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.
Al-Akhbar Daily reported that Hezbollah has declared
a state of general alert, while implementing all the necessary measures within its military units in every
location.
The newspaper added that these measures that practically include Hezbollah's
groups fighting in Syria, are being implementing discreetly, and are going in
line with remarkable actions undertaken by international forces that are
following up on the situation.
Well-informed sources told
al-Joumhouria
Newspaper that the decision issued by a number of European airline companies to
cancel their night flights bound to Beirut International Airport was taken due
to threats surrounding the airport road, following the abduction of two Turkish
pilots.
In this context, the sources denied that this
decision is related to the possible strike to be carried out by the
West against Syria, stressing that if it were the case, the decision would not
be limited to airline companies, but to the airport as whole.
Speaker Nabih Berri stressed the need to reach
unity among all the political forces amid the current situation, in order to
prevent severe repercussions from affecting Lebanon due to the regional events,
especially after the West has threatened to carry out military action against
Syria.
On another
note, Berri told
al-Joumhouria Daily that there is no progress in the issue of
the cabinet formation process, noting that the new cabinet must be formed as soon as
possible.
“A cabinet cannot be formed without the
participation of Hezbollah, no one can place a veto against any party in
Lebanon,” Berri added, denying having received any call from those concerned in
the cabinet's formation.
Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour said that the
movement at the borders is currently less than expected, noting that plans to face worse
case scenarios have been set up on the medical and nutritional levels.
In a statement to
an-Nahar Newspaper, Abou Faour ruled out any
possibility to establish refugee camps since there is no political agreement in
this regard, pointing out that the only solution, in his opinion, is to
establish one or two camps under the protection of the Lebanese
Army in order to reduce the political, security, social and economic burdens.
However, the caretaker minister said that there is no accurate
number for the refugees in Lebanon, pointing out that the figures released by
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) are not correct. He stressed that the
number of refugees decreased after the General Security began implementing new measures.
Commenting on the assistance provided by international
organizations, Abou Faour said: “We have not received anything from foreign
groups, all they sent was priceless advice.”