Lebanon Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

President Joseph Aoun’s Vision for Lebanon: Engaging Hezbollah and Iran Amid Regional Shifts

President Joseph Aoun's election is seen as a hopeful step towards recovery and reconstruction in Lebanon, with both domestic and international support bolstering prospects for positive change. Lebanon’s parliament elected a…

January 20, 2025Hezbollah, Iran, Lebanon

Governance National Security Terrorism

Who is the New Hezbollah’s leader Naim Qassem?

In a leadership transition amid the ongoing wars in Lebanon and Gaza, Hezbollah’s Shura Council elected Shia cleric Naim Qassem as its new Secretary-General. The appointment follows the assassination by Israel of former…

November 6, 2024Hezbollah, Iran, Israel, Lebanon

Energy Geoeconomics

Lebanon Israel maritime agreement: neither peace nor war

Agreement reached Tuesday 11, October In Israel, the premier announced a "historic" agreement between Lebanon and Israel, but without revealing its content. The agreement "will strengthen Israel's security, inject billions…

October 14, 2022Hezbollah, Israel, Lebanon

Energy Governance

Lebanon and Israel – dispute in progress

"There is still work to be done," said the American envoy Amos Hochstein, who is responsible for indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel on their common maritime border, after a…

September 12, 2022Israel, Lebanon

Economy Governance

The new Lebanese government – a relief without great expectations

After 13 months of waiting, from September 10th, Lebanon has a new government. The resignation of the previous government came following the explosion at the port of Beirut on August…

September 14, 2021Lebanon

Opinion

Lebanon, one step away from bankruptcy

In August, in Beirut, the weather is hot and sweltering. The inhabitants are forced to sleep on the balconies, because they cannot use the air conditioning. There is no electricity…

August 25, 2021Lebanon

Geopolitics

Russia seeking to buy up Hezbollah’s engagement

The Kremlin is more and more gambling on foreign terrorism network, set to become an assault force for Russia to tackle the geopolitical issues, and sabotage the effort by the…

March 16, 2021Hezbollah, Lebanon, Russia

Energy

Lebanon and Israel. Not peace’s negotiations, but equally important

Lebanon and Israel are two countries in a state of war. Yet an interesting signal came in early October. The two have given their agreement to start negotiations with the…

October 23, 2020Gerta Zaimi, Israel, Lebanon

Terrorism

Lebanon – the STL verdict on the Hariri murder

On February 14, 2005, a 1000 kg explosion of TNT killed the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 21 others, including the Minister of Economy and the Prime Minister's bodyguards.…

August 26, 2020CTL, Gerta Zaimi, Hezbollah, Lebanon, Rafiq Hariri, Syria

Governance

Lebanon – hostage to a corrupt politics and to a pro-Iranian armed movement

August 4th is the day of what is called the Lebanese ground zero. The explosions were caused by the presence of 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate. The official thesis so…

August 12, 2020Gerta Zaimi, Hezbollah, Lebanon

Lebanon