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Lebanon

Lebanon

May 4, 2026

Beirut 9:48 pm

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Members of Lebanese security forces stand guard in the perimeter of the Parliament, a day ahead of a parliamentary session to elect a president in Beirut on January 8, 2025. Lebanese political heavyweights held talks on January 8, a day ahead of a parliamentary session to elect a president of the tiny Mediterranean country, already deep in economic and political crisis, and which has been without a president for more than two years. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP) (Photo by ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images)

Under US pressure, will Lebanon repeal Israel Boycott Law?

The 1955 law criminalizes all dealings with Israel, raising questions about how far Beirut can even go with its current engagement, currently at the ambassadorial level.

Ibrahim AMRO / AFP via Getty Images

Analysis

Without exit strategy, Israel faces emboldened Hezbollah, limited options on Iran

While President Donald Trump remains undecided on striking Iran again, the Israeli military is sinking deeper into its Lebanon quagmire with a reinforced Hezbollah.

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

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (C), alongside US State Department Counselor Michael Needham (2L) and US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa (2R), speaks during a meeting.

US seeks to train Lebanon army units to disarm Hezbollah: What to know

Funding for such a program remains unclear, though the Pentagon has requested $36 million for fiscal year 2027 to support Lebanon’s army.

Latest News

Analysis

Despite Trump pressure to limit Israel's Lebanon attacks, Aoun-Netanyahu meeting still unlikely

ANWAR AMRO/AFP via Getty Images

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

'Treason is war for external interests': Lebanon’s Aoun hits back at Hezbollah

Lebanese president Joseph Aoun (L) stands next to the parliament speaker Nabih Berri as he delivers a speech at the parliament building in Beirut Jan. 9, 2025.

Why US, Israel are freezing France out of Lebanon talks

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to journalists as he arrives for an informal meeting of the European Council in Nicosia, Cyprus, April 24, 2026.

In Lebanon, Saudi Arabia pursues quiet diplomacy as Trump pushes Israel normalization

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan (L) disembarks from an airplane upon his arrival at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut on Jan. 23, 2025.

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

Protesters sleep outside a branch of Garanti Bank at Taksim Square in central Istanbul June 3, 2013. Turkish protesters clashed with riot police into the early hours of Monday with some setting fire to offices of the ruling AK Party as the fiercest anti-government demonstrations in years entered their fourth day. Turkey's streets were calm in the morning after a night of noisy protests and violence in major cities. The posters read, "A tree died, a nation awoke" (L), "Come with millions Tayyip" (2nd L), "Yo

Turkey Between Interest Rates And Conspiracy Theories

While Turkey was once praised as a "model" for the region, the recent economic woes facing Ankara and Erdogan’s insufficient response have shaken Turkey's perception in Arab countries.

Helen Thomas, dean of the White House press corps, takes her seat after recovering from a long illness in the Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, November 11, 2008. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts (UNITED STATES) - RTXAIW4

Helen Thomas Remembered

Legendary journalist and proud Arab-American Helen Thomas is remembered by admirers and friends as a staunch advocate of the oppressed.

Lebanon's Mahmoud El-Ali reacts during a match in Beirut May 18, 2011. Asian soccer was left reeling from another matchfixing scandal on Wednesday, with the AFC investigating a report from Lebanon where 24 players have been sanctioned following allegations that international and regional games were rigged. The Lebanese Football Federation on Tuesday announced the punishments, including lifetime bans for Malaysian-based defender Ramez Dayoub and Indonesian-based forward El-Ali, which centre on international

Lebanon's Football Scandal Reflects Political Divide

Lebanese athletics have been embroiled in numerous international sports scandals this year, with many officials and teams being arrested or banned from participating in tournaments.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrives for a news conference at Queen Alia International Airport in the Jordanian capital of Amman July 19, 2013. Israel and the Palestinians have laid the groundwork for a resumption of peace talks after an almost three-year stalemate, Kerry said on Friday. REUTERS/Mandel Ngan/Pool (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX11S9P

Kerry Delivers Ambiguity To Shuttle Diplomacy

Kerry's mission and the failure to resume the negotiations on a more firm and clear basis than those tried before are examined.

Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addresses his supporters via a video conference during iftar, the breaking of fast meal, during the Islamic month of Ramadan in Beirut's southern suburbs July 19, 2013. REUTERS/Sharif Karim (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION) - RTX11S9O

Nasrallah's Calculated Moderation

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has adopted a more moderate approach, which some believe aims to diversify the party's allies and thwart the Western political war against it.

Lebanon's Hizbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah (L) shakes hands with compatriot Christian leader Michel Aoun during a news conference in a church in Beirut, Lebanon February 6, 2006. The Chief of Lebanon's Hizbollah joined forces on Monday with Maronite Christian leader Michel Aoun to call for normal diplomatic ties with Syria. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir - RTR1A3G2

Is the Aoun-Nasrallah Alliance Stagnating?

As relations between Lebanon’s Free Patriotic Party, led by Gen. Michel Aoun, and Hezbollah appear to be stagnating, both sides take time to reflect on the rationality of sustaining Lebanon’s first Shiite-Maronite coalition.

People inspect the site of the explosion that occurred on Tuesday in Beirut's southern suburbs July 10, 2013. A massive car bomb ripped through a Beirut stronghold of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group that has been fighting alongside President Bashar al-Assad in Syria's civil war, wounding 53 people on Tuesday. None of those hurt were seriously wounded, Health Minister Hassan Khalil told Reuters, and there were no fatalities. REUTERS/Sharif Karim (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX11INJ

Hezbollah Regions Targeted As Syria War Spreads to Lebanon

Amid rising sectarian tensions and following Hezbollah’s decision to fight in Syria's civil war, attacks against Hezbollah-controlled regions throughout Lebanon have increased.

A Jewish settler recites morning prayers before some families began moving out of the Ulpana neighbourhood of the Beit El settlement near the West Bank city of Ramallah June 26, 2012. Settlers on Tuesday began moving out of apartment blocs that Israel's Supreme Court ruled had been built illegally on Palestinian-owned land, after reaching an agreement with the government to go quietly. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR34608

EU Right on Sanctions On Israeli Settlement Trade

Lebanese oppositon Christian leader and head of the Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun (C), accompanied with his parliamentary bloc, speaks during a news conference, after meeting Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman at the presidential palace in Baabda, near Beirut, during the start of the two-day parliamentary consultations to choose a new prime minister, January 24, 2011. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said Monday he will not take part in a government lead by Hezbollah and its allies.

Lebanese Alliance Shifts Ultimately Depend on Syria

After Lebanon’s parliament failed to pass a new electoral law, speculation began to circulate that Gen. Michel Aoun might end his long alliance with Hezbollah and Amal.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) attends the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem July 14, 2013. REUTERS/Abir Sultan/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTX11MDX

Squeaks in US-Israeli Relations

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments on "Face the Nation" about what the US should do about Iran stir controversy.

A soldier and a policeman secure a field as a man uses a tractor to uproot hashish plants in Boday village, near Baalbek city, July 23, 2012. Farmers armed with assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars forced Lebanese government troops to abandon an operation to destroy their illegal cannabis crop in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Monday, a witness said. The farmers' attack halted a morning raid by security forces, who had been flattening the tall spiky marijuana plants with tractors, accompanied by

Illegal Marijuana Trade Thrives in Lebanon

While the Lebanese government is preoccupied with domestic and regional conflicts, efforts to combat the country’s growing cannabis trade are put on the back burner.

Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi hold a banner with his picture as they gather at the Rabaa Adawiya square, where they are camping, in Cairo July 12, 2013. Tens of thousands of Egyptians packed into squares and marched along streets in Cairo on Friday to protest against the military overthrow of Islamist President Mursi, and the United States called for the first time for him to be freed. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL U

Egypt Question Takes Priority in Arab Politics

Egypt is taking the place of Syria on the front burner of regional politics as the world waits to see how the Muslim Brotherhood and its allies will react to the president's ouster.