Americans are disgusted by a huge embassy in Lebanon

The new US embassy in Lebanon will soon be the second largest in the world. Many Lebanese do not like it.

Isabel Ball

Lebanon’s hilltops and mountain peaks are dotted with: ancient castles, built by rulers of the past. It is the legacy of the Fatimids, the Crusaders, and the Mamluks, sometimes preserved in good condition, and sometimes just a pile of stones.

It looks like the country will soon have another hill fort, as it turned out last week, one where tourists are unlikely to enter: the new US Embassy compound. The building will be located outside the Lebanese capital, Beirut. Last week, the embassy team proudly posted photos of the construction work that began in 2017. But instead of happy reactions, the message — which has already been viewed more than two million times — led to a small row.

The size of the embassy building in particular is alarming. It has been known for some time that the complex will cover a total area of ​​more than 17 hectares, making it the largest embassy in the world after the US Embassy in Baghdad (42 hectares), but the photos make many Lebanese realize how big it really is. he. The construction cost is estimated at $1 billion. Will the United States move to Lebanon? Someone says sarcastically.