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Lebanon

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Lebanon. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Beirut

Head of State

Vacant

Head of Government

Prime Minister Najib Mikati

Missiles displayed next to a banner featuring Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran. Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump says he expects new Iran talks after rejecting proposal

US president muses about resuming full-scale strikes, saying Iran ‘overplayed their hand’.

28 Sep 2026 - 9:12AM

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran says only diplomacy can end Hormuz crisis after Trump rejects deal

27 Sep 2026 - 12:53PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran offers US plan to reopen Hormuz within 7 days

26 Sep 2026 - 5:03AM

Artificial intelligence

UN Security Council to meet on AI threat as rights chief warns of ‘unprecedented risks’

France calls high-level session during General Assembly amid urgent pleas to govern frontier models.

15 Sep 2026 - 9:38AM

The UN Security Council chamber in New York. Photo: AFP

Middle East

Israel destroys Hezbollah tunnel network in Lebanon, triggering tremor

USGS records 4.1 magnitude tremor after a massive blast on the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge.

11 Sep 2026 - 11:24AM

Middle East

Lebanon president appeals for US help as Israeli strikes kill 7

Joseph Aoun condemns strikes on public buildings and hospital as Israel cites Hezbollah drone attack.

7 Sep 2026 - 12:15PM

US, Israel war on Iran

US strikes Iranian launchers in first action in a month, triggering retaliation

Tehran targets American bases in Jordan; UAE intercepts drone as regional tensions spike again.

31 Aug 2026 - 8:09PM

A sculpture of Iranian military members overlooking the Strait of Hormuz in Bandar Abbas. Photo: West Asia News Agency via Reuters

US, Israel war on Iran

US starts returning staff to some Middle East missions after war evacuations

US move signals lower risk of immediate regional escalation, though select missions will cap capacity at 75 to 85 per cent.

26 Aug 2026 - 8:59AM

Middle East

Opinion | Could Mecca defence pact be first step to new Middle East order?

As security deal shakes up calculations for the US, China and Russia, a regional order shaped by regional states is no longer unthinkable.

25 Aug 2026 - 8:30PM

Israel-Gaza war

Syria holds talks with Israel addressing de-escalation, Israel-Turkey tensions

A Syrian government source said Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani met the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Roman Gofman.

24 Aug 2026 - 3:13PM

An Israeli tank drives along the ceasefire line between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syria on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

US envoy walks back comments on Golan Heights that contradicted Trump’s position

Tom Barrack had said Israel ‘still’ occupies the territory but on Sunday said that was a description of the Golan Heights’ historical status.

24 Aug 2026 - 3:44AM

Tom Barrack, US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria. Photo: AP

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran president says time to end war while Tehran is in position of strength

The comments come after US Treasury chief Bessent vowed Washington would ‘collapse’ the Iranian regime with sanctions.

22 Aug 2026 - 4:50AMvideocam

Middle East

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon kill 11 people in another test to truce

The attacks are the deadliest since the ceasefire that went into effect in June.

16 Aug 2026 - 3:12PM

Middle East

Lebanon becomes first Arab nation to abolish death penalty

Its parliament passes a historic law replacing capital punishment with life imprisonment despite opposition from Hezbollah.

11 Aug 2026 - 9:50PM

Lebanese lawmakers attend a parliamentary session to discuss the abolition of the death penalty in Beirut, Lebanon, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran seeks to bar US and Israeli ships in Hormuz deal with Oman

Tehran pushes for strict transit bans and fees in draft waterway pact as Trump claims negotiations are ‘moving along good’.

7 Aug 2026 - 11:24AM

People spend time at a beach as commercial vessels are anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Wednesday. Photo: ISNA via AP

US, Israel war on Iran

How US became trapped in ‘dreadful situation’ of its own making over Iran war

With Iran holding firm to its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, Trump faces one of two choices: capitulate or risk a ‘forever war’, experts say.

