Lebanon

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon’s banking sector can handle the impact of the U.S. sanctions against Jammal Trusk Bank SAL and guarantee the money of depositors, the finance minister said on Friday.

Ali Hassan Khalil said on Twitter he was confident “of the banking sector’s ability to absorb the implications...and guarantee the money of depositors...and the central bank is doing what is necessary.”

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug 29 (NNN-NNA) – The Lebanese army said Wednesday, it fired at an Israeli reconnaissance drone, in southern Lebanon, near the border.

An Israeli reconnaissance drone violated Lebanese airspace, hovering over a Lebanese army’s position, in Aadaysit area, in southern Lebanon, so the Lebanese army fired at it and forced it to fly back to Israel, according to a statement from the army.

Another Israeli reconnaissance drone, also hovered for a while, over the Kfarkela area in southern Lebanon, then left and flew towards Israel, added the statement.

28 Aug 2019; MEMO: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri has said that his country depends on Russia to pass the message to Israel that it should stop violating Lebanon’s sovereignty, Quds Press reported on Tuesday.

28 Aug 2019; MEMO: Hezbollah will retaliate against Israel after drones crashed in Beirut’s suburbs, but a new war between the old enemies remains unlikely, the Iran-backed movement’s deputy leader has said, reports Reuters.

“I rule out that the atmosphere is one of war, it is one of a response to an attack,” Sheikh Naim Qassem told Russia’s RT Arabic channel on Tuesday night. “Everything will be decided at its time.”

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Hezbollah will retaliate against Israel after drones crashed in Beirut’s suburbs, but a new war between the old enemies remains unlikely, the Iran-backed movement’s deputy leader has said.

“I rule out that the atmosphere is one of war, it is one of a response to an attack,” Sheikh Naim Qassem told Russia’s RT Arabic channel on Tuesday night. “Everything will be decided at its time.”

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug 26 (NNN-NNA) – Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, slammed the “Israeli attack” over Beirut’s southern suburbs, which constitutes a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

Hariri assured that, he is in touch with President Michel Aoun and House Speaker, Nabih Berri, to agree on the next measures that should be taken, following the incident which constitutes a threat to regional stability and an attempt for further escalations.

BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) — From the vast deserts of Saudi Arabia to the crowded neighborhoods of Beirut, a drone war has taken flight across the wider Middle East, raising the stakes in the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

Since the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal last year, there has been an increasing tempo of attacks and alleged threats, notably this weekend, from unmanned aircraft flown by Tehran’s and Washington’s allies in the region.

25 Aug 2019; MEMO: An Israeli drone went down and another exploded in southern Lebanon early Sunday, an official with Lebanese group Hezbollah said, Anadolu Agency reported.

One drone crashed over the Moawwad neighbourhood in southern Lebanon after midnight and its debris were taken to a safe place by Hezbollah members, Lebanese channel LBC1 said, citing the official, who was unnamed.

Another drone exploded in the same area, the official said.

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels withdrew from a town in southern Idlib province and from their last remaining territory in neighboring Hama province after government troops advances in the area, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and local activists said.

It marks an important gain for President Bashar al-Assad into the northwestern region which is the last major rebel stronghold in Syria. Backed by Russia, Syrian government forces have been attacking the region since late April.

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug 17 (NNN-NNA) – Hezbollah Leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, warned that, if Israel wages a war against Lebanon, Hezbollah will destroy Israeli troops, Al Manar local TV Channel reported.

“If Israel enters Lebanese territories, its troops will be destroyed live on television, in front of the whole world,” Nasrallah said, in a speech marking the 13th anniversary of the end of the Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006.