Lebanon Brief
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Lebanon Weekly Update (10 May): All Pressures Intensify
Summary A. Political Developments President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam focused this week on diplomacy and crisis management as preparations intensified for Lebanon–Israel talks in Washington on 14–15 May. The discussions are expected to address ceasefire consolidation, Israeli… Continue reading
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“Ceasefire in Name Only” as Conflict, Diplomacy, and Internal Divisions Converge
SUMMARY MAIN TEXT A. Political DevelopmentsLebanon’s leadership is split on engagement with Israel. The US is pressing for direct talks, including a potential Aoun–Netanyahu meeting, but Speaker Berri and Hezbollah oppose this, while the presidency signals conditional openness. A tripartite… Continue reading
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Lebanon in the Dark: How a Nation Learned to Live Without Power
SUMMARY Lebanon provides its citizens with as little as 2–6 hours of state electricity per day — one of the worst averages in the world for a middle-income country. The crisis is not sudden: it is the result of 30… Continue reading
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How Lebanon Actually Works: Inside a Country Without a Fully Working State
Lebanon continues to function despite a weak state through parallel systems of private services, informal networks, and strong diaspora support. Essential services like electricity, water, and parts of the economy operate outside formal state control, while the state mainly provides… Continue reading
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From Ceasefire to Stability: A Letter to President Trump
A fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is currently holding but remains highly unstable amid continued tensions and Israeli troop presence in southern Lebanon. The situation is worsening on the ground as displaced Lebanese civilians return to damaged homes, creating… Continue reading
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International Aid to Lebanon (2026): Who Is Giving What?
Lebanon is facing one of its largest displacement crises in recent years, with over one million people forced from their homes. This article breaks down which countries are providing humanitarian aid in 2026—from major donors like the European Union and… Continue reading
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First Direct Israel–Lebanon Talks in Over Three Decades
Israel and Lebanon have held their first direct official talks in Washington in over 30 years, marking a rare diplomatic opening amid ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon. While no agreement was reached, both sides agreed to continue discussions, with US… Continue reading
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Escalation Narrows, Washington Diplomacy Opening
Israel’s intensified operations in southern Lebanon, highlighted by the April 8 escalation, signal a strategy of sustained military pressure paired with limited restraint under U.S. influence. As diplomacy stalls and Lebanon remains constrained by Hezbollah’s position, the conflict shows signs… Continue reading
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Israel–Lebanon Talks 2026: History, Hezbollah, and What’s Next
Israel–Lebanon negotiations have historically been rare, indirect, and difficult to sustain, with limited agreements succeeding only on narrow, practical issues. The proposed 2026 talks are significant simply for taking place, but their success will depend on whether they remain focused… Continue reading
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Lebanon Escalation Timeline.
The escalation occurred despite the wider regional ceasefire framework that did not include Lebanon, leading to widespread destruction, mass casualties, and retaliatory strikes overnight. Early Morning Attacks (08:12 – 09:00) The escalation began early in the morning with multiple Israeli… Continue reading
