The Lebanese government on 24 May reappointed Riad Salamah, the incumbent Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon (CBL), for a fifth six-year term starting in July. His appointment comes at a critical time as the US ponders an expansion of banking sanctions against the Iran-backed Lebanese Shia party-cum-paramilitary movement Hezbollah.

Mr Salamah is expected to scrupulously comply with any new sanctions against Hezbollah, as he did with sanctions passed in 2015, in order to protect the Lebanese banking sector. (CONTINUED - 1072 WORDS)