BEIRUT(Reuters) – The United States, which wants to prevent violence spilling over from Syria into Lebanon, will give the Lebanese army $120 million more in aid to boost border security and counter-terrorism work, the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon said on Wednesday. Lebanon will get six MD 530G light attack helicopters, six Scan Eagle drones, and […]

By Lisa Barrington BEIRUT (Reuters) – The company formed to rebuild Lebanon’s capital Beirut after its civil war ended in 1990 is struggling to overcome the latest period of political turmoil roiling the Middle East. Until the 2011 Arab uprisings and the start of neighboring Syria’s civil war, Solidere’s property business was booming along with […]

By Louisa Loveluck and Suzan Haidamous  washingtonpost– BEIRUT — Thousands of Hezbollah supporters joined a fiery rally in Beirut on Monday as the movement’s leader urged Palestinians to rise up after President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. Demonstrators packed the streets of Beirut’s southern suburbs in a carefully managed march. Crowds chanted, “Death to America, […]

Beirut, Lebanon (CNN)Lebanese security forces clashed with protesters near the United States embassy in Beirut on Sunday over President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Hundreds of protesters and dozens of riot police gathered in front of the entrance leading to the heavily fortified embassy. Some youths in the crowd threw stones toward […]

By Elise Harris Jerusalem (CNA/EWTN News).- Christians leaders in Jerusalem have voiced fear over the repercussions of America’s recognition of the city as Israel’s capital, asking that international law be respected in the interest of maintaining peace. According to Fr. David Neuhaus, a priest in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and former Parochial Vicar for […]

BEIRUT (Reuters) – The head of an Iran-backed Iraqi Shi‘ite militia has visited Lebanon’s border with Israel accompanied by Hezbollah fighters, a video released on Saturday showed, in a show of Iranian influence that Lebanon’s prime minister called illegal. His appearance at the frontier is likely to be seen in the Middle East as an […]

by JACKIE NORTHAM – NPR  – One of the world’s most famous — and flashy — billionaires is being detained by the Saudi government in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was swept up in early November, along with more than 200 other Saudi businessmen and princes, in a massive anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by Saudi Crown […]

by AP – Josh Lederman and Philip Issa — PARIS — Lebanon’s prime minister appealed for support for his country from world powers at a summit convened by France on Friday to bolster Lebanon’s institutions as it emerges from a bizarre political crisis. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States and other attendees wanted to help Lebanon move forward on security and prepare for national elections slated for May. He added that it was critical to ensure the disengagement of the militant group Hezbollah from regional conflicts, including Yemen’s civil war. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Belgium would hold a conference next year to find ways to help Lebanon handle its massive refugee population.

Hariri said Lebanon was “paying a very big price on behalf of the entire world” when it comes to the refugee crisis, which he said has cost the Lebanese economy more than $20 billion since the Syrian conflict began six years ago. He called for investment in Lebanon, support for its security services, and a resolution to the refugee question that has dominated domestic politics since 2012.

It was the first major gathering of key nations to discuss Lebanon’s future since a crisis erupted following Hariri’s shock resignation last month while in Saudi Arabia. The move appeared to have been orchestrated by the Gulf kingdom as a message to Iran to reign in its Lebanese proxy, the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Hariri, who is backed by Saudi Arabia, threw Lebanon into turmoil with his resignation and renewed a vigorous debate over foreign interference in Lebanese affairs. Lebanon’s political parties depend on considerable support from regional powers for funds, security and influence. Hariri officially rescinded his resignation this week, saying Lebanon’s political parties had reached an agreement to distance the country from regional conflicts — such as the war next door in Syria. On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the international community must “stay mobilized” for Lebanon’s peaceful future. “Lebanon’s stability is not just essential for its own residents,” he said. “It is so for the entire region, already very affected by the violence of conflicts.” Josh Lederman and Philip Issa are Associated Press writers. Click read more for the whole text

Article represents author opinion  by Dr James M Dorsey  –US President Donald J Trump has let a genie out of the bottle with his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and intent to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In taking his decision, Trump was implementing a long-standing US policy dating back to […]

by Middle East Eye – A little-known Saudi prince with no history as an art collector, no publicly declared source of wealth but close associations with the crown prince has been revealed as the buyer of the $450m Leonardo da Vinci painting the Salvator Mundi. Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud was named […]