France’s President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the new Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati to Paris and vowed to mobilize international support for the unfolding humanitarian emergency in Lebanon (Deutsche Welle)
EU Parliament Adopts Resolution Urging Sanctions Against Lebanese Officials
The European Parliament passed a resolution that urges the European Union to enact sanctions against corrupt Lebanese officials and those who are obstructing the investigation into the August 2020 Beirut explosion (Reuters)
Lebanon Receives Iranian Fuel
Hezbollah brought a convoy of twenty trucks carrying Iranian fuel to Lebanon in order to ease the country’s energy crisis, risking possible sanctions (France 24)
Separately, the Lebanese judge investigating the August 2020 Beirut blast issued an arrest warrant for Youssef Finianos, Lebanon’s former public works minister (Reuters)
Lebanon to Receive $1.135 Billion in IMF Special Drawing Rights
The Lebanese finance ministry said that the IMF will give $1.135 billion in special drawing rights to the Lebanese central bank later this week (Reuters)
Lebanon Announces New Government
Following thirteen months of political deadlock and a spiraling economic downturn, Lebanese President Michel Aoun announced the formation of a new government with Najib Mikati serving as prime minister (Al Jazeera)
Lebanon Strikes Deals with Neighbors in Response to Power Crisis
The Lebanese government came to an agreement with the governments of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria that will pipe Egyptian natural gas to Lebanon via Jordan and Syria. The Lebanese government has requested a sanctions waiver from the United States so that Lebanon can receive natural gas transported through Syria (Reuters)
Hezbollah Says It Helped Ship Iranian Fuel to Lebanon
Hezbollah’s top leader said the group facilitated a shipment of Iranian fuel to Lebanon amid the country’s energy crisis and warned against any attacks on the vessel (Al Jazeera)
Fuel Tank Explosion Rocks Lebanon Amid Energy Shortages
At least twenty-eight people died in Lebanon’s northern Akkar region after a fuel tank exploded during military-led fuel-distribution efforts, authorities said (Financial Times)
Fuel shortages in the country have caused widespread electricity outages in recent days, putting health-care and other services at risk (Reuters)
Israel Strikes Lebanon After Rocket Fire
Israel said it launched air strikes into southern Lebanon, its first strikes in the country in seven years, in response to two days of rocket fire from across the border. The Lebanese army said it is investigating who fired the rockets (Agence France-Presse)
Lebanon Appoints New Prime Minister–Designate
The country’s legislature approved the appointment of billionaire and former Prime Minister Najib Mikati as prime minister–designate. Mikati will be the third person in a year to try to form a government amid a deep economic crisis (Financial Times)
Lebanese Prime Minister–Designate Resigns
Lebanese Prime Minister–designate Saad Hariri resigned after failing to reach an agreement with President Michel Aoun over the makeup of a government after months of deadlock. Hariri’s supporters demonstrated in the streets of Beirut after his resignation was announced (Al Jazeera)
Lebanon’s Prime Minister-Designate Proposes Cabinet Amid Deadlock
Lebanese Prime Minister–designate Saad Hariri presented what appears to be his final attempt at a cabinet proposal to President Michel Aoun in an effort to end nine months of political deadlock (Al Jazeera)
Lebanon Announces Cash Payments Amid Protests
Lebanon’s Parliament approved $556 million in prepaid cash aid to half a million poor families after a reduction in fuel subsidies prompted nationwide protests (Al-Monitor, Agence France-Presse)
Lebanese Troops Deployed in Tripoli Following Protests
Troops were deployed in Tripoli early yesterday morning after protests over poor living conditions left ten soldiers injured. The protests began when Lebanon’s currency depreciated to a record low, reflecting the country’s continued economic crisis (Associated Press)
Lebanon’s Financial Crisis Among World’s Worst in Over a Century
Lebanon’s financial crisis could rank among the world’s top three worst such crises since the mid-nineteenth century and has “no clear turning point in sight,” according to a new World Bank report. More than half the population is likely below the poverty line (World Bank)
Lebanon Facing Electricity Shortages
A Turkish energy company that supplies about a quarter of Lebanon’s electricity shut off its generators. The company said it has not been paid in eighteen months and that it is owed more than $100 million (BBC)
Talks Continue Over Lebanon’s Political Deadlock
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian is in Beirut today for talks aimed at ending a political stalemate that has prevented the formation of a new Lebanese government. A caretaker government has been in place since Prime Minister Hassan Diab resigned in August after an explosion at a Beirut port killed hundreds (Al Jazeera)
Lebanon Forcibly Disappeared and Tortured Protestors
Lebanon’s military intelligence reportedly forcibly disappeared and tortured civilians protesting lockdown and economic conditions. According to a Human Rights Watch report, those detained were tried for terrorism in military courts that should not have jurisdiction over civilian cases (Al Jazeera)
UN Urges Lebanon to Investigate Assassination of Hezbollah Critic
UN experts urged Lebanon’s government to ensure an independent, impartial investigation into the murder last month of Lokman Slim, a publisher and Hezbollah critic. No arrests have been made, though twenty people have been called for questioning (National)
France Pushes EU to Act as Lebanon Collapses
France wants the EU to discuss solutions to the Lebanon crisis, including sanctions. The economic and political crisis in Lebanon has worsened in recent days (Reuters)
Lebanese Pound Hits Historic Low
The Lebanese pound plunged to a historic low against the U.S. dollar as protests continue over rising prices and poor living conditions (National)
Fuel needed to generate electricity is expected to run out by the end of the month (Reuters)
Unrest Continues in Lebanon
The country’s president and its caretaker prime minister condemned violence that occurred during the fourth-straight night of unrest in Tripoli. Protesters angry over a strict lockdown amid the country’s economic crisis clashed with police. At least one protester died from a gunshot wound (Reuters)
Lebanese Protesters Rally Against Lockdown, Economic Crisis
A man was killed in Tripoli, Lebanon, during clashes between police and protesters demonstrating against the country’s strict COVID-19 lockdown. Human rights groups say that the lockdown has exacerbated the country’s economic crisis and left people with few means of making a living (Reuters)
Lebanon Tightens COVID-19 Lockdown
An eleven-day lockdown with a twenty-four-hour curfew will begin in Lebanon on Thursday due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. People swarmed grocery stores following reports that they would only be able to use food delivery services during the lockdown (Associated Press)
Lebanese Prime Minister Charged Over Beirut Explosions
A judge charged caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab and three former ministers with criminal negligence over the massive explosions at a Beirut port that killed hundreds and injured thousands in August. Diab’s office said in a statement that the judge had violated the constitution in bringing the charges (Al Jazeera)