The Day of the Christmas Eve Airstrikes

On December 24, Lebanese editorial priorities shifted from technical financial debates toward a volatile mix of holiday religious appeals and military escalation. In the morning, media outlets focused on Maronite Patriarch Al-Rahi’s Christmas message, which linked spiritual themes to a specific demand for the state to collect all illegal weapons. Simultaneously, editors highlighted President Michel Aoun’s diplomatic activity, particularly his meetings with Iraqi and Saudi envoys aimed at securing reconstruction funds. By midday, the focus turned to security as Israeli airstrikes intensified across southern Lebanon, specifically targeting valleys in Iqlim al-Tuffah and Nabatieh. Pro-Hezbollah and state-aligned outlets framed these as a continuation of ceasefire violations. In the afternoon, the 'financial gap' law remained a point of friction, with Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc officially declaring its reservation toward the $18 billion deposit guarantee plan. By evening, reports of a lethal strike on a vehicle in Jannata dominated the headlines, contrasting the festive atmosphere in Beirut with the persistence of conflict in the south.