War propels Fouad Makhzoumi to the forefront of Lebanon’s Sunni political scene

Fouad Makhzoumi has managed to turn an explosive situation to his advantage. Since the start of the war in Lebanon on March 2, the 74-year-old billionaire, known for his carefully crafted anti-Hezbollah rhetoric, has been highly visible on the political scene. He notably initiated two meetings focused on supporting the current government, the state’s monopoly on arms, and the demilitarization of Beirut. The first, held a week after “Black Wednesday” (when Israel carried out deadly and massive strikes on Lebanon on April 8), succeeded in bringing together almost all Beirut MPs. The second, three weeks later, was even more symbolic: Makhzoumi managed to unite the majority of all Sunni MPs — a community that has lacked leadership since former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s prolonged withdrawal from politics in 2021. He also intends to turn...