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Airlines Reduce Number of Flights to Beirut

A general view shows Beirut airport, Lebanon June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A general view shows Beirut airport, Lebanon June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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Airlines Reduce Number of Flights to Beirut

A general view shows Beirut airport, Lebanon June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
A general view shows Beirut airport, Lebanon June 19, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

The financial and economic crisis in Lebanon has had an effect on all vital sectors, especially tourism. On the eve of Christmas and New Year, the country seemed devoid of joy that usually surrounded the streets.
 
Travel and tourism companies have seen a sharp decline in reservations for the holidays. Sources at Rafic Hariri International Airport told Asharq Al-Awsat that several airlines have reduced the number of their inbound and outbound flights. They added that this reduction was linked to the cancellation of many reservations, and not for any other reason.
 
Tourism companies that used to promote their offers two months ago seem almost absent from the social media. They have been unable to pay the salaries of their employees and cover the expenses of their offices in Lebanon and abroad.
 
Christelle Majdalani, Sales Manager at Nakhal for Travel and Tourism (one of the largest travel companies in Lebanon), told Asharq Al-Awsat that the financial and economic crisis has had a negative impact on the tourism sector and on the Lebanese reservations abroad.
 
“Travel reservations for Christmas and New Year holidays outside the country have fallen to 10 percent,” she said.

“Citizens residing in Lebanon prefer to stay home because of the scarcity of liquidity, burdens of life and inflation,” she added.
 
Turkey and Egypt remain the first destination for the Lebanese wishing to travel for leisure, due to very reasonable prices and the low exchange rate against the US dollar, compared to European countries.
 
Majdalani noted that those who booked flights to travel abroad for the holidays were the ones who have external funding sources, and cash transfers from parents or children working abroad, but they are few.
 
The crisis is also impacting hotels and restaurants. A source at the Hotel Owners Syndicate told Asharq Al-Awsat that reservations this year were almost at their lowest levels.

“A large number of tourism institutions will not organize special events on Christmas and New Year due to the difficult economic conditions,” the sources said.
 

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Security Council Urges Syrian Authorities to Protect Minorities

Security personnel inspect vehicles at a checkpoint set up to confiscate stolen items, in Latakia, Syria March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Security personnel inspect vehicles at a checkpoint set up to confiscate stolen items, in Latakia, Syria March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
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Security Council Urges Syrian Authorities to Protect Minorities

Security personnel inspect vehicles at a checkpoint set up to confiscate stolen items, in Latakia, Syria March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Security personnel inspect vehicles at a checkpoint set up to confiscate stolen items, in Latakia, Syria March 14, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

The UN Security Council has condemned the widespread violence in several provinces in Syria, calling on the interim authorities “to protect all Syrians without distinction.”

In a presidential statement it adopted unanimously on Friday, the Council “condemned the widespread violence perpetrated in Syria’s Latakia and Tartus provinces since 6 March — including mass killings of civilians among the Alawite community.”

The Council “condemned attacks targeting civilian infrastructure” and “called on all parties to immediately cease all violence and inflammatory activities and ensure the protection of all civilian populations and infrastructure, as well as humanitarian operations.”

It said “all parties and States must ensure full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to those affected and the humane treatment of all persons. The Council also urged a rapid increase of humanitarian support across Syria.”

The Council “called for swift, transparent, independent, impartial and comprehensive investigations to ensure accountability and bring all perpetrators of violence against civilians to justice.”

It took note of the Syrian interim authorities’ establishment of an independent committee to investigate such violence and identify those responsible.

The Council also noted the Syrian decision to establish a committee for civil peace.

It renewed its call for an inclusive political process led and owned by Syrians, facilitated by the UN and based on the principles outlined in resolution 2254. “This includes safeguarding the rights of all Syrians — regardless of ethnicity or religion — meeting their legitimate aspirations and enabling them to peacefully, independently and democratically determine their futures.”

Meanwhile, the Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, hoped that the Constitutional Declaration issued by the Syrian authorities “will move Syria toward restoring the rule of law and promoting an orderly inclusive transition.”

Pedersen issued a statement on the fourteenth anniversary of the war in Syria.

“Now is the time for bold moves to create a genuinely credible and inclusive transitional government and legislative body; a constitutional framework and process to draft a new constitution for the long term that is credible and inclusive too; and genuine transitional justice,” he said.

“More than three months since the fall of the Assad regime, Syria now stands at a pivotal moment,” he added.

The Special Envoy called for “an immediate end to all violence and for protection of civilians in accordance with international law” and called “for a credible independent investigation into the recent killings and violence, and for the full cooperation of the caretaker authorities with the United Nations in this regard.”