War on Lebanon
Israeli forces conducted over 20 airstrikes on Friday, targeting various towns in South Lebanon and Beqaa. The Israeli army claimed it was targeting “military sites” belonging to Hezbollah. Another Israeli airstrike targeted a car in Rechknanay, killing a member of Hezbollah. Israeli drones also carried out multiple raids on a car in Naqoura wounding two brothers who were collecting scrap metal.
Israeli forces opened fire on Lebanese residents who were collecting scrap metal in Borj El Mlouk, wounding several people who required hospitalization. In a separate instance, three residents, two Lebanese and a Syrian, were also injured by Israeli fire in Kfarkela.
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox settlers, escorted by Israeli forces, entered Lebanon to visit an alleged religious site. The Lebanese Army condemned the action, calling it a “blatant violation of Lebanese national sovereignty.”
In an interview with Al-Diyar, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri accused Israel of establishing a border strip that extends “a kilometer or two inside Lebanese territory”, characterizing the actions as effectively establishing an occupied zone. Berri also emphasized that Lebanon will not accept any deal that imposes “political or military conditions” on reconstruction aid1.
The U.S. State Department released $95 million in military assistance to the Lebanese Army, a grant that had been frozen as part of Trump’s foreign aid freeze. The same report claims that the three countries have a “quiet understanding” concerning Israeli forces maintaining a presence in key points in South Lebanon until the “Lebanese Army stabilizes the situation.” Lebanese officials have denied these claims multiple times calling them “entirely false.”
The World Bank estimated that $11 billion is needed for reconstruction and recovery following Israeli attacks during the war.
Amnesty International released a statement calling for Israeli attacks on Lebanese healthcare facilities and workers to be investigated as war crimes.
The Lebanese Army announced the dismantling of Israeli spy devices found in Kfarchouba.
Salam Government
The cabinet passed the 2025 budget with a decree, based on the previous government’s budget. Prime Minister Salam stated that the approval intends to prevent delays in “public needs and providing services to citizens.” The approval was met with some criticism, with MP Paula Yacoubian stating that she intends to challenge the decision constitutionally. A law was also passed to exempt those affected by Israeli aggression from certain taxes and fees.
The government’s next challenge will be nominating and appointing individuals to several vacant high-profile positions2, including the heads of security institutions, the army commander, and the governor of Banque du Liban.
Economy
Public education unions sent a letter to Education Minister Rima Karami demanding salary increases. A “productivity bonus” was established in the past few years amid currency depreciation and rising costs of living to aid public sector teachers, whose salaries are still set based on pre-crisis rates3. Karami announced that bonuses will be paid soon following the government’s decree to approve the budget.
Several airlines are resuming flights to Lebanon after months of suspensions and cancellations.
President Aoun
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun flew to Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince bin Salman on Monday in his first official visit to a foreign country. A joint Lebanese-Saudi statement emphasized the importance of implementing the Taif Agreement, need for the full withdrawal of Israeli forces, the state’s exclusive right to bear arms, and the need to enact reforms.
Miscellaneous
Akkar MP Walid Baarini came out in support of federalism recently and told Nida El Watan that Lebanon needs a “federalism of solution, not a federalism of division or war.” In contrast, leader of the PSP4, Taymur Jumblatt, announced his rejection of a federal system calling it a “division project.”5
U.S. President Trump selected Michel Issa to be the new ambassador to Lebanon.
Some outlets and commentators have been talking about aid being blocked from Lebanon until Hezbollah is completely disarmed
Hourly contractors are paid between $1.5 and $2 an hour
Progressive Socialist Party
In the backdrop of Israeli incursions into southern Syria and Israeli officials’ statements about the Druze minorities, some commentators discussed the idea of a “Druze nation” uniting Arab Druze across the Levant. Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt warned against “Israeli plots” to destabilize Arab national security.