The recent return of violence to Lebanon derails hope that the worst of the crises that have plagued the country over the past four years have been left behind. After a spiral of hyperinflation, debt default and crumbling public services , modest signs of economic recovery from one of the “ most severe crisis episodes [seen] globally since the mid-19th century ” was predicted for 2024. But this glimmer of optimism has waned as Lebanon risks being dragged into war with Israel. On January 2, Israel assassinated senior Hamas political officer Saleh al-Arouri in south Beirut after daily rounds of Israeli shelling in southern Lebanon…
