The United States is expected to sanction former Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, one of Lebanon’s most powerful Christian politicians, today in an effort to weaken the Shiite militant group and political party Hezbollah, unnamed sources said (Wall Street Journal)
Lebanon’s Prime Minister–designate Resigns
French President Emmanuel Macron accused Lebanese leaders of “collective betrayal” for failing to form a government as the country’s multilayered crisis worsens. On Saturday, Lebanon’s Prime Minister–designate, Mustapha Adib, resigned (National)
New Fire Breaks Out at Explosion-Torn Beirut Port
A fire broke out in a warehouse at Beirut’s port, prompting residents to flee and sparking renewed criticism of Lebanese authorities. The blaze, reportedly ignited by building repairs, came a month after a deadly explosion caused by a fire at the port (Washington Post)
U.S. Sanctions Lebanese Ex-Ministers
The United States sanctioned two former Lebanese ministers, accusing them of corruption and aiding the militant group Hezbollah. U.S. officials urged the exclusion of the two men from the new government Lebanon seeks to form amid its political and economic turmoil (National)
Lebanon Finds More Explosive Chemicals in Beirut
Lebanon’s army found 4.35 tons of ammonium nitrate, the chemical that caused an August explosion that killed nearly two hundred people and devastated Beirut, near the city’s port. Additionally, an effort is ongoing to unearth a possible survivor from rubble after a heartbeat was detected (Al-Monitor)
Lebanon to Start Forming New Government
Lebanese Prime Minister–designate Mustapha Adib is expected to start talks to form a new government today after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Adib would assemble a cabinet within two weeks. Macron also pledged to hold conferences on aid and political reform for Lebanon, a former French protectorate (National)
Lebanon Chooses New Prime Minister
Lebanon’s parliament named Mustapha Adib, its ambassador to Germany, as its new prime minister–designate today. Adib earned the support of four former prime ministers. If he successfully forms a government, he will assume control of a country racked by a political and economic crisis as well as a devastating explosion (Al Jazeera)
Two People Killed in Clashes With Hezbollah
At least two people died and ten others were injured yesterday in skirmishes between Hezbollah militants and tribal members in Khaldeh, a town outside of Beirut (National)
Today, the UN Security Council will discuss whether to prolong its peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (Middle East Monitor)
UN Forces Investigating Israel-Hezbollah Incident
UN peacekeepers announced an investigation into a clash between Israeli and Hezbollah forces along the Israel-Lebanon border (Times of Israel)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to “react forcefully” to attacks and warned Hezbollah against testing Israel’s strength (Al-Monitor)
Special Tribunal Convicts Hezbollah Member on Hariri Killing
A UN-supported special tribunal convicted one Hezbollah member for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri but exonerated three others. Earlier, it ruled there was insufficient evidence tying Hezbollah or Syrian leadership to the killing (Al Jazeera)
Lebanon’s Government Steps Down Following Public Pressure
After less than eight months in power, Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s government stepped down following mounting public pressure to resign after explosions devastated Beirut (NPR)
Diab’s cabinet will act as a caretaker government until a new one is chosen, a process that has previously taken months due to disagreements among Lebanon’s sectarian political factions (Wall Street Journal)
The government’s resignation follows mass demonstrations in which protesters displayed banners reading “resign or hang” (Vox)
But the move increases political uncertainty in the country, which is already grappling with a multilayered social and economic crisis. It could further hamstring Lebanon’s financial recovery discussions with the International Monetary Fund (Reuters)
Countries Pledge Aid to Lebanon as Protests Continue
A UN-supported donor conference attended by more than two dozen countries raised $297.8 million worth of aid that will be delivered directly to the Lebanese people. Criticism of Lebanon’s political elite has intensified since deadly explosions rocked Beirut last week, and protesters are demanding the government be held accountable for the blasts (Wall Street Journal)
Lebanon Detains Port Workers, Freezes Assets After Beirut Explosion
Lebanese officials have detained sixteen port staff workers and frozen the assets of seven port and customs officials amid an investigation of Tuesday’s devastating explosions in the capital city of Beirut. Meanwhile, Cyprus police questioned the Russian owner of the ship that brought Beirut the chemicals that caused the explosion (Deutsche Welle)
