Lebanon’s Higher Defense Council convened Friday for the first time under the leadership of President Joseph Aoun, focusing on the country’s overall security situation and renewed efforts to reassert state authority across all regions.
Friday, May 2, 2025
The Lebanese Army has confiscated approximately 800 rockets handed over from the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, Al Hadath TV reported on Friday.
Friday, May 2, 2025
A parliamentary committee in Lebanon last week issued a draft law for restructuring the country’s financial sector. The Lebanese people surely breathed a sigh of relief, but does this mean they will finally regain access to their bank deposits, which they have been unable to withdraw for several years? That remains uncertain.
Monday, April 28, 2025
Last week, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that Beirut would not forcibly disarm the Iran-backed Shiite militia Hezbollah as part of its effort to gain a state monopoly on weapons. Instead, Aoun said Hezbollah would be convinced to give up its arms on its own, through dialogue and negotiations. Moreover, the president suggested the militia’s troops could then be integrated into the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). This approach, which avoids a potentially bloody face-off, will be unacceptable to both the US and Israel, and will ultimately undermine the hopeful progress Lebanon has made toward reasserting its sovereignty.
Thursday, April 24, 2025
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
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
Monday 21 April 2025 13:00:39
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed deep sorrow following the death of Pope Francis, calling the loss a blow to both Lebanon and the world.
“With the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, Lebanon has lost a steadfast supporter, and the world has lost a man of love and peace,” Salam said in a statement. “He was a defender of the poor and marginalized, widely known for his humility and closeness to the people. Pope Francis consistently stood by Lebanon, praying for it and expressing a strong desire to visit the country.”
The Prime Minister extended his heartfelt condolences to the Vatican, the global Christian community, and the millions who revered the Pope.
“The Pope leaves behind an extraordinary legacy in his tireless pursuit of global peace and justice.”
Salam also reflected on some of the Pope’s most notable contributions to interfaith relations, particularly the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in February 2019. The landmark agreement promoted mutual understanding between religions and highlighted Pope Francis’s commitment to dialogue across faiths.
The Prime Minister also pointed to the Pope’s global efforts to promote peace, mentioning his visits to distant corners of the world in defense of true brotherhood and interreligious dialogue.
“Pope Francis’s work has always been rooted in the ideals of peace and brotherhood,” Salam said. “Lebanon is uniquely positioned to embody the values he championed, both as a land and as a people.”
In mourning the Pope’s death, Salam emphasized Lebanon’s role as a natural ground for interfaith dialogue; a place where the principles of religious unity and mutual respect are not only needed but are also deeply embedded in the country’s identity.
Following Salam’s statement, the government declared three days of official mourning, beginning immediately and continuing through Wednesday, April 23. Flags are to be flown at half-staff across public institutions and municipalities, and broadcast stations are instructed to adjust programming to reflect the national grief.
The same mourning protocol will be observed on the day of Pope Francis’s funeral and during the official prayer service for the repose of his soul.
