Former MP and member of the Executive Board of the Lebanese Forces, Elie Kairouz, issued the following statement: On International Women’s Day, I would like to reiterate two critical issues affecting Lebanese and Arab women.

The behind-the-scenes details of President Joseph Aoun’s visit to Saudi Arabia continue to unfold, particularly regarding the outcomes of bilateral discussions and the firm stance conveyed by Riyadh. Saudi Arabia emphasized that there would be no reconstruction without a functioning state—an unequivocal message.

One of the political movements in Lebanon is facing significant challenges in building its new electoral machine after the failure of its old one to achieve the desired results. The movement is seeking to establish a new machine that it hopes will be capable of mobilizing its grassroots support and securing the necessary backing to win in the upcoming parliamentary elections. However, the main challenge facing this movement is that the new machine heavily relies on people outside its internal ranks, which has caused dissatisfaction and anger among many of its supporters.

Member of the “Strong Republic” bloc, MP Pierre Bou Assi, announced, “We are in a big mess that ‘Hezbollah’ dragged us into through its war of support, destroying Lebanon and what is called its supportive environment, and harming the national economy.” He stressed that “the Lebanese people are above all considerations, not the resistance above all considerations. Therefore, Lebanon cannot be revived and rebuilt before ending this mess and establishing the authority of the state.” He also stated that he is willing to talk to “Hezbollah” about everything, but he will not hand over to them the issue of their weapons under the pretext of resistance.

“Where we were and where we are now,” said journalist Ali Hamadeh in a speech he delivered at the Maarab Ramadan Iftar. Where we were a year ago and where we stand today. It’s as if the world has completely flipped, and the “world” that sovereignists have fought for at least half a century in Lebanon’s modern history to reach, seemed to be celebrating at the Maarab Iftar—not just the holy month but also the wedding of its sovereignty.

The new government is striving to work seriously and effectively toward implementing long-awaited reforms, which are seen as a fundamental step to restoring the trust of both the Lebanese people and the international community. Despite the numerous challenges Lebanon has faced due to the absence of these reforms, prioritizing them is crucial, as they are the key to rescuing Lebanon’s economy, achieving political and financial stability, and securing a better future for its citizens.

“Those who do not learn from past experiences are either foolish or betraying their own interests.” This phrase aptly summarizes the actions of “the party,” which seems to have drawn no lessons from its past endeavors that have devastated Lebanon and obstructed the establishment of a real state. In truth, “the party” is not foolish; rather, it is fully committed to an Iranian expansionist project that holds no regard for Lebanon and no respect for the nation’s interests or its people.

Despite the announcement of a ceasefire between the concerned parties, “the Party” continues to suffer from the consequences of war on the ground. While calm is supposed to prevail along the borders, Israeli aircraft persist in targeting members of the Radwan Force affiliated with the Party. This targeting, which does not seem likely to stop anytime soon, reflects the new reality the Party faces after the ceasefire—one that still carries ongoing threats and conflicts despite temporary agreements.

Recently, according to circulating information, the relevant authorities have begun assembling the elements of the case related to the Party’s alternative plan for money smuggling. This comes after the Party’s smuggling routes gradually closed due to the recent war, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, and the Lebanese state gradually regaining control over its borders, crossings, and air and sea ports.

Finance Minister Yassine Jaber announced in an interview with “Asharq Bloomberg” that the appointment of a new governor for the Central Bank will be made before the end of this March, aiming to ensure continuity of operations at the bank. He emphasized that the new governor should have a good reputation, extensive experience, be well-known, and have a history in the financial and monetary field.

The joint statement between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon reflects a significant shift in the relations between the two countries on both political and economic fronts. It includes several messages with significant political implications, also reflecting a desire for Lebanon’s political and economic stability, and expresses Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting Lebanon during this phase, provided that Lebanon can implement the required reforms and activate its role as a sovereign state.

It was striking for most observers that the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council intervened in the case of the arrest of Mohammad Aref Yassin at Rafic Hariri International Airport. Yassin was caught attempting to bring in a suitcase containing $2.5 million without possessing any legal documentation or prior declaration about the money’s origin or intended recipient. Many did not rule out the possibility that “the Party” played a role in pushing the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council to the forefront of this case. They suspect that this may have been an attempt by “the Party” to use the Council as a shield, either for this particular case or for future efforts to continue smuggling funds into Lebanon to cover its massive budget deficit.

