Lebanon
Latest stories
Israel strikes Lebanon amid tensions around Kfarshouba

The Israeli army said Thursday it was conducting strikes on southern Lebanon after a mortar launched from its northern neighbor exploded in the border area between the two foes.

The latest military action was launched three months after the two countries saw their worst cross-border fire in years.

W140 Full Story
Hezbollah condemns Israel's wall in Ghajar, calls on state to take action

Hezbollah issued a statement Thursday about Israel's wall in the village of al-Ghajar. The village is split into Lebanese and Israeli sides along a border, known as the blue line, that was demarcated after Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000.

"It is not just a routine breach of what the occupation forces are accustomed to from time to time," the statement said.

W140 Full Story
Berri expects Le Drian to visit Lebanon in mid-July after regional tour

French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian would likely return to Lebanon between July 16 and July 17, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said.

The Speaker told al-Akhbar newspaper, in remarks published Thursday, that Le Drian's visit might be preceded by a tour of countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and "probably Iran."

W140 Full Story
Report: Grillo in contact with 'all parties' ahead of Le Drian's upcoming visit

French Ambassador Anne Grillo is holding talks with all political forces in Lebanon and will prepare next week for French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian's visit to the crisis-hit country, a local media report said.

Ad-Diyar newspaper also claimed Wednesday that the relation between France and Hezbollah has not been severed.

W140 Full Story
Raad says Hezbollah calm, others 'tense' in presidential approach

Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad said Wednesday that his bloc is taking a calm approach to the presidential file in order to agree with others for the interest of the country.

"But others have become very tense," the MP added.

W140 Full Story
Geagea condemns Mikati's decision to form committee on territorial disputes

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Wednesday caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati of surpassing the judicial authorities, after the latter decided to form a committee to resolve territorial disputes.

"Land border disputes are within the judiciary's powers," Geagea said.

W140 Full Story
FPM says presidential vacuum 'normalization' threatens 'partnership'

The Free Patriotic Movement said Wednesday in a statement that "the behavior of some parliamentary blocs and political forces suggests that they are pushing for normalizing the presidential vacuum that might expand to first-class positions that have traditionally been occupied by Christians."

"This threatens national partnership," the statement went on to say.

W140 Full Story
Al-Rahi calls for international conference on Lebanon

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi called Wednesday for an international conference on Lebanon after Lebanese officials failed to hold a dialogue.

"Officials in Lebanon refuse to sit together at a dialogue table because their private interests are more important than the public interest," al-Rahi said.

W140 Full Story
Mikati chairs budget meeting at the Grand Serail

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati chaired Wednesday a meeting to discuss the 2023 state budget.

Deputy PM Saadeh al-Shami, caretaker Minister of Finance Youssef al-Khalil, Mikati's advisors Nicolas Nahhas and Samir al-Daher, and Director General of the Ministry of Finance George Maarawi attended the meeting at the Grand Serail.

W140 Full Story
French judiciary accepts Lebanon's request to freeze assets of Salameh and associates

The French judiciary has accepted the Lebanese state’s request for freezing the assets and properties of Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh and his associates Raja Salameh, Marianne Hoayek and Anna Kozakova, caretaker Justice Minister Henri Khoury said on Tuesday.

W140 Full Story