Youssef Diab

Youssef Diab
Features Hezbollah fighters carry the coffin of former Secretary-General Hashem Safieddine during his funeral on February 24, 2025. (AP)

Proposal of Merging Hezbollah Fighters with Lebanese Army Collides with Reality

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s proposal for Hezbollah fighters to be merged with the army has been met with skepticism and provided fodder for political…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)
Arab World Removal of a photo of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah (Beirut Municipality) 

Lebanon Begins Clearing Beirut, Airport Road of Political Banners

Lebanese authorities have launched a sweeping campaign to remove political party flags, posters, and slogans from Beirut’s streets and the main road to Rafic…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)
Arab World A plane takes off from Beirut airport on October 7, 2024 (Reuters).

Beirut Airport Security Moves to Curb Hezbollah’s Influence

Lebanese authorities have begun curbing Hezbollah’s influence at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport by revoking the security clearances of numerous…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)
Arab World 03 September 2020, Lebanon, Beirut: A general view of the damaged Beirut port, the place of a massive explosion that rocked Beirut on 04 August 2020. (dpa)

Judicial Development Reopens Probe into Beirut Port Explosion

Lebanon’s Public Prosecutor Jamal al-Hajjar annulled on Monday a ruling by his predecessor Ghassan Oueidat two years ago that ordered a stop to any cooperation…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)
Arab World A plane takes off from Beirut airport. Reuters file photo

Lebanon Foils Money Smuggling Operation from Iran to Hezbollah via Türkiye

Lebanese airport security intercepted an attempt to smuggle $2.5 million in cash from Iran to Lebanon via Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Türkiye. The funds were…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)
Arab World Lebanese Army soldiers in Parliament’s square, downtown Beirut (dpa file photo)

Lebanese Government Faces Daunting Task to Fill Vacant Positions

The Lebanese government is facing a significant challenge in administrative reform, particularly in filling high-level vacancies in ministries and public…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)
Arab World Supporters of Hezbollah burn tires during a protest in front of the entrance to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, 13 February 2025. (EPA)

Hezbollah Supporters Block Roads to Airport After Tehran Flight Barred from Heading to Beirut

Hezbollah supporters blocked all roads to Lebanon’s only commercial airport with burning tires on Thursday after a passenger plane from Iran wasn’t allowed to…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)
Arab World Lebanese soldiers watch as a military bulldozer reopens a road after army deployment as residents of the southern village of Rabb Thlathin return to their town on February 9, 2025. (Photo by Fadel ITANI / AFP)

Israel Extends Occupation of Southern Lebanon

The Israeli Army is seeking an extension to a Feb. 18 deadline to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, Israel's public broadcaster said on Wednesday,…

Youssef Diab (Beirut)