Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 19, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Lebanon’s economy resilient, but reforms needed to renew growth, IMF says
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleWASHINGTON — Lebanon’s economy has shown resilience despite conflicts in the region, with tourism fueling a bit of a rebound, but restoring growth will require comprehensive reforms, the International Monetary Fund says.
IMF spokeswoman Julie Kozack says the IMF remained in discussions with Lebanese authorities, following their request for an IMF-supported program in March 2025, including a staff mission to Beirut in early February.
Discussions were focused on two big issues, she says, citing the need for banking sector restructuring and a medium-term fiscal strategy.
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