Annual Dinner 2022: A Tribute to the Courageous Citizens of Lebanon

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   September 30, 2022 IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Lebanon Parliament Approves 2022 Budget 3 Months Before the Year Ends European Ambassadors to Lebanese Politicians: The Time to Act is Now IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Lebanon After meeting with Lebanese leaders from September 19 to 21, the IMF issued a statement where it notes,…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*     Iranian Embassy Announces Fuel Shipments to Lebanon, Set to Arrive in Next Few Weeks Can Lebanon’s ‘Change” Coalition Fix a Broken System?  Can Arab States Bounce Back from COVID and Climate Crises? Iranian Embassy Announces Fuel Shipments to Lebanon, Set to Arrive in Next Few Weeks As reported by the Hezbollah-affiliated media station,…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*     IMF Team to Visit Lebanon Next Week Accused of Being 'On Embassies' Payroll,' Port Blast Victims' Families Demand Apology Efforts to Find a Consensus Candidate Kick Off IMF Team to Visit Lebanon Next Week According to Reuters, "The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday that a staff mission will visit Lebanon next week…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   September 10, 2022 In Lebanon, the Next Six Months Will Shape the Next Six Years Money Transfer Firms Replace Banks in Crisis-Hit Lebanon Lebanese Anxious Over Possibility of War as Tension Flares Between Hezbollah and Israel EXCERPT “The next few months will be seminal for this small but critical country’s future. It is up…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   September 2, 2022 Biden "Emphasized Importance" of Resolving Lebanon-Israel Maritime Dispute in Lapid Call Bassil says FPM Ready to Support a Presidential Candidate 'Around Whom There Would Be an Agreement’ UN Condemns Restrictions on Peacekeepers in South Lebanon Biden "Emphasized Importance" of Resolving Lebanon-Israel Maritime Dispute in Lapid Call On Wednesday, President Biden spoke…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   August 27, 2022 Aoun, Mikati Hold Unfruitful Meeting Amid Disagreement Over Government Lineup Why Lebanese Citizens Are Joining The Migrant Tide Out of the Middle East UNICEF Publishes New Report on Deprived Childhoods in Lebanon Lebanon Faces Judicial Paralysis as Judges Refuse to Work Aoun, Mikati Hold Unfruitful Meeting Amid Disagreement Over Government Lineup…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   August 19, 2022 Why a Hostage-Taker in Lebanon was Hailed as a National Hero The Proper Application of the Public Procurement Law Still Has a Long Way to Go Lebanon is Not Resilient, It is Traumatized Why a Hostage-Taker in Lebanon was Hailed as a National Hero Last week, a man held employees and…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   August 12, 2022 Maronite Patriarch Addresses 'Shameful Delay' in Cabinet Formation Lebanon’s Banks Confront Politicians in Protest Against Lawsuits and Arrests President Aoun Reportedly 'Holding Off' on Banking Secrecy Law Maronite Patriarch Addresses 'Shameful Delay' in Cabinet Formation In his weekly sermon, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi said, "Isn't it shameful that authorities make…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   August 4, 2022 After Two Years, Lebanon Has Done Nothing in Response to the Port of Beirut Blast Beirut Silo Collapses, Reviving Trauma Ahead of Blast Anniversary  Lebanon Parliament Speaker Says No Presidential Vote Without IMF Laws Click Here to Read Full Op-ed EXCERPT “Lebanon has a very limited time to make essential changes…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   July 29, 2022 US Senior Advisor for Energy Security Expected to Return to Beirut Soon President Aoun Reiterates Commitment to UN Resolution 1701  Caretaker Minister: Lebanon Plans to Build New Grain Silos at Port of Beirut US Senior Advisor for Energy Security Expected to Return to Beirut Soon Following weeks of both anticipation and…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   July 23, 2022 ATFL in Lebanon Opposition MPs Praise Passage of Banking Secrecy Law Out of Committee Lebanon's Baalbek Festival Back, Despite Economic Collapse ATFL in Lebanon During a trip to Lebanon this week, ATFL met with Lebanon’s leading politicians and political parties to discuss reforms necessary for unlocking assistance from the International Monetary…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*     July 16, 2022 Hezbollah Chief Vows 'No One' Will Extract Gas, Oil from Maritime Zones if Lebanon Unable to Do So Biden’s Talks With Israeli Leader Highlight a Split Over Iran Russia Wins Fight to Limit Aid to Syrian Rebels to 6 Months Lebanon Just Recorded The Worst Population Decline In The World…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   July 9, 2022 Lebanon Should Drill for Gas Regardless of Maritime Deal with Israel, MP Says Lebanon Recovery Plan held up by Changes from PM Addressing Food Insecurity in Crisis-Stricken Lebanon Lebanon Should Drill for Gas Regardless of Maritime Deal with Israel, MP Says In an interview with Sean Matthews, MP Neemat Frem makes…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   July 4, 2022 PM Mikati Holds Consultations with MPs, Blocs Over Govn't Formation Gallup Poll: World's Angriest Country is Lebanon Kinopolitics and the Myth of Borders PM Mikati Holds Consultations with MPs, Blocs Amid 'Urgent' Need for Govn't Formation This week, Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati held several rounds of non-binding consultations with various parliamentary blocs regarding…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   June 25, 2022 Najib Mikati Named Prime Minister Designate Forensic Audit Team to Arrive in Lebanon on June 27 Energy Crisis: A New Dawn for Lebanon Najib Mikati Named Prime Minister Designate After consultations between Lebanon's President Michel Aoun and several Members of Parliament, Najib Mikati was named Prime Minister Designate by the President…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   June 17, 2022 Senior Envoy Hochstein Mediates Maritime Border Dispute, Lebanon Prepares Offer U.S. to Assess if Egypt to Lebanon Gas Deal Violates Sanctions After Terms Agreed -US Official Lebanon to Hold Consultations Over Selecting New PM on June 23 Senior Envoy Hochstein Mediates Maritime Border Dispute, Lebanon Prepares Offer After arriving in Beirut…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   June 11, 2022 US Envoy Expected to Visit Beirut Next Week over Israel Gas Dispute The 23rd Session of Parliament: Political Infighting and Piecemeal Solutions in an Unprecedented Crisis Iran’s Malign Proxies Are Tearing A Nation Apart  US Envoy Expected to Visit Beirut Next Week over Israel Gas Dispute This past Sunday, Israel established…

