Latest news with #LBCI
LBCI
a day ago
- General
- LBCI
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LBCI
3 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Border situation: Rumors of foreign militants on Lebanon's border dismissed
Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi For weeks, social media and some media outlets in Lebanon have circulated alarming reports about foreign extremist fighters, including Uyghurs and Chechens, allegedly deployed along Lebanon's northern and eastern borders. Claims of Syrian military build-ups, heightened Lebanese Army reinforcements, and rising border tensions have fueled public anxiety. However, three separate security and field sources speaking to LBCI confirmed these reports are false. They stressed that Lebanon's northern and eastern borders with Syria remain stable, with no unusual military activity from either the Syrian or Lebanese side. The sources denied the presence of Uyghur or Chechen fighters along the frontier and rejected claims of new Lebanese Army deployments, noting that border units have maintained their regular patrols and observation points without any change in operational posture. On the Syrian side, defense sources also confirmed to LBCI that army units are positioned along the border as usual, with no extraordinary movements or escalations. Security officials suggested that these inaccurate reports coincide with political pressures inside Lebanon over the future of Hezbollah's weapons and the ongoing Israeli-Syrian contacts. The timing also overlaps with the anticipated visit of U.S. envoy Tom Barrack to Beirut. According to the sources, spreading false information about extremist fighters along the eastern border could be part of a broader narrative aimed at portraying Hezbollah and the tribal communities in the area as facing imminent security threats. Security agencies expressed concern that such misinformation may be an attempt to distract from other undisclosed developments on the ground. Authorities have intensified internal surveillance to monitor for any suspicious activity within Lebanon. Meanwhile, attention has shifted to real security concerns along Lebanon's southern and southeastern borders, where Israeli military activity has intensified. Israeli forces were seen operating within Lebanese territory near Mount Hermon on Monday. Israel's recent moves included expanding its control over the summit of Mount Hermon, a strategic high ground straddling Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, overlooking vast parts of the region. The occupation of the summit comes as part of Israel's broader expansion into the Golan Heights and southern Syria following the collapse of the previous Syrian regime.
Al Bawaba
4 days ago
- General
- Al Bawaba
AUB Press Hosts Charles Al Hayek at the 66th Beirut Arab International Book Fair: 'How Do We Return History to the Public?'
As part of its participation in the 66th Beirut Arab International Book Fair, AUB Press hosted a compelling discussion titled 'How Do We Return History to the Public?', featuring renowned public historian Charles Al Hayek in conversation with Dr. Bilal Orfali. The event was supported by the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Chair and organized in collaboration with the Center for Arts and Humanities at the American University of Beirut (AUB).Charles Al Hayek is a Lebanese historian, founder of the Heritage and Roots platform, a researcher at AUB, and the creator and host of Lebanon with a Story, a popular history program broadcast on LBCI. The event attracted a diverse audience of established historians, university students, and history Bilal Orfali opened the discussion by addressing the widespread perception of history as a 'dry' subject in schools—often disconnected from the lived experiences of the people it seeks to represent. Al Hayek expanded on this by noting that while Lebanon's history textbooks were last updated in the 1990s, these changes affected content, not pedagogical approach. The result, he argued, is a non-critical engagement with history. He also emphasized the overlooked value of oral histories—stories, poems, zajjal, and other cultural expressions—as vital sources for understanding the past.'Public history,' Al Hayek explained, 'aims to create accessible knowledge that helps people remember where they come from and better understand the present.' This approach not only informs the public about historical events but encourages critical thinking and the asking of difficult conversation then turned to the importance of individual and collective memory in enriching historical narratives. Al Hayek highlighted the need to bring an emotional dimension back into history, arguing that when emotions are present, they are often exploited to serve political ideologies. Conversely, emotionless history risks being alienating and unrelatable. A more humanized approach would highlight not only political milestones and conflicts but also the everyday lives of people living through these asked about the relationship between general and specific historical narratives, Al Hayek emphasized the power of storytelling as a tool for bridging the gap. Narration, he noted, can transform traditional archives into stories that resonate with broader audiences. However, he cautioned that storytelling can also be manipulated when used to support ideological Orfali raised the issue of how digital platforms are reshaping the way younger generations engage with history. While short-form content on social media increases accessibility and democratizes knowledge, Al Hayek warned that it also opens the door for misinformation, especially when content creators lack a background in historical research. He proposed the use of serialized content to maintain depth while retaining audience interest. The discussion concluded with a lively Q&A session, where attendees raised questions about contested historical narratives and how best to navigate them.
LBCI
5 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Internal Syrian opposition: Could Israel and Syria normalize relations soon?
Report by Toni Mrad, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi A headline that once seemed unimaginable—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus—could soon become reality. Israeli media outlets reported ongoing indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel aimed at normalizing relations. Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi went a step further, suggesting that direct talks are already underway. While the timeline for potential normalization remains unclear, with some speculating an accelerated process and others predicting delays into next year or beyond, sources familiar with Syrian affairs told LBCI that any breakthrough in relations between Damascus and Tel Aviv would not come without significant concessions. Should negotiations move forward, the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to secure several key gains, most notably official Israeli recognition of Syria's new leadership. Relations between the two countries have been defined by hostility since Israel's establishment in 1948 and the subsequent Arab-Israeli conflicts. Additional benefits for Syria may include a withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied after December 8, 2024, the date Bashar Al-Assad's regime collapsed and al-Sharaa rose to power. Israel would also reportedly commit to halting its military operations in Syria and agreeing to a security arrangement for southern regions of the country, particularly near the occupied Golan Heights and the Jordanian border. These arrangements would likely regulate military and security activities in those sensitive areas. Beyond Israeli concessions, Syria is also expected to receive backing from the United States, which is playing a key role in mediating the anticipated agreement as the U.S. would lift sanctions on Syria. In return, Israel is expected to secure full sovereignty over the Golan Heights and the Shebaa Farms area, both of which have been under Israeli control since the 1967 Six-Day War. Israeli media reports also suggest the Golan Heights could be transformed into what some have described as a "Peace Park," a term interpreted by analysts as a potential deployment zone for international peacekeeping forces. Despite diplomatic optimism from some quarters, observers warn that al-Sharaa's administration faces serious obstacles to pursuing normalization, among them internal Syrian opposition. Hardline factions, including leaders of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who played a role in toppling the Assad regime, have rejected any rapprochement with Israel. They have also expressed dissatisfaction with al-Sharaa's government over its approach to religious minority protections and growing ties with Washington. Adding to the tense political climate, reports surfaced of an alleged assassination attempt targeting al-Sharaa during his visit to Syria's Daraa province on June 6. While Syrian state media denied the incident, sources told LBCI that a joint operation between Syrian security forces and Turkish intelligence foiled the plot. According to those sources, the suspected mastermind—a member of a local ISIS cell from Daraa—was arrested a day before the president's scheduled visit.
LBCI
6 days ago
- LBCI
'SWAT' officer killed, three others injured during raid in Tripoli (Video)
A member of Lebanon's "SWAT" unit, part of the country's Judicial Police, was killed, and three others — two officers and a soldier — were injured during a raid in Tripoli, according to LBCI sources. The security forces were attempting to arrest a suspect wanted on four warrants related to shootings and murder. The man reportedly threw hand grenades and opened fire on the raid team before eventually surrendering. He was arrested along with members of his family. A post shared by LBCI Lebanon News (@lbcilebanonnews)
