The Latest Breaking News from Beirut

Families of victims of the 2020 Beirut port blast are pressuring Lebanon's government to keep its silos as a memorial, arguing the move would be a powerful acknowledgement of suffering in a country still struggling to come to terms with years of war and strife.

The Saudi and Kuwaiti ambassadors have visited Lebanon's political and religious figures to address the country's needs. The Saudi Ambassador, Waleed Bukhari, and Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdul-Aal al-Qinai arrived in Beirut last Friday after the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced in a statement that its Ambassador returned in response to calls by…

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai welcomed the return of the ambassadors of Gulf States to Beirut, saying the move “makes Lebanon feel that it is an active member of the Arab League.” Rai pointed to three "positive" signs that emerged in Lebanon over the past week, noting the announcement of Pope…

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati considered the return of Gulf ambassadors to Beirut as a prelude to restoring full Gulf-Lebanese relations, his office said on Sunday. The PM’s statement came while he received a phone call from Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid bin Abdullah Bukhari, who returned to Beirut last…

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi announced on Friday that during his long-awaited trip to Beirut in June, Pope Francis will make a strong statement on divisions among Lebanon’s political class, stressing that the Pontiff will bring with him a word of hope to the country. The Patriarch visited President Michel Aoun…

The Gulf countries' decision to return their ambassadors to Beirut was widely welcomed by Lebanese officials, who believe it will open a new chapter in relations between the two sides. Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian said the move "paves the way for a new chapter of hope and faith…

A set of reforms the IMF wants Lebanon to enact before approving a funding deal for the country will largely be left for a new parliament to study, an adviser to the prime minister said on Friday, suggesting little may be done before a May 15 national election. The IMF…

Lebanon won't be able to deliver many if any reforms sought by the IMF as conditions for a funding deal before an election in May, two lawmakers said, meaning months could go by without action as that vote may well be followed by political limbo.

Around 200 observers from the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) will be deployed in Beirut and all regions to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections on May 15, EU EOM Chief Observer, Gyorgy Holvenyi announced on Thursday after a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun at the Presidential Palace.…