Lebanon-Syria relations

Kristian Lee Baxter (C), a Canadian formerly held captive by the Syrian government, pats the shoulder of the Lebanese Head of General Security Major-General Abbas Ibrahim (L), during a press conference with Canada's ambassador to Lebanon Emanuelle Lamoureux (R), following Baxter's release after an eight-month captivity, in the Lebanese capital Beirut on August 9, 2019. (Photo by MOHAMMAD AL-SAHILI / AFP)

August 9, 2019, 5:56 pm

Canadian citizen freed from Syria after Lebanese mediation

Kristian Lee Baxter reportedly detained for 8 months while in war-torn Syria, where he was traveling seeking an adventure; ‘I didn’t know if anyone knew if I was alive,’ he says

By Sarah El Deeb

A refugee child looks out of a bus window that will take him home to Syria, in the northern Beirut suburb of Burj Hammoud, Lebanon, January 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

January 24, 2019, 3:40 pm

Hundreds of Syrian refugees return home from Lebanon

Beirut authorities organize cross-border bus convoy, though most still refuse to return to their country over concerns for safety and welfare

By AP and TOI staff

In this Tuesday, December 18, 2018, photo, Syrian refugee women hold their children as they sit in Ouzai refugee compound, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

December 23, 2018, 12:11 pm

As Syria war winds down, refugees in nearby Lebanon stay put

Despite hardships, few Syrians who fled the country’s brutal seven-year war believe they will find safety and employment if they return home

By Bassem Mroue

Lebanese premier-designate Saad Hariri speaks to the press in front of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon after the presentation of the closings arguments in the trial of four Hezbollah suspects accused of 2005 assassination of his father the late Lebanese prime minister on September 10, 2018, in The Hague.
(AFP PHOTO / ANP / Bas CZERWINSKI )

September 11, 2018, 5:02 pm

Hariri calls for justice at trial of Hezbollah men suspected of killing father

Incoming Lebanese PM attends closing arguments at UN-backed tribunal investigating the assassination of Rafiq Hariri; Hezbollah refuses to hand over suspects

By Danny Kemp

A picture taken on April 3, 2018 shows campaign posters, for the upcoming Lebanese parliamentary election, hanging in the Tariq Jedideh district of Beirut. (AFP Photo/Anwar Amro)

April 18, 2018, 6:14 am

Hezbollah rising as election fever hits Lebanon, nine years since last vote

New electoral system has shaken up the political scene for Israel’s northern neighbor, but observers fear changes could help terror group Hezbollah sweep parliamentary seats

By Maya Gebeily

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri speaks at a press conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron (not pictured) at the Elysee Palace in Paris on September 1, 2017. (AFP Photo/Ludovic Marin)

November 4, 2017, 11:14 pm

With Hariri’s resignation, Lebanon now a full on Iranian proxy for all to see

Lebanese PM’s decision to step down comes as little surprise, given his father’s fate when he fell afoul of Hezbollah and its patrons in Tehran and Damascus

By Avi Issacharoff

In this photo taken on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, left, arrives for a mass funeral of ten Lebanese soldiers at the Lebanese Defense Ministry, in Yarzeh near Beirut, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

November 4, 2017, 4:58 pm

Lebanon’s Hariri: Political scion and Hezbollah critic

The two-time prime minister resigns, fearing that he could share the fate of his assassinated father Rafik Hariri

By AFP

Illustrative: Civilians and members of the armed forces carry the flag draped coffin of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Brig. Gen. Mohammad Ali Allahdadi during his funeral ceremony outside the Guard compound in Tehran, Iran, January 21, 2015 (photo credit: AP/Vahid Salemi)

August 31, 2017, 2:19 pm

Body of Iranian fighter killed and held by Islamic State returned

Handover is part of Hezbollah-brokered deal to clear IS fighters from an area along the Lebanon-Syria border

By AP

This photo provided on Monday, Aug 28, 2017 by the government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media, shows buses gathering before a planned evacuation of Islamic State group militants, in the mountainous region of Qalamoun, Syria. (Syrian Central Military Media, via AP)

August 30, 2017, 8:10 am

Lebanon’s negotiated IS evacuation angers many

Iraqis accuse Syria and Hezbollah of dumping militants on border, Beirut defends transfer as only way to uncover fate of captured soldiers

By Zeina Karam and Sinan Salaheddin

Syrian pro-government forces hold a position in the western Qalamoun, on August 20, 2017, during an offensive against Islamic State (IS) group fighters. (AFP PHOTO / STRINGER)

August 21, 2017, 1:40 am

3 Lebanese soldiers killed as IS pushed back on Syrian border

Military recaptures two-thirds of the territory held by jihadist group in Jurud Ras Baalbek and Jurud al-Qaa regions

By AFP

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri waves to journalists, shown before his election upon his arrival to the parliament building in Beirut, Lebanon, October 31, 2016. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

December 18, 2016, 11:21 pm

Lebanon gets new government led by Saad Hariri

Government will have two ministers from Hezbollah, priority will be to deal with ‘the fires ravaging our region’

By AFP

Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri waves to his supporters after casting his ballot during municipal elections, outside a voting station in Beirut, Lebanon, May 8, 2016. (AP/Hussein Malla)

November 3, 2016, 2:50 pm

Lebanon’s Hariri to form government, but path tough

Hopes the influential Sunni leader can tackle economic, political challenges likely to be stymied due to differences with Hezbollah

By Sara Hussein

Michel Aoun speaks to journalists on October 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

October 28, 2016, 11:13 pm

Hezbollah ally set to become president of Lebanon

Michel Aoun’s likely election by parliament next week will boost the Shiite group, Assad and Iran, to Saudi detriment

By Zeina Karam

Lebanese politician Michel Aoun in 2015 (screen capture: YouTube)

October 20, 2016, 2:29 am

Ex-army head, Hezbollah ally Aoun tipped for Lebanon presidency

Saad Hariri, former premier and longtime opponent of Shiite terror group, reportedly decides to endorse the appointment

By AFP

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah addressing supporters via satellite link during a rally in the southern Lebanese border village of Aita in August 2013. (photo credit: AP/Mohammed Zaatari)

March 29, 2016, 1:49 pm

Kuwait to deport 60 Lebanese for alleged Hezbollah links

EU reportedly looking into blacklisting Shiite group as Gulf states press sanctions

By AFP