Why US, Israel are freezing France out of Lebanon talks With talks between Israel and Lebanon being held in Washington, Paris still insists that it must be involved to balance possible American bias and to protect Beirut’s interests. Israel
In Lebanon, Saudi Arabia pursues quiet diplomacy as Trump pushes Israel normalization Saudi Arabia has been engaged in intense diplomacy in Lebanon in recent days, leading up to the extension of a ceasefire with Israel. Lebanon
Analysis Israel fears Trump angling for Lebanon deal to offset Iran missteps Some Israelis worry the US president might force them to accept an unsatisfactory agreement driven by his inability to secure a tangible achievement in Iran. By Ben Caspit In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense
Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks President Trump said the second meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese envoys went "very well." Lebanon
Will Hezbollah join Palestinian factions in confrontation with Israel? Amid calls to unify fronts between Palestinian resistance factions in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, experts envision many difficulties in this possibility of coordination. Palestine
Benghazi blowback hamstrings US role in post-IS Iraq Congress is weighing America's role after Mosul amid looming budget cuts and paralyzing partisanship. Iraq
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
