Lebanon

Head of Lebanon’s Hezbollah threatens Israel and Cyprus

The head of Lebanon's Hezbollah said that nowhere in Israel would be safe if a full-fledged war breaks out between the two foes, and also threatened EU member Cyprus for…

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UPDATED: Gunman fires shots at US Embassy in Lebanon

A gunman fired shots at the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon on Wednesday and was wounded in an exchange of fire with troops, the Lebanese army said. The army said the…

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Syrians in Lebanon fear unprecedented restrictions, deportations

The soldiers came before daybreak, singling out the Syrian men without residence permits from the tattered camp in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. As toddlers wailed around them, Mona, a Syrian refugee…

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Hezbollah tells Iran it would fight alone in any war with Israel

By Samia Nakhoul, Parisa Hafezi and Laila Bassam Quds Force, Hezbollah chiefs met in February: sources Risk of Israel-Hezbollah war discussed: sources Iran advises militia allies to avoid wider conflict:…

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Israel strikes deeper into Lebanon as Hezbollah downs drone

BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Israel mounted airstrikes west of the Lebanese city of Baalbek on Monday, killing at least two Hezbollah members, sources in Lebanon said, in its deepest…

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At least two air strikes hit southern Lebanon, witnesses say

At least two air strikes hit an area near the coastal Lebanese town of Ghaziyeh , witnesses said, after the Israeli military said it had struck weapons depots near the…

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Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill 11 civilians

BEIRUT, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Eleven people, including six children, were killed by Israeli strikes on villages across southern Lebanon on Wednesday, a hospital director and three Lebanese security sources…

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Hezbollah, Israel trade strikes at Lebanese border in latest escalation

BEIRUT, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Hezbollah and Israel traded rocket and missile fire in areas near the Lebanese-Israeli border on Saturday, officials on both sides said, in the latest flare-up…

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UPDATED: Israeli military says civilians wounded by anti-tank missile near Lebanon border

JERUSALEM, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Militants fired anti-tank missiles on Sunday near the Israel-Lebanon border and hit a number of civilians, the Israeli military said, adding that it was retaliating…

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Lebanon must be kept out of Hamas-Israel war, patriarch says

BEIRUT, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Lebanon's top Christian cleric urged state officials on Monday to shield Lebanon from the war between Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Israel, as the Lebanese…

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Britain temporarily withdraws some embassy staff from Lebanon

LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Britain's Foreign Office said on Monday it was temporarily withdrawing some British embassy staff from Lebanon. It had already advised Britons against all travel to…

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Israeli jets hit Lebanon as Hezbollah fires more powerful missile

BEIRUT, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah said it carried out simultaneous attacks on Israeli positions at the Lebanese border on Saturday, as residents of south Lebanon reported some of…

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US intelligence thinks Wagner plans to send air defence system to Hezbollah – WSJ

The United States has intelligence that Russia's Wagner mercenary group plans to provide Hezbollah, the Iranian backed Lebanese militia, an air defence system, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unidentified…

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Hezbollah says it downs Israeli drone in south Lebanon

BEIRUT, (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah said it shot down an Israeli drone over southern Lebanon on Sunday with a surface-to-air missile, the first time it has announced such an incident,…

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Broken Lebanon cannot afford war, and Hezbollah knows it

By Laila Bassam, Tom Perry BEIRUT, Oct 27 (Reuters) - With an economy in ruins and a crumbling state, Lebanon can ill afford another war between Hezbollah and Israel. Iran-backed…

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UPDATED: Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders discuss how to achieve ‘victory’

BEIRUT, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The head of Lebanon's Hezbollah met top leaders of the Palestinian militant factions Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and discussed what their alliance must do to…

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Israel strikes two Hezbollah cells in Lebanon

Oct 23 (Reuters) - Israeli aircraft struck two Hezbollah cells in Lebanon early on Monday that were planning to launch anti-tank missiles and rockets toward Israel, its military said, as…

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U.S. embassy urges its citizens in Lebanon to leave ‘as soon as possible’; Dutch Marines on standby in Cyprus

BEIRUT, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. embassy in Lebanon urged its citizens on Thursday to "make plans to depart as soon as possible while commercial options are still available".…

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UPDATED: France advises French citizens against travelling to Lebanon

PARIS, Oct 18 (Reuters) - The French Foreign ministry said on Wednesday it was advising its citizens against any travel to Lebanon, unless impossible otherwise, given the "security tensions in…