6 Aug 2026 - 3:21PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump claims ‘last chance’ for Iran to strike deal in latest warning

US president also says negotiations with Tehran are ‘going on right now’ despite Tehran’s insistence no direct talks were under way.

4 Aug 2026 - 5:24AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran’s foreign minister warns of any ‘adventurous action’ by US

Abbas Araqchi said Iran would retaliate if the US follows through on Trump’s threat of fresh attacks on the country.

2 Aug 2026 - 7:01AMvideocam

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Baghdad, Iraq on June 28. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Israel says it killed several Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon

The Israeli military said an Israeli soldier was also injured there despite a ceasefire. Hezbollah has not claimed any attacks since June 20.

2 Aug 2026 - 1:35AMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

US embassies urge citizens to consider departing Middle East

The warning by embassies including those in the UAE, Qatar, Israel, Oman and Bahrain came after Trump threatened to hit Iran ‘very hard’.

2 Aug 2026 - 12:57AMvideocam

Crime

Man who stabbed Salman Rushdie convicted in US terrorism trial

Already serving a 25-year state prison sentence for the attack, Hadi Matar now faces a potential life sentence for the federal conviction.

30 Jul 2026 - 11:02AM

Hadi Matar is escorted from the courtroom in Mayville, New York, in February 2025. Photo: AP

Crime

Rushdie attacker declines to testify in US terror trial

Already serving 25 years for state attempted murder, Hadi Matar faces life in prison if convicted on federal charges.

29 Jul 2026 - 3:39PM

Novelist Salman Rushdie was left blind in one eye after the 2022 attack. Photo: AP

Food and Drinks

How Doha’s Mila is giving modern Levantine offerings a local spin in Hong Kong

Marc Mahfouz of Michelin-recognised restaurant is serving makdous, velvety hummus and other Middle Eastern plates in the city until August 9.

25 Jul 2026 - 7:33AM

Middle East

Japanese militant who took part in 1972 Israel airport attack dies in Beirut

Kozo Okamoto was part of a three-man team from the Japanese Red Army group that killed 26 people on May 30, 1972.

24 Jul 2026 - 2:05PM

Crime

Terrorism trial opens in stabbing of author Salman Rushdie

This is the second trial for Hadi Matar, who was earlier found guilty of attempted murder after attacking the writer on a state in New York.

23 Jul 2026 - 5:05AMvideocam

Hadi Matar walks into Chautauqua County court in Mayville, New York, in May 2025. Photo: AP

US-China relations

US lawmakers accuse China of using UN peacekeeping forces to spy on countries

Chinese peacekeeping roles are ‘concentrated in strategically sensitive regions’ to gain intelligence, House Foreign Affairs Committee told.

23 Jul 2026 - 5:51AMvideocam

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington on Wednesday that China’s UN missions also “serve a dual purpose as eyes and ears on the ground”. Photo: Reuters

Middle East

Trump vows to help Lebanon pursue peace with Israel

The US president also says he will allow direct flights by US airlines to Lebanon for the first time in over 40 years.

22 Jul 2026 - 5:27AM

Middle East

Lebanon’s president to meet Trump, push for Israeli withdrawal

President Joseph Aoun was commander of Lebanon’s army. He will focus on Hezbollah’s disarmament and finalising the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

19 Jul 2026 - 4:48PM

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Lebanon

Trump says he expects new Iran talks after rejecting proposal

US president muses about resuming full-scale strikes, saying Iran ‘overplayed their hand’.

Iran says only diplomacy can end Hormuz crisis after Trump rejects deal

Iran offers US plan to reopen Hormuz within 7 days

UN Security Council to meet on AI threat as rights chief warns of ‘unprecedented risks’

France calls high-level session during General Assembly amid urgent pleas to govern frontier models.

Israel destroys Hezbollah tunnel network in Lebanon, triggering tremor

USGS records 4.1 magnitude tremor after a massive blast on the strategic Ali al-Taher ridge.

Lebanon president appeals for US help as Israeli strikes kill 7

Joseph Aoun condemns strikes on public buildings and hospital as Israel cites Hezbollah drone attack.