  June 6, 2022 Nabih Berri Re-Elected Speaker of Parliament for the 7th Time In its inaugural session following the May 15th elections, the Lebanese parliament convened today and voted for its Speaker of Parliament. MP Nabih Berri, the head of the Shiite Amal Movement, was re-elected as Speaker of Parliament for the 7th time, a…

May 27, 2022 PM Mikati Government Officially Enters Caretaker Status The Lebanese Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Mikati has entered into its 'caretaker status', following the May 15th Parliamentary Elections. Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun stated, "In accordance with Item 1 of Article 69 of the Constitution, related to the cases during which the…

    May 20, 2022 Lebanon’s Pro-Hezbollah Bloc Loses Parliamentary Majority Hezbollah lost a parliamentary majority and its allies also suffered losses across the country. This includes the Hezbollah-aligned Free Patriotic Movement, who were dethroned by the Lebanese Forces for status as the largest Christian party in parliament. 16 anti-establishment political newcomers and nine other anti-establishment…

    May 14, 2022 Scarred by Crisis, Election Newcomers Aim to Unseat Lebanon's Elite This election, Lebanon's first since the October 2019 demonstrations, is the first opportunity reformists have to enact change. However, obstacles remain. Maha Yahya of the Carnegie Middle East Center noted that the requirement that voters travel to their ancestral villages to…

center> May 7, 2022 Mapping Lebanon III: The Diaspora 5.5 percent of Lebanon's voters are based in the diaspora with France, the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia topping the list of foreign countries where registered voters are based. [L'Orient Today] RESPONSE "The US  has the second highest number of registered voters in…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   May 1, 2022 Van Hollen, Young Urge Administration to Engage with Lebanon to Support On-Time, Free, and Fair Parliamentary Elections  On April 28, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Todd Young (R-IN) sent a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken encouraging the Biden Administration to support free, fair, and on-time elections. The…

