Lebanon

26 July 2021; MEMO: Lebanon's Sunni leaders, including former PM Saad Hariri, yesterday endorsed wealthy businessman and former Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, to form the next government, local media reported.

Parliamentary consultations are due to be held today.

According to Lebanon's political system, the post has to be held by a Sunni Muslim, while the presidency is held by a Maronite Christian.

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s president is expected to appoint Monday a billionaire businessman and former prime minister as the next premier-designate, after Saad Hariri earlier this month gave up attempts to form a Cabinet amid an unprecedented financial meltdown roiling the country.

Najib Mikati’s appointment is likely to come later in the day, following binding consultations between President Michel Aoun and Lebanese lawmakers.

BEIRUT, Jul 21 (NNN-NNA) – The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), yesterday announced the launch of an investigation, into the exchange of rocket fire between Lebanon and Israel.

The announcement, by Kandice Ardiel, UNIFIL’s deputy chief of strategic communications and public information, came, after two rockets were launched at Israel from southern Lebanon, last night, triggering an Israeli response with artillery fire into Lebanon.

BEIRUT, July 19 (Reuters) - Lebanon's presidency said parliamentary consultations to choose a new prime minister will begin on July 26, in another attempt to push Lebanon’s fractious political class to form a government to rescue the country from financial meltdown.

Lebanon has been run by a caretaker administration for nearly a year, while its currency has collapsed, jobs have vanished and banks have frozen accounts in what lenders have called one of the most severe financial crises of modern times.

BEIRUT, July 17 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Saturday the main impediment to investment in the country was money stuck in ailing Lebanese banks.

In a speech after being sworn in as president for a fourth term, Assad said estimates suggested the frozen funds were worth between $40 billion and $60 billion.

"Both figures are enough to depress an economy like ours," he said.

17 July 2021; MEMO: An Israeli army drone today crashed inside Lebanon, the Israeli military said, Anadolu Agency reports.

In a Twitter post, Avichay Adraee, the army spokesman said: "A while ago, during a regular activity, an Israeli army drone crashed inside Lebanese territory as a result of a technical malfunction."

"There is no fear of information leakage," he said, without giving further details.

There was no immediate comment from Lebanese authorities in this regard.

17 July 2021; MEMO: The Internal Security Forces Directorate in Lebanon announced on Friday the detention of a Lebanese citizen in West Beqaa, east of Beirut, over spying for Israeli intelligence, Quds Press reported.

In a statement, the Internal Security Forces Directorate disclosed: "As part of our hunt against spying networks that deal with the Israeli enemy, we confirmed the identity of a person who contacted this enemy."

16 July 2021; MEMO: Dozens of Lebanese protesters yesterday blocked roads across the country after Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri stepped down today after failing to form the government for months.

BEIRUT (AP) — Seeking to stabilize Lebanon after a series of crises, France and the U.S. on Friday called on Lebanese politicians to urgently form a Cabinet and planned an international conference to support the effort.

“All concerned parties need to work with urgency to put in place a government that’s able to implement reforms immediately,” tweeted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

BEIRUT, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab warned that Lebanon is a few days away from a “social explosion” and urged friendly countries and international institutions to help the country face its economic woes.

“Lebanon is crossing a very dark tunnel, and the suffering has reached the limits of tragedy,” Diab said during a speech after a meeting with several foreign and Arab ambassadors at the governmental palace.