As Lebanon finishes its municipal elections amid ongoing political tensions, Gaza remains under siege and is still starving despite limited humanitarian aid beginning to arrive. Meanwhile, Syria sees a cautious easing of relations with the US lifting sanctions
After multiple delays and a turbulent political backdrop, Lebanon has finally completed its long-overdue municipal elections. The third and penultimate round of voting took place on Sunday across Beirut and the eastern governorates of the Beqaa and Baalbek-Hermel, where voters were caught in a familiar tug-of-war between establishment forces and reformist challengers hoping to gain ground.
Polling stations opened their doors at dawn, with citizens casting ballots until 7 p.m. The process, staggered over four weekends, has already covered Mount Lebanon and the North, with the South set to conclude the electoral cycle next week.
Sunday’s vote was the first municipal election since 2016—originally scheduled for 2022 but repeatedly postponed due to financial hurdles, a national vote, and the resumption of conflict along the border with Israel.
In Beirut, however, the mood was far from electrified. Voter turnout hovered around 21 percent—an anemic figure reflecting both political fatigue and deep-rooted skepticism about real change. Six campaign lists competed for control of the capital’s 24-member municipal council, a body traditionally split evenly between Muslims and Christians in accordance with Lebanon’s confessional power-sharing formula.
At the center of the contest was “Beirut Btejmaana” (Beirut Unites Us), a coalition representing an unlikely convergence of establishment parties—often adversaries on the national stage—who have banded together in the face of growing opposition. Their main rival, “Beirut Madinati” (Beirut is My City), leads the reformist front, aiming to reclaim a city many believe has been neglected by the ruling class.
Critics were quick to point out the contradictions in the “Beirut Btejmaana” alliance, where traditional enemies like Hezbollah and the Lebanese Forces are now running on the same list. Reformists and civil society groups have decried what they describe as “opportunistic alliances” designed to keep independent voices out of power.
Unlike Lebanon’s parliamentary elections, which are governed by a proportional system with sectarian quotas, municipal elections operate on a majoritarian, winner-takes-all model—often skewing results in favor of the most organized and well-funded lists.
Meanwhile, attention is now turning to the south, where Saturday’s vote carries significant political weight. The region—dominated by Hezbollah and its ally, Amal—saw high voter participation, especially in areas devastated by the 2024 conflict with Israel. Towns like Kfar Kila, heavily damaged by airstrikes, saw residents head to polling stations in nearby cities like Nabatieh and Tyre.
The elections are widely viewed as a referendum on Hezbollah’s local influence, which appears unshaken. Many councils in the south were already secured unopposed by the Hezbollah-Amal alliance.
President Joseph Aoun, touring southern villages on election day, cast his own ballot for the first time in four decades in his hometown of Aaichiyeh. “The will to live is stronger than death,” he told reporters, praising residents’ resilience in the face of destruction.
Among those voting were Hezbollah fighters still recovering from Israel’s September attacks, during which thousands of pagers detonated in coordinated blasts, leaving scores dead and thousands more wounded.
As the country closes the chapter on this long-postponed election cycle, the results may offer more insight into Lebanon’s entrenched political dynamics than any hope for immediate change.
In Lebanon
New statement: Hezbollah’s Sheikh Naim Qassem praised Army Commander Gen. Rodolph Haykal’s statement as patriotic, reaffirming the group’s commitment to the “army, people, resistance” equation.
He said Israel’s expansion into Lebanon is over and rejected any demands until Israel withdraws, ends aggression, and releases captives.
Qassem accused the U.S. of violating Lebanese sovereignty, adding that pressure won’t achieve what war couldn’t. He called for urgent reconstruction and said the resistance is here to stay.
New arrest: Lebanon’s army announced Saturday it had arrested a key suspect in the 2024 killing of Christian political official Pascal Sleiman, with assistance from Syria’s new authorities.
Sleiman, a coordinator for the Lebanese Forces (LF) in Byblos, was abducted and killed in what the army initially described as a carjacking by a Syrian gang. His body was taken across the border.
The suspect, now in custody, leads a gang involved in kidnapping and robbery and faces numerous arrest warrants, the army said. Investigations are ongoing.
Sleiman’s killing sparked outrage, with the LF calling it a political assassination and many blaming Hezbollah, which denied involvement. Anti-Syrian sentiment surged at the time, amid rising tensions and the presence of large numbers of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Disarming the Palestinians: A joint Lebanese-Palestinian committee has held its first meeting to begin planning the disarmament of Palestinian factions in Lebanon’s refugee camps.
The Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee met Friday with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in attendance, agreeing to launch a disarmament process based on a set timetable.
The committee also pledged to work on improving the economic and social rights of Palestinian refugees.
A Lebanese government source told AFP that disarmament could begin as early as mid-June in the country’s 12 official camps, where factions like Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad operate outside state control under a long-standing arrangement.
Ambassadors meeting: British and Canadian ambassadors hosted a reception honoring Lebanese media’s role in reform and accountability.
They emphasized the importance of press freedom for democracy and paid tribute to journalists working in South Lebanon and those killed on the job.
Both ambassadors reaffirmed their countries’ support for independent journalism in Lebanon and beyond.
Abbas visit: During a three-day visit to Lebanon, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to a framework to disarm Palestinian factions in the country.
After meeting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, both leaders affirmed that all weapons must fall under state control, declaring the era of non-state arms “over.”
The disarmament plan is set to begin in Beirut’s refugee camps, then extend to the Bekaa Valley and north in July, with a final phase targeting camps in the south.
The move is part of broader efforts to consolidate state authority amid pressure to disarm armed groups following Lebanon’s ceasefire with Israel.
In The Region
Gaza hell: An Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis killed nine of Dr. Alaa al-Najjar’s ten children, according to Nasser Hospital, where she works as a pediatrician. Her husband and one surviving son, 11-year-old Adam, were injured.
British surgeon Graeme Groom, who treated Adam, described the situation as “unbearably cruel.” The Israeli military deliberately targeted civilians under the pretense of suspects near IDF troops.
Gaza’s health ministry said the strike hit shortly after Dr. al-Najjar’s husband returned home. UN officials have condemned the worsening humanitarian crisis, with aid still falling far short of Gaza’s needs.
Helping Americans: The new Syrian authorities have agreed to help the U.S. locate and return missing American citizens or their remains, U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said Sunday, calling it a “powerful step forward.” The announcement follows the formal lifting of U.S. sanctions on Syria, signaling improved ties.
Barrack named Austin Tice, Majd Kamalmaz, and Kayla Mueller among those needing closure. A Syrian source said 11 other Syrian-Americans are also on the U.S. list. Syria’s foreign ministry welcomed the move, calling it a step toward easing the country’s humanitarian and economic crisis.
A talk in Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Istanbul on Saturday, Turkish media reported. The talks came just after the U.S. announced it would lift sanctions on Syria to aid reconstruction.
The meeting at Dolmabahce Palace included foreign ministers, Turkey’s defense minister, and intelligence chief, as well as Syria’s Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra. Earlier talks between Turkish and Syrian officials focused on disarming the Kurdish YPG group and integrating them into Syrian security forces.
New aid: Backed by the US, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) will start delivering aid in Gaza on May 26, aiming to reach over one million people by week’s end and expand further.
Its executive director, Jake Wood, resigned citing concerns over the foundation’s independence and failure to fully follow humanitarian principles.
Founded in February, GHF has faced UN criticism for its Israel-backed aid plans relying only on private companies, which may increase displacement and violence.
Limited aid has entered Gaza recently after international pressure forced Israel to ease its blockade since March.
Iran slams US: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Trump’s remarks disgraceful and accused him of lying about wanting peace, pointing to US backing of violence against Palestinians. He called Israel a “dangerous cancerous tumour” that must be uprooted.
President Masoud Pezeshkian said Trump’s message of peace was contradicted by threats and support for Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza.
What We Are Reading
Shifting regional dynamics: Journalist Rodayna Raydan reports on the UAE’s recent decision to lift its travel advisory for Lebanon, signaling a thaw in relations and a broader Gulf willingness to re-engage with Beirut. This move follows diplomatic efforts and high-level visits aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, including economic and institutional cooperation.
The comfort of contradiction: Political psychologist Dr. Ramzi Abou Ismail analyzes the Lebanese Forces’ dual identity as both a traditional political entity and an anti-establishment force. He explores how this paradox resonates with young voters seeking stability amidst Lebanon’s political turmoil, offering a blend of heritage and resistance without demanding radical change.
The Phoenix economy: Economist Maan Barazy examines the contrasting economic futures of Lebanon and Syria in the wake of recent developments. He highlights Syria’s potential for reconstruction and modernization, with access to significant international funding, while Lebanon struggles with institutional challenges and limited aid, raising concerns about regional economic imbalances.
