News Summary

• Lebanon’s economy is projected to shrink by 6.4 percent this year as conflict turns a brief post-crisis recovery into a sharp downturn, says the World Bank.
• The country entered the year on stronger footing after expanding by 4.2 percent in 2025, its highest real gross domestic product (GDP) growth since the 2019 financial collapse.
• “The rebound was sharply interrupted by the March 2026 escalation in conflict, which further damaged housing and infrastructure, displaced communities, disrupted supply chains and weighed heavily on tourism and domestic demand,” the report said.