Report: Regional Escalation Obligates Lebanese Settlement to Avert Dangers

The escalation in the conflict in Syria with Russia launching air strikes in the country has raised tensions in the region and concerns that Lebanon may be affected by them, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

A prominent leader working on a government settlement told the daily: “The negative aspect of the tensions in Lebanon is that they coincide with great foreign escalation.”

“This will provide a suitable environment for further escalation, which will consequently jeopardize the situation in Lebanon,” he explained.

“The only way to avert the regional fire is to fortify the political scene,” he continued.

“This therefore necessitates a settlement that would organize the political situation in Lebanon until the election of a new president,” he stressed to the daily.

Meanwhile, observers noted to al-Joumhouria that next week may be “decisive” in Lebanon regarding the possibility of easing tensions.

“Otherwise we may be faced with more complications and enter a phase of political escalation,” they warned.

“The outline of a political settlement could emerge next week if serious efforts are exerted to ensure its success,” they added.

In the meantime, various diplomatic efforts have been made to safeguard stability in Lebanon, reported al-Joumhouria.

Political tensions in Lebanon have been high in recent months over numerous disputes, most notably over the ongoing presidential vacuum, security appointments and promotions, trash disposal crisis, and obstruction of the work of cabinet and parliament in connection to these pending issues.

National dialogue, under Speaker Nabih Berri's sponsorship, was kicked off in September in an effort to defuse the tensions.