Lebanon

BEIRUT, Dec 25 (NNN-NNA) – Newly appointed Lebanese Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, said, he will form a government, capable of dealing with economic, financial and social woes in Lebanon, local media said.

“When we form a government that gains the confidence vote of Parliament, we will turn to the implementation of projects that are in the interest of the Lebanese people, on the economic, financial and social levels,” Diab was quoted as saying.

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian government forces pressed ahead Monday with a new military assault on the country’s last rebel stronghold that began last week, an offensive that has set off a mass exodus of civilians fleeing to safer areas near the Turkish border.

Under the cover of airstrikes and heavy shelling, Syrian troops have been pushing into the northwestern province of Idlib toward a major rebel-held town, Maaret al-Numan. The town sits on a key highway linking the capital Damascus with the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec 23 (NNN-NNA) – The Israeli missiles, fired into Syrian territories on Sunday night (last night), were launched from the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, Al Jadeed TV channel reported.

Last month, the chief of UN Interim Force in Lebanon, filed a serious complaint to the Israeli army, asking it to respect the UN Resolution 1701, by stopping its daily violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty.

Israel violates Lebanon’s airspace on an almost daily basis, according to the Lebanese authorities.

BEIRUT, Dec 22 (NNN-NNA) – Newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister, Hassan Diab, urged all political parties and civil society protesters, to join efforts to save Lebanon from its difficult situation.

“We cannot wait any longer. We need a government of experts. It is time for serious work,” Diab was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an independent newspaper.

Diab’s remarks came, following his visit to different parliamentary blocs for consultations, with regard to government formation.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Rockets were fired overnight at Syria’s main Homs refinery and two gas units causing minor damage and disrupting production, oil officials said on Saturday, calling it a “terrorist attack”.

Fires were extinguished after several hours and maintenance engineers had begun repair work, the refinery head, Haitham Musawkar, was quoted as saying on state media.

The refinery, located west of Homs, is one of two main refineries covering most domestic demand for diesel, heating fuel, gasoline and other products, industry experts say.

20 Dec 2019; MEMO: Lebanese President Michel Aoun yesterday designated the former education minister Hassan Diab as the country’s new prime minister following a majority confidence vote of 69 out of 128 members of parliament.

According to Lebanon’s confessional system the post of prime minister must be filled by a Sunni Muslim.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Outgoing Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri arrived at the presidential palace on Thursday as formal consultations began to designate a new premier, live television footage showed.

Senior political sources said former education minister Hassan Diab looks set to be designated to the position with the backing of factions including the Iran-backed Shi’ite group Hezbollah.

Hariri, who is aligned with the West and Gulf Arab states, resigned on Oct. 29, prompted by protests against the ruling elite.

BEIRUT (AP) — Supporters of Lebanon’s two main Shiite groups Hezbollah and Amal clashed with security forces and set fires to cars in the capital early Tuesday, apparently angered by a video circulating online that showed a man insulting Shiite figures.

Police used tear gas and water cannons trying to disperse them.

It was the third consecutive night of violence, and came hours after Lebanon’s president postponed talks on naming a new prime minister, further prolonging the turmoil and unrest in the Mediterranean country.

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese security forces fired rubber bullets, tear gas and used water cannons to disperse anti-government protesters from central Beirut in clashes that lasted for hours into early Sunday.

The violence around the epicenter of the protest in Beirut was some of the worst since the demonstrations began two months ago.

14 Dec 2019; MEMO: Lebanon’s Hezbollah said on Friday the next government must bring together all sides so that it can tackle the country’s worst economic crisis in decades, signalling no progress in talks on a new cabinet.

"How can a government of one colour tackle a crisis this dangerous?. The crisis requires that everyone stand together."

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech.