Rebecca Collard

Rebecca Collard is a freelance journalist based in Beirut.

Rebecca Collard is a freelance journalist based in Beirut.

American Village entrance gates on the outskirts of Erbil, Iraq, the Kurdish defacto capital.

Kurds grapple with US troop drawdown in Iraq

As the Taliban take control of Afghanistan, Kurdish allies in northern Iraq — where the US is also planning to draw down its combat forces — are watching with concern.

Kurds grapple with US troop drawdown in Iraq
The Jaffar Mosque in the Daretu neighborhood of Erbil in 2015 where Imam Shawan preached before he left to join ISIS. 

In the wake of ISIS, Kurdish authorities are controlling religious messaging

In the wake of ISIS, Kurdish authorities are controlling religious messaging
The outside of an old Jewish home in Mosul.

Signs of a forgotten Jewish past in Mosul

Signs of a forgotten Jewish past in Mosul
Iraqi Christian children prepare for their First Communion in Bartella.

One of Iraq’s oldest Christian communities struggles with religious diversity

One of Iraq’s oldest Christian communities struggles with religious diversity
In a church about a mile from Beirut’s port, Sunday mass occurs with just a few dozen worshipers in the massive hall.

Beirut blast one year later: No justice, no hope

Beirut blast one year later: No justice, no hope
Lebanese army soldiers deploy on Lebanon's side of the Lebanese-Israeli border in the southern village of Kfar Kila

Lebanon’s financial crisis is so bad that soldiers can't feed their families

A Lebanese general recently warned that the crisis could "lead to the collapse of all state institutions," including the army.

Lebanon’s financial crisis is so bad that soldiers can't feed their families
Three women health care workers in uniform, wearing headscarves and masks, stand and listen among a crowd of medical workers.

‘Sometimes I feel like I betrayed my country’: Lebanon's doctors are leaving in droves

Amid the pandemic and economic meltdown, doctors in Lebanon are lured away by the hope of better salaries — and a future. An estimated 1,000 medical professionals have left since the August blast.

‘Sometimes I feel like I betrayed my country’: Lebanon's doctors are leaving in droves
Bashil el-Ahmad stands next to her garden with the mountains behind her marking the Syrian border.  


Fighting in Syria has subsided. But refugees in Lebanon still hesitate to return.

A decade after protesters took to the streets to oppose the Assad family’s rule, President Bashar al-Assad has retaken control of most of the country. But that doesn’t make it any easier to return.

Fighting in Syria has subsided. But refugees in Lebanon still hesitate to return.
Nazeer Mohammed shows a photo of his 1 1/2-year-old son on the boat to Cyprus.

Lebanese take to the sea — risking their lives to reach Europe

Until recently, it was mostly Syrian and Palestinian refugees making the trip across the Mediterranean Sea. But increasingly, Lebanese citizens are filling the boats.

Lebanese take to the sea — risking their lives to reach Europe
A heritage house that was destroyed by Aug. 4 explosion that hit the seaport of Beirut, Lebanon, Aug. 24, 2020.

‘Beirut is not for sale’: Devastated residents fend off developers, investors

Of the many buildings destroyed by the blast at Beirut’s port, thousands are heritage structures now at risk of extreme disrepair. The city could lose its unique architectural richness.

‘Beirut is not for sale’: Devastated residents fend off developers, investors
Four Ethiopian women wearing blue face masks sit outside with a young child.

As Lebanon’s financial crisis worsens, migrant workers are being dumped on the streets like ‘trash’

Human rights advocates say the migrants have little to no recourse, and that the situation is bound to deteriorate further as more people in the country cannot afford to pay domestic workers. The coronavirus restrictions also complicate matters.

As Lebanon’s financial crisis worsens, migrant workers are being dumped on the streets like ‘trash’
People in military uniform wear face masks while they form a line on a Beirut street during protest.

Lebanon protests called out corruption. Now it’s about survival. 

Lebanese protesters are back in the streets with increasing desperation as the country sinks. 

Lebanon protests called out corruption. Now it’s about survival. 
Three people wear face masks with soldiers standing behind them

Some Americans feel safer in Lebanon when it comes to COVID-19 response

Some Americans in Lebanon are looking at the US and say they feel safer staying in Beirut, despite the challenges there.

Some Americans feel safer in Lebanon when it comes to COVID-19 response
Men in personal protective gear stand in a line in front of vans.

Hezbollah's latest front line? The fight against coronavirus.

Months of anti-government protests have eroded the popularity and legitimacy of Lebanon's traditional political parties. But the novel coronavirus has given them a chance to get it back by launching their own health and sanitation campaigns.

Hezbollah's latest front line? The fight against coronavirus.
A volunteer in protective gear sanitizes a mosque

Lebanon’s ‘two crises’: coronavirus and financial collapse

Almost everything Lebanon consumes is imported — and COVID-19 has struck as Lebanon slides deeper into an already bad financial crisis brought on by government corruption and mismanagement.

Lebanon’s ‘two crises’: coronavirus and financial collapse