Lebanon

13 June 2023; MEMO: The Iran-backed Hezbollah and its closest allies are set to torpedo an attempt by rivals to elect a senior IMF official as Lebanese president this week, in a tussle that underlines its decisive sway and the dim prospects for reviving the crumbling state.

13 June 2023; MEMO: Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on Monday for the UN peacekeeping forces in his country to put pressure on Israel to stop its violations of Lebanon's sovereignty, and stop its ongoing groundworks using armoured bulldozers within Lebanese territory.

BEIRUT, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati Monday called on the UN peacekeeping forces to pressure Israel to stop violations of Lebanon's sovereignty and the bulldozing works within Lebanese territories.

Mikati made the appeal during a meeting with Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, chief of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), at the Grand Serail in Beirut, according to a statement by Lebanon's Council of Ministers.

10 June 2023; MEMO: The towns of Kafr Shuba and Al-Arqoub, on the southern border of Lebanon, witnessed clashes on Friday between demonstrators and the Israeli army.

The Israeli forces threw smoke bombs at Lebanese protesters who condemned the occupation's bulldozing of their land in front of the Kafr Shuba border crossing in southern Lebanon, according to an Anadolu reporter.

BEIRUT, Jun 10 (NNN-NNA) – The Israeli army, yesterday attacked with tear gas, Lebanese citizens in the border villages of Kfarchouba and al-Arqoub, who were demonstrating against Israel’s bulldozing work on their lands, Elnashra news website reported.

Scores of Lebanese residents from Kfarchouba, Shebaa, al-Arqoub, Kfarhamam and other villages, held a sit-in against the Israeli move, calling on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), to end Israeli violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty.

BEIRUT, Jun 9 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanon has been officially included on the transit lines, that allow Lebanese trucks to go through Iraq, to reach countries in the Gulf region, Lebanese Public Works and Transport Minister, Ali Hamieh, said, yesterday.

BEIRUT, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army on Friday attacked with tear gas Lebanese citizens in the border villages of Kfarchouba and al-Arqoub, who were demonstrating against Israel's bulldozing work on their lands, Elnashra news website reported.

Scores of Lebanese residents from Kfarchouba, Shebaa, al-Arqoub, Kfarhamam and other villages held a sit-in against the Israeli move, calling on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to end Israeli violations of Lebanon's sovereignty.

BEIRUT (AP) — A little white pill has given Syrian President Bashar Assad powerful leverage with his Arab neighbors, who have been willing to bring him out of pariah status in hopes he will stop the flow of highly addictive Captagon amphetamines out of Syria.

Western governments have been frustrated by the red-carpet treatment Arab countries have given Assad, fearing that their reconciliation will undermine the push for an end to Syria’s long-running civil war.

08 June 2023; MEMO: A Lebanese farmer from the town of Kafr Shuba defied an armoured Israeli bulldozer yesterday in an effort to stop it in its tracks, Anadolu has reported. The driver pushed soil on top of Ismail Nasser, covering his legs, before he stopped at the behest of UNIFIL forces.

09 June 2023; MEMO: Lebanon has recalled its ambassador to France, Rami Adwan, after an investigation into rape and intentional violence allegations was opened by French authorities, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry announced yesterday.

"Following the circumstances surrounding the case of the Lebanese ambassador to France… it has been decided to recall ambassador Rami Adwan," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.