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Lebanon

Lebanon

December 22, 2025

Beirut 10:38 pm

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A convoy carrying a UN security council delegation, tours the border with Israel close to the southern Lebanese area of Naqura on December 6, 2025. UNIFIL peacekeepers have been tasked with acting as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since March 1978, and with monitoring the November 2024 ceasefire that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by Mahmoud ZAYYAT / AFP via Getty Images)

Exclusive

Second Lebanon-Israel meeting sidelined France, saw US pressure on Netanyahu

Differences over the so-called economic zone and the high civilian toll from Israeli strikes capped the second meeting between Lebanese and Israeli officials on Friday.

Joyce Karam

Rina Bassist

By Joyce Karam , Rina Bassist

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto (Middle-L) meets with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (R) in Beirut at Baabda Palace, on Dec. 22, 2025.

Italy pledges to maintain troops in southern Lebanon after UNIFIL withdrawal

Italy plays a crucial role in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, with an Italian leading its command and the country contributing over 1,000 troops to the mission.

Rabih DAHER / AFP via Getty Images

Second Lebanon-Israel meeting agrees to strengthen Lebanese army: What to know

The second round of civilian-led talks between Israel and Lebanon focused on the economic track while also addressing the removal of Hezbollah's weapons.

Latest News

US, France and Saudi Arabia agree to conference to bolster Lebanon’s army

This photograph taken during a press tour organised by the Lebanese army shows Lebanese soldiers standing atop a military vehicle in Alma Al-Shaab, near the border with Israel in southern Lebanon, on November 28, 2025. It was the first guided tour the army gave journalists since a November 2024 ceasefire sought to end over a year of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (Photo by Anwar AMRO / AFP via Getty Images)

Syria foils major arms smuggling attempt to Lebanon: What we know

The Internal Security Directorate in the Zabadani area of rural Damascus thwarted an attempt to smuggle a shipment of weapons and seized large quantities of RPG shells that were hidden in an organized manner and prepared for smuggling towards Lebanon, on Dec. 17, 2025.

Analysis

Trump's Syria envoy Barrack tests Israel's patience as Netanyahu pushes back

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) meets with US special envoy Tom Barrack, Jerusalem, Dec. 15 2

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

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

Demonstrators carry Lebanese flags during an anti-government protest in the mainly Druze town of Hasbaya, Lebanon October 25, 2019. REUTERS/Aziz Taher - RC1D8675FAA0

How Lebanon is setting the standard for a new social contract in the Middle East

Sectarianism gives way to economics and governance.

Riot police stand guard behind barbed-wire next to the Government Palace during ongoing anti-government protests in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, October 24, 2019. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis - RC1E491C2D70

US military aid to Lebanon continues amid protests

The Pentagon is not cutting off military aid to Lebanon amid countrywide protests.

Why Picasso continues to inspire the Levant

Picasso-Mediterranee, a two-year project highlighting the rich ties of the 20th century’s prodigal painter to the Mediterranean, concludes with exhibitions in the Levantine port cities of Izmir and Beirut.

Demonstrators stand next to Lebanese army soldiers during ongoing anti-government protests at a highway in Jal el-Dib, Lebanon, October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis - RC1C59F962A0

Lebanon protests also bring Syrians, Palestinians out onto the streets

Many of the 1.5 million Syrians and 174,000 Palestinians in Lebanon are taking part in the recent protests.

Demonstrators carry Lebanese flags during ongoing anti-government protests at a highway in Jal el-Dib, Lebanon October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir - RC16EC6EC900

As Lebanese PM lays out reform package, protesters demand more

Although the Lebanese government has unveiled a set of reforms to calm popular protests, it appears unlikely the proposal will satisfy demonstrators' demands.

Demonstrators take part in an anti-government protest in Tripoli, Lebanon October 20, 2019. REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim - RC1AD085BF90

Lebanon’s protests continue to gain momentum

Massive protests engulf Lebanon, and four ministers are to resign in consequence; organizers hope to keep the demonstrations' focus on moving forward.

A firefighting aircraft tackles wildfires in Dibbiyeh village, south of Beirut, Lebanon October 15, 2019. REUTERS/Aziz Taher TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC156A60AE40

Why Lebanon’s wildfires risk is becoming more common

Lebanon’s recent forest fires have raised concern about the ability to respond to extreme weather events as a result of climate change.

Turkey-backed Syrian rebel fighters return from the Syrian border town of Tal Abyad, as they are pictured on the Turkish-Syrian border in Akcakale, Turkey, October 20, 2019. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov - RC1677531AA0

What is the effect of Turkey’s Operation Peace Spring on Lebanon?

In the wake of Turkey’s offensive against the Syrian Democratic Forces in northern Syria, the Arab League and several Arab governments, including Lebanon, condemned the invasion; however, the opinions of people across Lebanese society have been much less clear-cut.

Demonstrators take a selfie in front of burning tires during a protest targeting the government over an economic crisis, at Barja area blocking off a main road leading from southern Lebanon to Beirut, October 18, 2019. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho - RC1FB9E67800

Beirut burns as Lebanon protests new taxes

Protests in Lebanon over new taxes continued despite the use of force by politicians' bodyguards.

How much will it cost for Lebanon to reforest after wildfires?

Lebanon’s Civil Defense fought, with limited resources, a series of wildfires that ravaged the country.

Locals lobby to keep their valley green in South Lebanon

The residents of Wadi Zibqine struggle to keep a road from destroying one of the last green spots in South Lebanon.

Why women in this Lebanese refugee camp opt for trade, not aid

A group of Syrian and Palestinian women from a refugee camp in Lebanon transitioned a struggling project into an enterprise that aims to export around the world.