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 Hayat Daily published on Friday that according to unofficial medical sources at the AUB Medical Center in Beirut, Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad al-Shaar’s condition is stable.
The sources stated that Shaar was not seriously wounded and rumors about his deteriorated health condition are completely incorrect, stressing that he did not lose an eye nor the ability to walk.
The sources then added that Shaar arrived to AUBMC with a medical crew composed of 3 Syrian doctors who were treating him back in Damascus after an explosion targeted the Syrian Interior Ministry on the 11th of December, causing the death and injury of several members of the ministry’s staff.
According to the sources, the minister is suffering first, second and third-degree burns. He was only transferred to the intensive care unit for security purposes.
Security sources reported to
An-Nahar Daily that a new batch of the bodies of the Lebanese who were killed in the Talkalakh ambush in Syria will be delivered within the upcoming 72 hours.
According to the sources, 3 bodies belonging to Hussein Srour, Abdel Halim Ibrahim and Malek Dib will be returned to Lebanon.
The daily added that there are 2 remaining bodies in Syria. One of them belongs to a man from the Rifai family, as the second body is still unidentified because the relatives of this person wish to keep the matter undisclosed.
Foreign Affairs Minister Adnan Mansour explained to
As Safir Daily that he did not call for the closure of the Lebanese-Syrian borders, stressing that he only suggested the control of the refugees’ influx to Lebanon.
Mansour added that “just like in Jordan, Turkey and Iraq, the borders should be monitored to control who enters the Lebanese territories and why.”
The minister also said that Lebanon is not capable of receiving a large numbers of foreign nationals, emphasizing that 12% of the Lebanese population are Palestinian refugees and now, with the Syrian migration to Lebanon, the percentage of the refugees increased by 4%.
According to Mansour, the new refugees need health care, food, education, and many other necessities.
As Safir Daily reported on Friday that according to sources, “the Syrian crisis and its influence on Lebanon are causing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Qatar and between the USA and Saudi Arabia.”
According to the sources, “National Struggle Front leader Walid Jumblatt tried to solve the Lebanese political crisis when he visited France and met with the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.” However, “Jumblatt learned that Qatar and Saudi Arabia would veto any solution for the internal Lebanese crisis.”
The sources added that “the Lebanese tensions will continue to be related to the Syrian crisis”, stressing that “the Syrian war is controlled by Washington and Moscow which is causing the discontentment of influential Arab countries who instructed their allies in Lebanon to boycott parliament and dialogue sessions and asked Former PM Saad Hariri to attack Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.”
Al Akhbar Daily published on Friday that 3 of the Bilal Ben Rabah Mosque’s guards who are affiliated with the mosque’s Imam Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, attacked a Lebanese citizen in Sidon affiliated with Hezbollah and smashed his car.
According to the newspaper, the attackers hid inside the mosque when the LAF arrived to the scene, stressing that they were surrounded by gunmen.
In this context, Assir’s spokesman Sheikh Ahmad Hariri said that the violators were expelled because they are “hoodlums”.
The Daily added that the security forces arrested the violators who stated that “they have received orders from Sheikh Assir to conduct this act.” They were later released when their relatives mediated with Hezbollah and the accuser.