US strikes Iranian launchers in first action in a month, triggering retaliation

Tehran targets American bases in Jordan; UAE intercepts drone as regional tensions spike again.

US starts returning staff to some Middle East missions after war evacuations

US move signals lower risk of immediate regional escalation, though select missions will cap capacity at 75 to 85 per cent.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | Could Mecca defence pact be first step to new Middle East order?

As security deal shakes up calculations for the US, China and Russia, a regional order shaped by regional states is no longer unthinkable.

Syria holds talks with Israel addressing de-escalation, Israel-Turkey tensions

A Syrian government source said Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani met the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, Roman Gofman.

US envoy walks back comments on Golan Heights that contradicted Trump’s position

Tom Barrack had said Israel ‘still’ occupies the territory but on Sunday said that was a description of the Golan Heights’ historical status.

Iran president says time to end war while Tehran is in position of strength

The comments come after US Treasury chief Bessent vowed Washington would ‘collapse’ the Iranian regime with sanctions.

Israeli air strikes on Lebanon kill 11 people in another test to truce

The attacks are the deadliest since the ceasefire that went into effect in June.

Lebanon becomes first Arab nation to abolish death penalty

Its parliament passes a historic law replacing capital punishment with life imprisonment despite opposition from Hezbollah.

Iran seeks to bar US and Israeli ships in Hormuz deal with Oman

Tehran pushes for strict transit bans and fees in draft waterway pact as Trump claims negotiations are ‘moving along good’.

How US became trapped in ‘dreadful situation’ of its own making over Iran war

With Iran holding firm to its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, Trump faces one of two choices: capitulate or risk a ‘forever war’, experts say.

Trump claims ‘last chance’ for Iran to strike deal in latest warning

US president also says negotiations with Tehran are ‘going on right now’ despite Tehran’s insistence no direct talks were under way.

Iran’s foreign minister warns of any ‘adventurous action’ by US

Abbas Araqchi said Iran would retaliate if the US follows through on Trump’s threat of fresh attacks on the country.

Israel says it killed several Hezbollah fighters in south Lebanon

The Israeli military said an Israeli soldier was also injured there despite a ceasefire. Hezbollah has not claimed any attacks since June 20.

US embassies urge citizens to consider departing Middle East

The warning by embassies including those in the UAE, Qatar, Israel, Oman and Bahrain came after Trump threatened to hit Iran ‘very hard’.

Man who stabbed Salman Rushdie convicted in US terrorism trial

Already serving a 25-year state prison sentence for the attack, Hadi Matar now faces a potential life sentence for the federal conviction.

Rushdie attacker declines to testify in US terror trial

Already serving 25 years for state attempted murder, Hadi Matar faces life in prison if convicted on federal charges.

How Doha’s Mila is giving modern Levantine offerings a local spin in Hong Kong

Marc Mahfouz of Michelin-recognised restaurant is serving makdous, velvety hummus and other Middle Eastern plates in the city until August 9.

Japanese militant who took part in 1972 Israel airport attack dies in Beirut

Kozo Okamoto was part of a three-man team from the Japanese Red Army group that killed 26 people on May 30, 1972.

Terrorism trial opens in stabbing of author Salman Rushdie

This is the second trial for Hadi Matar, who was earlier found guilty of attempted murder after attacking the writer on a state in New York.

US lawmakers accuse China of using UN peacekeeping forces to spy on countries

Chinese peacekeeping roles are ‘concentrated in strategically sensitive regions’ to gain intelligence, House Foreign Affairs Committee told.

Trump vows to help Lebanon pursue peace with Israel

The US president also says he will allow direct flights by US airlines to Lebanon for the first time in over 40 years.

Lebanon’s president to meet Trump, push for Israeli withdrawal

President Joseph Aoun was commander of Lebanon’s army. He will focus on Hezbollah’s disarmament and finalising the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.

Opinion | Could Mecca defence pact be first step to new Middle East order?