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Bishop Aoudi: If the rulers had humbled themselves and worked for the benefit of Lebanon, would we have reached the dissolution of power?
Alkalema On line/February 25/2024
His Excellency the Metropolitan of Beirut and its dependencies, Bishop Elias Aoudi, presided over the service of the Divine Liturgy in St. George’s Cathedral in Beirut, and after the Mass, the Metropolitan delivered a sermon in which he said: “The Lord does not ask us to speak of philosophy when we pray, but rather wants us to surrender ourselves to Him, so He gives us grace and salvation. Often We fall into the trap of praying with our lips only, and we often rush through prayers in order to finish them as quickly as possible and return to our fleeting worldly concerns, so we lose our inner peace and our prayers are useless. Fasting and prayer are two ways to beautify our souls and return them to their original state. In this blessed time, we must strive to acquire the qualities of Christ our Savior. We know that he was meek, humble, and good, and we must try to imitate him, as he told us: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29). However, we do not have the strength to do this on our own, so we must ask the Lord for help. Just as a light bulb does not give us light without electrical energy, so we cannot do anything without God’s grace and support, as He said: “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Aoudi continued: “If those who assumed power had been humble, and if they had worked for the benefit of Lebanon, would we have reached this disintegration of power? Let what we have achieved be a lesson to every official who holds a leadership position that he must get out of his ego and pride, and work for the common good with humility and dedication.” And integrity, and not neglecting the affairs of the people because they are the reason for his being in charge and the purpose of this existence. The inability of those who have power and decision-making to take wise positions or do what is in the interest of the country is what led them to failure and distanced them from the people who feel that the state has surrendered leadership and surrendered, and that Everyone is waiting for the outside while the outsider is preoccupied with his issues and working for his own interests. He has become disgusted and tired of our problems, the stubbornness of some and their adherence to their interests, the deviation of others and their transgression of the constitution, and the imposition of impossible conditions by other parties, instead of everyone rallying around the interest of their country as all other parties do. Countries, and come up with appropriate solutions to get Lebanon out of its predicament, keep politics away from the judiciary so that justice can prevail, reform the financial and economic situation, maintain security within the borders, and protect the lives of citizens so that they and their children do not die. They should also not neglect their duty, as we witnessed when voting on the budget items, and some of them were He does not know its content. The intelligence and integrity of the rulers advance the country and place it among the ranks of successful countries. Look around us. Some of the countries that now participate in deciding our affairs dreamed of becoming like us in the days of our country’s prosperity, but they surpassed us thanks to visionary and clean-minded rulers who raised them to the highest ranks. As for those who take the position of the tax collector in their spiritual life, they know that God knows everything, and He is aware of all their weaknesses and needs, so they do not waste prayer time by bargaining or by requests, but rather take the opportunity to show repentance and humility, and offer thanks to God for His gifts.” He concluded: “ Today, our church confronts us with our sins, warning and teaching us to pray with a pure, reverent and humble heart, so that our prayer may be an acceptable sacrifice and sweet incense before the Lord, just as we chant in our prayers: “Let my prayer be upright like incense before you, and may the raising of my hands be an evening sacrifice.”

The Syrian "Al-Abraaj" message: shameless and betraying the army
Nedaa Al Watan/February 26, 2024
Official Lebanese sources stopped at the timing of the letter sent by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to its Lebanese counterpart regarding the towers on the eastern border, which the letter described as “observatories.” The sources considered that the message was “impudent and betrays the Lebanese army” in form and content. She added: “The Syrian Foreign Ministry’s message comes more than 14 years after the presence of these towers on the northern border, and more than 7 years after their presence on the eastern border, and coinciding with the British proposal to build similar towers on the southern border.” She asked: “Wouldn’t it be more beneficial for the two countries if the “Syrian concerned authorities” (as called for in the letter) sought direct communication with the leadership of the Lebanese army to explore the mechanism of operation of these towers? Does it have the right to assume that the operations room of these towers is run by Lebanese and British officers? Isn’t that an insult to the morality and patriotism of the Lebanese army? Does it have the right to accuse the army of providing information to the Israeli enemy that extends deep into Syrian territory? Can the Lebanese state demand that the Syrian state control its borders with Lebanon so as not to use any of the two countries’ lands as a headquarters or a corridor to undermine the security and stability of either of them? It is noteworthy that “immediately after the establishment of the aforementioned towers, the Syrian authorities were informed that the extent of their coverage would not exceed the Lebanese borders, and therefore would not extend deep into Syrian territory. In addition, these authorities benefited greatly, as did the Lebanese side, from the information provided by the Lebanese cameras and monitoring devices, especially in what “It relates to the movements of the remaining sleeper cells of Takfiri terrorist organizations,” the sources say.

