War on Lebanon
Israeli forces attacked Wadi al-Hujeir, Aitaroun twice, Hanin, Umm al-Tut, Ayta al-Shaab, and Ghazieh. Israeli forces also struck prefabricated houses in Muhaibib, Tayr Harfa, Shihin, Ayta al-Shaab, Zalloutieh, and Al-Bustan. The attacks have killed at least five people.
The Israeli army will remain in the areas it currently occupies, including Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Katz announced.
Hezbollah’s Secretary General Naim Kassem gave a speech on Friday centered on Hezbollah’s arms and building a national defense strategy. Kassem started the speech by stating that “resistance is a reaction to the occupation” and then denounced Israel as “expansionist” while maintaining that Hezbollah is abiding by the ceasefire terms. Kassem rejected calls for disarmament and announced that a national defense strategy involving Hezbollah’s arms can only be discussed when Israel fully withdraws from Lebanon.
The Lebanese Army announced that it detained the group allegedly responsible for firing rockets from southern Lebanon. The army also announced that a soldier was killed by an unidentified exploding object during a sweep in the Tyre area.
The Trump administration is considering scrapping funding for U.N. peacekeeping missions, which currently includes around 10,000 troops in Lebanon.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told The Washington Post that the army is making “serious progress” and “expanding and consolidating its presence in the south.”
Economy
In an interview with Bloomberg, Economy Minister Amer Bisat stated that the goal of working with the IMF is restoring prosperity to Lebanon. Bisat asserted that depositor protection is “a top priority”, and announced plans to organize an investor conference later this year.
A draft decree doubling monthly family compensation was sent by the NSSF (Al Daman) to the labor minister. The decree, if implemented, is estimated to cost the government $62 million a year.
Finance Minister Yassin Jaber told Reuters that the government plans to meet international bondholders within the next 12 months.1
The Court of Audit released a report on the state of the sewage system, under the management of the CDR2 for the past 24 years. The report shows about $1 billion spent on plants and networks, most of which are currently out of service or not functioning as planned.
President Aoun
The president gave two interviews this week to Aljazeera and Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. In both interviews, Aoun stated that the Lebanese Army is “carrying out its mission” in taking over Hezbollah military sites and denounced Israel for occupying areas in South Lebanon. Aoun reiterated the need for internal dialogue and the importance of building what he described as a “national security strategy.” Aoun also ruled out the possibility of following the PMF3 model in Iraq, drawing criticism from the Iraqi government. The president later affirmed the “strength of the Lebanese-Iraqi fraternal relations” in a phone call with the Iraqi Prime Minister.
President Joseph Aoun visited Qatar and put out a joint Lebanese-Qatari statement emphasizing good relations and announced the renewal of the $60 million Qatari donation the Lebanese Army.
Judicial Investigations
Lawyers and representatives from media outlets Megaphone and Daraj, in addition to CEO of Kulluna Irada, appeared before courts this week4. A statement supporting the accused entities was signed by various MPs, media outlets NGOs, and political parties. The statement denounced the lawsuits and the campaigns against the media outlets as an attempt by “some bankers” to “flood public opinion with disinformation” and “protect criminals involved” in the Lebanese financial crisis. Human Rights Watch denounced the lawsuits calling them an attack on freedom of expression.
Judge Tarek Bitar interrogated former minister Nouhad Machnouk in the Beirut port blast case.
The Lokman Slim5 murder case will be reopened after Judge Randa Kfoury moved the case from Judge Bilal Halawi to a judge to be appointed in the future.
Salam Government
Prime Minister Salam met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus and discussed border demarcation, cross-border security cooperation, and the safe return of Syrian refugees. Salam put out a statement calling the visit a “new page in the history of relations between the two countries.” The Syrian Minister of Social Affairs visited Lebanon to meet with her Lebanese counterpart and discuss the return of Syrian refugees in addition to prospects of cooperation.
On Saturday, Minister of Education Rima Karami announced a package of bonuses and raises to public sector teachers and contractors. Public sector teacher unions had announced a strike on Monday over unpaid dues.
12 MPs submitted a challenge to the Constitutional Court concerning the rental reform law.
Municipal Elections
Future Movement leader Saad Hariri announced that his party will not partake in the coming municipal elections “to preserve the familial and developmental nature of the elections.” Al-Akhbar had previously reported that Saudi Arabia has a veto on Hariri and his party’s involvement with these elections.
In an interview with Aljoumhouria, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri asserted that the elections will not be postponed.
Council for Development and Reconstruction - المجلس اللبناني للإنماء والإعمار
The Popular Mobilization Forces (قوات الحشد الشعبي) is paramilitary umbrella group that is an independent part of the Iraqi Army and reports directly to the prime minister.
Several outlets and politicians are attacking “alternative media” outlets such as Daraj and Megaphone in addition to Kulluna Irada NGO describing them as ‘Soros-funded conspiracies’. Lawsuits were filed accusing aforementioned entities of conspiracy to sabotage the economy.
Lokman Slim was a Lebanese writer and activist known for his anti-Hezbollah views. Slim was murdered in 2021 and the subsequent investigation was closed with no arrests made.