Source: Kataeb.org
Security & Justice
Hezbollah, Amal Flags Raised as Residents Halt UN Patrol in Southern Lebanon
A United Nations peacekeeping patrol was stopped Tuesday by residents in the southern Lebanese town of Siddiqin, Tyre district, after attempting to enter a local area without a Lebanese Army escort, according to local media.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Hospital Director Tied to Hezbollah Arrested on Espionage Charges
Lebanese security forces have detained Mahmoud Ayoub, a Hezbollah member and financial director of the Ragheb Harb Hospital in the Nabatiyeh district, on charges of collaborating with Israeli intelligence, sources told Al-Arabiya’s Al-Hadath channel on Monday.
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Opinion
The “Phoenix Economy” Potential, Lebanon or Syria?
With the lifting of US sanctions, and considering Syria's potential to emerge as a regional economic model compared to Lebanon, several contrasts emerge. A first take is the announcement by the UAE of The Tartous Port development agreement which represents one of the most significant indicators of changing regional economic dynamics following sanctions relief. This agreement carries profound implications for regional trade flows. Historically, Lebanon's ports—particularly Beirut and Tripoli—served as primary gateways for regional commerce, including Syrian imports and exports. The development of Tartous as a modern deep-water port threatens to redirect significant trade volumes away from Lebanese facilities, potentially undermining one of Lebanon's few remaining economic advantages.
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Cannabis Legalization in Lebanon ‘Could Generate $1-3 Billion Annually’
A 2019 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) estimated that Lebanon was the third largest source for ‘cannabis resin’ worldwide, only behind Morocco and Afghanistan. The UNODC estimated that roughly 6% of all the cannabis resin on earth originates in Lebanon.
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Sports
First Place on the Line in Madrid Derby as Real and Atletico Squabble Over Refereeing
Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid meet in their second derby of the season with the Liga lead on the line and the focus on refereeing. Real Madrid has spent the days ahead of Saturday’s match complaining of mistakes against the club.
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Zhou Guanyu Joins Ferrari as a Reserve Driver for 2025 F1 Season
The first Chinese driver in Formula 1, Zhou Guanyu, is heading back to Ferrari as one of its reserve drivers for the 2025 season.
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Sunday 1 June 2025 13:07:34
Morgan Ortagus to Exit Role as Deputy U.S. Envoy for Middle East
Morgan Ortagus, the U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East in charge of Lebanon policy, is expected to be dismissed from her post amid a broader reshuffle affecting several senior officials involved in Middle East affairs, Israel’s Channel 14 reported.
Investigative journalist Laura Loomer, citing sources within the White House, reported that Morgan Ortagus is set to leave her position, with a successor expected to be named later this week.
"I’m told she will be cordially reassigned to another role in the Trump administration. She wanted to be the Special Envoy to Syria, but the position was instead given to Tom Barrack," Loomer noted.
Among those recently ousted are Merav Ceren, an Israeli-American official who handled the Iran portfolio, and Eric Trager, who oversaw Middle East and North Africa affairs at the U.S. National Security Council. Both were known for their staunchly pro-Israel views, according to the report.
Ceren and Trager were both appointed under former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who recently transitioned to his new post as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Their dismissals came after Waltz’s successor, Marco Rubio, moved to restructure the team.
The post of National Security Advisor remains officially vacant, with Secretary of State Marc Rubio temporarily assuming its responsibilities, the report said.
The channel noted that the shake-up was not tied to the individuals’ policy positions but rather reflected President Donald Trump’s broader approach to reorganizing the NSC. The aim, according to the report, is to downsize the council’s influence and centralize foreign policy decisions within a smaller, more trusted circle of advisers.
As part of this restructuring, the position of National Security Advisor currently remains vacant, with Secretary of State Marc Rubio temporarily filling the role, the report said.
Channel 14 concluded that the wave of dismissals does not bode well for Israel, which is losing key allies in Washington at a time when issues such as Iran’s regional behavior and Hezbollah’s military capabilities remain highly sensitive.