Hezbollah wages new attacks as 2 fighters killed in Israeli strike in Syria
Naharnet/February 25/2024
Hezbollah announced launching two fresh attacks on Israeli military posts on Sunday morning. In a statement, the group said it targeted with missiles a gathering of Israeli troops near the Ramim barracks, achieving “direct hits.”In another statement, Hezbollah said it fired two Falaq-1 missiles at the Zibdine barracks in the occupied Shebaa Farms. The Israeli army meanwhile fired artillery shells at the outskirts of the southern border town of Aita al-Shaab. Hezbollah also mourned two more of its fighters, saying they were killed “on the road to Jerusalem,” a phrase referring to fighters killed in Israeli strikes. Media reports meanwhile said that the two fighters were likely killed in an Israeli airstrike on a truck in Syria’s Qusayr. Hezbollah had announced 10 attacks on Israeli posts on Saturday, saying they were in support of Gaza and in response to attacks on Lebanese towns and civilian homes. Since October, at least 276 people have been killed on the Lebanese side of the border, most of them Hezbollah fighters but also including 44 civilians. On the Israeli side, 10 soldiers and six civilians have been killed, according to the Israeli army. The fighting has also displaced tens of thousands of residents on both sides of the border and Israel has repeatedly warned that it might use bigger force against Hezbollah to secure its residents' return.

Gaza deal won’t affect Israel’s Hezbollah fight: defense minister
AFP/February 26, 2024
JERUSALEM: Defense minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday said there would be no let up in Israeli action against Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, even if a ceasefire and hostage deal is secured in Gaza. Gallant visited the military’s Northern Command in Safed, which was hit earlier this month by a militant rocket strike from southern Lebanon, killing a soldier. Talks are underway toward a possible deal for Hamas to release hostages and pause the fighting in Gaza, which was sparked by the militants’ attack on southern Israel on October 7. Since then, there have been near-daily cross-border exchanges of fire between Israel and Hamas’s allies Hezbollah on the border with Lebanon, prompting fears of a regional escalation. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are backed by Iran. Gallant said he was keen to assess how Israel was combating increased Hezbollah activity from across the heavily fortified border.
“If anyone thinks that when we reach a deal to release hostages in the south and the firing stops it will ease what is happening here they are wrong,” he said in a video message. Israel’s aim is to ensure the Iran-backed militants do not pose a threat from border areas in southern Lebanon, he added. If a diplomatic solution to the situation is not possible, “we will do it by force,” Gallant warned. On Sunday, the Israeli military said it had intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” in the Upper Galilee region of northern Israel, and rockets were fired at a number of locations.
Jets then struck a “terrorist cell exiting a Hezbollah military compound” and two “military compounds” on the Lebanese side of the border, it added. Since October 7, 10 Israeli soldiers and six civilians have been killed by hostilities in the north, according to an AFP tally. On the Lebanese side, at least 276 people have been killed, most of them Hezbollah fighters but also 44 civilians. Hamas’s attacks on October 7 left around 1,160 people dead and saw 250 hostages taken, of whom about 130 are still thought to be in Gaza, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. In Gaza, the Hamas-run health ministry says at least 29,692 have been killed in the war between the militants and Israel.