    April 23, 2022 Amal Loyalists Attack Supporters of Rival Electoral List in Sarafand Last Saturday, supporters of Speaker Nabih Berri's Amal Movement confronted participants of opposition groups traveling to a rally in Sarafand. They blocked the road leading to the event venue and violently attacked those who were planning to attend. Supporters of the…

    April 16, 2022 Saudi Arabia Rekindles Ties with Cash-Strapped Lebanon Saudi Ambassador Waleed Bukhari has officially returned to Lebanon and is meeting with Lebanese officials. PM Najib Mikati also announced he will travel to Riyadh during Ramadan. The Saudis have also announced they will join forces with the French in providing humanitarian assistance to…

    April 9, 2022 IMF Reaches Staff-Level Agreement with Lebanon on Debt-Relief Package In a public statement today, Mr. Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, head of the International Monetary Fund mission concerning Lebanon's request for a debt-relief package confirmed that, "The Lebanese authorities and the IMF team have reached a staff-level agreement on comprehensive economic policies that…

    March 19, 2022 UN Secretary-General Stresses Impact of Russian-Ukrainian War on Globe, Lebanon During a recent brief the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reiterated that Russia and Ukraine supply more than half of the world with sunflower oil and “about 30 percent of the world’s wheat”, adding that  45 African and developed countries import 1/3…

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*   March 12, 2022 Hezbollah Secretary General Denounces Lebanon's Condemnation of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, Blames US In a televised speech, Secretary General of Hezbollah Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah commented scathingly on the Lebanese government's stance regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine, claiming that the Ministry of Foreign Affair's statement was "written at the American embassy."…

March 6, 2022 The Ground is Ripe for Corruption and Clientelism in the May Parliamentary Polls, Election Monitors Say The Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) has raised red flag that the Lebanese government has not been properly preparing for a fair and free election this May. The major issue of concern is the buying of…

February 27, 2022 Lebanon Condemns Russian Invasion of Ukraine On Thursday, Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement which condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and called for Russian forces to withdraw from there immediately. Meanwhile, neighboring Syria has voiced support for the Russian government and many other Arab nations have remained silent on the conflict. [Al Arabiya]…

February 20, 2022 Mikati Reassures Elections To Be Properly Funded And Held On Time, Megacenters To Be Discussed In Cabinet In an interview with Al-Akhbar newspaper, Prime Minister Najib Mikati reassured that Lebanon's upcoming parliamentary elections would be held on time, clarifying that the funds for the elections are nearly secured. Though he indicated that he…

February 12, 2022 Ambassador: 'No Wiggle Room' On Date Of Elections The US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea said to Reuters, "The international community is unanimous that the elections must be held on time in a fair and transparent manner . . . There's no wiggle room." The article continues, "Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie…

  February 5, 2022 McCaul, Risch Express Concern over Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt Energy Deals Two leading Republican lawmakers have written to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, expressing their concerns over the energy deal that the Biden Administration is facilitating between Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), Ranking Member of the House Foreign…

January 29, 2022 Analysis: Lebanon Slips Further into Iran's Orbit as Hariri Bows Out  Perry and Bassam write, "A decision by Sunni Muslim leader Saad al-Hariri to step away from Lebanese politics opens the way for Shi'ite Hezbollah to extend its already deep sway over the country, rendering it ever more a bastion of Iranian influence…

January 22, 2022 Hezbollah, Amal Movement to End Boycott of Cabinet Sessions Announced in a statement on Saturday, the two shiite political groups, Amal Movement and Hezbollah, declared an end to their ministers’ boycott of cabinet sessions after a three-month paralysis has limited the Lebanese government’s capacity to assuage its crises. [Al-Jazeera] RESPONSE "Amal and Hezbollah said…

