Lebanon ties ceasefire talks to return of displaced residents

BEIRUT(RAHNUMA): Lebanon has made the return of displaced residents to their border villages a prerequisite for further discussions in ceasefire mechanism talks with Israel, Arab News has learned. President Joseph Aoun instructed Lebanon’s civilian representative, former ambassador Simon Karam, to raise the return of civilians to their homes and lands in southern Lebanon as a […]
Rubio says US hopes talks between Lebanon and Israel lead to strong govt, Hezbollah disarmed

WASHINGTON(RAHNUMA): Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday the US hoped talks between Lebanese authorities and Israel would lead to a strong Lebanese government and see the Hezbollah militant group disarmed. “We are hopeful that talks between Lebanese authorities and Israelis will create outlines and a way forward that prevents further conflict,” Rubio told […]
Syria seizes large weapons shipment destined for Lebanon

LONDON(RAHNUMA): Syrian authorities foiled a smuggling attempt of a large quantity of weapons bound for Lebanon in the countryside of the capital, Damascus, on Wednesday. Security forces intercepted the shipment in Zabadani region, a fertile valley area near the Lebanese border. The Ministry of Interior said that security forces ambushed the smugglers in the border […]
Lebanon approves release of former minister accused of corruption

BEIRUT(RAHNUMA): Lebanon’s judiciary approved the release on bail of former economy minister Amin Salam on Tuesday after six months of detention over corruption linked to contracts deemed suspicious, a judicial official said. Salam, who served in the cabinet of former prime minister Najib Mikati from 2021 to 2025, is the only ex-minister to be arrested […]
How Lebanon’s ancient olive trees became casualties of Israel-Hezbollah war

BEIRUT(RAHNUMA): Farmers in southern Lebanon have long held a fierce pride in their ancient olive groves. Many boast that their trees, which stretch along the border with Israel, contain specimens “dating back to the time of the pharaohs.” However, since the most recent war between Israel and Hezbollah, which ran from October 2023 to November […]
Lebanon foreign minister declines Tehran visit, proposes talks in neutral country

RAHNUMA:Lebanon’s foreign minister Youssef Raji said on Wednesday he had declined an invitation to visit Tehran for now, proposing instead talks with Iran in a mutually agreed neutral third country, Lebanese state news agency NNA reported. Raji cited “current conditions” for the decision not to go to Iran, without elaborating, and stressed that the move […]
Pope Leo visits Annaya monastery, meets religious leaders and young people in Lebanon

BEIRUT(RAHNUMA): On the second day of his three-day visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV prayed “for peace in this country and the countries of the Middle East.” His itinerary on Monday included a visit to the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, Mount Lebanon, marking a historic moment as he became the first pope to […]
AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026: Lebanon hand India first defeat in Qualifiers

Ahmedabad, Nov 28 (IANS) India slipped to a 0-2 defeat against an organised and disciplined Lebanon side in their penultimate Group D clash of the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad on Friday. Despite India suffering their first defeat of the Qualifiers, Bibiano Fernandes’ boys remain alive in the […]
Turkiye says Lebanon-Cyprus maritime deal violates Turkish Cypriots’ rights, is unacceptable

ANKARA(RAHNUMA): A maritime demarcation deal signed between Lebanon and Cyprus violates the rights of Turkish Cypriots on the island and is therefore unacceptable, Turkiye said on Thursday. Lebanon and Cyprus on Wednesday signed the long-awaited deal, which aims to pave the way for potential exploration of offshore gas fields and deepen energy cooperation in the […]
Netanyahu vows to disarm Hamas, urges Lebanon to rein in Hezbollah

Jerusalem, Nov 2 (IANS) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to disarm Hamas and demilitarise the Gaza Strip, saying his government would keep targeting remaining militant cells despite a ceasefire that took effect last month. “Some Hamas cells remain active in parts of Gaza under our control, and we are systematically eliminating them,” […]