Press Digest for Wednesday August 14, 2013

The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.

• Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Nasrallah says battle with Israel easier than "battle with Lebanese factions"

Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah told As-Safir newspaper on Wednesday that the battle with Israel is "easier" than "the battle" with Lebanese factions.

He noted that the fight against Israel has "one clear goal with one clear strategy", adding that disputes with Lebanese leaders is "ramified."

• STL spokesman Marten Youssef: Lebanon must  pay 49% of its obligations to the Tribunal

Special Tribunal for Lebanon spokesman Marten Youssef told An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday that there is no deadline for Lebanon to pay its obligations for the Tribunal.

Youssef asserted  that the Tribunal will continue its works, adding that Lebanon must pay 49% of its obligations.

He also noted that the STL is entrusted to protect the tribunal's witnesses, refusing to declare whether the protection of the witnesses had indeed begun.

• LF leader Geagea: Government must be formed "as soon as possible"

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that the government must be formed "as soon as possible regardless of Lebanon's pending issues."

Geagea called on Lebanese leaders to form a government that does not include any figures from the March 8 or the March 14 alliances.

He also expressed his concerns over new assassinations in Lebanon, adding that the country will witness attacks similar to the Yarzeh rocket attacks.

• A group of different families kidnapped the two Turkish pilots - sources

Sources told An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday that the case of the two kidnapped Turkish pilots is "complicated", saying that the kidnapping operation came in response to the Syrian crisis.

Sources added that the kidnappers are a group of different families who handed over the pilots to another party, noting that Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Nasrallah may interfere to release them.

The same sources asserted to the Daily that a Turkish Intelligence team arrived to Lebanon to assist the Turkish ambassador Inan Ozyildiz in resolving the kidnapping case.