January 15, 2022 French Foreign Minister: UAE to Join French-Saudi Fund for Lebanon On Tuesday, French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian announced in a parliamentary meeting that the "visit by President (Emmanuel) Macron enabled the Gulf (Arab countries) to renew ties, which saw (the creation of) a joint Franco-Saudi fund to support the Lebanese, which will be…

January 8, 2022 Lebanon’s PM Miqati issues rare criticism of Hezbollah PM Miqati Says Will Convene Cabinet Within Days  Building a Modern Republic Lebanon’s PM Miqati Issues Rare Criticism of Hezbollah   On Monday, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah delivered a speech where he labeled King Salman of Saudi Arabia as a terrorist and attributed…

January 8, 2022 Lebanon’s PM Miqati Issues Rare Criticism of Hezbollah On Monday, Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah delivered a speech where he labeled King Salman of Saudi Arabia as a terrorist and attributed the spread of Islamic extremism to the king. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Miqati rebuked these comments and stated they do not…

December 18, 2021 US Treasury official meets with the Association of Banks in Lebanon US Watching Closely as Lebanese Military Court Tries Civilians  Minister of Interior Says Elections Likely to Happen in May  US Treasury official meets with the Association of Banks in Lebanon On December 16, US Department of the Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and…

December 11, 2021 Beirut Blast Investigation Cleared to Resume Christmas Only For The Rich In Lebanon As Prices Increased Ridiculously Lebanon's Elderly Population Devastated by Crash Beirut Blast Investigation Cleared to Resume A string of lawsuits filed against Judge Tarek Bitar by those who Bitar had summoned for questioning had suspended the Beirut Port blast investigation…

December 4, 2021 Lebanon launches cash card aid, despite funding shortfall 700,000 Children In Lebanon Can’t Afford School Anymore Three Lebanese Judges Resign Due To Political Interference In The Judiciary Lebanon launches cash card aid, despite funding shortfall Following months of delays, and with only some of the funding secured, Lebanon on Wednesday opened registration for…

November 27, 2021 ATFL Leads US Representatives on Fact-Finding Mission UN Special Rapporteur Expresses Disappointment on Subsidies "Why the Gulf States Turned on Lebanon" by Hussein Ibish ATFL Leads US Representatives on Fact-Finding Mission to Lebanon The American Task Force on Lebanon led a congressional delegation to Lebanon on a fact-finding mission to better understand the…

November 13, 2021 Arab League Envoy Backs Call for Kordahi's Resignation Miqati Pledges to Hold Elections by May 21, 2022 "How Corruption Ruined Lebanon" by Rania Abouzeid Arab League Envoy Backs Calls for Kordahi's Resignation This week Arab League envoy Hossam Zaki met Lebanese political leaders in an effort to explore resolutions to the escalating diplomatic…

November 6, 2021 Top US military general meets Lebanese Army commander, Pentagon reaffirms support Senate committee advances Biden nominee for Middle East policy France says Lebanon should be 'shielded' from Middle East crises Top US military general meets Lebanese Army commander, Pentagon reaffirms support The top US military general met with the Lebanese Armed Forces commander…

October 31, 2021 Yemen Comments Put Fresh Strain on Lebanon's Gulf Ties President Putin Asks Israeli PM Bennet for Help Greed and Deadly Medicine Shortages in Lebanon Yemen Comments Put Fresh Strain on Lebanon's Gulf Ties Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates summoned Lebanese ambassadors on Wednesday to protest comments made by Lebanon’s information minister…

October 24, 2021 Prospective Lebanon Gas Supplies via Syria Exempt from Sanctions Parliament Approves March 27 Elections, Aoun Sends It Back New Scientific Studies on Ammonium Nitrate from Port Blast US Reassures Lebanon Gas Supplies Through Syria Shielded From Caesar Law Participants in the project to supply Lebanon with Egyptian gas will be shielded from the…

October 17, 2021 Violent Clashes Erupt in Beirut Lebanon's Education Sector in Danger of Collapse Kingdom Come by Michael Young Violent Clashes Erupt in Beirut Violent clashes erupted in Beirut this week during Hezbollah and Amal protests calling for Judge Tarek Bitar's removal. At least six people were killed and dozens were wounded after an exchange…