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Hezbollah says calls for it not to intervene in war ‘will have no effect’

BEIRUT, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem said on Friday that the group would not be swayed by calls for it to stay on the sidelines of…

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UPDATED: Russia recommends that its citizens leave Israel

MOSCOW, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Russia recommends that its citizens leave Israel on scheduled flights, the RIA news agency quoted the Russian embassy as saying on Friday. RIA cited the…

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Hezbollah congratulates Hamas but takes careful stance

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah congratulated Hamas militants on the incursion into Israeli territory from Gaza, but issued a carefully-worded statement which suggests they are currently backing away from any…

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Lebanon seeks to reassure Gulf, Germany after travel warnings

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's caretaker premier Najib Mikati said there was no cause for "concern or panic" about his country's security situation, after Germany and Gulf countries issued new travel…

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Hannibal Gaddafi moved to hospital in ‘critical condition’ in Lebanon

CAIRO, July 2 (Reuters) - Hannibal Gaddafi, son of the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been moved from a Lebanese prison to hospital in "critical condition", Dubai-based Al-Hadath TV…

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Son of Libya’s Gaddafi in Lebanon hospital after going on hunger strike

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A son of late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been treated in hospital in Lebanon after going on hunger strike two weeks ago in protest at his…

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Lebanon set to be grey-listed by financial crime watchdog

Lebanon is likely to be placed on a "grey list" of countries under special scrutiny over unsatisfactory practices to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing, three sources familiar with the matter…

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Lebanon’s cabinet reverses decision to delay daylight’s savings

BEIRUT, March 27 (Reuters) - Lebanon's caretaker prime minister said the cabinet had voted to move clocks one hour ahead on Wednesday night, reversing his decision to postpone the move…

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IMF mission chief: ‘Lebanon is in a very dangerous situation’

BEIRUT, March 23 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund on Thursday warned that Lebanon was in a very dangerous situation one year after it committed to reforms it has failed…

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Lebanese depositors smash up, burn Beirut banks

BEIRUT, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Several dozen Lebanese protesters attacked banks in a Beirut neighbourhood on Thursday, while blocking roads protesting against informal restrictions on cash withdrawals in place for…

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UPDATED: Lebanon devalues official exchange rate by 90%

BEIRUT, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Lebanon adopted a new official exchange rate of 15,000 pounds per U.S. dollar on Wednesday, the central bank said, marking a 90% devaluation from its…

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Lebanese opposition lawmakers stage sit-in to demand new president

BEIRUT, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Independent lawmakers in Lebanon are staging a sit-in at parliament to pile pressure on dominant factions to elect a new president nearly three months since…

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Lebanese pound sinks to record low of 50,000 pounds to U.S dollar

BEIRUT, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The Lebanese pound on Thursday hit a new record low of 50,000 pounds per U.S. dollar, currency exchange dealers told Reuters, marking a loss in…

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Lebanon detains Hezbollah supporter in probe of Irish U.N. peacekeeper’s killing

BEIRUT, Dec 26 (Reuters) - The Lebanese army detained over the weekend a main suspect in the recent killing of an Irish U.N. peacekeeper in a move coordinated with powerful…

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UPDATED: Senior Hezbollah official says ‘unintentional incident’ led to Irish soldier death, party not involved

BEIRUT, Dec 15 (Reuters) - A senior Hezbollah official on Thursday said an "unintentional incident" had led to the death of an Irish soldier on a U.N. peacekeeping mission in…

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Photo Story: Byblos lights up for Christmas

People gather around a giant Christmas tree on Thursday evening, as it was officially lit up at the entrance of Byblos (Jbeil), Lebanon. Photo: EPA-EFE/WAEL HAMZEH

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Middle East Airlines plane hit by stray bullet while landing in Beirut, no injuries

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A Middle East Airlines (MEA) passenger plane bound from Jordan to Beirut was hit by a stray bullet while landing in Beirut on Thursday, with no injuries…

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Lebanon steps back from plan to slash official exchange rate – sources

BEIRUT, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Lebanon has stepped back from plans to slash its 25-year-old official exchange rate with one closer to the market rate, ministerial and political sources said…

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Cholera has spread throughout Lebanon, says WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that cholera is spreading "rapidly" across Lebanon. Lebanon has reported about 1,400 cases of cholera since mid-October, according to the UN's health agency. A first…

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Explainer: What’s at stake as Lebanon faces presidential vacuum?

