After 17 years of ceasefire and peace, the dramatic military situation in Lebanon risks overshadowing the economic, financial and social crisis that has gripped and blocked the country. In the past few hours, Palestinian militias in the Gaza Strip have fired 44 rockets at Israel after Israel’s retaliatory bombings of both the Palestinian enclave and targets of the Islamist movement Hamas in southern Lebanon. Of the total number of missiles fired, the military said nine were misfired, 12 hit the Mediterranean and 23 crossed into Israeli territory.
As early as Thursday, tensions escalated sharply with 36 rockets fired from Lebanon – the largest attack from that country since 2006 – and seven rockets from Gaza. Israel blamed Palestinian groups for the launch from Lebanon and warned that Hamas would not allow Lebanon to “operate from within”. An Israeli army spokesman said yesterday’s attack could not be ignored by the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah and that “the Lebanese state is responsible for any attack from its territory”.
All this fits into a socio-economic context of great instability and vulnerability. In Lebanon, the middle class has almost disappeared and public administration is collapsing. The devaluation of the Lebanese lira is so high that 1 euro is 85 thousand liras, families do not have money for gasoline (9-10 euros per liter) and to take their children to school, this also applies to teachers. Money changers proliferate on the streets and take mainly euros and dollars. As a result, many public schools remain closed, health services that were once public are now paid for, public services are on their knees. Citizens rely on the UN mission (Unifil), which has kept Israel and Lebanon apart for four decades, and often seek help. “There is a collective responsibility to explain this situation – sources from the Italian embassy in Beirut explain – and reforms are being asked of politics, but this is not. “Negotiations with the International Monetary Fund have been going on for three years, but without reforms and a presidential election, there will be no help,” he said. Let’s just say that a public servant, teacher, military or local authority now receives 10% of the previous salary.
UN mission
In southern Lebanon, since 2006, order and calm have been exercised by UN resolution 1701 and the Unifil mission (which called for a de-escalation) implemented by a large number of troops, including Italians. Now they are all on alert and the bunkers have been ordered to take shelter as the bases are on fire. Currently, the Western Sector is under Italian leadership with the Folgore parachute brigade under the command of General Roberto Vergori with 3,600 blue helmets of various nationalities. The Italian contingent consists of 1,300 soldiers of all types, of which 800 are paratroopers. Command sees 5 Battalions: Italy, Malaysia, Ghana, South Korea and a battalion of Irish and Poles. They follow the armistice established in 1701 (no real peace was signed), assist the Lebanese government and Armed Forces (Laf, Lebanese armed forces) and support the people. One of the hotspots in the Middle East is the blue line, the dividing line between Israel and Lebanon; Here, in addition to an anti-rocket fence and video surveillance systems, Tel Aviv has already built 17 kilometers of a 170-kilometer wall. Even if the planned Blue Line is well managed by peacekeepers and only minor breaches have been detected so far, the fear is terrorists or enemies or rocket launches.
Economic crisis
Since October last year, the country has been paralyzed at the constitutional level: there is no president (due to intra-party disagreements) and the government is temporary, that is, only regulates current events. Political offices are distributed according to religious divisions: President Maronite Christian, Prime Minister Sunni Muslim, Speaker of Parliament Shia Muslim, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Deputy Prime Minister Greek Orthodox Christian. The region is important, but there is no religious distinction between the inhabitants of the country, and it is common for Muslims and Christians to attend the same schools or to see churches near mosques in cities or newsstands with Madonnas in small villages in the South. Expressing “great appreciation for the Italian contribution to the UNIFIL mission and the training of the Lebanese Armed Forces”, Prime Minister Najib Mikati was received by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni three weeks ago. The two leaders explored themes of cooperation in the fields of energy and development cooperation, as well as migration policies in the Mediterranean. “During the talks, recent developments in the Middle East were also discussed, with particular reference to the issue of Syrian refugees in Syria and Lebanon,” the Govero.it website states. One of the new obstacles facing the small Mediterranean country is immigration. The World Bank said the stalemate was “deliberate management” by an inactive political class. An inertia that has caused the banking system to lose 70 billion euros is the costs citizens pay. The IMF seeks justice, the management of current accounts, deposits considered inviolable by many, however) diplomatic sources summarize. Without debt restructuring and a deposit decision, default is on the horizon. Lebanese who have made a fortune abroad send several billion remittances every year, but that’s not enough. “It is sad to talk about Lebanon, which was a very wealthy country many years ago and now survives thanks to humanitarian aid. The country has natural resources, human capital, tourism, but there is no development model,” they argue at the embassy. With its archaeological and natural sites, beaches and a dreamy sea, tourism can be a gold mine. But all of these are poorly maintained, unused and uninvested.
refugee camps
There have always been refugee camps in Lebanon, Palestinians are in primis, including the camp targeted by Israeli reaction near Tire, and the more notorious Sabra and Shatila camps in Beirut. Those in Syria were added to these after the civil war that started in 2011 and Hezbollah’s Shiite militias also participated. Syrian refugees are not well received by the public. It is seen that they gather in the fields and get angry as much as they can, and many of them beg in the cities. All Lebanese are asking the international community to help them return to their homes. The figures are as vague as ever, but are estimated at two million. UNHCR no longer registers them, diplomatic sources recall, because Lebanon doesn’t want them.
immigration
This is where immigration comes into play. At least 1,500 people left Lebanon’s beautiful coast between 2020 and 2022. Yes, there are Syrians going to Europe – the destination country is Italy – but behind them are the Palestinians and also the Lebanese. It is a phenomenon that may increase further, whether due to the current tension or if political and then economic stability cannot be achieved as soon as possible. The latest agreement between Israel and Lebanon on the operation of an offshore gas field may give Beirut some relief, but for a short time. Just as a contact group led by France and the US, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran said it was willing to provide financial assistance: but without reforms or a president, nothing can be done. And it is the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran (that is, between Sunnis and Shiites) that casts new shadows over the Phoenician country, and for this agreement no one hesitates to anticipate developments that could cover the entire region. Of course, this sudden crisis was also mentioned at the table in Beijing, where the Saudi Arabian and Iranian ambassadors met.
Import Export
Finally, Italy, which has always been at the forefront of peacekeeping missions, has taken a significant hit in exports while remaining the first exporter. We are trying to get back on track with partnerships. In addition to its photovoltaic demands, Cedarland should focus on agriculture (especially fruit and vegetables), industry and medicine. Other countries took the first market shares in Italy and Turkey and China are in the first place. Our country stands out with civil and military cooperation with the construction of water networks, wastewater treatment, health, archaeological heritage, social projects and renewable energy. Highlighted from the embassy, Italy is still among the top ten aid donors.
Source: Today IT

Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.