DAILY SCOPE: Syria Broils as Terrorist Groups Escalate Tension
Local Editor
NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES
AS-SAFIR
Berri and Salam to As-Safir: Accomplishments Overcome Dialogue
Qalamoun: Terrorists Attack, Fall in Ambushes
AL-AKHBAR
150 Raids on Aden Do Not Prevent Advances, 1200 African Soldiers to Defend ‘Holy Mosques'
AL-BINAA
Qalamoun Draws Regional War, Nasrallah Reveals Surprise Tonight?
AL-JOMHOURIYA
Yemen on Gulf Table, Kerri to Riyadh, Paris
AL-LIWAA
"Israeli" Soldiers Confess to Committing Crimes against Humanity in Gaza
AL-ANWAR
Harsh Clashes in Qalamoun after Pre-emptive Attack of Al-Nusra
Lebanese newspapers focused on Tuesday on the different domestic and regional matters, shedding light on the stances of the Lebanese Prime Minister and House Speaker on preserving Lebanon. Also, the Qalamoun and other region battles seem to be in the spotlight, as the terrorist groups launch a pre-emptive attack in Qalamoun and threaten to behead the Lebanese soldiers if the army keeps shelling the Arsal posts. As well, Yemen remains to see advances as the popular committees and the army seize major arms depots belonging to the extremist al-Qaeda groups.
Salam, Berri Call for Responsible Actions from Officials --- AS-SAFIR
Prime Minister Tammam Salam called on ministers on Monday to deal with the possible extension of the terms of high-ranking security officials with responsibility and above all interests.
In comments to As-Safir newspaper, he stressed that the extension remains a better choice than vacuum, saying: "We will not bargain on stability... each minister will carry out the necessary steps to prevent vacuum in all posts."
Asked if a ministerial bloc resigned or boycotted the government over the extension crisis, Salam said that "it's still too early to discuss the matter."
"The issue should be tackled from a national perspective and with responsibility."
The military posts in Lebanon are suffering as the result of the months-long presidential vacuum in light of the parliament's failure to elect a successor for Michel Suleiman whose tenure ended in May last year. The vacuum also threatens the ISF as chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous is set to retire in June and army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji, whose tenure expires at the end of September.
Also, the paper quoted Speaker Nabih Berri as warning that the paralysis of the parliament was harming Lebanon's national security and threatening its internal stability.
Blocking legislation leads to political and constitutional problems but also threatens the country's national security, and ways to protect it and consolidate its stability, he told the paper.
Several blocs have been been boycotting parliamentary sessions aimed at electing a president since May last year. The country's top Christian post at Baabda Palace was left vacant when President Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended. In his remarks, Berri stated that there were several draft-laws that needed to be approved to guarantee security in the country.
Al-Nusra: If Shelling Continues, Soldiers Will be Killed --- AN-NAHAR
The extremist group al-Nusra Front has warned the Lebanese government that it will kill all the Lebanese army soldiers in its custody, if the Lebanese army continues to shell its positions on the outskirts of Arsal, the daily An-Nahar reported on Tuesday.
Al-Nusra dispatched the message through a mediator from the Lebanese army, saying "if shelling on the outskirts of Arsal continues, we will kill the soldiers one after another."
The Lebanese army continues to target terrorists in Bekaa's town of Arsal bordering Syria, in an attempt to preserve Lebanon's security.
In August 2014, the area has witnessed extensive clashes between the army, the so-called Islamic State and al-Nusra Front killing 20 soldiers, 16 civilians and scores of militants, not to mention that more than 25 soldiers have been taken hostage by the militants.
AL-AKHBAR
Military sources told al-Akhbar newspaper that Saudi-US war jets launched more than 150 air raids during the past 48 hours in the different areas of Aden. The military source told the paper that Aden witnessed harsh collapse in the lines of al-Qaeda terrorists in face of major advancements of the Yemeni army and the popular committees. Furthermore, the source revealed that the army and the committees took control over most of the hills and mountains around the Tawahi area in Aden, where they found huge arms depots belonging to al-Qaeda and the Hadi militias including Saudi weapons.
No More Domestic Workers to Middle Eastern Countries --- THE GUARDIAN
Indonesia will stop sending new domestic workers to 21 Middle Eastern countries after Saudi Arabia executed two Indonesian women in Saudi Arabia, angering Jakarta, the Guardian quoted local media as reporting on Tuesday.
The ban affects countries including Saudi Arabia - a major destination for Indonesian maids - United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Egypt, and will come into effect in three months, the manpower minister, Hanif Dhakiri, was reported as saying.
In 2011 Jakarta, which has long complained about the treatment of Indonesian maids in the Middle East, had placed a moratorium on sending new helpers to Saudi Arabia after a worker was beheaded.
The new move is meant to be permanent. Maids already in the affected countries will be allowed to stay in their positions.
