Lebanon

by Fady Noun | GATEWAY TO THE EAST

Syrian forces were deployed in Al-Suwayda yesterday while the city was placed under a curfew. Clashes sparked by an isolated incident have left about a hundred people dead, 60 of them Druze. At stake are the province's new phase of "integration" with Ahmed al-Sharaa's Islamist Syria, as well as its relations with Israel. An attack on a church in Tartus was foiled.

by Fady Noun

With the recognition by the Vatican medical commission that a miracle occurred through his intercession, a "direct, complete and permanent" healing, the Greek Catholic priest, Fr Beshara Abou-Mrad (1853-1930), could soon be proclaimed blessed, this according to the Salvatorian Archimandrite Mtanios Haddad.

| 22/06/2025
| ECCLESIA IN ASIA

Developed by Iran for 20 years as a deterrent, the "Axis of Resistance" is keeping a low profile in this war. From the Iraqi prime minister to the religious leader al-Sadr, the order is to "silence" the "reckless voices" that want to start a war. At least 20 Muslim and Arab nations sign a statement for a nuclear-free Middle East "without exceptions" (a reference to Israel).

| 18/06/2025
| IRAQ – IRAN – ISRAEL
by Fady Noun

The Lebanese president is the first head of state from the region to meet the pontiff. Their meeting comes at the very time of Israel’s attack on Iran. In a statement, the Holy See refers to “good bilateral relations” with Lebanon and expresses support for its “stabilization and reform process”. There are concerns in Lebanon for the new war front, but Hezbollah says that it will not undertake “military initiatives”. The fate of UNIFIL is also at stake.

| 13/06/2025
| VATICAN – LEBANON
by Fady Noun

On the eve of the Eid al-Adha holiday, Israel launched one of its most impressive attacks. Aoun tried in vain to stop the military operation while Israel’s Defence Minister issued new threats. Hezbollah is using Iranian-style "slow diplomacy". Impatience is growing in Israel over US policies in the region.

| 06/06/2025
| LEBANON – ISRAEL
by Fady Noun

In his first visit to Lebanon since 2017, the Palestinian president is committed to disarmament, although without setting a timetable. This complex process is seen in Beirut as a prerequisite for the total end of Hezbollah's armed struggle. The joint statement with President Aoun includes an “implicit” recognition of Israel's right to exist.

| 22/05/2025
| LEBANON – PALESTINE
by Fady Noun

Low turnout in some areas (a meagre 21% in the capital) and the absence of a national vision on decentralisation stand out as key challenges. These factors continue to hinder the emergence of a truly autonomous local authority. Nonetheless, the vote marks a positive step in view of the 2026 parliamentary elections.

| 20/05/2025
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
Editor's choices
 
by Vladimir Rozanskij
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| 16/07/2025
| TAJIKISTAN
 
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| 10/07/2025
| ISRAEL – PALESTINE
 
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| 10/07/2025
| JAPAN
 
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| 09/07/2025
| CHINA
 
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| 07/07/2025
| ITALY
 
by Alessandra De Poli
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| 05/07/2025
| INDIA
 
An investigation by Finance Uncovered has revealed that almost US$ 40 million from state development funds from the United Kingdom, Norway and Denmark have been invested in a company that operates digital surveillance infrastructure and technologies ...
| 04/07/2025
| MYANMAR
 
In the anniversary of the former British colony's transition to the People's Republic, the Hong Kong Democracy Council takes stock of the repression. Of the 161 convicted, 102 are still serving prison sentences. On 14 August, Jimmy Lai's ...
| 01/07/2025
| HONG KONG
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”