
Lebanese Press Syndicate condemns reckless gunfire after LBCI journalist Nada Andraos injured during elections
The head of the Lebanese Press Editors Syndicate, Joseph Kosseifi, condemned the ongoing phenomenon of celebratory and indiscriminate gunfire during national events and social occasions, highlighting its danger to civilians.
His comments came in response to multiple shooting incidents reported in northern Lebanon during municipal elections, which put lives at risk, including those of media professionals covering the polls.
Among the victims was LBCI journalist Nada Andraos, who was struck by a stray bullet in the Damm w Farz area of Tripoli. Kosseifi extended his well wishes to Andraos for her recovery and expressed relief at her survival.
He called on judicial authorities and security forces to strictly pursue those responsible for firing weapons and to bring them before the appropriate courts. He emphasized that holding perpetrators accountable is essential to safeguarding citizens' lives and ensuring public safety.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


LBCI
34 minutes ago
- LBCI
After war, Syria, Lebanon peace deals with Israel needed: US envoy
With the Iran-Israel war opening up a new road for the Mideast, Syria and Lebanon need to reach peace agreements with Israel, the U.S. special envoy to Syria said Sunday. "President (Ahmed) al-Sharaa has indicated that he doesn't hate Israel... and that he wants peace on that border. I think that will also happen with Lebanon. It's a necessity to have an agreement with Israel," Tom Barrack said in an interview with Turkey's state news agency Anadolu. AFP


LBCI
35 minutes ago
- LBCI
Lebanon prepares response to US proposals: Hezbollah insists on US guarantees before disarmament
Report by Yazbek Wehbe, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Lebanon is making evident progress in preparing its response to the U.S. proposals presented by American envoy Tom Barrack, but officials say more time is needed for further discussions. This is the outcome of the ongoing work by the Lebanese advisory team tasked with drafting the official reply. Despite the secrecy surrounding the team's deliberations, sources confirmed that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the lead negotiator in coordination with Hezbollah, has requested additional time to consult with the group on several unresolved points. A response is expected within the next 48 hours. Within Hezbollah, internal positions vary, with some leaders adopting hardline stances while others take a more moderate approach regarding the sensitive issue of disarmament. Observers believe this divergence may be part of a broader negotiation strategy. Hezbollah is demanding clear guarantees from the United States, particularly regarding the safety of its members. The group insists that it will not easily agree to disarm, citing significant security risks. Among Hezbollah's key demands is an end to Israeli attacks on its personnel and a phased Israeli withdrawal. Only after such steps, the group argues, will it consider gradually surrendering its weapons, warning that Israel could otherwise exploit the process to weaken its strategic leverage. Sources familiar with Hezbollah's position dismissed claims that recent tough rhetoric from the group's Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem was aimed at boosting Iran's bargaining power amid speculations of Tehran resuming talks with Washington. They argued that Iran already possesses sufficient leverage without additional maneuvers. Regarding the widely discussed demand for the Lebanese government to explicitly reaffirm its monopoly over arms possession, sources close to the Amal-Hezbollah duo maintain that no new decision is necessary. They point out that this principle was already endorsed during Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government when Lebanon agreed to a ceasefire. Political sources involved in the negotiations believe that once progress is made on disarmament and a "step-for-step" framework is adopted, other critical files could see smoother resolutions. These include implementing economic reforms, controlling the cash economy, curbing smuggling across land borders, addressing customs violations, and reaching agreements with Syria to secure Lebanon's strategic vulnerabilities. Lebanon is also expected to propose solutions for the longstanding dispute over the Israeli-occupied Shebaa Farms, including the deployment of international peacekeepers until the area's status is formally resolved through talks with Syria, backed by available documents from both sides. Although Washington has not set a strict deadline for receiving Lebanon's response, officials acknowledge that time is working against Beirut. Efforts are underway to finalize a unified presidential reply that incorporates answers and possible remarks. The response is set to be delivered to Barrack, who is expected to return to the region in the second week of July. In the meantime, concerns are mounting that Israel may once again resort to military escalation to apply pressure, with recent developments on the ground seen as clear indicators of that possibility.


LBCI
35 minutes ago
- LBCI
Internal Syrian opposition: Could Israel and Syria normalize relations soon?
Report by Toni Mrad, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi A headline that once seemed unimaginable—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus—could soon become reality. Israeli media outlets reported ongoing indirect negotiations between Syria and Israel aimed at normalizing relations. Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi went a step further, suggesting that direct talks are already underway. While the timeline for potential normalization remains unclear, with some speculating an accelerated process and others predicting delays into next year or beyond, sources familiar with Syrian affairs told LBCI that any breakthrough in relations between Damascus and Tel Aviv would not come without significant concessions. Should negotiations move forward, the government of President Ahmed al-Sharaa is expected to secure several key gains, most notably official Israeli recognition of Syria's new leadership. Relations between the two countries have been defined by hostility since Israel's establishment in 1948 and the subsequent Arab-Israeli conflicts. Additional benefits for Syria may include a withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied after December 8, 2024, the date Bashar Al-Assad's regime collapsed and al-Sharaa rose to power. Israel would also reportedly commit to halting its military operations in Syria and agreeing to a security arrangement for southern regions of the country, particularly near the occupied Golan Heights and the Jordanian border. These arrangements would likely regulate military and security activities in those sensitive areas. Beyond Israeli concessions, Syria is also expected to receive backing from the United States, which is playing a key role in mediating the anticipated agreement as the U.S. would lift sanctions on Syria. In return, Israel is expected to secure full sovereignty over the Golan Heights and the Shebaa Farms area, both of which have been under Israeli control since the 1967 Six-Day War. Israeli media reports also suggest the Golan Heights could be transformed into what some have described as a "Peace Park," a term interpreted by analysts as a potential deployment zone for international peacekeeping forces. Despite diplomatic optimism from some quarters, observers warn that al-Sharaa's administration faces serious obstacles to pursuing normalization, among them internal Syrian opposition. Hardline factions, including leaders of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), who played a role in toppling the Assad regime, have rejected any rapprochement with Israel. They have also expressed dissatisfaction with al-Sharaa's government over its approach to religious minority protections and growing ties with Washington. Adding to the tense political climate, reports surfaced of an alleged assassination attempt targeting al-Sharaa during his visit to Syria's Daraa province on June 6. While Syrian state media denied the incident, sources told LBCI that a joint operation between Syrian security forces and Turkish intelligence foiled the plot. According to those sources, the suspected mastermind—a member of a local ISIS cell from Daraa—was arrested a day before the president's scheduled visit.