Lebanon suffers at least $3 billion in war-related losses, Jaber says

BEIRUT — The World Bank, in cooperation with Lebanon’s National Council for Scientific Research, is preparing a new report to assess the damage caused by the ongoing war with Israel and estimate reconstruction costs, Finance Minister Yassine Jaber told L’Orient Today.According to Jaber, the destruction recorded during the first four weeks of the 2026 war was initially estimated at around $1.5 billion. That figure has risen considerably since, particularly after the intensified bombardment in April, which he said destroyed bridges, villages and buildings around Beirut. A second assessment is expected by the end of April.Jaber said the assessment will rely on satellite imaging rather than field surveys, allowing for faster and broader estimates of destruction. An AI program will be used “to process images and convert them into costs,” he...