Presidential initiative: Dialogue continues among politicians
LBCI/February 25/2024
After discussions with parliamentary bloc leaders, the National Moderation bloc appears content with the reception of its presidential initiative. The initiative calls for parliamentary consultation on nominations before calling for an election session once representatives agree to secure a quorum and refrain from consecutive session withdrawals. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri welcomed the proposal, expressing a clear preference for the term "dialogue session" to avoid conflict with his own initiative. It is widely acknowledged that meeting with the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc is crucial. Hezbollah remains committed to supporting candidate Sleiman Frangieh but welcomes dialogue with the Moderation bloc and others, advocating for various forms of dialogue to expedite the presidential election process. "We will listen to their proposals and give our opinion, but regardless of the terminology - dialogue or consultation – there is no disagreement; the outcome matters," stated Hezbollah. However, they refrained from answering questions regarding their participation in election sessions if convened, emphasizing the disconnection between the Gaza war and its repercussions in the South from the presidential issue. "We do not have to agree on a single name for the presidency," said Ahmed Khair, a member of the Moderation bloc to LBCI, implying a consensus on two or more candidates to present. The primary concern is securing two-thirds attendance throughout consecutive sessions, leading to the election of a president.
Khair also provided insights into the details of the Quintet Committee and Saudi Arabia's reception of their initiative. Meetings with various parliamentary blocs, including the Marada Movement and the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, are scheduled in the upcoming hours. While the initiative has stirred discussions, clarity on proposed mechanisms is needed, provided all blocs agree on its parameters.

2 Lebanese ordered detained for bringing 146 Syrian refugees to Cyprus by boat
Associated Press/February 25/2024
A court in Cyprus has ordered two men to remain in police custody for six days on suspicion of people smuggling. The men were identified as the drivers of two boats that brought 146 Syrian refugees and one Lebanese migrant to the east Mediterranean island nation. Police said the suspects are Lebanese nationals aged 19 and 21. According to police, the refugees said during questioning that they departed from the Lebanese city of Tripoli on Thursday, Feb. 22 and each paid $2,500 for a place aboard the boats. One boat carried 30 people, including 6 women and 11 minors. Aboard the second boat were 117 people, including 8 women and 17 minors. Police spotted both vessels Saturday afternoon off Cape Greco on the island's southeastern tip. All the migrants were escorted ashore and later taken to a migrant reception center just outside the capital Nicosia.The President of Cyprus said earlier this month that the European Union won't serve its own best interests if it doesn't consider designating some parts of Syria as safe zones so refugees and migrants can return there. President Nikos Christodoulides said Cyprus is working with like-minded EU member nations to start a discussion about that goal to help alleviate the pressure that Mediterranean countries receiving the most refugees and migrants are under. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou told the state broadcaster Saturday that Cypriot authorities have reached out to Europol to help patrol the Lebanese coastline to prevent migrant departures.
Although 37% fewer migrants reached Cyprus last year compared to the year before, official figures show migrant arrivals by boat from Syria and Lebanon increased 355% — 4,259 in 2023 as compared to 937 in 2022.

Tensions continue in the south... Here are the latest developments on the ground!
Al Kalema Online/February 25/2024
At ten o'clock this morning, Hezbollah targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Ramim barracks with missile weapons. At 11:15 a.m. today, Hezbollah also targeted the Zibdin barracks in the Shebaa Farms with two Falaq 1 missiles. Israeli media previously reported that sirens sounded in Kiryat Shmona and Margaliot in the Upper Galilee. In the morning, the Israeli army bombed the outskirts of the town of Markaba and Aita al-Shaab. An intense drone reconnaissance flight was recorded over the western slope of Mount Hermon from Shebaa all the way to Deir Al-Ashayer, close to the Lebanese-Syrian border. Hezbollah mourned two of its members who were killed in the raid on the Qusair countryside at dawn today, namely Ahmed Muhammad al-Afi “Mahmoud,” born in 1980 from the town of Brital in the Bekaa, and Hussein Ali al-Dirani “Abu Ali,” born in 1986 from the town of Qasrnaba in the Bekaa. The Syrian Observatory had reported that “Israel targeted, with an air missile, a civilian truck near the Syrian-Lebanese border within an area overlapping between the governorates of Homs and the Damascus countryside.”

