Druze Sheikh Aql extends a hand to Hijri: Are Lebanese Druze working toward de-escalation in Sweida?
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L'Orient-Le Jour
8 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'A solid bulwark for our security': Salam, Haykal, politicians congratulate army for its 80th anniversary
BEIRUT — For the 80th anniversary of the Lebanese Army on Friday, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Lebanese Army Commander, General Rodolph Haykal, and other politicians and personalities, congratulated the army, with the Prime Minister stressing the importance of the state's monopoly on arms as political discussions surrounding this topic have recently increased. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on Friday wished Lebanon "one army for one people, in one homeland." In a message posted on the X platform, a day after a landmark speech by President Joseph Aoun in which he directly addressed Hezbollah and its supporters, calling on them to "bet on the State," the head of government paid tribute to "our proud army, for the sacrifices of its soldiers, officers and martyrs." Believing that the troops are "the emblem of our sovereignty and independence," he emphasized that the army represents "a solid bulwark for our security," at a time when Hezbollah continues to position itself as "resistance" in the face of Israel, despite suffering heavy losses after the last war. The Israeli state continues to carry out daily attacks in several regions of Lebanon, particularly the South and the Bekaa without any retaliation from the Shia party. 'No salvation for Lebanon without a monopoly on arms' "There will be no salvation for Lebanon without serious work to entrust the monopoly on arms to the army, and there will be no stability if state authority does not cover the entire national territory, with its own forces," added the Prime Minister. He concluded by specifying that these demands are included in the Taif Agreement, concluded in 1989 to put an end to the civil war (1975-1990), and in the ministerial declaration of his government. Salam is scheduled to chair a Cabinet meeting next Tuesday devoted to the issue of the monopoly on arms, which risks causing the collapse of the cabinet if Hezbollah persists in refusing to hand over its arsenal. Meanwhile, Lebanese Army Commander, General Rodolph Haykal, said that the army is "always ready to give and sacrifice amid the existing challenges", especially the increasing violations and attacks by the Israeli enemy against Lebanon's sovereignty and security, and the resulting casualties, injuries, and destruction. For army day, Haykal held a special meeting in Yarzeh, attended by the commanders of major units and independent regiments, and a number of officers. Haykal provided them with the necessary guidance in light of the difficult circumstances Lebanon is going through. Haykal said the "army's efforts are currently focused on maintaining stability and civil peace, securing and protecting the northern and eastern borders, preventing smuggling, and confronting external threats." He pointed out that "communication with the Syrian authorities regarding border security is ongoing, considering that it is of utmost importance for the stability of both countries." "The army has carried out a large-scale and important deployment in the southern Litani region in close coordination and cooperation with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), while the Israeli enemy continues to occupy several points following its recent aggression against our country. The continuation of the occupation is the only obstacle to the completion of the deployment of military units. The people of the south have shown full cooperation with the army, and the army command is in constant communication with the cease-fire committee", he added. He also revealed that the army is closely "monitoring any movements by terrorist groups and is working to arrest members of these groups." Other reactions For its part, State Security posted an image on X, with the following: "We salute our comrades-in-arms in the journey of defending Lebanon." Meanwhile, the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, congratulated the army, saying: "The Lebanese army have taken commendable strides in promoting stability and play an essential role in the extension of State authority across Lebanon, in line with UNSCR 1701." On the political scene, Defense Minister Michel Menassa, said that "implementing Security Council Resolution 1701 in all its aspects will help stabilize and consolidate security in the South (...) and strengthen the credibility of the Lebanese state thanks to its legitimate forces." ²Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, serves as the framework for the ceasefire agreement that put an end to the open war between these same belligerents for 13 months, from October 2023 to November 2024. It notably provides for "the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon, so that (...) only the State possesses weapons and exercises its authority." Free Patriotic Movement leader, Gebran Bassil, wrote for his part on X: "The blood of your martyrs unites us. We were your supporters and we remain so." Meanwhile, head of the Kataeb party MP Samy Gemayel, a notable Hezbollah critic, wrote on X: "On Lebanese Army Day, we salute the heroes of our country who sacrifice themselves with dedication and silence ... On behalf of the Lebanese Kataeb Party, ... no one but you has the right to defend our country. We are counting on you. Lebanon remains because of you." Moreover, the son of the Sunni leader and former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Bahaa Hariri, who is also politically opposed to Hezbollah, said: "On the 80th anniversary of the Lebanese Army, we celebrate the institution that embodies national unity, honor, sacrifice, and loyalty. True sovereignty requires the extension of state authority over all Lebanese territory and that weapons remain exclusively in the hands of our army. This is the only path to a strong and stable Lebanon." Thursday, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri had said that the army was "at the heart of the hopes of the Lebanese in terms of security, defense of the land and of the human being, and for the resurrection of Lebanon." The French Embassy in Lebanon also expressed its full support of the Lebanese Army's mission in a post on X: "Alongside the Lebanese Army on the occasion of its 80th anniversary and in full support of its mission for complete monopoly of weapons throughout Lebanon, for a stable, secure, and sovereign Lebanon," the post reads.
