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.
An-Nahar newspaper reported that the Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Jean Kahwagi was the only military leader from outside the international coalition fighting the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, participating in the meeting held in Washington on Tuesday under the chairmanship of US President Barack Obama.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Kahwagi held talks with military representatives, who stressed the need to support the Lebanese army and praised its efforts in facing all the challenges imposed by the incidents taking place in the Middle East.
On another note, sources following up on the army chief’s visit to Washington told
al-Mustaqbal daily that Kahwagi’s participation in the international coalition’s meeting came upon an official invitation sent by US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey.
Diplomatic sources stressed that a number of western governments requested from their envoys to Lebanon to provide them with detailed reports concerning the situation at the eastern frontline, following the military operations carried out in Arsal and Brital, and which have raised international concern over the possibility that they may shake the current security status quo.
In a statement to
al-Liwaa daily, the sources added that the western governments received information stating that the current situation at Lebanon’s eastern borders and the spread of the Syrian refugees throughout the country without any control and regulations will have severe repercussions on Lebanon’s stability.
Sources told
al-Akhbar daily that an armed group affiliated with one of the factions of the Syrian opposition located in the Qalamoun region was ambushed at around 1200 meters away from Ras al-Harf base in Lebanon's border region, leaving several gunmen killed or injured.
The sources added that Hezbollah fighters deployed in the mountainous regions at the Lebanese-Syrian borders have become fully prepared to confront any attack carried out by al-Nusra Front or its allies.
In the same context, Syrian sources told the newspaper that the “Takfiri gunmen are still attempting to cross from Arsal mountains into the Syrian region of al-Zabadani, through the town of Assal al-Ward.”
A senior military source stated that the Lebanese Armed Forces, in cooperation with the Internal Security Forces, can interfere, through a military operation, to arrest Shiekh Mustafa al-Hujeiri, who is wanted on charges of belonging to terrorist organizations, “since the arrest warrant was issued against him by the military investigative judge.”
In a statement to
al-Joumhouria daily, the source noted that the army is waiting for the right time to make its move, stressing that the military institution will not take any measure that might spark any tension or affect the negotiations conducted to release the abducted troops.