Hezbollah: and new targeting
Al Kalema Online//February 25/2024
Hezbollah announced in a statement that, in support of our steadfast Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and in support of their brave and honorable resistance, and in response to the Israeli attacks on steadfast villages and civilian homes, especially on the town of Blida, it targeted the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance at 04:35. From the afternoon of Sunday, February 25, 2024, a building in which Israeli enemy soldiers were positioned in Al-Manara colony with appropriate weapons was destroyed and they were directly hit. ‏

Two Hezbollah members killed in Israeli strike on Syria
AFP/February 25, 2024
DAMASCUS: An Israeli strike on a truck in Syria near the Lebanese border killed two Hezbollah members at dawn on Sunday, a war monitor said. “Israel struck a civilian truck with a missile near the Syrian-Lebanese border,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in a report. The strike led to “the death of at least two Hezbollah members,” said the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a network of sources in Syria. Hezbollah later announced in separate statements that two of its fighters were “martyred on the road to Jerusalem,” the phrase it uses to refer to members killed by Israeli fire. A source close to Hezbollah confirmed that both were killed this morning in Syria. Syrian state media did not report the strike. Syrian armed forces shot down seven drones aimed at military positions and villages in the countryside of Hama and Idlib, Syrian state media said on Sunday, citing the defense ministry. The ministry said the drones had been launched by “terrorists,” state media reported. Since Syria’s civil war began in 2011 following an uprising against the government of President Bashar Assad, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes in Syria, primarily against pro-Iran forces, among them Hezbollah and the Syrian army. The strikes have multiplied amidst the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. An Israeli strike on a Damascus residential neighborhood on Wednesday killed three Iran-backed fighters, a Syrian and two foreigners, according to the Observatory. On February 10, the Observatory reported an Israeli strike on a building west of Damascus that killed three people from pro-Iran militias. Since the start of the war in Gaza on October 7, Hezbollah has announced the death of 16 members killed by Israeli strikes in Syria. The Israeli military announced on February 3 that it had “attacked, from the ground and air, more than 50 such targets of Hezbollah spread throughout Syria.”Israel rarely comments on individual strikes but has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran to expand its presence in Syria.

Two Hezbollah members were killed by Israeli bombing in Syria
Beirut: “Asharq Al-Awsat” / February 25, 2024
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said today (Sunday) that two members of the Lebanese Hezbollah group were killed in an Israeli bombing in Syria near the Lebanese border, according to what the Arab World News Agency reported. The Observatory explained that Israel targeted a civilian truck with a missile near the Syrian-Lebanese border, within an area between the governorates of Homs and the Damascus countryside, during the early morning hours, which led to the deaths of at least two people. He pointed out that the two dead were of Lebanese nationality and belonged to Hezbollah. The Observatory reported on Wednesday that 8 people were killed, including two Hezbollah members, and others were injured as a result of Israeli bombing on sites in Homs and its countryside in central Syria. The border area has witnessed an exchange of bombardments between the Israeli army and the Lebanese Hezbollah group, since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip on October 7th.

Israeli strike near Syrian-Lebanese border claims lives of two Hezbollah members, reports SOHR
LBCI/February 25/2024
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights announced that Israel targeted a civilian truck near the Syrian-Lebanese border on Sunday morning, in an overlapping area between Homs‎ and Rif Dimashq, with an air-launched missile. This resulted in the death of two Hezbollah members.

