Paula Astih

Paula Astih
Arab World Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal and security chiefs inspect a State Security building struck by Israel (File photo: Lebanese Presidency). 

Lebanese Army Chief’s Remarks Spark Political Row

Remarks by Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haykal on the military’s role and national policy have sparked a political dispute over the army’s authority,…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World A photo of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and senior official Hashem Safieddine at Beirut's Sports City during their funeral last February (Reuters)

From Tehran to Beirut: Who Controls Hezbollah's Decision to Go to War?

As Lebanese citizens await the repercussions of the US and Israeli election results on their country's domestic situation, and whether these will lead to a…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Rubble from buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes during a press tour organized by the Hezbollah media office in the Ruwais neighborhood, southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, 06 May 2026. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH

Hezbollah Bristles at ‘Friends of Lebanon’ Statement

Hezbollah lashed out at a statement by the embassies of five “Friends of Lebanon” countries — Britain, the United States, Australia, Canada and Japan —…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Syrian refugees at a camp in the town of Saadnayel in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley last June. (AFP)

Aoun: Lebanon Can No Longer Accommodate More Displaced Syrians

Although around 700,000 displaced Syrians have returned to their country since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024, the influx into Lebanon has…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World A supporter of Hezbollah holds a placard reading in Arabic "We will not leave the weapon" during a gathering held to mark the 2nd anniversary of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's death at the site where he died in Beirut, Lebanon, 26 September 2026. (EPA)

What Has Lebanon So Far Implemented in its Ban on Hezbollah’s Military Activities?

The seizure of a Hezbollah explosives shipment in eastern Lebanon has reignited questions over the government's enforcement of a ban on the group's military…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World A man removes debris from his destroyed house, in Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh village, southern Lebanon, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. (AP)

Fear of Another War Weighs on Lebanon amid Regional Tensions

Lebanese people are once again confronting the possibility of war as mounting regional tensions raise fears that their country could be drawn into a wider…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Hezbollah supporters hold up a portrait of the group’s former secretaries-general, Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine, during the second anniversary of their assassinations in Beirut’s southern suburbs (AP). 

Washington Targets Hezbollah’s Alternative Funding Networks

The United States is stepping up efforts to track alternative financing channels used by Hezbollah as tighter sanctions threaten its traditional sources of…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Hezbollah supporters hold a portrait of former Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on the second anniversary of his assassination in Beirut’s southern suburbs (Reuters). 

Hezbollah Seeks to Ease Supporters’ Anger With Pledge to Cover Displaced Families’ Rent

Hezbollah is seeking to ease growing anger among its supporters by pledging to contribute to housing costs for families who lost their homes in the war, nearly…

Paula Astih (Beirut)