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Arab News
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
What happens in Beirut matters to Ankara
With the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, Turkiye's relations with Syria's neighbors such as Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq, have entered a new phase. In Lebanon last week, Turkiye and its position in the region was a significant topic of discussion. Syria lies between Turkiye and Lebanon, and both are significantly influenced by the political and security dynamics arising from the Syrian Arab Republic. Syria's path to stability is the most critical issue aligning Turkish and Lebanese interests. Turkiye has recently included Lebanon in the regional security alliance it leads alongside Syria's other neighbors, including Jordan and Iraq. Although Lebanon is a small state and not always a central focus in Turkiye's foreign policy agenda, Turkiye is keen to have a significant footprint in the country and appears poised to deepen its relations further with the new Cabinet in Beirut. Turkiye is not a newcomer to Lebanon. It played an important role in brokering a ceasefire in the Israel-Lebanon war in 2006. Since then, Turkish troops have participated in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, established under UN Security Council Resolution 1701, actively contributing to the peacekeeping and monitoring mission. The Turkish parliament renews the mandate for Turkish troops' presence in Lebanon each year. Turkiye was also active policy in the resolution of Lebanon's presidential crisis in 2007 and 2008. The crisis ended when Lebanese factions signed an agreement in Doha in 2008. Turkiye's diplomatic engagement in that agreement, and the formation of a national unity government in Lebanon, contributed to a positive perception of Turkiye in the country. In 2010, Turkiye included Lebanon in its initiative to create a free trade zone with Syria and Jordan. Dr. Sinem Cengiz Turkiye also financially supported the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, established through UN Security Council Resolution 1757, to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik. In 2010, Turkiye included Lebanon in its initiative to create a free trade zone with Syria and Jordan, and proposed a visa-free travel area. These plans were disrupted by the beginning of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Although Turkiye's Lebanon policy is under-prioritized, with no consistent long-term strategy, since Assad's collapse and the weakening of Iranian proxies Turkiye is recalibrating its policy toward Syria's neighbors, including Lebanon. According to Dr. Tuba Yıldız, an expert on Turkish-Lebanese relations, Turkiye has no foreign policy approach specifically tailored to Lebanon. 'The most important issue for Turkiye is Lebanon's relationship with the new Syrian leadership and the erosion of Iran's influence over Lebanon. Turkiye is closely monitoring this. While Lebanon is also cautiously aligning itself with Turkiye's policies. Turkiye's position in the new Syria has been a driving force behind this approach,' she said. Turkiye's new approach to Lebanon appears to rest on four main pillars: winning hearts and minds through soft power, deepening bilateral trade, counterbalancing the influence of Iran and Israel in Lebanon, and strengthening ties between Beirut and Damascus. Lebanon is entering a new phase that is likely to reshape its relations with regional actors. After a two-year deadlock, the election of a new president and the appointment of a prime minister are promising signs. Both leaders are perceived favorably by Turkiye and the Gulf states. To move forward, Lebanon must be fully reintegrated into the regional system. Turkiye has a key role to play here, particularly in helping Lebanon become part of new regional security and economic alliances. Lebanese politicians hold expectations for their relations with Turkiye as they view their country's relations with Ankara important, especially in the context of Turkiye's growing role in Syria. This sentiment was echoed when former Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said: 'Lebanon has been through a severe crisis, but we have learned that our trust in Allah, and in our friends, especially Turkiye, has been our strength.' Lebanese politicians hold expectations for their relations with Turkiye as they view their country's relations with Ankara important. Dr. Sinem Cengiz Lebanon and Syria share more than a border: their political and security futures are deeply intertwined. The recent visit of the new Lebanese prime minister to Damascus signals a potential turning point. For Turkiye, this visit is a positive development, reinforcing the Levantine cooperation essential for not only Syria's stability, but also Lebanon's stability. Given its current vulnerabilities, Lebanon is in no position to confront Israel directly. It requires security assurances from regional powers, including Turkiye. Regional states do not want the war to expand to Lebanon and through strengthening military cooperation with Lebanon, they could help ensure security and stability in the country. Geostrategically, Lebanon has an economic significance for Turkiye beyond its proximity to Syria. Lebanon is an actor in the eastern Mediterranean, where Turkiye has substantial interests. In the past few years, Turkiye has found itself excluded from the equation formed there by Arab and European states. Ankara is therefore seeking new partners to strengthen its position in the eastern Mediterranean, and Lebanon could be one such partner. Lebanon is a country that needs strong regional support, from both Turkiye and Arab countries. Despite its domestic challenges and security vulnerabilities, Lebanon's stability is significant not only for Syria but also for the broader region.