Hezbollah targets Israeli military gathering on Cobra Hill with rockets, achieving direct hit
LBCI/February 25/2024
In a recent development, Hezbollah has announced that they targeted an Israeli military gathering situated on Cobra Hill with rocket weapons, successfully hitting the target directly.
LBCI/February 25/2024
In the ongoing war on Gaza and Lebanon, and amidst renewed negotiations in Paris followed by Cairo, the situation in the south "fluctuates."This article was initially published and translated from the Lebanese online newspaper Al-Anbaa. Meanwhile, intermediary countries are trying to find formulas for de-escalation; some provide specific reassurances that have been highlighted by Al-Anbaa security sources, cautioning against "relying on international assurances regarding Lebanon as they have not reached the level of pressuring Israel to prevent it from launching a widescale war against Lebanon."MP Adib Abdel Massih, a member of the Renewal Bloc who participated in a parliamentary delegation that visited London days ago, confirmed this to Al-Anbaa. They held talks with members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom to explain the Lebanese issue and request them to pressure Israel to refrain from waging war against Lebanon. Abdel Massih conveyed their conviction in a settlement and the implementation of Resolution 1701. However, according to Abdel Massih, they demand "Hezbollah's withdrawal to the north of the Litani without demanding Israel's withdrawal in return, as they are only concerned with Israel's security." He consequently ruled out reaching a settlement at present without a president. Abdel Massih said, "We must be vigilant so that the solution does not come at our expense," affirming that "Israel seeks to lure Hezbollah into war because after its war on Gaza, its 'appetite for bloodshed' has increased, and it is trying to trade Lebanon for Rafah." He expects "reaching a settlement of this kind before Ramadan, so we must seize the opportunity and elect a president before anything else."Locally, the National Moderation Bloc is moving forward with its initiative, which the bloc aims to present to the rest of the parliamentary blocs. It proposes holding a consultative parliamentary session to agree on an "acceptable candidate" from most blocs and electing him as president. Sources from the bloc confirmed to Al-Anbaa that the initiative depends on the results of the bloc's meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament, Nabih Berri, and his approval to turn the election session into an open session. Whether this initiative and others will succeed in finding an acceptable formula to end the presidential vacancy remains to be seen, especially considering information indicating that the Quintet Committee is preparing for a new attempt in this context. The most crucial aspect remains actualizing all of this with the election of a president.

Israel Executes into its aggression against Syria... and Hezbollah mourns three of its members
Hussein Saad/Janoubia/February 25, 2024
The Israeli occupation forces opened the 141st day of their war with Hezbollah by targeting a pickup truck, in the Syrian countryside of Qusayr, belonging to the party, causing the martyrdom of two members, whom he called martyrs, on the road to Jerusalem, namely Ahmed Al-Afi, from Brital, and Hussein Ali Al-Dirani. From Qasr Naba, the Bekaa'in. The enemy jumps from the traditional rhythm of operations, armed with the targeting of its headquarters, by “Hezbollah”, in the Golan. With this targeting, outside the geographical scope of the occupation war, between “Hezbollah” and the Israeli enemy, which is approaching the fifth month, the enemy jumps from the traditional rhythm. For operations, armed with the targeting of its headquarters, by “Hezbollah”, in the occupied Syrian Golan, in the context of expanding and distributing its military and marching raids, throughout the south and deep into Syria. The enemy completed the day, with a violent raid on the town of Blida, which became a daily occurrence, due to the raids. The bombing operations that targeted it resulted in the fall of a martyr, Ali Karim Nasser, from the town of Hadada. Hezbollah declared him a martyr on the road to Jerusalem, bringing the number of martyrs to about two hundred and ten martyrs, the majority of whom fell in the south, and a number of others in Syria. The enemy raids also included the areas of Aita al-Shaab, al-Dhahira, and Yarin Shehin, while Hezbollah carried out a series of attacks, targeting the positions, barracks, and concentrations of enemy soldiers, in Ramim, Zabdin, al-Marj, al-Makliya, al-Manara, and Kiryat Shmona, speaking in statements issued by the party’s military media, Achieving direct hits on targeted sites with missile weapons, including Burkan missiles. This morning, the extent of the destruction caused by the enemy’s raids was revealed on homes in Bara’shit, Aita al-Shaab, Blida, and Al-Dhahira. The owners of the destroyed homes there, the Darwish family, lost their lives, which have become traces after an eye, like all the other homes in the south targeted by enemy aircraft.