October 10, 2021 USAID Launches $29 Million Energy Project Iranian Foreign Minister Visits Beirut Lebanon Resumes Talks With the IMF USAID Launches $29 Million Energy Project The US Agency for International Development has launched a $29 million project to deliver energy across Lebanon through a contract with IMC Worldwide, Inc. The project is designed to increase…

October 1, 2021 Turkish Company Shuts Down Power Barges WHO Reports Medical Staff Brain Drain Lebanon Asks For Water Purification Loan Turkish Company Shuts Down Power Barges Today the Turkish company Karpowership halted its electricity supply to Lebanon from its two power barges off the coast of Beirut. The company said Lebanon owes Karpowership more than…

September 24, 2021 Miqati's Meeting with Macron Today Lebanon's Creditors Urge IMF Talks Fuel Prices Raised 16 Percent Miqati’s Meeting with Macron Today Prime Minister Najib Miqati is set to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris today. The two leaders are said to discuss resolutions from the CEDRE Conference and the possibility of granting…

September 18, 2021 New Miqati Government Moving Forward Human Rights Organizations Call for International Investigation Iranian Fuel Arrives in Lebanon New Miqati Government Moving Forward Following three committee meetings over the statement's text, Prime Minister Najib Miqati's cabinet unanimously approved a ministerial policy statement yesterday. Important items include immediate negotiations with the IMF and stressing cooperation…

September 10, 2021 Lebanon Announces a New 24-Minister Cabinet Lebanon Working on Funding From World Bank For Power Supply Hyperinflation and Food Shortage Warnings Lebanon Announces a New 24-Minister Cabinet After 13 months of political deadlock, Lebanon announced a new government under Prime Minister Nijab Miqati. Earlier today Miqati said through tears that the government will…

September 5, 2021 US Senators Urge Government Formation in Lebanon 2022 Parliamentary Election Dates Hezbollah Faces Criticism for Crisis and Border Tensions US Senators Urge Government Formation in Lebanon Last week a US Congressional delegation in Beirut led by US Senator Chris Murphy met with President Michel Aoun, Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati, Speaker of Parliament Nabih…

August 28, 2021 US House Reps Urge Temporary Protected Status Lebanon to Release World Bank Loan to Families in Dollars Response to Brief on Beirut Port Reconstruction US House Representatives Urge Temporary Protected Status Designation for Lebanon House Representatives Debbie Dingell and Rashida Tlaib are urging the Biden administration to designate Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status…

August 21, 2021 Parliament Session Yesterday on Fuel Subsidies CIA Director Proposes Israeli Withdrawal from Shebaa Farms Lebanese Security Forces Secure Fuel from Warehouses for Hospitals Parliament Session Yesterday on Fuel Subsidies Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri held a session yesterday to respond to Lebanon's severe fuel shortage. [Reuters] At the request of President Michel Aoun, the…

August 13, 2021 US Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Middle East Security Assistance Patriarch Al-Rai Calls on Lebanese Army to Confront Hezbollah Nasrallah Claims Ammonium Nitrate Used for Syrian Rebels Opinion Piece: Enemies in the Gate US Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee Hearing on Security Assistance in the Middle East This week the US Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee…

August 7, 2021 US Announces Additional $100 Million in Aid to Lebanon Human Rights Watch Releases Beirut Port Evidence in Report Village Residents Seize Hezbollah Rocket Launchers US Announces Additional $100 Million in Aid to Lebanon This week President Joe Biden announced that the United States will give close to $100 million in humanitarian aid to…

July 31, 2021 Miqati to Prioritize IMF Talks Once Cabinet is Formed Wildfires Continue to Burn in Northern Lebanon Hundreds of Thousands of Children in Lebanon are Going Hungry Miqati to Prioritize IMF Talks Once Cabinet is Formed Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati's first priority after forming a government will be to resume talks with the IMF…

