Lebanon
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Report: Arms 'freezing' proposal still on the table

Cairo is viewing the developments in Lebanon with concern, particularly regarding potential actions by the Israeli side, informed sources in Cairo said.

The sources explained to al-Akhbar newspaper that the Egyptian approach stems from “an effort to obstruct Israel's attempts to mobilize American support for launching a new strike against Lebanon.”

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Report: US presses Doha to drop south rebuilding from aid package

U.S. pressure has prompted Qatar to drop an article on reconstructing a number of southern towns from the Qatari aid package that was announced on Monday, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Wednesday.

“The U.S. is still preventing the Lebanese government from launching an official call for reconstruction or establishing a fund for the contributions of donor countries, linking this step to the fulfillment of an Israeli demand for the disarmament of Hezbollah across Lebanon,” an informed source told the daily.

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French envoy discusses Lebanon with Qatari PM in Doha

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has met in Doha with the French special envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian.

"During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways to support and strengthen them, discussed the latest developments in Lebanon, and addressed a number of issues of common interest,” the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

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Rajji goes softer on Hezbollah in major change of tone

Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has called for everyone to return to the State and to not give Israel excuses to keep up its attacks and occupation.

"We demand that everyone return to the state, the state of law," Rajji said Tuesday in a seminar, adding that "this is not the time for fiery statements or ideological slogans but a time to work on ensuring the enemy is given no excuse for stalling."

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Jumblat slams Qassem's 'irresponsible' stances that 'provoke Israelis'

Druze leader Walid Jumblat has described Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem’s latest remarks on supporting Iran in the event of a new war as “irresponsible, irresponsible, irresponsible.”

Warning that such remarks “provoke the Israelis,” Jumblat lamented in remarks to Lebanon’s L'Orient-Le Jour newspaper that Qassem’s statements “threaten the good progress that the government has achieved in the army’s plans in the south.”

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UK's Mideast minister welcomes 'progress' in bringing Hezbollah arms under control

Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Hamish Falconer has held phone talks with Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji and welcomed the “progress” of the Lebanese Army in “bringing Hezbollah’s weapons in the south under state control.”

“The UK will continue to support all efforts to ensure security in Lebanon and across the region,” Falconer added, in a post on X.

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Ambassador Cowell launches the British Lebanese Chamber of Commerce  

 

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell on Tuesday launched the British Lebanese Chamber of Commerce (BLCC) during a reception held at his residence. 

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Gemayel describes Hezbollah as 'armed militia' in second heated budget session

Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel described Wednesday Hezbollah as an armed militia, as parliament discussed the 2026 budget for a second day in a row.

Gemayel said no one will invest in Lebanon as long as there are war and armed militias, which angered a Hezbollah MP.

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Report: Aoun asks Rajji to abide by official policy after Berri's Baabda visit

In a sign of the growing harmony between President Joseph Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri, an agreement to activate diplomatic efforts was put into effect through the U.N. complaint that was filed by the Foreign Ministry over Israel’s violations, a media report said.

Informed political sources told ad-Diyar newspaper that the step followed a visit by Foreign Minister Youssef Raji to the Baabda Palace, during which Aoun asked Rajji to take action to tackle the continuous Israeli attacks.

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Is Lebanon preparing for political negotiations with Israel?

As the U.S.-led Mechanism meetings in Naqoura falter -- or prepare to enter a new phase -- behind-the-scenes political activity involving Lebanon, the U.S. and Israel is gaining momentum, a media report said.

These moves aim to launch negotiations that “transcend the geographical coordinates of Hezbollah’s arsenals and tunnels, moving instead toward the level of ‘political surgery’ in a scenario mirroring the Syrian model,” Lebanon’s al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Tuesday.

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