Lebanon

A Presidential Trial Run ...
A Presidential Trial Run ...

According to reports from opposition members, last Friday's parliamentary vote to extend the term of office of Army Commander-in-Chief General Joseph Aoun by one year was a test run for the presidential election. The vote in favor of extending the army chief's term of office exceeded 70 votes, given that the number of MPs present at the session ...

Council of Ministers Approves Extension of Joseph Aoun's Term in Office
Council of Ministers Approves Extension of Joseph Aoun's Term in Office

The Cabinet meeting held at the Grand Serail on Tuesday ended without any appointments being made to the Military Council. On the other hand, the 19 ministers present approved the law passed by Parliament on Friday, delaying the retirement of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun. This law will become effective once it has been published in the ...

Geagea: We Secured Internal Stability by Extending Army Commander's Term
Geagea: We Secured Internal Stability by Extending Army Commander's Term

Samir Geagea, chief of the Lebanese Forces (LF), stated on Monday that the opposition forces “prevented the country from stepping backward by focusing on fortifying the institutions, the army and the internal security forces, securing at least a measure of stability for the country and people over the past four years.” Geagea was referring to ...

Military Appointments May Be Raised at Cabinet Meeting Tuesday
Military Appointments May Be Raised at Cabinet Meeting Tuesday

Following the extension of army commander General Joseph Aoun’s mandate for a year, a council of ministers’ meeting, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, December 19, may look into the appointment of an army chief of staff and members of the military council. According to a political source “the matter is under consideration,” though it ...

Saint Antoine de Padoue’s Food Bank, an Annual Tradition
Saint Antoine de Padoue’s Food Bank, an Annual Tradition

The 26th annual food drive by Saint-Antoine de Padoue strives to support 600 families in need. Scouts, volunteers and local communities joined forces last Saturday to collect non-perishable essentials, ensuring an impactful response to hunger.

Colonna, in Beirut, Urges Restraint
Colonna, in Beirut, Urges Restraint

France's Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna on Monday urged restraint, in meetings with senior officials in Beirut, seeking to de-escalate tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border amid near-daily exchanges of fire. Colonna met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and parliament speaker Nabih Berri, calling for responsibility and restraint a ...

Army Rescues 51 Migrants from Sinking Boat Off Tripoli
Army Rescues 51 Migrants from Sinking Boat Off Tripoli

The Lebanese Army reported rescuing 51 people, mostly Syrians, from a sinking migrant boat off the country's north coast on Sunday. The military obtained "information about a vessel that was sinking off the coast of Tripoli while it was being used for illegal people smuggling,” the Army said in a statement. Naval forces were able to "rescue ...

Audi: Lebanon’s Role Has Been Lost
Audi: Lebanon’s Role Has Been Lost

The Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, Bishop Elias Audi, declared during Sunday Mass that "Lebanon is not ready to slide into the arena of conflict, nor is it prepared for its unity to be threatened.” He stated that with a presidential vacuum, Lebanon is "in the eye of the storm" and will face dire consequences as the conflict persists: ...

Rahi: Extension of J. Aoun's Mandate Spared Lebanon Security Risks
Rahi: Extension of J. Aoun's Mandate Spared Lebanon Security Risks

Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai welcomed the renewal of Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun’s mandate for another year, a move that he said spared the Army’s unity and integrity. “We thank God that he spared Lebanon a security risk by having the Parliament renew the mandates of the commanders of the Army and security forces,” al-Rai said in ...

Schenker: Iran Will Not 'Sacrifice' Hezbollah to Save Hamas
Schenker: Iran Will Not 'Sacrifice' Hezbollah to Save Hamas

Former US Assistant Secretary of State, David Schenker, was affirmative that “Iran has already decided that it will not waste its assets in Hezbollah to save Hamas,” stressing that although it is an asset for Tehran, “the Palestinian movement is much less valuable than Hezbollah.” In an interview with the pan-Arab Al-Arabiya TV, Schenker ...