News

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s Foreign Minister recently clarified that the country is not a member of the Saudi-led Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC). This statement came amid widespread regional and international discussions about the coalition’s role and membership. The Saudi-led coalition, which was announced in December 2015, comprises 34 Muslim-majority countries, including some from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, …

In 2015, Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai played a pivotal role in attempting to resolve Lebanon’s prolonged presidential vacancy, which had lasted for 18 months. Patriarch Rai intervened to mediate between conflicting Christian political parties to pave the way for the election of Sleiman Frangieh as Lebanon’s president. Frangieh, a leader of the Marada Movement and an ally of Syrian President …

In 2015, Gebran Bassil, a prominent Lebanese politician and leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), indicated his intention to continue supporting his father-in-law, then-President Michel Aoun. This period was marked by significant political maneuvering within Lebanon, as Aoun sought to consolidate his influence and prepare for future political challenges. Bassil’s leadership of the FPM, a position he assumed in …

In October 2015, Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb expressed optimism about the progress being made in addressing Lebanon’s severe trash crisis. Following a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tammam Salam and attended by key officials, including Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouq, Chehayeb described the efforts as positive and serious. He highlighted the development of the Srar landfill site, noting that work on …

In 2015, French President François Hollande made a significant phone call to Sleiman Frangieh, a prominent Lebanese political figure and leader of the Marada Movement, to discuss his potential candidacy for the Lebanese presidency. This conversation marked an important development in efforts to resolve Lebanon’s prolonged presidential vacancy, which had persisted for 18 months. During their 15-minute conversation, Hollande and …

In 2015, Lebanese political dynamics were particularly tense as the country grappled with a prolonged presidential vacuum. Amidst these complexities, Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel made headlines with his stance on Sleiman Frangieh’s candidacy for the presidency. Gemayel emphasized that his party would not endorse Frangieh unless he demonstrated a willingness to meet halfway, indicating a need for significant political …

In 2015, Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh emphasized the critical importance of holding a legislative session to address pressing financial and economic issues facing the country. Salameh highlighted that without legislative action, Lebanon risked further economic instability and a deterioration of public confidence in the financial system. Salameh stressed the urgency of passing several key financial laws. These included …

On September 11, 2015, rebel rocket fire on the Syrian capital, Damascus, resulted in the deaths of 11 people, with at least 20 others injured. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the attack targeted the Duwaylaa neighborhood on the southeastern outskirts of the city, primarily affecting civilians. State news agency SANA confirmed four deaths and 25 injuries from …