The Latest Breaking News from Lebanon

Lebanese State Media Archives Looted in Heart of Beirut

Unknown assailants broke into the offices of Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency and stole the servers that contain its archives, the Information Ministry said Monday. The theft occurred in a tightly secured area, further reflecting the cash-strapped country’s continued decay. The archives are located in a building that houses two…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 27, 2023

Lebanon's economic situation 'uniquely devastating', Egypt's 'potentially manageable'

The economic situations in Lebanon and Egypt are both dire, but for now the ramifications are more manageable in Egypt. That's the view of Timothy Kaldas from the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. He told FRANCE 24 that while parallels can be drawn between the countries, there is reason…

France 24 · Feb 27, 2023

Israel Reveals Secret Iranian Gold Smuggling Trade to Finance Hezbollah

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant recently issued an order to uncover a gold smuggling operation between Iran and Venezuela that is funding Lebanon’s Hezbollah terror activity, bypassing sanctions. In a signed document, the Minister revealed that dozens of kilograms of gold were smuggled on an Iranian Mahan Air flight, which…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 27, 2023

Lebanese banks to suspend open-ended strike at PM's request

Lebanon’s struggling banks have decided to suspend their strike for one week, following a request by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati

The Independent UK · Feb 24, 2023

Lebanon's Central Bank Governor Charged with Corruption in Final Months of Term

Beirut’s public prosecutor on Thursday charged the governor of Lebanon's Central Bank, Riad Salameh, his brother and an associate with corruption, Lebanese officials said. According to two judicial officials, Beirut's Attorney General Raja Hamoush charged Salameh, his assistant Marianne Howaiyak, and his brother Raja Salameh with embezzling public funds, forgery,…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 23, 2023

Explainer-The probes into Lebanese central bank chief Salameh

Lebanese authorities charged longtime central bank governor Riad Salameh, his brother Raja and one of his assistants on Thursday with money laundering, embezzlement and illicit enrichment after months of delay in the high-profile case.

Reuters · Feb 23, 2023

Lebanon's Central Bank governor charged with corruption

Lebanese officials say Beirut's pubic prosecutor has charged the governor of the cash-strapped country’s Central Bank, his brother and an associate with corruption

The Independent UK · Feb 23, 2023

UK Ruling Delivers Rare Victory for Beirut Blast Victims

A British court has ruled a London-based company that delivered the explosive ammonium nitrate to Beirut's port is liable towards the victims of a devastating blast in 2020, Lebanon's Beirut Bar Association said Thursday. On Aug. 4 that year, hundreds of tons of the chemical, typically used in fertilizers, detonated,…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 23, 2023

UK ruling delivers rare victory for Beirut blast victims

A British court has ruled a London-based company that delivered the explosive ammonium nitrate to Beirut's port is liable towards the victims of a devastating 2020 blast, according to Lebanon’s Beirut Bar Association

The Independent UK · Feb 23, 2023

Lebanese Banks Respond to Mikati's Request to End Strike

The Association of Banks in Lebanon is expected to halt an open-ended strike they began earlier this week after assurances made by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati that no controversial litigation are to be taken against them by the FPM-affiliated judge Ghada Aoun. On Wednesday, Mikati requested caretaker Interior Minister…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 23, 2023