Lebanese military deployed in the village of Houla, in southern Lebanon, a few hours after the withdrawal of Israeli troops, on Feb. 18, 2025. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L’Orient-Le Jour)
U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack — resembling a modern-day Mutasarrif (governor of an Ottoman province) entrusted with a wide-ranging regional mission — arrived in Beirut on Monday following meetings in Paris.This comes in the wake of the visit by Saudi envoy Yazid bin Farhan and the Quintet ambassadors’ meeting at the U.S. Embassy. This flurry of diplomatic activity further consolidates the framework of an international tutelage over Lebanon that has become openly acknowledged and organized.This diplomatic sequence is unfolding as the “1701 President,” Joseph Aoun, faces his first assessment six months after taking office, with a mandate largely associated with the implementation of this U.N. resolution and management of the cease-fire with Israel. Barrack, who has close ties to Donald Trump, is pushing for concrete decisions before the end of...
U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack — resembling a modern-day Mutasarrif (governor of an Ottoman province) entrusted with a wide-ranging regional mission — arrived in Beirut on Monday following meetings in Paris.This comes in the wake of the visit by Saudi envoy Yazid bin Farhan and the Quintet ambassadors’ meeting at the U.S. Embassy. This flurry of diplomatic activity further consolidates the framework of an international tutelage over Lebanon that has become openly acknowledged and organized.This diplomatic sequence is unfolding as the “1701 President,” Joseph Aoun, faces his first assessment six months after taking office, with a mandate largely associated with the implementation of this U.N. resolution and management of the cease-fire with Israel. Barrack, who has close ties to Donald Trump, is pushing for concrete decisions before...
US and Iran exchange fire for a second day, undermining shaky cease-fire
