Army Commander General Joseph Aoun on Monday noted that “a day will come when it will be said that the army has rescued Lebanon,” referring to the military’s approach in dealing with the unprecedented protests that have been rocking the country since October 17.
“The army’s approach towards civilians is based on the military institution’s belief in the right to assembly and freedom of expression, but this does not at all stand for leniency with any security violator, unethical actions or road-blocking moves,” Aoun said as he inspected the command of the Sixth Intervention Regiment in Riyaq.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday said that Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab “has imposed on himself conditions which were not required from him, which has made the formation process more difficult for him.”
Calling for the formation of “a government that combats corruption and rescues the country,” Berri added: “I don’t want Hassan Diab to confine me or to confine himself. If he doesn’t want to support me I will still support him.”

The Lebanon Renaissance Foundation has released its 2019 version of the ‘State of Our State’ index, which exposes further deterioration at most levels in Lebanon in 2019.
“Some of the worst scores (related to quality of political leadership and debt settlement record) were offset by three improvements induced by the October 17th uprising: efficiency of civil society; limiting corruption and freedom of speech,” LRF said in a statement emailed to Naharnet.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil on Monday denied “fabricated” reports accusing him of insisting on the formation of a techno-political government which defies the people’s will and the announcement of PM-designate Hassan Diab.
In a statement released by the minister’s media office, Bassil said Nidaa al-Watan daily published “fabricated report” accusing the minister of “turning against the formation of a government of specialists.”

A US Marine Corps force of 35 soldiers arrived in Lebanon a few days ago, with the aim of intensifying security measures at the U.S. Embassy located in Awkar, al-Akhbar daily reported on Monday.

France has reportedly warned of an “economic collapse” and an “explosion of protests” in Lebanon shall the PM-designate form a government of politicians as desired by the head of the Free Patriotic Movement and his allies,Nidaa al-Watan daily reported on Monday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday blasted the caretaker government for failing to “practice its responsibilities.”
He also lamented that “those who brought the PM-designate are not facilitating his strenuous efforts to form a government.”

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Sunday warned U.S. officials that they would be mistaken if they thought that “the world has become safer” with the death of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.
“The U.S. administration will pay a hefty price and this crime will not go unpunished and it will not be forgotten,” said Nasrallah in a televised speech commemorating Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi paramilitary leader who was killed with Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad.

Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh on Sunday clarified that a letter he sent to caretaker Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil was aimed at “unifying” capital controls in the country rather than imposing new restrictions.
Salameh explained that his request seeks to “regulate” the controls that the Lebanese banks have imposed on depositors.

President Michel Aoun extended his condolences on Saturday over the passing of Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Said.
