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

Lebanon

Lebanon

April 24, 2026

Beirut 6:29 pm

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US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa (R) holds a signed "Make America Great Again" hat while (L-R) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanon Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh Moawad listen to US President Donald Trump speak during a meeting with Lebanon Ambassador to the US and Israel Ambassador to the US, at the White House in Washington, DC on April 23, 2026. US President Donald Trump met Lebanese and Israeli envoys at a new round of peace talks Thursday, with Beirut seeking a one-month extension of a

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.

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

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Israel Ambassador to US Yechiel Leiter, US Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Lebanon Ambassador to the US Nada Hamadeh and US ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa listen as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting at the White House in Washington on April 23, 2026.

Trump says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by three weeks

President Trump said the second meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese envoys went "very well."

Amal Khalil, a veteran correspondent for the daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, in the southern Lebanese border village of Jebbayn in 2024.

Lebanon bids farewell to Amal Khalil, journalist killed by Israel: What to know

Khalil's death in a targeted strike on a house where she and a colleague took cover sparked widespread condemnation by Lebanese officials and international media groups.

Olmert

Interview

Olmert: Only Israel-Lebanon deal can curb Hezbollah, occupation 'unviable'

Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Al-Monitor that Israel will only be able to defang Hezbollah if it reaches an agreement with the Lebanese government.

Latest News

Lebanon-Israel negotiations to continue even as Iran talks stall

Jewel SAMAD / AFP via Getty Images

Who are Lebanon’s main players influencing talks with Israel?

Joseph EID / AFP via Getty Images

Aoun says Lebanon seeks 'permanent agreements' with Israel after White House invite

Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun delivers a speech during a meeting of Pope Leo XIV with authorities, civil society and diplomatic corps at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of the capital Beirut, on November 30, 2025. (Photo by Andreas SOLARO / AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

Why Netanyahu caved to Trump on Lebanon and what it means for Israel

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Jerusalem on February 26, 2026. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / POOL / 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

A woman sits with a dog over the Mediterranean sea waterfront by a fishing boat in the area of Dbayeh, north of the capital Beirut (background skyline), before sunset on December 5, 2019. (Photo by JOSEPH EID / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH EID/AFP via Getty Images)

To you

A poem reflecting on Beirut's latest tragedy, and the evergreen resilience of its people.

Countries offer help to Lebanon following massive Beirut explosion

France, Turkey and Egypt are among the countries that have sent personnel and supplies to help Lebanon recover from Tuesday's explosion that severely damaged much of Beirut.

An aerial view shows the massive damage done to Beirut port's grain silos (C) and the area around it on August 5, 2020, one day after a mega-blast tore through the harbour in the heart of the Lebanese capital with the force of an earthquake, killing more than 100 people and injuring over 4,000. - Rescuers searched for survivors in Beirut in the morning after a cataclysmic explosion at the port sowed devastation across entire neighbourhoods, killing more than 100 people, wounding thousands and plunging Leban

The Takeaway: Will catastrophe reshape Lebanon’s social contract?

The scoop on the Syrian Kurdish oil deal; Sisi to challenge Erdogan in Iraq and Syria; Lapid leads list of contenders to challenge Bibi; don’t shortchange Iraq’s resilience.

A view of the partially destroyed Beirut neighbourhood of Mar Mikhael on August 5, 2020 in the aftermath of a massive explosion in the Lebanese capital. - Rescuers searched for survivors in Beirut today after a cataclysmic explosion at the port sowed devastation across entire neighbourhoods, killing more than 100 people, wounding thousands and plunging Lebanon deeper into crisis. (Photo by PATRICK BAZ / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK BAZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Lebanon's Chernobyl moment

On the evening of Aug. 4, Beirut witnessed an unprecedented explosion that ruined a large part of the city, injuring thousands and killing many.

TOPSHOT - EDITORS NOTE: Graphic content / A helicopter puts out a fire at the scene of an explosion at the port of Lebanon's capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. (Photo by STR / AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel offers Lebanon medical assistance after Beirut blast

Israeli officials offered to provide neighboring Lebanon with medical aid following a deadly bombing that rocked the Lebanese capital.

A picture shows the scene of a huge explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 4, 2020. - A large explosion rocked the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 4, an AFP correspondent said. The blast, which rattled entire buildings and broke glass, was felt in several parts of the city. (Photo by Janine HAIDAR / AFP) (Photo by JANINE HAIDAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Major explosions rock Beirut, causing widespread damage and casualties

At least 70 people are dead and thousands injured.

Lebanon's foreign minister resigns, citing lack of reforms

Nassif Hitti is the highest ranking official to step down during the country's worsening economic crisis.

Israel attempts to de-escalate tensions with Hezbollah

Preferring to avoid escalation, Israel decided to let Hezbollah emerge unscathed from a July 27 incident and escape humiliation.

Hezbollah, Israel jostle in Syria, Lebanon

Conflict between Israel on the one hand and Iran and Hezbollah on the other have been playing out this month in Syria and Lebanon.

Lebanese prime minister calls for 'caution' after reported Israel-Hezbollah clash

Israel said it thwarted a Hezbollah incursion, but the Lebanese group denied this. A Hezbollah fighter was killed in an apparent Israeli airstrike in Syria last week.

Moody's credit rating downgrade puts Lebanon on par with Venezuela

The major credit rating agency said Lebanon is likely to default on its debt due to a lack of reform and the collapse of the Lebanese pound.

A picture taken from the northern Israeli town of Metula shows the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila behind the concrete barrier wall along the border between the two countries, on July 28, 2020. - Israel said it had repelled an attempt by Hezbollah fighters to penetrate its northern border on July 27, but the Lebanese group denied any involvement in the incident.
The border clash, which Israel said included an exchange of fire between its troops and gunmen, followed days of reported heightened tensi

Israel, Hezbollah playing war game, but avoid real conflagration

Attempting to avoid further escalation with Hezbollah, the Israel Defense Forces are careful to showcase lots of fire and brimstone, but no casualties on either side.