War on Lebanon
Israeli forces attacked Hanniyeh, Kfarkela, Halta, Baaouerta, and Beit Lif killing three people in total, including an Islamic Jihad member. An Israeli drone targeted Meiss El Jabal injuring a Risala Scouts paramedic, while the body of a missing paramedic was found in Deir Qanoun.
Three Lebanese Army soldiers were killed by an ammunition explosion in the Nabatieh area.
The U.N. announced a $17 million grant to the Lebanese Army, which will be used for “equipping and training 4,500 new army recruits” assigned to the south.
In an interview with Asas Media, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stated that Hezbollah’s arms are “our cards that we will not give up” until the conditions “demanded of the enemy” are met.
Parliament & Government
The Lebanese Parliament passed a banking secrecy law allowing authorities to access bank records from the past ten years. The law was the Parliament’s third attempt to meet IMF1 demands for financial reforms. The Parliament also passed several laws concerning hiring at the Internal Security Forces, minting new banknotes, creating new tech-focused industrial zones, in addition to education and labor reforms.
The Lebanese Foreign Ministry urged Iranian Ambassador Mojtaba Amani to “abide by diplomatic norms” after he posted on social media that disarming Hezbollah would be “a clear conspiracy.” Amani later stated that Hezbollah’s arms are “an internal Lebanese matter” and visited the Foreign Ministry to emphasize Iran’s “commitment to support the independence, sovereignty, stability, and security” of Lebanon.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport launched three new cross-governorate bus lines.
Economy
The Lebanese delegation to the IMF, headed by Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, concluded its meetings this week. Jaber emphasized the passed financial reforms and stated that Lebanon needs $11 billion for post-war reconstruction.
The World Bank granted Lebanon a $250 million loan aimed at supporting the energy sector, an amount that could go up to $400 million following a request by the Finance Minister.
Syria
Eight Syrian refugees were injured by a suicide drone targeting the border town of Hawsh al-Sayyid on the Lebanese side. The Lebanese Army stated that the fire exchanges were between smugglers and the Syrian Army. The Syrian Ministry of Defense in turn said that Hezbollah fired shells towards Syria.
The UNHCR2 released a report about the movement of Syrian refugees, showing that around 123,000 refugees have crossed back to Syria from Lebanon.
Beirut Blast Investigation
Former Prime Minister Hassan Diab was questioned by Beirut Blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar. A delegation representing a group3 of victims’ families met top prosecutor Jamal Hajjar to voice their rejection of Bitar’s investigation.
International Monetary Fund
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees