🌳 This Week's Recap

By Simon Tchaghlassian, Founder & Editor

Sobhiye Daily · Sunday, September 13, 2026 · 3 min read

Sun⁠day, Sep⁠ 13

Bonjourein. It's Sun⁠day, and that means we're taking a step back to look at the week that was — because Lebanon gave us plenty to process.

The south dominated the headlines again: Israel demolished the Ali al-Taher tunnel network and redrew what it's calling a new security zone, while parliament speaker Berri declared the framework agreement had effectively collapsed. At the same time, the Lebanese Army's deployment into Nabatieh — welcomed with flowers by residents — offered a rare, quietly significant image of state reach in the region.

Back home, schools braced for Sep⁠tember 15 with 80 still sheltering displaced families, and Lebanon launched its first updated curriculum in 30 years. A full week. Let's get into it.

NEWS QUIZ from this week's headlines

Which Lebanese media platforms were linked to Israeli government propaganda networks in the Al-Safir Al-Arabi investigation?

Megaphone and Daraj

L'Orient-Le Jour and Nahar

This Is Beirut and Ici Beirut

MTV Lebanon and LBC

Scroll to the bottom for the answer — or play all 10 at sobhiye.news/games/news-quiz

THIS WEEK IN LEBANON

📷

almodon.com

South Lebanon's New Fault Line: Israel's systematic destruction of the Ali al-Taher tunnel network — followed by Netanyahu's visit to the border displaying seized weapons — signaled a redefined Israeli "security zone" stretching from the coast to Mount Hermon. Speaker Berri warned that the framework agreement had effectively collapsed, while Israeli officials announced Rome talks Lebanon hadn't yet been formally notified about.
Media, Propaganda, and the Sehnaoui Platforms: An investigation by Al-Mofakera Al-Qanouniyya revealed that three Sehnaoui-funded outlets — This Is Beirut, Ici Beirut, and Huna Lubnan — published four reports and 13 posts over six months by a contributor who identifies publicly as an Israeli army volunteer, embedded within networks linked to Israel's Foreign Ministry hasbara apparatus.
Army Deploys to Nabatieh: The Lebanese Army expanded patrols throughout Nabatieh mid-week as residents welcomed soldiers with flowers and rice — a rare public embrace of state authority in a Hezbollah-dominated region. Speaker Berri and P⁠M Salam reportedly agreed on further army deployment to the Iqlim al-Tuffah area, amid ongoing Israeli incursions and explosions in surrounding villages.
Arab League Backs Weapons Monopoly: The Arab League Council unanimously endorsed Lebanon's Mar⁠ch 2 decisions at its Cairo ministerial session on Mon⁠day, reaffirming support for concentrating weapons exclusively within the army and legitimate security forces. The resolution also condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon.
Amnesty Law Suspended: Lebanon's Constitutional Council voted Thurs⁠day to temporarily freeze the General Amnesty Law — passed by parliament and signed by President Aoun — blocking the release of an estimated 3,000 prisoners pending a full appeal review. The "Strong Lebanon" bloc had challenged the law, arguing it improperly extended sentence reductions to those convicted of serious crimes.
Beirut Port Doubling Capacity: Port of Beirut director Marwan Naffi announced a $100 million CMA CGM-funded expansion that will more than double annual container capacity — from 1.2–1.3 million units to⁠day to roughly 3 million by 2028. The port also joined the IMEC ports club, positioning Beirut and Tripoli as nodes in the India–Middle East–Europe trade corridor.
Gas Pipeline Moves Forward: Jordan's government formally approved a plan to supply natural gas to Lebanon via Aqaba, Syria, and a rehabilitated northern pipeline segment. Technical company TGS had already repaired a detected leak along the 30-plus kilometer Deir Ammar stretch, with a full cleaning operation — taking four to five weeks — needed before the line becomes operational.
War Deepened Gender-Based Violence: Aid organizations KAFA and ABAAD documented a sharp wartime surge in gender-based violence, with psychological abuse rising from 47% of reported cases before the spring conflict to 65% during it. UN Women estimated that more than 85% of displaced women lived in informal housing, while survivors described overcrowded shelters, financial hardship, and no safe place to report abuse.
Schools Caught Between Students and Displaced: With the academic year set to open Sep⁠tember 15, roughly 80 official schools were still being used as displacement shelters, housing part of the 340,000-plus people still unable to return home. Some 30 schools were set to operate simultaneously as schools and shelters, while damage to 257 school buildings — including 28 fully destroyed — further strained an already stretched system.
New Curricula, Finally: Lebanon launched the optional experimental phase of its first updated national curriculum in 30 years, covering nursery and second-grade classes. The Educational Center head stressed the rollout would be gradual and field-tested rather than imposed wholesale, with a new history curriculum — the first in 60 years — and a citizenship competency integrated across all subjects, not siloed into a single civics class.