Arab News
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Lebanon looks back, but is April 13 best forgotten?
Do we really have to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the start of the Lebanese civil war? We are still too busy still thinking of the more recent conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and we are not even sure it is over yet. More importantly, the people who fought each other in that so-called civil war are now the staunchest of allies in a political confrontation with Hezbollah about its arms and its role in the current war. What is the point of reminding them that at one point they were killing each other? Memory, as the philosopher Bashshar Haydar explained, is internalized. This ideally means that past events are digested and what remains are the useful lessons, with the useless toxic bits discarded. Historically, the Lebanese norm is a form of amnesia, but ignoring a painful past also means a desire to move on, a will to forgive and forget, of looking forward instead of back. The point is to take measures for it not to happen again, and there are many popular proverbs that support this attitude of 'turning the page,' 'mention it but never repeat it,' 'stuff it in the saddle bag,' and ignore it. This is not South Africa with truth commissions and accountability, unsure how it helps the healing if you have to reopen old wounds. Accountability also needs a clear picture of the guilty party, which may not help if you have to find a way of living together again. Clarity is also overrated — each side deals with the truth in their own way, and there develops a common language. After the 1860 massacres in Mount Lebanon there was an agreement that 'what is past is past' and the parties resisted European suggestions of separate cantons. The result was a formula for coexistence that remains to this day, a council with representation from all communities, and where none can dominate over the others. This was repeated over the years: in the constitution of 1926, the National Pact of 1943 and the Taif agreement of 1989. The Lebanese love their freedom to the point of anarchy Nadim Shehadi In 2005, during the Cedar Revolution, demonstrators asked for the truth and for accountability via a UN-sponsored investigation and a Special Tribunal for Lebanon. But when the truth came and was confirmed by the tribunal, it was too hot to handle and was quietly ignored. Nobody is asking for accountability; the truth became a memory, and was internalized, and we moved on. Agreements are, of course, always broken, and they are repaired or patched up with slogans such as 'no victor and no vanquished'' after 1958, 'one Lebanon and not two,' or the Baabda Declaration of 2012 where the different parties pledged to recuse themselves from following their instincts to interfere in the Syrian war and respect Lebanese sovereignty. This was again broken by Hezbollah, which not only joined the action in Syria, but also dragged the country into another destructive war with Israel. A new generation seems to think differently and is asking. what is wrong with us? Hezbollah did not exist before 1982, so it cannot be the only problem. They are asking for a radical revision of the system almost to the point of destroying it. The revolt of October 2019 had a nihilistic and populist bent to it; the masses were shouting slogans against the whole political class, political parties, banks, the economic system, and the power-sharing formula which they describe as sectarianism. Some even ask for a strong leader, an Ataturk or a benevolent dictator because we have all failed and deserve no better. What they seem to be asking for resembles nothing in Lebanon. But my hope is that through these discussions they will end up appreciating their history better and maintaining the spirit of the power-sharing formula that characterizes the country. What makes me optimistic is that sometimes there is a difference between what people think, what they say, and what they end up doing. The best way to understand this is to observe what is happening now. Hezbollah is not being held responsible — there are no calls for accountability for the destruction, deaths and human suffering that resulted from a war that it chose to wage with no consultation with the rest of the country. It is not being asked for damages; the whole country is accepting it will assume responsibility for reconstruction. Instead Hezbollah is being encouraged to apply the Taif Agreement by disarming and joining the political process. It is a subconscious repetition of the old slogans, letting bygones be bygones, 'the past is past,' there are 'no winners and no losers,' and there is 'one Lebanon, not two.' During the war this fall, displaced Hezbollah supporters were received with open arms, even in the areas that opposed