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France to Deliver Arms to Lebanon Under Saudi Deal at Beginning of Year

The Lebanese army will be able to purchase French weapons under a $3 billion deal financed by Riyadh at the beginning of the year after Saudi and French officials ink the contract on Tuesday, the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported.

According to the newspaper published on Monday, Saudi and French officials will sign the deal at the Royal Palace in Riyadh after an almost 11-month delay.

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Geagea Expected to Make 'Last-Minute Initiative' on Extension Crisis

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea is scheduled to launch an initiative to avoid the extension of parliament’s term, which is set to take place on Wednesday.

The “last-minute initiative” will be made during a press conference at 12:30 pm Tuesday, Geagea's press office announced.

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Syria Refuses to Repeat Aazaz Experience, Not Willing to Respond to Demands of Terrorists

A Syrian official said that his country is not enthusiastic to respond to the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front demands to guarantee the release of the abducted Lebanese soldiers and policemen.

“We cannot find any justification to repeat the Aazaz pilgrims experience after Beirut failed to thank Damascus on its efforts to help end the kidnapping ordeal,” a Syrian minister, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told An Nahar newspaper on Monday.

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Shahhal: New Defense Tactics to be Unveiled Soon, Arms Incident 'Exaggerated'

The founder of the salafist movement in Tripoli cleric Dai al-Islam al-Shahhal revealed on Monday that he will soon announce new defense tactics, pointing out that the army's confiscation of arms is being exaggerated.

“I will announce a new stage of defense,” Shahhal said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper.

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Berri Frustrated over Extension Vote Stances amid Christian Split

Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated that quorum is secured in this week's parliamentary session to extend the legislature's term but he expressed resentment at some accusations that he was the sole person backing such an extension.

Berri told his visitors on Sunday that quorum is guaranteed for Wednesday's session which is aimed at discussing two draft-laws that call for a technical extension through the suspension of an electoral law deadline for a limited period and a long-term extension of the legislature’s mandate.

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New Head of Israel's Northern Command: Terror Groups Could Join Hizbullah

The incoming head of Israel's Northern Command, Maj.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi, has warned that terrorist groups could join Hizbullah and Iran in carrying out attacks on the Jewish State.

“The radical axis of Iran, Syria and Hizbullah, which operated for many years to harm the state of Israel, may be joined by the threat of terror organizations that possess an extremist ideology and can change their goals and begin targeting the state of Israel,” Kochavi said on Sunday.

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Army Repels Attack by Gunmen in Arsal

The army repelled overnight Monday an infiltration attempt by gunmen, who are scattered on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported.

The daily said that armed men opened fire at army posts in the area, compelling soldiers to respond using medium weapons and machineguns.

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Nasrallah Denies Hizbullah Fighting in Syria Linked to Mahdi Prophecies

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday stressed that his party's military intervention in Syria has nothing to do with esoteric end days prophecies about the return of Imam Mahdi.

“We are fighting in Syria to prevent American, Zionist and takfiri hegemony,” Nasrallah said in a largely religious speech marking the eighth night of Ashura.

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Bomb Defused near Hizbullah Ashura Gathering in Haret Saida

The army on Sunday dismantled an explosive device that was placed near a Ashura gathering in the predominantly Shiite Sidon suburb of Haret Saida.

“The army defused an armed explosive device weighing 500 grams that was found on the Haret Saida road,” state-run National News Agency reported.

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Army Continues Crackdown in Tripoli, Akkar amid Raids near al-Beddawi

The army on Sunday conducted a major crackdown in the vicinity of the al-Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp near Tripoli and in other areas in the North.

Military units “carried out a major crackdown around the al-Beddawi camp in search of gunmen and fugitives, while raids were made in several suspicious locations,” the army said in a statement.

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