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Lebanese presidency is set to fall vacant on Oct. 31 unless the main powerbrokers can strike a deal on the election of a successor to Michel…

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Outgoing president says Lebanon at risk of ‘constitutional chaos’

BAABDA, Lebanon Oct 29 (Reuters) - Outgoing Lebanese President Michel Aoun told Reuters on Saturday his nation could be sliding into "constitutional chaos", with an unprecedented situation of having no one in…

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Hezbollah chief says armed group’s mobilization to end

(Reuters) - The leader of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, announced the end of his armed group's mobilization , after Lebanese and Israeli leaders finalised a U.S-brokered maritime demarcation…

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UPDATED: Israel, Lebanon sign maritime border deal in rare diplomatic feat

BAABDA/JERUSALEM, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Israeli and Lebanese leaders signed a landmark U.S-brokered agreement on their maritime boundary on Thursday, marking a diplomatic departure from decades of hostility and opening…

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Syrian refugees return home as Lebanese repatriation scheme begins

ARSAL, Lebanon Oct 26 (Reuters) - Hundreds of Syrian refugees living in Lebanon returned home on Wednesday, the first day of repatriations organised by Beirut, amid concerns from rights groups…

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Israeli court gives green light to Lebanon maritime deal, signing seen on Thursday

JERUSALEM, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Israel's Supreme Court on Sunday rejected petitions that would have held up a landmark U.S.-brokered deal setting a maritime border with Lebanon, which Washington predicted…

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Lebanon, Syria discuss sea border after Beirut’s Israel deal

BEIRUT, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday discussed delineating their countries' shared maritime border, a Lebanese official said. A dispute over…

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Lebanon fails to elect president for third time amid financial meltdown

BEIRUT, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Lebanon's parliament failed to elect a president for the third time on Thursday, bringing the country closer to institutional deadlock amid a deep financial crisis.…

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Lebanon announces first death from cholera since detecting the disease in October

(Reuters) - Lebanon has announced the first death case from cholera since detecting the disease on its lands in October, the health ministry. Lebanon recorded its first case of cholera…

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Lebanon to begin returning Syrian refugees to Syria next week – presidency

BEIRUT, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Lebanon will start sending Syrian refugees back to their home country at the end of next week, Lebanese President Michel Aoun said on Wednesday, despite…

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Israel-Lebanon maritime border deal ‘permanent, equitable resolution’ -draft

BEIRUT, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The U.S.-brokered deal delineating the maritime boundary between Israel and Lebanon is intended to be a lasting resolution to their longtime dispute, the draft seen…

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Biden congratulates Israel, Lebanon on maritime border deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the leaders of Israel and Lebanon on Tuesday to congratulate them over what the United States sees as a historic breakthrough…

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Lebanese banks close again after holdups by depositors seeking their own money

BEIRUT, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Lebanese banks have unanimously decided to close their doors to clients indefinitely after a series of holdups by depositors seeking funds frozen in the banking…

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UPDATED: Death toll from sunken Lebanon migrant boat rises to 86

CAIRO, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The death toll from a migrant boat that sank off the Syrian coast after sailing from Lebanon earlier this week has risen to 86, Syrian…

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FACTBOX- Lebanon’s economic crisis

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon experienced a spate of bank robberies from people demanding to access to their own deposits frozen in the country's paralysed financial system, underlining desperation among citizens…

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Public sector paralysed as Lebanon lurches towards ‘failed state’

BEIRUT (Reuters) - It's a weekday, but 50-year-old Lebanese finance ministry employee Walid Chaar is not at work and hasn't been since June. He rushes to water the garden at…

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EXPLAINER-Two years since Beirut blast, why has no top official been held to account?

BEIRUT, (Reuters) - Lebanon on Thursday marked the second anniversary of the Beirut port explosion which killed at least 215 people, wounded thousands and damaged swathes of the capital. Despite the devastation…

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Lebanon’s top Christian cleric criticizes govt handling of Beirut port blast probe

Aug 4 (Reuters) - Lebanon's top Christian cleric Bechara Boutros al-Rai criticised his country's government on Thursday for failing to hold those responsible for the Beirut port blast on August…

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World Bank accuses Lebanese politicians of cruelty over deposit promises

BEIRUT, Aug 3 (Reuters) - The World Bank accused Lebanese politicians of being cruel by asserting that deposits in the country's collapsed banking sector are sacred, saying such slogans "flagrantly…

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