|   | Shou el akhbar? It's Sunā day, which means it's time for the weekly recap, a look back at the stories that shaped Lebanon's week. The good news came first. Swimmer Thea Obeid won silver at the Youth Olympics in Dakar, Lebanon's best-ever result at the Games and its first Olympic swimming medal. Then came the heavier stuff. Judge Tarek Bitar questioned four retired generals in the Beirut port explosion probe, and with UNIFIL's mandate ending in Decā ember, the debate over who watches the south afterward kept growing. On the money front, the central bank raised monthly withdrawal ceilings for depositors, though Lebanon stayed on the FATF grey list. Grab your coffee. |
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Ā Which country is reportedly pushing to deploy private security companies in South Lebanon after UNIFIL ends? Scroll to the bottom for the answer ā or play all 10 at sobhiye.news/games/news-quiz |
Ā | | - Silver Splash: Swimmer Thea Obeid won silver in the 50-meter breaststroke at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics. It's Lebanon's best-ever result at the Games across all sports, and the country's first Olympic swimming medal at youth or senior level. She had also reached the 100-meter final.
- Port Blast Generals Grilled: On Wednesā day, Judge Tarek Bitar questioned four retired generals, including former army chief of staff Walid Salman, as suspects in the Beirut port explosion probe. Charges came via a Court of Cassation prosecutor's indictment. Bitar made no release or detention decision, and his own indictment is expected before year's end.
- Private Eyes for the South: With UNIFIL's mandate ending in Decā ember 2026, reports surfaced of a US idea to use private firms for surveillance and intelligence in the south. Official and government sources told Al-Modon Beirut rejected it. Lebanon's army commander separately said UNIFIL's presence should continue to document violations.
- Hezbollah Starts Paying: On Monā day, Hezbollah began distributing its first housing aid since the Marā ch escalation, offering up to $14,000 in Beirut and its southern suburbs and $12,000 elsewhere. Payments, split into four installments over a year, began in the Nabatieh area. Authorities count more than 290,000 homes damaged or destroyed since Octā ober 2023.
- Withdrawal Limits Rise: The central bank raised monthly withdrawal ceilings for depositors under Circulars 158 and 166. Circular 166 holders can now take $600 monthly, $400 in cash and $200 by card. Circular 158 holders get $1,200, split $800 and $400, offering breathing room.
- Still on the Grey List: Lebanon missed an exit from the FATF grey list at the Octā ober plenary, with 10 requirements still outstanding. The watchdog wants more money-laundering prosecutions, clearer company ownership records, and tighter tracking of cross-border cash and gold. Bulgaria, Monaco, CĆ“te d'Ivoire and Congo did exit.
- Berlin Stays Put: Germany's deputy defence minister told The National his country will keep training and assisting the Lebanese military after UNIFIL ends. Germany won't send ground troops, and Italy, France and Spain lead talks on a European successor. Separately, EU ministers approved a three-year civilian-military advisory mission for Lebanon.
- Ottawa Ups Its Support: On Friā day, Canada's Anita Anand and Lebanon's Youssef Raggi launched the Canada-Lebanon Partnership for Security and Resilience. It funds counter-terrorism training for army special forces, reconciliation work, and clearance of unexploded ordnance. The two also agreed on an annual senior officials' dialogue.
- Detainee in Ramla: A Gazan detainee's wife told Al-Modon that Lebanese prisoner Hussein Sharif is held in Ramla prison's underground Rakefet section. She described scant food, no sunlight, and beatings. Lebanon's human rights commission documents 40 cases of Lebanese captured, detained or missing, with the Red Cross's access to Sharif unconfirmed.
- Child Abuse Exposes Gaps: A video of a 10-year-old Syrian boy working in a Tripoli garage went viral after he described being raped, prompting State Security to detain a 60-year-old suspect. Daraj reported the family had feared the suspect's influential relatives. The case highlights thin protection for child workers and a lack of national abuse statistics.
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That's your week, folks. Take your time with the coffee this morning, and we'll be back in your inbox toā morrow. |
Ā Lebanon news, every weekday morning. Free, sharp, ~5 minutes. |
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