L'Orient-Le Jour
8 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Bassil: "We have heard nothing reassuring" from Syria regarding its relations with Lebanon
BEIRUT — The head of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM, Aounist), Gebran Bassil, expressed his concerns Thursday night in a television appearance on MTV about the new Syrian regime of Ahmad al-Sharaa, saying that so far he has "heard nothing reassuring" from Damascus regarding Lebanese-Syrian relations. The Batroun MP also addressed the issue of diaspora voting, noting that he was foreign minister when the electoral law was adopted in 2017, as well as the state's monopoly on weapons, a matter the new administration has pledged to resolve, which is causing upheaval on the political scene. Speaking on the show "Sar el-Waët" with star host Marcel Ghanem, Bassil said he discussed in a meeting with Saudi envoy Yazid Ben Farhane the "fear" of a resurgence of terrorist groups in Lebanon. The Assad regime was toppled on Dec. 8, 2024, by a coalition of rebel groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, then headed by Sharaa, who has since become interim president. "In 2014, Daesh [the acronym for the Islamic State organization] entered Lebanon, occupied 450 km², killed soldiers (...) and today, there is a fear of terrorist groups at the border with Syria," Bassil said, as intercommunal clashes have recently erupted in Sweida, southern Syria, between Druze, Bedouin tribes, and regime forces, with civilian massacres occurring. "What are the authorities doing about this? Why don't they tell the people what they are doing?" he asked. "We must conduct an active foreign policy toward Syria, and a government session must be convened to discuss the terrorism coming from the borders via Syria," he said. Reports regularly indicate tensions or gunfire at the borders, though these incidents have not escalated since last March's clashes between Syrian security force fighters and members of Shiite clans in Lebanon's Hermel border area. The Lebanese Army intervened at that time. Monopoly on weapons: Aoun has a 'balanced' position Bassil also denounced the statements of U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who had warned — before retracting — that Lebanon might again be attached to "Bilad al-Sham," that is, historical Greater Syria. "Today we have Greater Lebanon, and we are not ready to give up a single inch of land to anyone, whether Syria or Israel." He criticized the fact that, in his view, "no Lebanese official commented on or condemned" Barrack's statements. In mid-July, the American diplomat called for "action," particularly regarding Hezbollah's disarmament and reforms, otherwise "it will return to Bilad el-Sham." He later clarified this statement, asserting it was not a "threat" against Lebanon. On the subject of weapons, Gebran Bassil said that President Joseph Aoun's statements on the issue are "balanced," following a strong speech in which he called on Hezbollah and its base to "bet on the state." "I think the president really doesn't have options on this subject. The attempt to buy time is over," he added, however, calling on Hezbollah to "engage in serious dialogue" about its arsenal. He also urged the government, of which the FPM is not part, to avoid "deliberately leading the country toward division," days before a cabinet meeting on the issue of the monopoly on weapons. The '16th' electoral district Speaking on another issue currently causing controversy in Lebanon, namely the vote of expatriates for six specific MPs belonging to a "16th" district to be added to the 15 existing in the country as provided for in the electoral law, Bassil, who was foreign minister when the new electoral law was passed, said that "the wish of expatriates" at the time was to be able to vote and "have MPs representing them abroad." While the law provides for this 16th district of six MPs to be added to the 128, diaspora groups and several political parties are campaigning to continue voting for the 128 MPs, based on their original constituency. This mechanism had been temporarily implemented during the legislative elections of 2018 and 2022 by amending the law. Formalizing this amendment for upcoming elections is notably opposed by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. For the Aounist leader, the law as it stands "gives the right to vote inside the country as well as abroad, to vote for a deputy abroad and to run in the elections, so by removing the relevant article, we are taking away two of these rights." He denounced the refusal to create this "16th district" for Lebanese abroad as "motivated by purely electoral considerations."
L'Orient-Le Jour
13 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Barrack: Washington to observe Sharaa before removing Syria from list of terrorism-supporting states
U.S. envoy Tom Barrack said Thursday that Syria will remain on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism until interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa takes concrete steps, local media reported. This statement comes a few weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump signed a decree formalizing the lifting of U.S. sanctions against Damascus. This measure, presented as a new step in the rapprochement between the two countries after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, was announced in Riyadh on May 13. The U.S. president had then declared his intention to "give a chance for greatness" to the new Syrian authorities. The next day, he spoke with Sharaa, the interim president from the rebel coalition led by the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which overthrew the regime last December. Since then, Washington has lifted or eased a large part of its economic sanctions to allow Syria's return to the international financial system and encourage foreign investments. Barrack said he "has confidence in Ahmad al-Sharaa's sincerity," considering that "his goals for Syria are consistent with those of the United States and its allies." He emphasized the importance of building a Syrian state that "includes all components of the country" to ensure stability and security. Regarding the investigation into the murder of an American citizen in Sweida, Barrack noted that the Syrian administration "is fully cooperating with the FBI." The incident dates back to July, when a collective execution carried out in downtown Sweida was filmed and then posted online by one of the perpetrators. The events took place in a context of intercommunal tensions pitting Sunni Bedouin tribes, supported by government forces, against Druze factions. A Syrian-American citizen was among the identified victims. On the subject of relations between Syria and Israel, the U.S. envoy stated that no agreement has yet been found on the nature of these relations, while admitting that Israeli intervention in Syria complicates the situation. In early July, however, Damascus declared itself willing to cooperate with Washington to return to the 1974 agreement with Israel. The Jewish state has been conducting airstrikes in Syria since December 2024 and has deployed troops in the demilitarized buffer zone of the Golan, in violation of that agreement, according to the UN. Damascus has not responded and acknowledged having conducted indirect talks with Israel aimed at reducing tensions.
