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.
Imam of the Bilal bin Rabah mosque Sheikh Ahmad Assir stressed
that he asked his supporters to shave their beards for security reasons, after “oppressors committed such heinous acts”.
In this context, Sheikh Assir told the Kuwait-based
Al-Seyassah Daily that he took this decision in order to protect his supporters,
noting that it will not be applied to his person or to other Muslim clerics.
In a question directed at Assir over future
demonstrations, Assir pointed out that he is still awaiting the evacuation of Hezbollah's
apartments in Abra, and said: “We will take escalatory steps should the members
of Hezbollah stay in the said apartments”.
Former Future Movement MP Mustafa Allouch stressed that “Hezbollah
Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is exerting tireless efforts in order
to defend the Syrian regime, despite the fact that the regime is heading to
the abyss."
In this regard, MP Allouch told the Kuwait-based
Al-Seyassah
Newspaper that the speech of Nasrallah over the need to spare Lebanon the strife
was delivered only to smooth things over but was “useless” since the border
with Syria “lacks security”.
The fall of the regime will take a heavy toll on Hezbollah, the MP added.
Future bloc MP Nohad Machnouk said the speech delivered
by "Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, speaking on the behalf of Iran, is tantamount to a war
declaration", noting that it was clear that “Nasrallah
played a role that the Iranians do not intend to play directly”.
In addition, MP Machnouk told
Acharq al Awsat Daily that Sayyed
Nasrallah’s speech was “alarming” since he is aware that he will fail, along
with his supporters, to win the ‘war’, noting that “they are unable to save the
regime”.
Sources
reported that a high-ranking Hezbollah military official was injured
during clashes taking place in Syria’s Qussair with the Free Syrian Army,
noting that he was rushed to the Sheikh Ragheb Harb Hospital in Nabatiyeh for
treatment.
Same sources,
speaking on condition of anonymity, told
Acharq al
Awsat Newspaper that other 9 Hezbollah “fighters” were wounded in the region of
Qussair and arrived late on Wednesday to the same hospital.