Underwater winter wonderland

Dear reader,

In recent days, parts of the main coastal highway became rivers. Ground-floor shops — and, at one point, even Beirut’s international airport — were inundated with water, sewage drains spewing excess rain onto sidestreets like fountains. No, readers, we’re not describing a water park — this was Lebanon after the briefest of winter rainstorms.

It is well known that garbage- and sewage-clogged drains have been left to wreak havoc over the years. In financial crisis-stricken Lebanon, with its outdated and worn-down infrastructure, routine winter floods are an apt metaphor for the country’s ongoing woes.

For one, besides being without a president or fully empowered prime minister for over a year, Lebanon could soon face a vacancy at the level of army chief. Current army head Gen. Joseph Aoun’s term is set to end with his retirement in January, with no clear line of succession. Today’s cabinet meeting, where caretaker ministers were meant to discuss a solution to the impending vacuum, was simply postponed after a lack of quorum.

All the while, conflict still simmers along Lebanon’s southern border. Israeli strikes are hitting residential parts of Lebanese border villages, and the war’s progression remains unclear. The signs have been worrying. Israel’s defense minister told the US yesterday that its fight against Hamas will last « more than several months » and, today, Israel reportedly rained leaflets over south Lebanon, warning residents that Hezbollah is « infiltrating » their homes.

As we watch it all unfold together, we’ll continue to keep you up to date with the latest developments in the coming days and weeks.

L’Orient Today

In case you missed them, here’s our feature coverage from this past week: