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.
Security sources told al-Akhbar daily that the security chaos and continuous attacks against the Lebanese Armed Forces in the northern city of Tripoli are caused by incitement against the army.
In this context, sources close to the March 8 forces stressed that the attacks that are targeting LAF troops in the city have crossed the red line, and require a swift response to put an end to the extremist and terrorist movements.
Speaker Nabih Berri was quoted by his visitors as saying that progress has been made in the case of the pay scale, during the meeting held between Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and MP George Adwan, hoping that the Union Coordinating Committee will agree to the solution.
According to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Berri said that the pay scale is currently the main priority, pointing out that there are no disputes over any other item on the agenda of the legislative session.
On another note, Berri stated that the obstacle preventing the election of a new president is caused by the Lebanese parties, expressing concern over the fact that resolving this issue may need foreign intervention.
Well-informed sources from Washington revealed that the timing of the airstrikes that targeted dozens of locations of the Islamic State, al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front and Khorasan group in Syria, is linked to intelligence leads, revealing that the Khorasan group is intending on implementing attacks against Western targets.
The sources added that the timing of the airstrikes is also linked to the speech expected to be delivered by US president Barack Obama during the regular session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Regarding the participation of Arab nations in the airstrikes, sources told an-Nahar daily that the United States officially asked the Arab countries to take part in the airstrikes, noting that the locations that were shelled were included in a list set by the US following at least one month of reconnaissance operations in Syria.
An-Nahar newspaper quoted ministerial sources as saying that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi told Prime Minister Tammam Salam that he supports Lebanon in its fight against terrorist groups, such as the Islamic State and the al-Nusra Front, as well as other al-Qaeda-linked groups.
The newspaper added that al-Sisi said his country is ready to offer help on all levels, including assistance in training Lebanese army units.