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.
MP Ahmad Fatfat stressed that the events taking place in the region of Arsal are an attack targeting the Lebanese army, noting that the Syrian war has crossed the borders into Lebanon due to Hezbollah’s military intervention in the Syrian war.
“Hezbollah also has the Takfiri ideology like other organizations, even if it expresses it differently,” he added.
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria daily, Fatfat called on the Lebanese government to resort to the United Nations for help, blaming the former cabinet for being responsible for the current situation, since it rejected three years ago, the demands of the Future Movement and the March 14 forces to deploy the Lebanese army along the border.
However, the MP pointed out that the catastrophe would have been more dangerous if it weren’t for the implementation of the security plan and the presence of the Lebanese army in Arsal, as well as the strong support voiced by the residents of Arsal towards the military institution.
In this regard, Fatfat ruled out the possibility of witnessing the same incidents as Iraq’s, noting that “the situation in Lebanon is far more different.”
Western diplomatic sources told
as-Safir daily that the United States has always supported the Lebanese army in its battles against terrorism.
The same sources said that the delay in the delivery of French weapons to the army is unjustified, noting that Saudi Arabia has settled the grant of USD 3 billion, which was agreed upon with the Lebanese government.
On another note, the sources stressed that the clashes taking place in Arsal between the Lebanese army and armed groups were predicted, in the light of information made available months ago regarding “the heavy armament of a large number of 'so-called Syrian refugees' in the northeastern region.”
In turn, other diplomatic sources working in Lebanon admitted that Hezbollah has played a major role in repelling terrorist attacks targeting Lebanon, comparing the preventive strikes of Hezbollah in Syria’s al-Qusair and Qalamoun regions to the performance of the US army in Afghanistan, when they prevented the al-Qaeda organization from activating its operations inside the United States.
As-Safir daily quoted visitors of Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as saying that the latter expressed relief toward the progress of the latest events, in accordance with the general developments.
According to the daily, Nasrallah noted that some parties exaggerate when reporting the number of Hezbollah martyrs killed in Syria’s battles, stressing that the party does not hide the names of its martyrs, but on the contrary proudly reveals the sacrifices it presents.
On the issue of the Islamic State, Nasrallah stressed that there are no environments fostering these extremist groups in Lebanon, pointing out that the project of the “Islamic State is not permanent, but will collapse sooner or later,” the daily reported.
On another note, Nasrallah told his visitors, mainly MP Walid Jumblatt, that his party will keep on supporting the head of the Change and Reform bloc MP Michel Aoun while practicing his right in running for presidency.
“The president exists, he is MP Aoun,” the daily quoted Nasrallah as saying to Jumblatt.
A delegation including MP Jamal al-Jarrah, Mufti of the Bekaa Sheikh Khalil al-Mays and Sheikh Salem al-Rafei, visited the Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Jean Kahwagi and Maj. Gen. Mohammad al-Kheir, who was tasked by PM Tammam Salam with following up on the situation in Arsal, as-Safir newspaper reported.
According to the daily, sources said that a delegation from the Association of Muslim Scholars was appointed to go to Arsal and meet with the leaders of the armed groups with the following conditions: releasing the kidnapped security forces, reaching a peaceful solution for the crisis and withdrawing all armed men from the region.
In this context, Sheikh al-Mays said that the latest developments are very dangerous, stressing that the deterioration of the situation in Arsal will lead Lebanon and the region towards a dark path.