it most. Those who fought each other are now the staunchest of allies Nadim Shehadi It is almost like a selective memory is paving the way again for an eventual amnesia, forgetting what happened and moving on. Even though it sounds like I am advocating against the commemoration of April 13, I find one reasoning for doing so to be valid, that of historian Makram Rabah of the American University of Beirut. Rabah, who specializes in memory and oral history, advocates for the commemoration in order to avoid the misuse of memory by spoilers and trouble-makers. This does not necessarily mean that there should be an official common account of history, but of a continuous discussion of a variety of perspectives. One danger is that an official version of a common history has sometimes accompanied the call for memory. This is done with the best of intentions — such as the aim to maintain social cohesiveness and preserve national unity, sovereignty, and equality among citizens, similar to Kemalist Turkiye. This can, in fact, hinder a positive discussion, with anyone who thinks critically of the official version then accused of fomenting division and becoming a threat to national unity and social cohesion. Then the common version becomes like an oppressive big brother-type narrative, with its own vocabulary that no one can question. Another obvious conclusion to avoid is that there is a zero-sum game between freedom and security. The Lebanese love their freedom to the point of anarchy. But when chaos sets in, they become more accepting of authority to the point they also tolerate limits to their freedoms. The argument is that both the PLO in the 1960s and Hezbollah as states within a state were regional phenomena which could only flourish in Lebanon because of the weak state and excessive freedom. Neither could have succeeded in an authoritarian society such Assad's Syria or Saddam's Iraq, but we should also avoid moving toward seeing them as desirable models.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Changing political landscape in Lebanon, Syria prompts Saad Hariri's comeback
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Lebanon's Sunni leader and former prime minister, Saad Hariri, who suspended his political activity more than three years ago, made a comeback on Friday amid changing political landscape marked by the weakening of Iran-backed Hezbollah and Syrian President Bashar Assad's ouster. Hezbollah and Syria under Assad were accused of having masterminded and executed the assassination of his father and former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a massive truck-bomb explosion that targeted his convoy on Feb.14, 2005, in Beirut. Addressing tens of thousands of his followers who flocked from different Lebanese regions to Beirut's Martyr's Square, where his slain father is buried, Saad Hariri said that 20 years ago they "asked for justice" and succeeded in forcing Syrian troops to withdraw from the country, ending their nearly 30-year presence. He also referred to the "heroic" Syrian people who "rose up" and ousted Assad last December after "30 years of sectarian rule, suffering, injustice, killing, arrest, torture and brutality." "Perhaps this is the beginning of justice, and perhaps this is its end," Hariri said. "In both cases, you have seen that if the justice of the Earth does not do us justice, no one can escape the justice of God." The Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the first tribunal of international character to prosecute terrorist crimes, convicted Selim Ayyach, a high-ranking Hezbollah member, for Hariri's assassination. Ayyach, who reportedly was killed in an Israeli strike near the Syrian city of al-Qusayr last year, and three other Hezbollah members, who were acquitted, were tried in absentia. A fifth defendant, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, died in Syria in 2016 and was dropped from the indictment. He was described by prosecutors as "controller of the operation" to assassinate Hariri. But the tribunal failed to determine who ordered the killing at a time when the militant group kept denying any link. Saad Hariri, who came to power when he was chosen to succeed his slain father, decided to withdraw from politics in January 2022 after he was convinced that there was "no room for any positive opportunity for Lebanon with Iranian influence." He said Friday that he was the only political leader who took part of the responsibility for the many major crises that "exhausted the Lebanese" over the past 20 years. "We assumed our responsibility with courage, submitted my resignation and suspended political work ... for 3 years or more," he said. "But the crises increased, and the most dangerous one was the recent Israeli war" against Hezbollah that resulted in the killing and injury of more than 20,000 people in Lebanon and large destruction in Beirut's southern suburbs, southern and eastern Lebanon. The once-powerful Hezbollah was greatly weakened after suffering devastating blows during 14 months of a destructive war with Israel that killed its top leaders and dismantled its military infrastructure. The war, which started in October 2023 in support of Gaza, ended with a U.S.