What good does it do for the “party” to announce, through its Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem, that it is now operating under the “Taif Agreement” and supports legitimacy, when every day we hear statements from its MPs and leaders declaring loudly that “the resistance continues,” that “the party has regained its strength,” that “its hand is on the trigger,” and that it will return to the battlefields? This question leads the observer to further inquiries, the first of which is: What does the “party” want today? And is there an Iranian tool manipulating the remnants of the groups loyal to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Lebanon, far from the interests of Lebanese Shiites?

Follow-up sources have noted the remarks of a prominent leader in the “Party” regarding the “huge strikes, casualties, and immense losses the ‘Party’ suffered as a result of its involvement in the recent support war,” considering that this statement confirms that the “Party” has not yet recovered from the shock and calamity it faced due to its reckless war, which dragged all of Lebanon into it.

There is no doubt that the first official foreign visit undertaken by President Joseph Aoun to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, marks a turning point in Lebanese-Saudi relations, as well as with other Gulf countries. This visit is considered a declaration of the beginning of a renewed warmth in Lebanese-Saudi and Lebanese-Gulf relations after years of severe coldness that nearly froze Lebanon’s foreign relations altogether—especially with Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states, and other friendly nations. It also signals the start of repairing the damage inflicted on these relations due to past policies that had left Lebanon in near-isolation from its Arab and international allies.

The “party” is experiencing deep anxiety over the state’s shifting diplomatic approach, which now threatens its long-standing project in Lebanon. At every opportunity, the “party” attacks the state simply because it has chosen diplomacy as a means to resolve disputes—especially those related to borders—rather than clinging to the “resistance” option, which has become obsolete following the latest ministerial statement. This statement marks a turning point, granting the state sole authority over any border dispute with any country, effectively removing “resistance” from the official equation in managing international relations.

They coordinated and met, both directly and indirectly, with the U.S. President’s envoy to Lebanon, Amos Hochstein, dozens of times over the past years to finalize the maritime border demarcation file. They conceded vast maritime areas to Israel to please him, hoping in return to gain control over Lebanon’s oil and gas resources. Yet, despite all this, they shamelessly continue to chant the slogan “Death to America.”

Since the Taif Agreement was reached in 1989, marking the beginning of the end of the Lebanese civil war, the foundations for building a new state in Lebanon were established—a state based on the rule of law and justice, emphasizing the necessity of disarming illegal militias. The Lebanese Forces, as part of this agreement, were among the first to commit to its implementation, voluntarily handing over their weapons in the belief that a strong and cohesive Lebanese state could be built without external interference and illegal arms.

While spirituality deepens during this holy season, fears of Lebanon’s economic reality grow, exacerbating concerns as fasting begins amid unjustified price hikes.

Since the Taif Agreement was reached in 1989—marking the beginning of the end of the Lebanese civil war—the foundation was laid for building a new state in Lebanon, one based on the rule of law and justice, with a clear emphasis on the necessity of disarming illegal militias. The Lebanese Forces, which were part of this agreement, were among the first to comply by surrendering their weapons, believing in the possibility of establishing a strong and cohesive Lebanese state free from external interference and illegal arms.

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Al-Rahi presided over the Sunday Mass at the Church of Our Lady in the Patriarchal Seat in Bkerke, assisted by Bishop Antoine Awkar, the Patriarch’s Secretary Father Hadi Daou, the Head of Our Lady of Lebanon-Harissa Shrine Father Fadi Tabet, along with several bishops, priests, and nuns. The service was attended by former Minister Walid Nassar, Lebanon’s Honorary Consul in Florence, Italy, Charbel Al-Chbeir, the Secretary-General of the Maronite Foundation for the Diaspora Hiam Bastani, the President of the Patriarch Sfeir Social Foundation Dr. Elias Sfeir, Patrick, son of the martyrs Sobhi and Nadima Al-Fakhri, and a large gathering of dignitaries and believers.

The land that St. John Maron chose was not merely soil and plains; it was a divine covenant engraved in the blood of martyrs on the forehead of history. Here, where rocks meet the stars, where prayers intersect with politics, and where wounds turn into resurrection, a people were born from the womb of the impossible— a nation that was not just a sect, but a message inscribed in divine ink upon the pages of time, neither erased nor forgotten.

