priest (R) holds Lebanon's flag and Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza (L) looks on during the pope's limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican on Sept. 2, 2020.

Pope may visit Lebanon once new government is formed

Pope Francis met Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri in Vatican City today.

Tuk-tuks are lined up in the village of Bir Elias, Aug. 8, 2020.

Tuk-tuks become common sight in Lebanon's streets amid economic crisis

Amid the devastating economic crisis and the deteriorating living conditions in Lebanon, many have replaced their vehicles with tuk-tuks to run errands, work or deliver goods.

AFP via Getty Images

US ready to facilitate Lebanon-Israel maritime border talks

Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale said the United States is willing to mediate resumed talks between the hostile neighbors.

Erin Schaff/Getty Images

State Department sends official to Beirut as stalemate drags on

Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale is the highest-ranking US official to visit Beirut under the new administration.

Putin and Aoun

What’s Moscow's game plan for Lebanon?

With the worsening of the Lebanese crisis, Russia will have to take a closer look at Lebanese affairs to protect its assets in Syria.