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French envoy discusses Lebanon with Qatari PM in Doha

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has met in Doha with the French special envoy to Lebanon, Jean-Yves Le Drian.

"During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and ways to support and strengthen them, discussed the latest developments in Lebanon, and addressed a number of issues of common interest,” the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

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Rajji goes softer on Hezbollah in major change of tone

Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has called for everyone to return to the State and to not give Israel excuses to keep up its attacks and occupation.

"We demand that everyone return to the state, the state of law," Rajji said Tuesday in a seminar, adding that "this is not the time for fiery statements or ideological slogans but a time to work on ensuring the enemy is given no excuse for stalling."

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Jumblat slams Qassem's 'irresponsible' stances that 'provoke Israelis'

Druze leader Walid Jumblat has described Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem’s latest remarks on supporting Iran in the event of a new war as “irresponsible, irresponsible, irresponsible.”

Warning that such remarks “provoke the Israelis,” Jumblat lamented in remarks to Lebanon’s L'Orient-Le Jour newspaper that Qassem’s statements “threaten the good progress that the government has achieved in the army’s plans in the south.”

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UK's Mideast minister welcomes 'progress' in bringing Hezbollah arms under control

Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Hamish Falconer has held phone talks with Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji and welcomed the “progress” of the Lebanese Army in “bringing Hezbollah’s weapons in the south under state control.”

“The UK will continue to support all efforts to ensure security in Lebanon and across the region,” Falconer added, in a post on X.

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Ambassador Cowell launches the British Lebanese Chamber of Commerce  

 

British Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell on Tuesday launched the British Lebanese Chamber of Commerce (BLCC) during a reception held at his residence. 

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Gemayel describes Hezbollah as 'armed militia' in second heated budget session

Kataeb leader Sami Gemayel described Wednesday Hezbollah as an armed militia, as parliament discussed the 2026 budget for a second day in a row.

Gemayel said no one will invest in Lebanon as long as there are war and armed militias, which angered a Hezbollah MP.

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Aoun envoy, US general discuss Mechanism work in meeting in Awkar

President Joseph Aoun's security and military Advisor Antoine Mansour met Tuesday with Mechanism's Assistant Chief U.S. Colonel David Leon Klingensmith at the U.S. Embassy in Awkar.

The meeting was attended by the Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Colonel Jason Belknap.

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Bassil warns Hezbollah against 'crime' of implicating Lebanon in 'new destruction'

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday strongly criticized Hezbollah in the wake of Sheikh Naim Qassem’s latest remarks about supporting Iran.

“The basis of the Memorandum of Understanding (between the FPM and Hezbollah) was to Lebanonize Hezbollah’s choices and weapons through partnership, state building and defending Lebanon,” Bassil said in a post on the X platform.

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Israeli strike targets motorbike in Batoulay, killing one person

A man was killed Tuesday in an Israeli airstrike on his motorcycle in the southern town of Batoulay.

The Israeli army said it has targeted a Hezbollah member in the southern town of Deir Qanoun.

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Retired soldiers protest as MPs discuss 2026 budget in heated session

Retired soldiers gathered Tuesday at Beirut's Riad al-Solh Square in downtown Beirut to protest their salaries that have become too low to cover basic expenses, as parliament convened to discuss the 2026 budget.

The retirees also demanded better healthcare services and education for their children. They blocked the entrance to parliament, sparring with some MPs who tried to enter in their cars.

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