MP Elias Estefan wrote on the “X” platform: “On the occasion of the blessed month of Ramadan, we ask God to bring goodness and peace to our beloved country and to make it a month of blessings and mercy for everyone. Wishing you all a blessed Ramadan. Ramadan Kareem.”

On the occasion of the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims and the eve of the Great Lent for Christians following both the Western and Eastern calendars, the Maronite General Council, under the presidency of Engineer Michel Matte, extends its warmest greetings and best wishes to all Lebanese united in fasting and prayer, asking God to bring these blessed occasions upon our beloved nation with peace and stability.

The head of the Change Movement Party, lawyer Elie Mahfoud, stated that the measures being implemented at Rafic Hariri International Airport are promising. The arrest of a money smuggler coming from Turkey is another step in the ongoing process of restoring the state’s authority and reclaiming the republic’s presence.

The recent war in Lebanon has caused catastrophic damage to children’s lives, with its effects still lingering even after the ceasefire took effect in November 2024, according to a new UNICEF report. The devastating conflict forced children to flee their homes, severely damaged facilities providing essential services, and inflicted physical and psychological suffering on children across the country.

The Lebanese Forces have long been a fundamental part of Lebanon’s struggle, with a history that tells a story of great sacrifices for the principles they uphold. The party has never sought positions or ministerial seats as an end in itself but has always made decisions based on the nation’s supreme interest, particularly in times of crisis and challenges.

Many political circles are raising questions about the reports that a large number of people arriving in Lebanon from various countries have stayed in the country well beyond the days leading up to the funeral of the two Hezbollah leaders, Nasrallah and Safieddine, under the pretext of attending the funeral. Despite the passage of several days since the funerals and burials of Nasrallah and Safieddine, many of these individuals are still in Lebanon, particularly in certain areas protected by a party faction, as rumored.

From the Qantari to Sin el Fil, through Jounieh, to Beit ed-Dine in summer, the “Palace of the Republic” wandered for a long time. Each era had its own palace or “rented” one, even up until the 1960s, when the President of the Republic finally had a designated official residence. That residence was up in Baabda, on a beautiful green hill overlooking Beirut, the capital of Greater Lebanon… This is the story of the Lebanese Republic’s palaces, which echo through the walls and corridors, bearing witness to the eras of both great and minor statesmen, periods of prosperity and decay, golden ages and dark times, eras of independence and those of humiliation and subjugation… The palaces of our Republic watch, monitor, and history records and judges…

It has been reported that the statement issued by “The Party” regarding “the launch of Al-Mahdi Scouts in coordination with the Jihad Al-Binaa Foundation for a tree-planting campaign to enhance green cover in the villages and towns in the southern border area, including planting trees and providing the necessary care for their continued growth,” caught the attention of several local and international monitoring sources. This was “based on a previous experience with the ‘Green Without Borders’ association, which the United States imposed sanctions on in August 2023, accusing it and its president of supporting and covering the activities of ‘The Party’ in southern Lebanon.”

A new tone has recently been heard in political circles, calling for extending a hand to “the party,” especially after the recent war and its disastrous outcomes for the party. However, after Sheikh Naeem Qassem’s speech during the funeral ceremonies and his emphasis on building the state, calls for meeting the party halfway have increased, attempting to place the policy of dialogue and cooperation with the party at the forefront.

Recently, it has become evident that Wafiq Safa, who was supposed to be responsible for coordination and liaison between various parties, is now in a situation reflecting internal chaos. Although he is considered part of the security leadership within the “Party,” his behavior and actions suggest that he has lost coordination and connection with the organization. He now moves as if he has detached himself from the official leadership. Many observers view his actions as an indication of a significant shift in his role within the party, raising many questions about his political future.

Although the idea of extending a hand for dialogue and understanding is not inherently rejected, the difference between talking about state-building and actually implementing it is crucial. Discussions about building a state become meaningless when the party continues to cling to its weapons and the so-called resistance it advocates. How can there be talk of building a state that includes all its citizens while the party insists on maintaining a parallel armed force? This issue remains central to any conversation about establishing a true state, as a nation cannot unite under the principle of illegal arms that threaten the state’s authority, security, and stability.