-brokered cease-fire agreement Nov 27. Hariri said Lebanon now has "a golden opportunity" to rebuild the country and be "a normal state," as well as to secure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from villages they still occupy in south Lebanon. He called on the Shiite community that supports Hezbollah to engage as "partners" in the process. Hariri said his Future Movement will remain and "will be the voice" of his followers in all national elections, referring to the upcoming municipality elections scheduled for next May and the parliamentary elections in May 2026. His comments indicated that he decided to re-engage his political party, but it was not clear whether or when he would return to politics. He has been living in the United Arab Emirates since 2022. Mustafa Allouch, former deputy head of the Future Movement, said Hariri's decision was "the start," but it is yet to be seen the steps that he will take. Allouch, however, noted that he did not refer to Hezbollah's role in his father's killing "may be for some internal political reasons." "Hariri was always convinced that Bashar Assad was the main one behind the assassination of his father," he told UPI, adding that Assad who fled to Russia was "out of the equation" now while the Iranian regime "is close to fall[ing]." It was not clear whether Hariri, who quit politics three years ago after he was reportedly abandoned by his main backer, Saudi Arabia, and his internal allies, secured an Arab "cover" for his return. "The big changes in Lebanon and the region are the reasons behind his return to politics ... nothing else," Allouch said, explaining that Hariri misinterpreted the Saudi "indifference" at that time as "unwillingness to support him." Hariri, who once enjoyed strong support from the Saudi oil-rich kingdom, might be able to win Riyadh back on his side after a large crowd of his followers reconfirmed their allegiance to him as a Sunni and national leader. "Would Saudi Arabia be affected by that? ... I don't know," Allouch said. Hariri's relationship with the regional heavyweight initially deteriorated because of his conciliatory attitude while in power toward Hezbollah, whose leaders used to harshly criticize and insult Saudi rulers. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon have also strained over the past years because of Riyadh's mounting concerns over Lebanon drifting away from its Arab arena and adopting Hezbollah positions, in addition to the continuous smuggling of drugs from Lebanon to the kingdom and other Gulf countries. The weakening of Hezbollah, and consequently Iran in Lebanon, and the disruption of drug smuggling from Syria via Lebanon after Assad's overthrow, have completely changed the scene. Saudi Arabia was now willing to help Lebanon reconstruct its war-ravaged regions and revive its ailing economy, but on the condition that it finally implements required and necessary reforms.
Asharq Al-Awsat
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon Marks 20th Anniversary of Rafik Hariri's Assassination amid Political Shifts
Tens of thousands of supporters gathered in downtown Beirut on Friday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination, which comes amid seismic regional political shifts. The ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December after 54 years of family rule in Syria marked the fall of a government long accused of orchestrating Hariri's assassination and other political killings in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Lebanese group Hezbollah — whose members were convicted by a UN-backed tribunal for their role in Hariri's murder — now faces its own turning point following the assassination of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in an Israeli airstrike in September. Nasrallah's funeral is set for February 23. "This is the beginning of justice. If the justice of the earth did not serve us, no one escapes the justice of heaven," said Hariri's son, former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, as he addressed a huge crowd in the capital Beirut. "After 20 years, Rafik Hariri's project is continuing, and those who tried to kill the project, look where they are now," Saad added. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, appointed in early February, visited Hariri's burial site earlier Friday. "Today, we remember the legacy of the great martyr in serving Lebanon, preserving its national unity, and working for its prosperity," Salam wrote on X. "He was greatly respected in the Arab world and the world, leaving Lebanon with a remarkable moral and political legacy." Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun also paid tribute to Hariri, saying on X that Hariri's "national stances were a fundamental building block in strengthening national unity and protecting civil peace." Hariri was killed on Feb. 14, 2005, when a massive bomb exploded near the St. Georges Hotel, a historic landmark on Beirut's waterfront. The blast killed 21 other people and injured over 200. In 2020, a UN-backed tribunal convicted one member of the Iran-backed Hezbollah group and acquitted three others of involvement in the assassination. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Salim Ayyash was guilty as a co-conspirator of five charges linked to his involvement in the suicide truck bombing. None of the suspects was ever arrested or attended court to hear the verdicts. The assassination of Hariri ignited the "Cedar Revolution," leading to massive protests against Syria's nearly three-decade political hegemony and military presence in Lebanon, ultimately culminating in the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005. The assassination also intensified sectarian divisions within Lebanon and bolstered the political influence of Assad's ally, Hezbollah. Hopes that Lebanon 'would unite' Buses from across Lebanon arrived early, bringing supporters to downtown Beirut to commemorate the anniversary. Thousands of people filled the streets and waved Lebanese flags and the blue flag of Hariri's Future Movement to songs honoring Hariri's memory. "After the Syrian and Iranian guardianship ended and the ousting of the Syrian regime, the Lebanese state alone rules us," Mohammad Kanaan told The Associated Press. "In this square, you expelled Bashar Assad from Lebanon," Saad said during his speech. "And after twenty years of sectarian rule, detention and brutality, the heroic Syrian people rose up and expelled the criminal from Syria." Another supporter, Ahmad Serhal, said he hoped that "Lebanon would unite" after the departure of Assad. "All the political shifts are for the good of this country. Lebanon is for all the Lebanese, we need to reach an agreement and unite." "God took revenge upon those who assassinated president Rafik — from ousting Assad, from ousting the system that is allied with Iran," Ahmad Trab said. "We hope for a better future now with Syria." Israeli withdrawal deadline looms The anniversary of Hariri's death comes just four days before the deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon under a ceasefire agreement that ended a 14-month war with Hezbollah in late November. The ceasefire deal also stipulates that Hezbollah must end its military presence south of the Litani River, with the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers deploying in the vacated areas. The pullout deadline, initially set for Jan. 26, was postponed to Feb. 18. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Lebanon "absolutely rejects" an Israeli proposal to keep troops in five strategic border points after the withdrawal. "It is the responsibility of the Americans to impose (the withdrawal), otherwise they will have caused the biggest setback for the government," he said. Aoun has also insisted that Israel must adhere to the agreed-upon timeline. During his speech, Saad also emphasized the need for the Israeli army's withdrawal from Lebanon. Saad addressed the people of southern and eastern Lebanon, regions largely supporters of and influenced by Hezbollah, urging them to seize Lebanon's golden opportunity while dispelling any perception of being "a force of obstruction." Renewed Arab engagement On Feb. 8, Lebanon formed a new government led by Salam, the first fully empowered administration since 2022. Salam, a former president of the International Court of Justice, was appointed following the election of Aoun in January. The 24-member cabinet includes a mix of technocrats and political figures, representing various sects, including Hezbollah's allies. Although Hezbollah did not formally endorse Salam's appointment, the group negotiated during the government formation process. The United States has expressed support for the new government, emphasizing the importance of stability and reforms, though opposing Hezbollah's direct participation in the cabinet. Salam's government now faces Lebanon's longstanding economic crisis and an urgent need to implement key financial reforms. The political shift has reopened the door for renewed Arab countries that previously distanced themselves from Lebanon due to the growing influence of Iran and Hezbollah. The countries are now reassessing their approach, with hopes of reintegrating Lebanon into the Arab fold.
