News

The United States has tightened its security instructions in the Middle East by asking its nationals to consider leaving as long as commercial flights remain available. Ten countries are directly affected by the messages broadcast on 1 August, in a context of military incidents in Kuwait, Jordan, Iraq and the Strait of Ormuz. Lebanon is not included in this list, but Washington maintains its maximum alert level. The Beirut airport, the southern front and the role of Hezbollah remain at the centre of concern.

Libnanews pays tribute to the soldiers killed and injured by the Israeli strikes since 2023 on the occasion of the Lebanese Army Day on 1 August. As the institution prepares to assume the pilot areas of the South, its soldiers continue to face a perilous mission, between an incomplete Israeli withdrawal, the disarmament of Hezbollah and the return of its inhabitants.

The Israeli blasting of the Shqif produced a signal comparable to a magnitude of 3.8, higher than the published values after the explosion of the port of Beirut. This difference does not prove a higher explosive yield. The 700 tonnes claimed refer to a mass of unverified loads, while Beirut is estimated to be around 600 tonnes of equivalent TNT. The Beaufort Castle was not destroyed, according to the Lebanese authorities, but it had already suffered damage and further damage is still possible due to lack of on-site inspection.

The National Geophysical Centre recorded at 0002 hours on 31 July 2026 the waves produced by an Israeli blasting in the Shqif region. The signal, received by all Lebanese stations, is comparable to an event of magnitude 3.8. It does not correspond to a natural earthquake. The first accounts show strong vibrations and localized material damage, while the state of Beaufort Castle and the destroyed galleries still needs independent inspections.

The Lebanese General Security would study the revision of approximately 600,000 entry bans against Syrians for residence-related offences. The information disseminated by MFM has not yet been confirmed in an official circular. At the same time, Dabbousseeh is scheduled to resume its activities in early September 2026 after rehabilitation work. Arida is also the subject of a project, but its full schedule remains to be specified. These cases could fluidize the border and give concrete content to the administrative rapprochement between Beirut and Damascus.

In Lebanon, wealth is too often confused with respectability. However, a wealth created by labour does not have the same moral value as a loot from theft, corruption or networks. Admiring money without questioning its origin conveys a profoundly destructive and lasting message to young people.

One of the main reasons why some Lebanese no longer believe in the state is that they no longer believe in those who are supposed to represent it. Divorce between people and institutions is not only due to corruption, financial bankruptcy, collapse of public services or repeated crises. He [...]

Smuggling in the Caspian Sea, accusations in Tehran, Russian satellites for Iran... LibnaNEWS deciphers the convergence of wars.

On a visit to Ankara, Joseph Aoun asked Turkey to support the implementation of the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The Lebanese president is focusing on Turkish membership of NATO, its regional influence and its military capabilities. It calls for a complete Israeli withdrawal, coordinated with the deployment of the army, a cessation of hostilities and balanced international control. Ankara can strengthen Beirut's position, but its ability to compel Israel or influence Hezbollah remains limited.

On the occasion of the Army Day, General Rodolphe Haykal accused Israel of obstructing the deployment of Lebanese forces in the South by continuing its attacks and violations. The commander-in-chief confirmed that the army remained ready to enter all areas evacuated by Israeli forces. He also called for increased international support, believing that strengthening the institution is an investment in Lebanon's stability and regional security.

On the occasion of Army Day, Nabih Berry praised the Lebanese armed forces while rejecting the pilot zone mechanism provided for in the Lebanon-Israel framework agreement. The President of Parliament believes that the army should not be put to the test as Israel continues its military operations and delays its withdrawal. This takes place before a new round of negotiations to clarify the application of the Agreement.

For 30 years, Riad Salamé was hailed as the architect of Lebanon's financial stability. Today, he is prosecuted in at least six countries. The Lebanese pound was anchored at 1507.5 in 1997..

Emmanuel Macron and Nabih Berry discussed Israeli withdrawal, support for the Lebanese army and reconstruction of the South. The President of Parliament called for exceptional international mobilization and for UNIFIL to be maintained. But the UN mission must enter a phase of withdrawal after 2026. France thus seeks to defend Lebanese sovereignty while at the same time supporting the state's arms monopoly, a position which also places Hezbollah's arsenal at the heart of the debate.

The Attorney General of the Court of Cassation, Ahmed Rami Al-Hajj, issued a warrant to bring against Riad Salamé after his absence at a hearing scheduled for 30 July 2026. A patrol went to the home of the former Governor of the Bank of Lebanon in Safra. The meeting was subsequently postponed due to his health. The case, initiated by the central bank, also involves Samir Hanna, former head of Bank Audi, who presented himself at the courthouse.