The Day of the Al-Qubba Rescue Race

On January 25, 2026, Lebanese media remained fixated on the aftermath of the Al-Qubba building collapse in Tripoli. Throughout the morning, headlines tracked the agonizing efforts to reach survivors, specifically Elissar Omar, while reports highlighted that 105 buildings in the city faced immediate evacuation orders. This domestic crisis shared the front pages with reports of a brief atmospheric respite before an approaching winter storm. By early afternoon, the narrative shifted toward military and diplomatic tensions. Editors focused on Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s continued presence in Paris, emphasizing the 'second phase' of Hezbollah’s disarmament as a prerequisite for international military aid. Simultaneously, reports emerged of a series of Israeli strikes targeting 'hangars' and infrastructure in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa, resulting in casualties. In the evening, attention turned to Hezbollah’s internal and regional posturing. Media outlets highlighted Naim Qassem’s pledge regarding prisoner releases and his scheduled speech to support Iran, while analysts weighed the impact of potential U.S. 'deterrence' strategies under the Trump administration.