“For the first time in years, I feel hopeful”: Reporting from Lebanon, a nation with a new president and without Hezbollah
SOCIETY Maria Alexeeva 10 February 2025 The presidential election in Lebanon resolved a political crisis that had dragged on for more than two years. The new head of state, Joseph Aoun, has promised to combat the mafia and drug trafficking, rebuild the economy, strengthen the army, and restore Lebanon's sovereignty. As hostilities with Israel wind down, residents are returning to the country. Still, fears of a new war are growing.