Can Lebanon remain shielded from the turmoil shaking the region — from Syria to Iran, including Gaza?Just a few months ago, in December, there was room for cautious optimism. With the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria, many believed that hope was on the horizon. The tyrant's ouster appeared to signal a potential end to Syrian interference in Lebanon’s affairs, progress toward resolving the refugee crisis, and the beginning of the end for a totalitarian regime.That sentiment was especially strong in Lebanon, where the Syrian regime had long weighed heavily on political and security dynamics. It was no coincidence that Druze leader Walid Joumblatt was the first major figure to meet with Syria’s new strongman, Ahmad al-Sharaa, seeking to open a new and promising chapter with Damascus.But reality quickly caught up with hope. In this...
Can Lebanon remain shielded from the turmoil shaking the region — from Syria to Iran, including Gaza?Just a few months ago, in December, there was room for cautious optimism. With the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria, many believed that hope was on the horizon. The tyrant's ouster appeared to signal a potential end to Syrian interference in Lebanon’s affairs, progress toward resolving the refugee crisis, and the beginning of the end for a totalitarian regime.That sentiment was especially strong in Lebanon, where the Syrian regime had long weighed heavily on political and security dynamics. It was no coincidence that Druze leader Walid Joumblatt was the first major figure to meet with Syria’s new strongman, Ahmad al-Sharaa, seeking to open a new and promising chapter with Damascus.But reality quickly caught up with hope....
Israel continues attacks on southern Lebanon, demolishes buildings in Bint Jbeil