July 24, 2021 President Biden Extends Executive Order 13441 US Treasury Delegation Conducts Three-Day Visit in Beirut Lebanese MPs Sign Motion for Officials to Be Tried Through the Supreme Council Fire Exchanged Along Lebanon's Southern Border and Israel President Biden Extends Executive Order 13441 In a letter to Congress this week, President Joe Biden said he…

JULY 18, 2021 PM-Designate Saad Hariri Resigns Protesters Demand Immunities to Be Lifted Foreign Diplomats Express Frustration with Lebanon's Government PM-designate Saad Hariri Resigns After nine months of political deadlock, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri resigned this week. His resignation followed one last attempt at forming a government earlier this week when he submitted a new 24-minister…

JULY 11, 2021 US, French, and Saudi Officials Meet to Discuss Lebanon Medicine and Fuel Shortages Plague Lebanon's Health Sector Education in Lebanon Drops Off During Crises Protests to Lift Immunities on Lebanese Officials US, French, and Saudi Officials Meet to Discuss Lebanon On Thursday, US Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea and French Ambassador to Lebanon…

July 3, 2021 US, France, and Saudi Arabia Discuss Lebanon at G20 US House Reps Introduce a Bill Challenging Assistance to the LAF Lebanon's Neglected North Erupts in Protests US, France, and Saudi Arabia Discuss Lebanon at G20 This week Secretary Blinken discussed Lebanon several times throughout his week-long European tour including visits with Pope Francis…

JUNE 28, 2021 US and France United in Applying Pressure BDL Asks the Government to Authorize Bank Loans to the State David Gardner Writes on Forthcoming Sanctions US and France United in Applying Pressure on Lebanese Officials In a press conference, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stated their…

JUNE 19, 2021 International Donors Pledge Aid to LAF EU Representative in Lebanon Warns of Sanctions Human Rights Watch Calls for Investigative Mission Shops, Government Offices, and Banks Go on Strike International Donors Pledge Emergency Aid to Lebanese Armed Forces At a virtual meeting hosted by France and Italy on Thursday, international donors pledged tens of…

JUNE 7, 2021 New Report From the World Bank Lebanon Economic Monitor Lebanese Struggle to Put Basic Food Items on the Table New Report From the World Bank Lebanon Economic Monitor The World Bank Lebanon Economic Monitor recently released a report on the state of Lebanon’s economic and financial crises and ranked the country in the…

MAY 31, 2021 Ambassador Hale and Senator Kaine Speak Out on Lebanon S&P Global Report Says Bail-In for Depositors Likely World Food Program Announces Additional Assistance Ambassador David Hale and Senator Tim Kaine Speak Out on Lebanon Former Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale and Senator Tim Kaine spoke at a Middle East Institute conference on…

May 23, 2021 US Congress Members Urge Support for Lebanon International Support Group for Lebanon Meeting in Beirut Syrian Voters Attacked on Their Way to Beirut US Congress Members Urge Support for Lebanon Members of Congress signed a letter to Secretary of State Blinken this week urging the United States to respond to Lebanon's deteriorating situation.…

May 16, 2021 Seven Lebanese Sanctioned by the United States Young Professionals Leaving Lebanon Fruit and Vegetables Ripening While Saudi Ban Still in Place Seven Lebanese Sanctioned by the United States On Tuesday, the United States imposed sanctions on seven Lebanese who are tied to Hezbollah. The US Treasury Department called six of the seven Hezbollah's…

May 9, 2021 Lebanese Continue to Wait for Justice and Accountability Saudi and Syrian Intelligence Chiefs Meet in Damascus Response to Tracy Chamoun's Opinion Piece Lebanese Continue to Wait for Justice and Accountability Politicization of Lebanon's judiciary is a deep and ongoing problem. Political interference continues to slow or completely halt investigations into corruption, violence, and…

May 2, 2021 Lebanon-Israel Maritime Border Talks to Resume France Imposes Sanctions on Lebanese Political Figures CENTCOM Commander Notes Emerging Crises in the Middle East Lebanon-Israel Martitime Border Talks to Resume On May 3, US Ambassador John Desrocher and his team will travel to Lebanon to lead mediation efforts between Lebanon and Israel. The two countries…

