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Lebanon

Lebanon

April 18, 2025

Beirut 4:30 pm

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Lebanese army troops patrol the destroyed southern border village of Adaisseh, following the Israeli forces withdrawal on February 18, 2025. Lebanon's army said it deployed in southern border villages and areas vacated by Israeli troops on February 18, as a withdrawal deadline expired under a truce between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP) (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon's army expands presence, dismantles 500 Hezbollah sites: What to know

The Lebanese army intensified its deployment in southern Lebanon, dismantling Hezbollah positions and confiscating weapons as part of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement with Israel.

Gal Gadot

'Snow White' banned in Lebanon, Kuwait over Israeli star Gal Gadot

Lebanon's government banned Disney's latest film for its inclusion of Israeli actress Gal Gadot while countries like the UAE, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan plan to show the movie.

Aoun

Lebanon’s Aoun visits Doha as Qatar, France send military support

President Joseph Aoun’s trip to Qatar comes on the heels of his meeting with Saudi Arabia's envoy in Beirut.

Sharaa

Lebanon’s PM Nawaf Salam makes first Syria visit, meets Sharaa as border tensions loom

The visit is the latest sign of an apparent effort to improve ties between Syria and Lebanon after the fall of the Assad regime.

Latest News

Lebanon grills former security chiefs over Beirut port blast: What we know

A general view shows the northern collapsed section of the silos in the Port of Beirut, on Aug. 23, 2022 in Beirut, Lebanon.

Lebanon's Hezbollah ready to talk 'defense strategy' amid calls to disarm

A protester holds a framed portrait of Hassan Nasrallah.

Ortagus back in Lebanon to press for Hezbollah disarmament timetable, demarcation

US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus meets with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut on February 8, 2025. Ortagus warned on February 7 against any Hezbollah presence in Lebanon's new government, saying the Iran-backed group was "defeated" in its war with Israel. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli FM says indirect US-Iran talks likely, hails 'common objective' with France

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas (C) listens to Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar (L) during a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Menahem Kahana / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/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

Senior News Editor

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional geopolitics, China in the Middle East

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 place a picture of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah over the rubble of the shrine of Shamoun al-Safa, built within a castle in the village of Shamaa in southern Lebanon's Tyre governorate on January 31, 2025, that was heavily damaged by Israeli bombing. The hilltop castle houses the Muslim Shiite pilgrimage site over a tomb said by some to be that of Simon the Zealot, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, and by others of Simon, second son of the Biblical patriarch Jacob. (Photo by Mahmoud Z

Analysis

Why Hezbollah, Amal want to control Lebanon's Finance Ministry

The ministry's strategic role in financial decision-making and postwar reconstruction has intensified political disputes, with opposition groups and international actors resisting Hezbollah's dominance.

Dario Sabaghi

By Dario Sabaghi

Lebanese army and UNIFIL soldiers deploy to prevent residents of the southern Lebanese village of Mais al-Jabal from returning to their town on Jan. 27, 2025.

Could Trump’s aid freeze to Lebanon army threaten fragile Israel ceasefire?

US funding to Lebanon's armed forces remained in limbo despite the State Department backpedaling on its near-total halt to foreign aid abroad.

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images

Citing lack of security, UAE billionaire abandons Lebanon investments

Emirati businessman had previously said he received threats leading to the cancellation of a planned TV channel launch in Lebanon in 2024

Lebanon

Lebanon says 26 killed as Israeli forces fire on residents returning to south

Clashes that began on Sunday between Israeli forces and Lebanese civilians attempting to return to their towns in southern Lebanon continued into Monday, killing at least 26 people.

Lebanese soldiers patrol along a residential area that was devastated by the war between Israel and Hezbollah, in the southern coastal town of Naqura, on the border with Israel on Jan. 22, 2025.

Israel delays Lebanon withdrawal deadline: What we know

Israel cites Hezbollah’s failure to meet the terms of the ceasefire deal and doubts about the Lebanese army’s readiness as reasons for the delay.

Sharaa-Bin Farhan

Saudi FM in Syria after landmark visit to Lebanon

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan’s visits to Lebanon and Syria underscore Saudi Arabia’s renewed diplomatic push in the region amid shifting power dynamics.

Smoke billows from a fire that Lebanese media reported was lit by Israeli forces in the southern Lebanese village of Burj al-Muluk, near the border with Israel, on January 21, 2025. Local media reports added that the fire engulfed a house and construction equipment related to a national water management project. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

With clock ticking in Lebanon and Gaza, are Israel’s ceasefire deals near collapse?

As implementation deadlines approach this Saturday and Sunday, Israel doubts Hamas' ability to meet its obligations and says some Hezbollah infrastructure remains in place.

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

Layal al-Ekhtiar in a undated photo.

Al Arabiya journalist questioned in Lebanon for interviewing Israeli official

The case of Layal al-Ekhtiar, who interviewed Israel's Arabic-language military spokesman last year as the Gaza war raged, has divided Lebanese political opinion.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses a speech during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22, 2025.

UN chief optimistic for Lebanon's recovery, questions Syria's future

Antonio Guterres cautioned that there is no guarantee the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire will hold or lead to a final peace agreement, but he expressed encouragement over Lebanon's election of a president on Jan. 9, following two years of political impasse.

Saudi's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud attends the meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Kuwait City, Kuwait, Dec. 26, 2024.

Saudi FM set to travel to Lebanon, will press Beirut for 'real reform'

Prince Faisal said he would meet Lebanon's new leadership to gauge potential for Saudi investment and noted that Trump's reelection lessened the prospect of war in the region

OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images

Lebanon army, Syrian traffickers clash as anti-smuggling efforts ramp up

Authorities in Lebanon and Syria have stepped up their fight against the Captagon trade following the fall of the Assad regime, which heavily relied on the industry as one of its major sources of income.

France's President Emmanuel Macron (L) is welcomed by Lebanon's new president, Joseph Aoun, at the presidential palace in Baabda, Beirut, Jan. 17, 2025.

France’s Macron in Lebanon as Beirut port blast probe resumes

New developments following the election of Western-backed Joseph Aoun as president perhaps offer hope for generating political momentum and restoring the international community's confidence in Lebanon.