Sawt Beirut International

Founded in 2005, Sawt Beirut International (also titled “Beirut City” on social media) concerns itself with political, economic, and security developments in Lebanon and the region in general, alongside providing cultural coverage centered on Beirut as a city in particular. According to most sources, Bahaa Hariri is the platform’s primary source of funds. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sawt Beirut International is Jerry Maher, who is also the media advisor to Bahaa Hariri. Maher's real name is Ibrahim Ahmad Al-Ghoush. In July 2019, Judge Joseph Tamer sentenced Maher to jail for a month and fined him with 200,000 L.L. following a defamation lawsuit filed against him by Hezbollah official Wafiq Safa, given Maher's accusation that Safa engaged in money laundering and drug trade. Sawt Beirut International regularly and almost exclusively broadcasts political statements and appearances made by Hariri, unambiguously providing him with a platform to comment on issues pertaining to Lebanese politics and social affairs. This further gives insights on the direct leverage and influence that Bahaa Hariri has on the direction and orientation of the website and platform.