April 25, 2021 Maronite Patriarch Calls for International Conference New Plan to Rebuild the Port of Beirut UK Signs MOU with Lebanon's Internal Security Forces Maronite Patriarch Calls for International Conference In an interview with CNBC, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi emphasized his call for an international conference in addition to asking the Security Council for…

April 15, 2021 Undersecretary David Hale Visits Lebanon BDL Urges Lebanon's Government to Curb Subsidies Foreign Firms Interested in Beirut Port Reconstruction Undersecretary David Hale Visits Lebanon This week, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale visited Lebanon. He called on Lebanese political leaders to show flexibility and form a government capable of implementing reform.…

April 11, 2021 One-Third of Lebanese May Lose Social Security Services Hezbollah Provides Aid to 50,000 Families UNHCR Report on Human Rights Violations in Syria One-Third of Lebanese May Lose Social Security Services This week Director-General of the National Security Fund (NSSF) of Lebanon Mohamad Karaki warned that the fund my be forced to halt social…

April 2, 2021 Parliament Approves $200m Loan for Fuel Schenker Pushes for French Sanctions Save the Children Releases Report on Education Acute Hunger Expected to Rise Lebanon's Parliament Approves $200 Million Loan for Fuel Shortly after Lebanon's Zahrani power plant shut down when it ran out of gas oil, parliament approved a $200 million loan for…

March 28, 2021  Arab Leagues Offers to Intervene   Diab Asks for Caretaker Role Interpretation  Fights Break Out in Grocery Stores as Food Prices Soar  Arab League Offers to Intervene in Lebanon's Political Gridlock On Tuesday, the Arab League expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in Lebanon and urged political leaders in Lebanon to end the political…

March 19, 2021  General McKenzie Visits Lebanon   Discussion on European and US Sanctions on Political Leaders   Agreement to Give Lebanon Aid in US Dollars General McKenzie Visits Lebanon On Monday, Commander of the US Central Command General Kenneth F. McKenzie visited Lebanon. He met General Joseph Aoun, Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and other…

March 13, 2021  Secretary Blinken Commits Continued US Support to LAF   Lebanon's Security Forces Under Strain   Fuel for Energy Generation Running Out   US and French Officials Warn of Impending Collapse  Secretary Blinken Commits Continued US Support to LAF On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated the direction of US-Lebanon relations under the Biden administration when…

March 6, 2021  Former US State Official Hopes for Maritime Talks   Aoun Asks Salameh About Currency Collapse   Syrian Pound Drops Following Lebanese Pound Collapse  Former US State Official Hopes for Continued Maritime Border Talks In an interview on al-Hadath, former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker expressed his hope that the Biden administration…

February 28, 2021 US Conducts Airstrike in Syria Patriarch Rai Calls for International Conference Lebanese Pound Drops Further in Value US Conducts Airstrike in Syria On Thursday the Biden administration conducted an airstrike in eastern Syria in response to attacks against American and coalition personnel in Iraq and ongoing threats. The strike hit Iranian-linked facilities and…

February 20, 2021 US Representatives Call for Biden to Use the Magnitsky Act $100 Million a Month in Transfers to Lebaneses Aid to Port Blast Victims Said to Be Taxed US Representatives Call for Use of Magnitsky Act Over Luqman Slim's Assassination US House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Michael McCaul and Chairman Gregory Meeks sent a…

February 14, 2021  PM-Designate Hariri's Meeting with President Macron   UNESCO Cancels Beirut Fundraiser   Family, Friends, Political Figures Attend Luqman Slim's Funeral  Prime Minister-Designate Hariri's Meeting with President Macron Closing out a foreign tour including visits, to Abu Dhabi and Cairo, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri met with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris to discuss Lebanon's progress. They…

February 5, 2021 Assassination of Activist Luqman Slim International Crisis Group Recommendations for Biden Administration UN ESCWA Private Sector Report Assassination of Activist Luqman Slim Luqman Slim, a prominent journalist, activist, and known critic against Hezbollah, was found dead on Thursday after being shot multiple times. After a period of no political assassinations, Lebanese fear they…

