Powerful associates of Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, are making and selling captagon, an illegal amphetamine, creating a new narcostate on the Mediterranean.
Author: Ben Hubbard and Hwaida Saad
Beirut, a City Where Everyone Gets By, Revisits Sectarian Violence
Lebanon’s capital thrives on its religious diversity, but sectarian tensions and memories of civil war lurk just beneath the surface.
With Fuel from Iran, Hezbollah Steps In Where Lebanon Has Failed
The militant group trucked more than 1 million gallons of diesel into Lebanon, flouting U.S. sanctions and billing itself as savior to a suffering population.
A New Investigator Targets Powerful Officials in Beirut Blast Probe
Judge Tariq Bitar is seeking to lift the immunity of prominent political and security figures as part of efforts to prosecute those responsible for the deadly explosion in Beirut’s port last summer.
Lebanon’s Financial Collapse Hits Where It Hurts: The Grocery Store
The country’s currency has sunk to a new low against the dollar, sending prices for once affordable foods soaring out of reach.
Having Won Syria’s War, al-Assad Is Mired in Economic Woes
After a decade of war, the biggest threat now to President Bashar al-Assad is an economic crisis. But at a recent meeting, he had no concrete solutions to his country’s extreme distress.
Prominent Lebanese Critic of Hezbollah Is Killed
Lokman Slim was a rare Shiite Muslim who openly criticized the extremist group for its militancy in Lebanon and the Middle East. He was found dead in a car with multiple bullet wounds.
Another Beirut Fire Breaks Out at Port
Orange flames and a plume of black smoke rose over the city, terrifying residents still recovering from last month’s explosion.
Bartering Child’s Dress for Food: Life in Lebanon’s Economic Crisis
A TV chef abandons unaffordable beef. Blackouts make for sweltering summer nights. Changing money feels like a drug deal: The financial meltdown means daily pain and a blow to a country’s pride.
Lebanon’s Currency Plunges, and Protesters Surge Into Streets
Demonstrations broke out across the country after the pound sank to a new low against the U.S. dollar, obliterating the purchasing power of many Lebanese.