Political sources believe that while gaining confidence is inevitable, the real challenge lies in the government’s ability to fulfill the promises it made to the Lebanese people. Through its oath-taking speech, the government has outlined a clear roadmap. Although its timeframe is limited, there are pressing priorities that must be swiftly addressed to improve conditions on the ground. The first of these priorities is implementing the ceasefire agreement, a fundamental step toward achieving internal stability.

During a session discussing the government’s policy statement, the leader of the “Strong Lebanon” bloc, MP Gebran Bassil, said: “We fully agree with what is stated in the policy statement regarding Resolution 1701, the liberation of all lands, the monopoly of carrying arms, the decision of war and peace, and the defense strategy.” He asked: “What is the big difference between the previous text ‘the right of the Lebanese to resist occupation’ and the current text ‘the right of Lebanon to defend itself and take all necessary measures to liberate all Lebanese territories from Israeli occupation’? The difference is that ‘the party’ made a huge strategic mistake. The difference is that ‘the party’ lost in the Gaza support war, in the unity of fronts, and we lost with it the deterrence equation against Israel, and it lost national legitimacy in resisting Israel alone, so the word ‘resistance’ was removed from the policy statement, but Lebanon did not lose the legitimacy of ‘resisting’ occupation, nor did ‘the party’ lose its popular legitimacy.”

President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, visited the headquarters of the National Anti-Corruption Authority in Beirut this morning. He was welcomed by the President of the Authority, Judge Claude Karam, and the Authority members. President Aoun handed over his financial disclosure statement as well as that of his wife, the First Lady of Lebanon, Ni’mat Aoun, in accordance with the Anti-Corruption in the Public Sector Law and the establishment of the National Anti-Corruption Authority, Law No. 175/2020. Accompanying him was the Director-General of the Presidency of the Republic, Dr. Antoine Sheqer.

He added: “We recognize that the recent aggression our country has faced requires rebuilding what was destroyed and mobilizing support for reconstruction. The government is committed to reconstruction and financing through a dedicated fund.”

Political writer and analyst Elias Zoghbi believes that “Lebanon has been regaining its position as an independent state for the past two months, starting with the election of a new president and the formation of a new government, both accompanied by clear positions on Lebanon’s sovereignty and political independence, from the inauguration speech to the ministerial statement.”

The backbone of this axis was broken when Israeli aircraft targeted the leader of the “Party,” Nasrallah, causing Iran’s Axis to collapse at an unimaginable speed.

Sheikh Naim Qassem’s speech on the day of the funeral is considered a pivotal moment in the party’s political trajectory, especially when examining certain points he raised. The Lebanese political landscape has witnessed qualitative shifts in political positions, particularly regarding the party’s future and its weapons. Qassem’s mention of the party’s potential commitment to “state-building” under the framework of the Taif Agreement opens the door to discussions about the future of the illegal weapons the party has long held onto.

Ukraine’s greatest achievements lie in its remarkable resilience and strategic successes on the battlefield. Despite facing a larger adversary, Ukraine has managed to launch effective counteroffensives and reclaim vital territories while securing strong international support. Moreover, its ability to push the conflict into the aggressor’s territory marks a bold strategic shift, reflecting its tactical prowess and reshaping the course of the war.

It is a mistake to believe that Lebanon was created from nothing in 1920 by the Maronites in partnership with France. Rather, it is the result of a long-term historical accumulation, with its foundation as a national project and identity laid with the establishment of the Maronite College in Rome in 1584. The early Maronites poured sweat, blood, tears, and sacrifices into this endeavor, spreading knowledge, enlightenment, democracy, printing, civilization, and holiness throughout the East for hundreds of years. The fruits of this great historical struggle were finally reaped with the establishment of Greater Lebanon in 1920.

Le 27 décembre 2013, l'ancien ministre et économiste Mohammad Chatah a été assassiné dans un attentat à la voiture piégée à Beyrouth. Conseiller de l'ancien Premier ministre Saad Hariri au moment de son assassinat, il se rendait à une réunion du bloc du 14 mars.

Geagea Meeting Hochstein: Any Solution Not Based On UNSC Resolutions 1701, 1559 &1680 And ‘Taef’ Related Clauses, Will Bring No Salvation To Lebanon The head of the Lebanese Forces Party Samir Geagea met in Merab the U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein accompanied by US Ambassador Lisa Johnson and Hochstein’s assistant, in the presence of MP Sethrida Geagea and the head of LFP Foreign Affairs Department former Minister Dr. Richard Kouyoumjian.