French President Emmanuel Macron strolls through Beirut's Gemmayzeh neighborhood on Jan. 17, 2025. (Credit: Ludovic Marin/AFP)
It had been more than four years since his last visit to Lebanon, and this time the circumstances could hardly have been more different. On Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron returned to Beirut for the third time since the start of his first term in 2017, following earlier visits on Aug. 6 and Sept. 1, 2020. Back then, the Lebanese capital was reeling from the devastating twin explosions at the Port of Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020, which killed around 235 people and injured 6,500 others. Macron had been the first foreign head of state to visit Lebanon in the aftermath, offering a gesture of solidarity. Read more Macron calls for 'acceleration' of cease-fire implementation in Lebanon Now, four years later, Lebanon is grappling with the aftermath of a grueling 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel, which has killed...
It had been more than four years since his last visit to Lebanon, and this time the circumstances could hardly have been more different. On Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron returned to Beirut for the third time since the start of his first term in 2017, following earlier visits on Aug. 6 and Sept. 1, 2020. Back then, the Lebanese capital was reeling from the devastating twin explosions at the Port of Beirut on Aug. 4, 2020, which killed around 235 people and injured 6,500 others. Macron had been the first foreign head of state to visit Lebanon in the aftermath, offering a gesture of solidarity. Read more Macron calls for 'acceleration' of cease-fire implementation in Lebanon Now, four years later, Lebanon is grappling with the aftermath of a grueling 13-month war between Hezbollah and Israel, which has...