Al Arabiya
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Lebanon marks 20th anniversary of Rafik Hariri's assassination amid political shifts
Thousands of supporters gathered in downtown Beirut Friday to commemorate the 20th anniversary of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination, which comes amid seismic regional political shifts. The ousting of Al-Assad in December after 54 years of family rule in Syria marked the fall of a government long accused of orchestrating Hariri's assassination and other political killings in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah–whose members were convicted by a UN-backed tribunal for their role in Hariri's murder–now faces its own turning point following the assassination of its leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike in September. Nasrallah's funeral is set for February 23. 'This is the beginning of justice. If the justice of the earth did not serve us, no one escapes the justice of heaven,' said Hariri's son, former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, as he addressed a huge crowd in the capital, Beirut. 'After 20 years, Rafik Hariri's project is continuing, and those who tried to kill the project, look where they are now,' Saad added. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, appointed in early February, visited Hariri's burial site earlier Friday. 'Today we remember the legacy of the great martyr in serving Lebanon, preserving its national unity and working for its prosperity,' Salam wrote on X. 'He was greatly respected in the Arab world and the world, leaving Lebanon with a remarkable moral and political legacy.' Lebanon's president, Joseph Aoun, also paid tribute to Hariri, saying on X that Hariri's national stances were a fundamental building block in strengthening national unity and protecting civil peace. Hariri was killed on Feb. 14, 2005, when a massive bomb exploded near the St. Georges Hotel, a historic landmark on Beirut's waterfront. The blast killed 21 other people and injured over 200. In 2020, a UN-backed tribunal convicted one member of the terrorist group Hezbollah and acquitted three others of involvement in the assassination. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon said Salim Ayyash was guilty as a co-conspirator of five charges linked to his involvement in the suicide truck bombing. None of the suspects was ever arrested or attended court to hear the verdicts. The assassination of Hariri ignited the Cedar Revolution, leading to massive protests against Syria's nearly three-decade military presence in Lebanon, ultimately culminating in the withdrawal of Syrian troops in 2005. The assassination also intensified sectarian divisions within Lebanon and bolstered the political influence of al-Assad's ally, Hezbollah. Buses from across Lebanon arrived early, bringing supporters to downtown Beirut to commemorate the anniversary. Thousands of people filled the streets and waved Lebanese flags and the blue flag of Hariri's Future Movement to songs honoring Hariri's memory. 'After the Syrian and Iranian guardianship ended and the ousting of the Syrian regime, the Lebanese state alone rules us,' Mohammad Kanaan told The Associated Press. 'In this square you expelled Al-Assad from Lebanon,' Saad said during his speech. 'And after twenty years of sectarian rule, detention and brutality, the heroic Syrian people rose up and expelled the criminal from Syria.' Another supporter, Ahmad Serhal, said he hoped that Lebanon would unite after the departure of al-Assad. 'All the political shifts are for the good of this country. Lebanon is for all the Lebanese; we need to reach an agreement and unite. God took revenge upon those who assassinated president Rafik–from ousting Al-Assad, from ousting the system that is allied with Iran,' Ahmad Trab said. 'We hope for a better future now with Syria.' The anniversary of Hariri's death comes just four days before the deadline for Israeli troops to withdraw from southern Lebanon under a cease-fire agreement that ended a 14-month war with Hezbollah in late November. The cease-fire deal also stipulates that Hezbollah must end its military presence south of the Litani River, with the Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers deploying in the vacated areas. The pullout deadline, initially set for Jan. 26, was postponed to Feb. 18. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Lebanon absolutely rejects an Israeli proposal to keep troops in five strategic border points after the withdrawal. 'It is the responsibility of the Americans to impose (the withdrawal); otherwise they will have caused the biggest setback for the government,' he said. Aoun has also insisted that Israel must adhere to the agreed-upon timeline. During his speech, Saad also emphasized the need for the Israeli army's withdrawal from Lebanon. Saad addressed the people of southern and eastern Lebanon regions, largely supporters of and influenced by Hezbollah, urging them to seize Lebanon's golden opportunity while dispelling any perception of being a force of obstruction. On Feb. 8, Lebanon formed a new government led by Salam, the first fully empowered administration since 2022. Salam, a former president of the International Court of Justice, was appointed following the election of Aoun in January. The 24-member cabinet includes a mix of technocrats and political figures representing various sects, including Hezbollah's allies. Although Hezbollah did not formally endorse Salam's appointment, the group negotiated during the government formation process. The US has expressed support for the new government, emphasizing the importance of stability and reforms, though opposing Hezbollah's direct participation in the cabinet. Salam's government now faces Lebanon's longstanding economic crisis and an urgent need to implement key financial reforms. The political shift has reopened the door for renewed Arab engagement, particularly from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which had previously distanced themselves from Lebanon due to the growing influence of Iran and its ally Hezbollah. These countries, which had strong ties with Lebanon under Hariri, are now reassessing their approach with hopes of reintegrating Lebanon into the Arab fold.
