The San Francisco chapter of SEAL (Social and Economic Action for Lebanon) once again turned out for Lebanon on Sunday, October 18, 2026, raising close to $800,000 for Lebanese farmers at its annual benefit gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in Palo Alto.

The nonprofit has worked from the U.S. East Coast for more than a quarter century, and this year marked its fifth consecutive gala in California. More than 200 guests and donors filled the ballroom, hosted by Roula Tamer, chair of SEAL’s board of directors, alongside fellow board members and the event committee.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri believes Lebanon is in dire need of unity. In remarks published Thursday in al-Joumhouria, he called on the Lebanese people to unite and avoid provocative or sectarian speech.

Berri said the situation in the country is "delicate" and demands a great deal of awareness, wisdom, and genuine partnership among all domestic components.

U.S.-sponsored military meetings between Lebanon and Israel began yesterday in Tampa, Florida, and will continue today under U.S. auspices.

The aim is to discuss the necessary practical steps to implement security arrangements, at a time when disagreements persist over several issues -- most notably the mechanisms for monitoring commitments and the entity that will be tasked with verifying their implementation.

Cabinet will hold a session at 3:00 PM Thursday at the Presidential Palace to discuss a number of vital issues covering financial, judicial and administrative matters.

The agenda also includes a request from the Ministry of Justice to refer the case of explosives seized in Dahr al-Baidar, as well as those seized in the al-Qasr area, to the Judicial Council – the country’s highest criminal court that deals with national security issues.

Speaker Nabih Berri has stressed that "stability and protecting the country are everyone's responsibility," calling on "all parties" to stop everything that would increase tension and deepen internal divisions.

Commenting on recent sectarian tensions, he told al-Akhbar newspaper: "Is it reasonable for matters to reach the point of preventing a Lebanese from buying property in a Lebanese region because of his sectarian background?"

President Joseph Aoun warned Wednesday that “the trajectory of wars always differs from what both sides expect,” cautioning that “war can only end through negotiation and dialogue, whereas its continuation leads to further destruction, casualties and bloodshed.”

"The primary objective of negotiations is to achieve the Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories, secure the release of captives, ensure the return of displaced persons, rebuild, and deploy the army across all Lebanese territory. There is no disagreement in Lebanon regarding these goals; rather, the difference lies in the approach and method of achieving them,” the president said during a meeting in Baabda with a delegation from the Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church, led by Patriarch John X Yazigi.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel is “committed” to bringing down the Iranian regime, which will in turn topple Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Speaking at the newly-built Tel Hai University in Kiryat Shmona, next to the Lebanese border, Netanyahu said while the Israeli army has made major progress in pushing back Hezbollah, he is “committed to finishing the job.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that his country would organize a conference to support the Lebanese Army after Israeli elections this month, decrying what he called untenable pressure on Beirut.

Israeli troops currently occupy a swathe of south Lebanon after invading in March, while Lebanese authorities are under pressure to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The Lebanese Army has accused the Israeli army of voicing “false claims” regarding the Lebanese military's operations in the area south of the Litani River in an attempt to “cast doubt on its ability to carry out its assigned tasks.”

Israeli Army Arabic-language spokesperson Lt. Col. Ella Waweya had released footage on Tuesday on the X platform allegedly showing Hezbollah operatives loading weapons onto a truck in order to move them from a site in the southern town of Kafra. She accused the Lebanese Army of failing to clear south Lebanon of Hezbollah's arms and of coordinating with Hezbollah to help them move their weapons out of the Kafra site.

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam have asked the army and security agencies to “prepare for military and security-related operations in Dahieh, Beirut, the Bekaa and the South” targeting Hezbollah, the pro-Hezbollah al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

“Information began leaking about intentions to raid apartments and warehouses in Dahieh. These developments prompted Hezbollah to act quickly, informing security and military authorities that while it understands they are carrying out orders issued by the political leadership, it warned that automatic execution of such directives could lead to an internal confrontation,” the daily said.