Skip to main content
Menu Menu Close
Asia and the Pacific
Western Asia
Flag

Lebanon

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

September 2024

Israel heavily intensifies deadly attacks across Lebanon
Red flag

Israel attacked Lebanon in September, causing major casualties, extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, and mass displacement. On 17 and 18 September, coordinated explosions of manipulated handheld pagers and walkie-talkies distributed to alleged Hezbollah affiliates (including civilians), killed 32 people and injured over 3,250 others. UN experts condemned these attacks as ‘indiscriminate’ and potential war crimes. Israeli airstrikes intensified across the country, with the deadliest attack on 23 September killing 558 people and injuring 1,835 others, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. High-profile political assassinations took place, including the killing of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, along with other senior members of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). However, most of the casualties were unarmed civilians, as reported by Lebanon’s Health Ministry. By the end of the month, 100,000 people had fled to Syria.

Sources: OHCHR, Al Jazeera, The New Arab, Lebanese Ministry of Health, UNFPA, UNHCR, Annahar

April 2024

Surge in anti-Syrian attacks after senior politician abducted and killed

The abduction and killing of politician Pascal Sleiman on 9 April, allegedly at the hands of several Syrians, has triggered a surge in attacks on Syrians living in Lebanon. Media have reported Syrians being assaulted on the street and the UN’s Refugee Agency, UNHCR, received reports from several towns of ‘local residents…issuing threats of mass evictions against Syrians, creating an environment of fear and intimidation.’ Anti-Syrian sentiment is widespread in Lebanon, with many Lebanese, including politicians, blaming the estimated two million Syrians living there for exacerbating the country’s socio-economic problems. Sleiman’s party, the Lebanese Forces, stated that it believed he had been assassinated, implying the involvement of their political rivals, Hezbollah. The allegation, which is denied by Hezbollah, raised fears of sectarian violence. At the end of April, six Syrians were charged with Sleiman’s abduction and murder and the Public Prosecutor said they had been motivated by a desire for a ransom payment.

Sources: The National, The Guardian, Reuters, France 24Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International

February 2024

Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel intensify
Watch flag

Recent developments have seen a significant escalation in the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, characterized by intensified missile and rocket exchanges and airstrikes. The situation deteriorated in early February when Israeli airstrikes resulted in civilian casualties and injuries to a Hezbollah leader. Hezbollah retaliated with a missile attack on an Israeli base causing military casualties. The conflict further intensified on 26 February, with Israel's airstrikes on Baalbek marking the deepest incursion into Lebanese territory since 7 October, prompting Hezbollah to launch a substantial rocket attack on an Israeli base in the Golan Heights. Additionally, Hamas launched rockets from Lebanon into Israel on 28 February. Israel’s attacks have damaged Lebanon's infrastructure and agriculture and have displaced over 86,000 people. Diplomatic efforts are scant, with Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stating attacks on Hezbollah will continue.

Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera, The New Arab, Associated Press, Anadolu Agency, Al Jazeera, Times of Israel

November 2023

Surging conflict in southern Lebanon

Throughout November, violence has escalated in Lebanon amid heightened tensions with ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. The conflict began on 7 October with Hezbollah launching explosive drones and missiles at Israeli positions and Israel responding with airstrikes on several towns and villages in south Lebanon. On 5 November, an Israeli air strike resulted in four civilian deaths, including three children and is being investigated as a potential war crime by Human Rights Watch. Similarly, airstrikes by Hezbollah have reportedly resulted in numerous civilians injured and one casualty. The conflict area appears to be widening, with claims of rocket launches from Hamas within Lebanon towards Israeli cities. The hostilities have caused over 80 fatalities among Hezbollah fighters and at least ten Israeli soldiers, resulting in the displacement of over 46,000 Lebanese residents.

Sources: Reuters, Le Monde, Relief Web, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UNOCHA, Al Jazeera

See all event reports for this country

Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023

Chevron
Representation
106/173
Rights
108/173
Rule of Law
141/173
Participation
59/173

Basic Information

Chevron
Population Tooltip
5 489 739
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Najib Mikati (since 2021)
Head of government party
Azm Movement
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
6.3%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties
18,43
Head of state
President Najib Mikati (Acting)
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
18/01/2021
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
60.27%
Tooltip text

Human Rights Treaties

Chevron
State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
Signatory
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Signatory
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
No Action
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Arab Charter on Human Rights
State Party
in
Tooltip text

Create your monthly alerts

and receive a customized selection of reports directly in your inbox

Sign up

Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
Jun 2024
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov 2024
Representation neutral Rights
Jun 2024
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov 2024
Representation neutral Rule of law
Jun 2024
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov 2024
Representation neutral Participation
Jun 2024
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov 2024

Global State of Democracy Indices

Hover over the trend lines to see the exact data points across the years

Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
0
/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

Use the slider below to see how democratic performance has changed over time

0 10