Old colonial powers are bidding for influence in Lebanon
Their efforts may drag the country into yet more conflict
AS CELEBRATIONS GO, it was sombre. A century earlier French officials stood in Beirut’s imposing Résidence des Pins (the French ambassador’s villa) and carved Lebanon out of their mandate in Syria. On September 1st Emmanuel Macron travelled there to mark the event—and to lecture the politicians who have helped turn Lebanon into a failed state.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “The sultan et le président”
Middle East & Africa September 5th 2020
From the September 5th 2020 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionDiscover more
As Syria’s regime collapses, Erdogan eyes victory over the Kurds
They are suddenly isolated and weakened. Worse may be to come
As Syria’s new leaders settle in, life in the capital resumes
Government employees look ready to take orders from a fresh set of rulers
Exploiting disarray in Syria, Israel grabs more of the Golan Heights
The incursions are neither justified nor necessary
Inside Bashar al-Assad’s dungeons
With the dictator gone, Syrians are desperately searching for loved ones lost in his prisons
Who will rule Syria now the Assad regime has been toppled?
Syrians are hoping for a peaceful transition of power. They may not get it
The fall of Syria’s dictator
After the rebels’ astonishingly swift advance, Bashar al-Assad has fled