Lebanon Seeks Justice After Devastating Explosion
Pressure is mounting for Lebanese authorities to deliver justice after a pair of explosions in the capital city of Beirut killed at least 137 people, injured 5,000, and caused up to $15 billion worth of damage (Al Jazeera)
As authorities scrambled to deflect blame, the Lebanese government announced a five-day investigation and ordered officials to be placed under house arrest. The explosions are widely attributed to massive quantities of ammonium nitrate allowed to sit at Beirut’s port for years (National)
International support for Lebanon, already racked by economic crisis and social upheaval, has surged following the tragedy. French President Emmanuel Macron visited Beirut today, pledging “unconditional aid” and calling for economic and political reforms to stabilize Lebanon (Financial Times)
Explosions Rock Beirut, Killing One Hundred and Injuring Thousands
A set of explosions rocked Beirut, devastating a country already staggering under the weight of an economic crisis, mass protests, and a rising coronavirus caseload. The blasts, which Prime Minister Hassan Diab attributed to exploding agricultural fertilizer, killed at least one hundred people, injured more than four thousand, and left up to three hundred thousand homeless (Al Jazeera)
They also damaged half of Beirut, including a silo at the city’s port that helped supply grain to the food-insecure country (Deutsche Welle)
Cash-strapped Lebanon appealed for international help, and several countries have pledged aid (BBC)
The blast has raised fears of looming regional instability (Bloomberg)
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Resigns
Foreign Minister Nassif Hitti submitted a letter of resignation, warning that “Lebanon today is sliding towards becoming a failed state,” for lack of government reform. In a letter made public today, Hitti criticized Hezbollah, a supporter of Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s government, and called for Lebanon to strengthen its ties with the broader Arab community (Al Jazeera)
Israel, Hezbollah Clash Over Alleged Border Incursion
Israel’s military accused Lebanon’s Hezbollah of launching a raid across the countries’ shared border, prompting Israeli forces to open fire (Al Jazeera)
Hezbollah denied the infiltration, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the group is “playing with fire” (Washington Post).The conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah erupted after the group said it would avenge one of its fighters allegedly killed by an Israeli air strike last week. The UN Interim Force in Lebanon is working to de-escalate tensions (Times of Israel)
Lebanese Finance Official Resigns
The long-serving director of the finance ministry resigned in protest over the government’s handling of the country’s economic crisis (Al Jazeera)
Protests Continue in Lebanon
Protests against the government’s handling of the country’s economic crisis continued over the weekend. Prime Minister Hassan Diab condemned what he called an attempted coup and effort to manipulate the country’s currency (Agence France-Presse)
Protests Erupt in Lebanon Amid Economic Crisis
Protests broke out across Lebanon after the value of its currency plunged, wiping out citizens’ wealth. Prime Minister Hassan Diab called for an emergency cabinet session today (New York Times)
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Warns of Food Crisis
Lebanese Prime Minister Hassan Diab warned of a food crisis in his country and the region in an op-ed. Diab called for a plan to address the issue that would include a reduction in export restrictions and an emergency fund created by the European Union and the United States (Washington Post)
Demonstrators in Lebanon Protest Falling Currency
Lebanese protesters clashed with security forces and set fire to banks in Tripoli during one of more than two dozen demonstrations in the country since Sunday (Al Jazeera)
Demonstrators aired fresh grievances about Lebanon’s plummeting currency after the government began easing coronavirus-related movement restrictions (Associated Press)
Lebanon Begins Deliberation on Mass Prisoner Amnesty
Lebanon’s legislature is set to begin deliberation today on proposals to reduce prison sentences and pardon thousands of people arrested or wanted for nonviolent crimes. A vote on the long-debated legislation is expected this week (Al Jazeera)
Lebanon Defaults on Foreign Currency Debt
Lebanon will not repay $1.2 billion worth of foreign currency debt due today in its first such default. Prime Minister Hassan Diab said the government will seek to restructure its debt amid a deep economic crisis (Financial Times)
Lebanese Government Wins Confidence Vote
The country’s new cabinet won a confidence vote with support from 75 percent of parliament after presenting a new budget that proposes austerity measures to revive the economy (France 24)