Lebanon going back to IMF, sidelining Hezbollah: Report

Lebanon plans to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to strike a deal on the country’s financial default and public debt, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Beirut’s move to the US-backed lender reflects how Lebanon’s new government is breaking with years of positions that Hezbollah advocated for, pulling the impoverished Mediterranean country away from Iran and Hezbollah’s grasp and towards the US. 

On Monday, Lebanon's government indefinitely suspended flights to and from Iran after Israel warned it could shoot them down, alleging Iran was using them to resupply Hezbollah.

The Lebanese army fired tear gas on Saturday at Hezbollah supporters protesting the move. 

The UN said a convoy of its peacekeepers was attacked going to Beirut's airport. The attack was blamed on Hezbollah supporters. The group appeared to try and distance itself from the attack. 

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