Qatar has been at the forefront of the countries supporting Lebanon throughout past crises, from the 2006 war, Beirut Port explosion to latest Israeli aggression.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is scheduled to visit Qatar on Tuesday, marking his first trip to the country since taking office in January. 

In a statement to Doha News on Monday, Lebanon’s Ambassador to Qatar, Farah Berri, highlighted the critical time of the visit for her country as it recovers from its socio-economic crisis while witnessing Israel’s repeated attacks, especially in the south.

“President Aoun’s visit represents an opportunity to thank the Amir of Qatar, His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and the people of Qatar, for the unrelenting support towards the state and people of Lebanon throughout the toughest of periods,” she said in a written statement.

Aoun was elected as Lebanon’s president in a parliament session in January following a two-year power vacuum. This followed the appointment of Nawaf Salam, the former president of the International Court of Justice, as Lebanon’s new prime minister.

Qatar is also a member of the Quintet Committee on Lebanon, which comprises Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United States, and France, that aimed at resolving Lebanon’s political impasse after holding its first meeting in 2023.

President Aoun came to office at a challenging time for Lebanon and months after a fragile ceasefire deal came into effect on November 27 following Israel’s brutal aggression on the country that has killed more than 4,000 people.

Israel has since violated the deal by continuing its attacks on the south while refusing to completely pull out its forces from Lebanon. On March 28, Israel launched the first attack on the capital Beirut since the deal came into effect.

Qatar’s past support for Lebanon

Last October, Qatar’s former Minister of State for International Cooperation, Lolwah Al-Khater, personally travelled to Beirut amid Israel’s attacks to oversee the launch of a humanitarian aid bridge to the country.

Meanwhile, in February, Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, voiced the Gulf state’s support for Lebanon’s reconstruction following Israel’s brutal aggression on the country.

Lebanon’s ambassador to Qatar highlighted the Gulf state’s support, noting its “bold political stances in Arab and international forums and through financial and economic assistance”.

“We are immensely grateful for this much-needed support, and we are confident that Qatar will be in the front line of countries that will contribute in the reconstruction of Lebanon in the coming months and years,” she said.

Qatar has been at the forefront of the countries supporting Lebanon throughout past crises.

In 2006, Qatar led reconstruction efforts in Lebanon following Israel’s war on the country, a move that the Lebanese population have continued to highlight under the slogan “Shukran Qatar”, translating to “Thank you Qatar” in Arabic.

Then, in 2008, Qatar assumed a major diplomatic role when it held talks that resulted in an agreement between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah following an 18-month political crisis.

Qatar’s support for the country was further highlighted in the aftermath of the tragic Beirut Port explosion on August 4, 2020, which killed at least 218 people. 

At the time, Sheikh Tamim dispatched personnel from the Qatari Search and Rescue Team of the Lekhwiya, or Internal Security Force, to help with emergency rescue operations. The Qatari leader had also donated $50m (over QAR 182.2m) to help rebuild the capital.

Meanwhile, Qatar has continued to support the Lebanese Armed Forces amid the country’s worsening economic crisis under its wider efforts to support Lebanon’s institutions.

“Political relations between Lebanon and Qatar have always been strong and solid, embodied by Qatar’s constant support towards Lebanon, even in the most difficult political, regional, and economic circumstances,” Berri explained.

Berri also noted that “there is hope for a brighter future” in Lebanon with the government actively “discussing and enacting much-needed financial and socio-economic reforms that will allow the country to recover”.

“With the help of our Arab brothers and sisters, and partner countries, and the spirit and intellect of the Lebanese people, both inside the country and in the diaspora, we believe Lebanon will rise once again like a phoenix from the ashes,” she explained.