JANUARY 22, 2021 US President Joseph R. Biden's Inauguration Confirmation Hearing for the Biden's US Secretary of State Nominee World Bank Approves COVID-19 Vaccine Financing Biden Inauguration and Confirmation Hearing for New Secretary of State On Wednesday, President Joseph R. Biden took the oath of office in front of the US Capitol. The full text of…

JANUARY 31, 2021 Protests in Tripoli Lebanese Turn to Hezbollah for Financial Assistance Syria Faces Humanitarian Aid Crisis Protests in Tripoli This week Tripoli saw a surge of protests after Lebanon's government imposed a 24-hour curfew to help slow the spread of COVID-19. On Wednesday, a funeral was held for a man that died by security…

JANUARY 15, 2021 Parliament Approves Draft Law for Vaccines World Bank Approves a $246 Million Loan to Lebanon Expat Business Leaders Sign MOU to Help Lebanese Industrialists Parliament Approves Draft Law for Vaccines After Delay After delay, Lebanon's parliament approved a draft law today that will allow imports of coronavirus vaccines, importantly the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. A…

DECEMBER 20, 2020 Ashraf Rifi Says Iran Sent the Ammonium Nitrate Aoun Pushes for Unified Standards New Aid Distribution Model to Lebanon   Ashraf Rifi Says Iran Sent the Ammonium Nitrate Major General Ashraf Rifi said in his testimony before Judge Fadi Sawwan that Iran had sent the ammonium nitrate shipment that caused the Beirut port…

DECEMBER 11, 2020 Hariri Offers Cabinet Proposal and Aoun Counters International Funds Waiting on Lebanon Government Formation Caretaker Government Pledges to Keep Subsidies for Basic Goods Retired Brigadier General Says LAF National Security Strategy Lacking   Hariri Offers Cabinet Proposal and Aoun Counters In effort to finalize a government formation before French President Macron's visit later…

  December 6, 2020 Frustration at International Aid Conference World Bank Release Report Depression in Lebanon Parliament Votes for Audit on All State Bodies Frustration at International Aid Conference On Wednesday a virtual international aid conference was held to support Lebanon in the midst of its economic and political crises. French President Macron expressed frustration at…

NOVEMBER 22, 2020 Delay in Government Formation Independents' Success in Student Council Elections UN Special Coordinator's Response to Government Delay   Continued Delay in Government Formation President Michel Aoun met with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri last week to discuss Lebanon's government formation. It was reported that the meeting ended negatively when President Aoun insisted on naming…

NOVEMBER 14, 2020 French Envoy Warns Lebanese Officials Doctors Are Leaving Lebanon Return of Syrian Refugees   French Envoy Warns Lebanese Officials A French envoy met with officials in Lebanon this week to warn the government over its stalling to form a Lebanese Cabinet headed by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri. It's reported that if the government…

NOVEMBER 7, 2020 Lebanon's Medicine Shortage Basic Good Subsidies to Cease Beirut Port Silos to be Demolished   Lebanon's Medicine Shortage In the midst of a severe economic crisis, Lebanon is facing a medicine shortage. A warning from the central bank regarding shortages of hard currency for essential imports like medicine has triggered panic buying while…

NOVEMBER 1, 2020 Aoun Meets with Russian Delegation Beirut Port Reports of Corruption and Negligence One Year After the Lebanese Protests   Aoun Meets with Russian Delegation On Wednesday, President Michel Aoun met with Alexander Lavrentieve, Russia's special envoy to Syria. They discussed Russian initiatives to return Syrian refugees back to Syria as well as the…

OCTOBER 25, 2020 Saad Hariri Renamed Lebanon's Prime Minister Human Rights Group Says Lebanon's Blast Probe Not Credible US House Representatives Urge Humanitarian Aid   Saad Hariri Renamed Lebanon's Prime Minister One year after Saad Hariri resigned from his role as Prime Minister, he has been reinstated as PM once again with a slim majority of…