Paula Astih

Paula Astih
Arab World A pickup truck carrying weapons at Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp, northern Lebanon, 13 September 2025. EPA/WAEL HAMZEH

Lebanon: Palestinian Factions Hand Over Weapons in Ain al-Hilweh

The Lebanese state and the Palestinian Authority have taken a major step forward by successfully securing the removal of weapons from the Ain al-Hilweh refugee…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal meets with senior staff, unit and battalion commanders, and a number of officers to discuss the exceptional phase in Lebanon (Army Command). 

Lebanese Army Completes Plan to Place Weapons Under State Control

The Lebanese Army has finalized a comprehensive plan, mandated by the Cabinet on August 5, to ensure that all weapons are brought under state authority by the…

Paula Astih
Arab World Soldiers deployed in the southern suburbs of Beirut during a Hezbollah convoy, on Aug. 7, 2025. (AFP)

‘Shiite Duo’ in Lebanon Retracts Call for Protests against Govt Decisions

The “Shiite duo” of Hezbollah and Amal retracted a call for streets protests against the Lebanese government’s decisions to impose state monopoly over weapons,…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World US Ambassador to Türkiye and Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack (C), and US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus (L) arrive for a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the government palace in Beirut, Lebanon, 18 August 2025. (EPA)

Lebanon Awaiting Syria’s Official Response to US Proposals

Lebanon is not only waiting for Israel’s response to its stance on the US proposals related to a ceasefire, limiting the possession of arms to the state and…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Features Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah group block the streets with burning tires as they rally in cars and motorbikes to protest the government's endorsement of a plan to disarm it, in Beirut's southern suburbs early on August 8, 2025. (AFP)

Can Hezbollah Transition to a Fully Political Party?

Mounting calls in Lebanon for Hezbollah to hand over its weapons and dissolve its armed wing have reignited debate over whether the party’s structure,…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Smoke rises over Baalbek, Hezbollah stronghold near Syria border – AFP

Israel Strikes Hezbollah's 'Radwan Force' Deep Inside Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley

Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes on eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley on Tuesday, targeting Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force in what Israeli officials…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar (NNA)

Lebanon Ready for Syria Pact to Repatriate Non-Terror Convicts

Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar said Beirut had received no warnings from Damascus about potential retaliatory measures to push for the release of…

Paula Astih (Beirut)
Arab World Lebanese Shiite mourners gathered on Monday in Beirut’s southern suburbs to mark Ashura in a ceremony organized by Hezbollah (AFP)

Lebanese Parties Warn Against Hezbollah Keeping Light Weapons

A recent proposal circulating in Lebanon that would allow Hezbollah to retain its light weapons while surrendering heavy and medium arms has triggered…

Paula Astih (Beirut)