Lebanon Archives

Forget the Swiss — How about the Vatican to broker US/Iran relations?

Jan 5, 2020

As counterintuitive as it may seem, there’s a case to be made that the Vatican might be a good choice to broker conversation between the U.S. and Iran to try to head off a regional conflagration.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Mideast Catholic patriarchs pray for those suffering, appeal for dialogue

Dec 26, 2019

Against a backdrop of anti-government protests in Iraq and Lebanon, at Christmas, Catholic patriarchs in the Middle East spoke of continued suffering.

By Doreen Abi Raad

After delays, Lebanon president holds talks on naming new PM

Dec 19, 2019

Lebanon’s president held long-delayed talks with parliamentary blocs on Thursday to discuss the naming of a new prime minister amid a rapidly worsening political and economic crisis and weeks of nationwide protests roiling the country.

By Sarah El Deeb

Lebanese mob attacks cleric’s office, burns Christmas tree

Dec 18, 2019

A mob in Lebanon attacked the office of a Sunni Muslim religious leader in the northern city of Tripoli, smashing in windows early on Wednesday, reports said. The assailants then moved to one of the city’s main squares and set fire to the municipality’s Christmas tree.

By Associated Press

3rd night of clashes as Lebanon puts off talks on new PM

Dec 17, 2019

Supporters of Lebanon’s two main Shiite groups Hezbollah and Amal clashed with security forces and set fires to cars in the capital early Tuesday, apparently angered by a video circulating online that showed a man insulting Shiite figures.

By Bassem Mroue

Lebanon delays talks on new prime minister amid divisions

Dec 16, 2019

Lebanon’s president postponed talks Monday on naming a new prime minister after the only candidate — caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri — failed to win the backing of the country’s largest Christian groups amid a worsening economic and financial crisis.

By Bassem Mroue