An ambulance during a transport operation, in Lebanon, on New Year's Eve. (Credit: Michel Hallak/L'Orient Today)
BEIRUT — Heavy security deployments and preventive measures helped Lebanon usher in the New Year without major incidents, authorities said, with only a handful of injuries reported from traffic accidents and celebratory gunfire despite packed parties and widespread alcohol consumption.
President Joseph Aoun praised what he called the “calm and security” that prevailed on New Year’s Eve, crediting the Lebanese Army and security agencies for their coordination and nationwide presence. In a message posted Thursday on X, Aoun wished the Lebanese a “safe and stable” 2026, voicing hope that “the gaping wound of the South will heal,” residents of southern villages can return home safely, the army will extend its sovereignty along the southern border, and Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons will be released.
New Year's Eve report
Only seven people were injured in four traffic accidents overnight, and no fatal crashes were recorded as of 7 a.m., according to the Internal Security Forces (ISF), despite the heavy turnout at New Year celebrations.
One young woman, however, was wounded by stray celebratory gunfire in Burj Hammoud, in Beirut's northern suburbs, despite repeated warnings from authorities prohibiting the use of firearms to celebrate the New Year.
ISF Director General Maj. Gen. Raed Abdallah congratulated security personnel for their efforts on the ground, particularly on roads and in mountainous areas, saying the measures helped ease citizens’ movement and maintain public safety. He stressed the importance of continuing to pursue and report those responsible for gunfire, while noting that the number of shooters had declined in several areas, according to the state-run National News Agency (NNA).
Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar praised the commitment of the ISF and other security and rescue agencies and "their remarkable efforts and dedication."
The ISF said about 38 suspects have so far been identified for firing celebratory gunshots into the air, with arrests underway in coordination with the judiciary. The agency urged residents to report gunfire through its website, as stray bullets continue to wound — and sometimes kill — people each year during celebrations and public events.
To curb road accidents, the ISF had announced strict nationwide measures ahead of New Year’s Eve, including stepped-up enforcement against speeding and drunk driving. Authorities also reached an agreement with taxi companies to offer rides home to partygoers who had been drinking, part of broader awareness campaigns that included checkpoints and traffic slowdowns. The security agency later said the measures appeared to have paid off.
On the evening of Dec. 31, President Aoun visited the Lebanese Red Cross headquarters in Beirut, where Secretary-General Georges Kettaneh briefed him on the mobilization of 190 ambulances, 800 rescuers and four operations rooms in Beirut, Tibnin in the South, Koura in the North and Zahle in the Bekaa. Kettaneh said special attention was given to high-risk roadways, including Chekka, Dbayeh, Karantina and Jiyeh.
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