An Israeli strike on Lebanon within days. The deportation of a Lebanese army conference, and this is what the representatives heard!
Hussein Saad/Janoubia/February 25, 2024
In a controversial statement, journalist Rabih Al-Habr confirmed that the Israeli strike on Lebanon is coming, and within days that Israel sees an appropriate opportunity to attack Lebanon. He pointed out in a television interview that “the representatives heard this from the British, French and American sides, and that the Israeli strike is coming, no matter how late it is, and for this reason the conference in support of the Lebanese army was postponed.”

Akram Halabi to LBCI: The match between the Lebanese national team and Bahrain will be one of the toughest
LBCI/February 25/2024
The President of the Lebanese Basketball Federation, Akram Halabi, announced that the upcoming match between the Lebanese national team and Bahrain, part of the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers, will be one of the toughest matches. The match is scheduled for Monday at 9:00 PM in Nouhad Nawfal Sports Complex. Halabi noted that the Bahraini national team is well-organized, achieving notable accomplishments and working with both their local and foreign players. On LBCI's "Nharkom Said" TV show, Halabi emphasized the importance of not underestimating this match, as happened in the last quarter of the game between the Lebanese team and Syria. He urged the players and coaching staff to concentrate from the beginning of the match against Bahrain because it is crucial, highlighting that "the most dangerous thing is to lose on our home ground."Halabi also called on the Lebanese audience to attend the game in large numbers to support the Lebanese national team, describing this match as one of the most important, saying, "I imagine that the Bahraini team is the toughest in the group." Addressing the Lebanese audience, he said, "The Lebanese team needs you."

A teacher expels a student who refused to donate to Hezbollah
Akhbar Al-Youm Agency/February 25, 2024
In a strange incident that caused an uproar in Lebanon over the past two days, a teacher in one of the most famous schools in Mount Lebanon expelled a student from his class, for no other reason than because he refused her request to provide money as aid to Hezbollah since it was fighting a battle in southern Lebanon, as she put it. Meanwhile, the father of the student, Tariq (a pseudonym, out of concern for his son’s safety and for him to complete his academic year without problems) explained to Al Arabiya.net: “The history and geography teacher is known for her political leanings in support of the Free Patriotic Movement, Hezbollah’s most prominent ally, headed by MP Gebran Bassil.” “I asked middle grade students to help Hezbollah financially, because it is defending Lebanon and fighting the war against the Israeli enemy.” But he added that his son expressed his objection, justifying that he preferred to buy his needs from electronic games.
"You are not Lebanese"
All she had to do was expel him from the class, telling him, “You are not Lebanese.”
The father indicated that he informed the principal directly responsible for the teacher at the school about what happened to his son, and asked her to take appropriate action against her. He also added that the director pledged that what happened would not be repeated. In addition, he added, "This teacher lectures to her students that Hezbollah is a resistance and an integral part of Lebanon, and we must all help it." He stressed that "the incident that happened with his son is not the first. The aforementioned teacher always tells her students that the prosperity of the Batroun region (northern Lebanon) and its classification as a top destination for tourism in the Arab world is due to the son of Batroun, MP Gebran Bassil (an ally of Hezbollah), but one of them... The students opposed this, telling her that Batroun was for all of Lebanon, so she reprimanded him.” He also expressed his regret that the teacher sought to impose her political ideology on the students, expressing his fear that punitive measures would be taken against his son because he dared to refuse her request. He also regretted the spread of an ideology that he described as “strange” in some Lebanese schools, promoting Hezbollah’s policy that it is “always victorious, and that it will defeat its enemies at home and abroad.” It is noteworthy that this incident was widely condemned by many Lebanese on social media, demanding that the school be kept away from the political division in the country. For more than 120 days, the southern Lebanon front has been burning between the Israeli army and Hezbollah, causing great destruction and loss of civilian lives, while the number of Hezbollah deaths exceeded two hundred.