|   | Bonjourein. Pull up a chair — this is Sobhiye's Sunday edition, your weekly look back at the biggest stories out of Lebanon. What a week to recap. Lebanon's president wrapped a four-day Washington visit where Trump pledged to help Lebanon "a lot" and announced U.S. airlines could fly direct to Beirut for the first time since 1985. Meanwhile, the first pilot zones under the June 26 framework went live in the south — with all the friction you'd expect. Back home, parliament's first session ended in a walkout, and a court handed depositors a rare win against Fransabank. Ten stories, one week — let's get into it. |
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Direct US flights to Lebanon are resuming after how many years? Scroll to the bottom for the answer — or play all 10 at sobhiye.news/games/news-quiz |
| | - Aoun Lands in Washington: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun wrapped a four-day Washington visit Tuesday, meeting Trump and Secretary of State Rubio to push for Israeli withdrawal and international support. Trump pledged to help Lebanon "a lot" and surprised everyone by announcing U.S. airlines could resume direct flights to Beirut — the first time since 1985.
- Pilot Zones, Rocky Start: The U.S. State Department announced Monday the launch of operations in three southern pilot zones — Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiyah — marking the first test of the June 26 framework agreement. Israeli troops withdrew from one of the three pilot zones, though the details remained unclear, and citizens were urged to stay away from Zawtar al-Gharbiyah for their safety.
- Hezbollah Threatens Airport: Hezbollah's Political Council deputy Mahmoud Qamati this week threatened to shut down Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport if the government kept blocking Iranian flights and restricting visas for Iranian nationals. The government held firm, citing sovereign security decisions, and said Qamati's remarks wouldn't change existing policy.
- Next Talks Set for Rome: Lebanon and Israel scheduled their next round of U.S.-brokered negotiations for August 4 in Italy, a Lebanese official confirmed Wednesday. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited Zawtar al-Gharbiyah and planted a Lebanese flag, calling the partial Israeli withdrawal a meaningful first step but insisting on full evacuation of all occupied Lebanese territory.
- Court Halts Quarry Licenses: Lebanon's Council of State suspended government decisions that had opened environmentally sensitive areas in Koura, Batroun, and the Chouf to cement company quarrying for ten years. The ruling, issued July 14 following petitions from environmental groups and MPs, found the decisions conflicted with two existing regulatory decrees protecting those regions.
- Fransabank Forced to Repay: In an unprecedented ruling, a Lebanese court ordered Fransabank to fully repay depositor Ayad al-Gharabawi Ibrahim through enforcement proceedings — the first such complete repayment since the 2019 financial collapse. The total payout covered $34,120 in deposits, $13,818 in interest, and roughly 30 million Lebanese liras in enforcement fees.
- Parliament's Troubled Session: Lebanon's parliament — which extended its own term — held its first legislative session this week, descending into familiar dysfunction. The Lebanese Forces walked out over the amnesty law, collapsing the quorum and killing several pending bills including a long-awaited proposal to abolish the death penalty. A last-minute amendment also reintroduced prison sentences for journalists publishing "false news."
- Washington Pressures Damascus: A mid-July meeting between U.S. and Syrian military officials in Damascus revealed Washington renewed demands on Syria's Ahmed al-Sharaa government after it resisted any military role against Hezbollah inside Lebanon. Syria offered tighter border controls as an alternative, while Al-Sharaa rejected direct intervention, calling reports of a planned military role "baseless rumors."
- Tyre Added to Danger List: UNESCO formally added Tyre to its World Heritage in Danger list Wednesday, citing direct Israeli strikes on the southern Lebanese city's ancient Roman sites, including a second-century hippodrome. Lebanon's Culture Minister condemned Israel for violating the Hague Convention, as UNESCO noted conditions for the site's preservation were no longer in place.
- South Lebanon's Tobacco in Crisis: A detailed report this week documented the near-collapse of tobacco farming across southern Lebanon, historically the region's economic backbone. Production fell from roughly 4,627 tons before 2023 to approximately 1,620 tons in 2024, with the 2026 war interrupting the season entirely for most farmers — leaving thousands of displaced growers without income and no clear support plan in sight.
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That's your week in review. Take a breath — we'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning. |
Lebanon news, every weekday morning. Free, sharp, ~5 minutes. |
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