Lebanon remains locked in a vicious cycle since last year's cease-fire that never truly ended the war and facing an unrestrained Israel.

BEIRUT -- Lebanon and Cyprus signed a long-delayed sea border agreement on Wednesday, ending an almost 20-year impasse that had stalled some oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean Sea, as Europe seeks alternatives to Russian fuel.

Smoke could be seen in the busy Haret Hreik neighborhood, with one video that circulated on social media showing dozens of people crowded around the area of the strike.

Israel killed militant group Hezbollah's top military official in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut, the Israeli military said, despite a U.S.-brokered truce a year ago.

The reality is that Hezbollah no longer poses a threat to Israel, but rather to the Lebanese state itself; whereas Israel represents an existential threat to the state, to Hezbollah, and to Lebanese society as a whole.

The strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs killed five people and wounded 25 others, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said.

The strike comes days before Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit the country and as Israeli airstrikes over southern Lebanon have intensified in recent weeks.

Social media users pondered and debated the design inspiration behind the Lebanese capital’s annual Christmas decorations

Lebanon’s president has announced he will grant citizenship to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, sparking a wave of outrage.