DAILY SCOPE: Zarif Hails Stability in Lebanon, Security Forces Expose New Terrorist

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:

AS-SAFR:

Zarif Meets Salam, Nasrallah: Stability in Lebanon and Stability

AL-AKHBAR:

Security Forces Foil SIL Attempt to Penetrate Its Lines
Aoun Fighting War of Annulling

AN-NAHAR:

Iran Praises Salam, Boosts Cabinet Situation
Aoun in "Order of the Day": To Street Afternoon

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Zarif: No to Competition in Lebanon

AL-LIWAA:

Zarif from Grand Serail: To Support Peace, Stability

AD-DIYAR:

Zarif: Historic Opportunity to Cooperate, Face Challenges

AL-BALAD:

Iraqi Parliament Approves Anti-Corruption Plan Unanimously

THE DAILY STAR:

Aoun Ups Pressure on Cabinet with Street Protests

Lebanese newspapers on Wednesday highlighted the visit of Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to Lebanon in a move to update the Lebanese officials on the nuclear deal and to reassure the importance of bilateral relations and cooperation in the different fields between Lebanon and Iran.

On the domestic level, the street protests to be held by the Free Patriotic Movement continued to make the headlines, with sources assuring the move is to demonstrate the stance on an internal issue within the borders of common living and mutual rights. Also, papers highlighted that again the Lebanese forces uncover extremists trying to penetrate its lines this time.

Zarif Praises Lebanon for Peace, Stability --- AN-NAHAR

According to An-Nahar newspaper, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif praised the role played by the Lebanese cabinet in maintaining stability and security. Zarif underlined that competition should be for the construction of Lebanon.

"Everyone should recognize Lebanon as a model of coexistence and resistance," Zarif said, stressing that Iran is carrying out its role in all these spheres.

According to the source, Zarif also stressed that Iran stands beside the Lebanese people and back their demands, but assured that electing a president is in the hands of the Lebanese people as he urged foreign powers not to interfere.

Minister Zarif was speaking on Tuesday in the wake of his meeting with Premier Salam at the Grand Serail.

Also on Zarif's visit, al-Akhbar newspaper quoted well-informed sources as saying that the visit of the Iranian official ‘aims at informing the Lebanese about the details of the nuclear deal that took place between Iran and the P5+1 countries and what impact does it have on the region.'

Also, the sources noted that Zarif stressed Iran will continue to support its allies in the region on all levels.
Most importantly, dailies pointed out to Zarif's words that the "Israeli" regime, terrorism, extremism and violence are the major challenges facing the countries in the Middle East.

"ISIL" Fails to Penetrate Lebanese Security Forces --- AL-AKHBAR

In the context of a cold security war between the terrorist groups and the Lebanese security forces, the General Directorate of the Security Forces foiled an attempt by the terrorist group "ISIL" to penetrate its lines through security personnel.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, the most extremist group worldwide was able to recruit one of the Lebanese security forces personals known as ‘K.F.' and luckily the security forces uncovered the collaborator in an early time.

According to sources, the personal who was detained confessed that he was tasked to attack an office belonging to the security forces, which was newly established in a small town in Akkar North of Lebanon.

The sources added that according to the plan, he was ordered to raid the office at a certain hour and kill all his colleagues. Also, he confessed to have been recruiting other people, one of which was also arrested.

Earlier on Tuesday, As-Safir Lebanese daily reported a series of arrests of terrorists in the different Lebanese regions over the past few weeks revealed that the two terrorist organizations of al-Nusra and "ISIL" have high capabilities in recruiting young men whether Lebanese, Syrian or Palestinian [majorly from the refugee camps in Lebanon] where specialized groups are in charge of transferring them through Turkey to the Syrian territories to take part in training and fighting.

On a related note on Monday, the Lebanese Army said it has arrested a man suspected of plotting terrorist acts and recruiting would-be suicide bombers, three of whom were also detained.

Also on Monday, the Lebanese Army said in a statement that Abdelrahman Tarek al-Kilany was arrested as soon as he entered Lebanon over involvement in recruiting the militants. It said he recruited the militants during a period when he was living outside the country.

The suspect, whose nationality was not mentioned, allegedly confessed during interrogations to belonging to the organization led by notorious militants Shadi Mawlawi and Osama Mansour.

Demonstrations Democratic Expression, Reserved Rights --- AS-SAFIR

Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq stressed that demonstrations and other forms of democratic expression are a right reserved by the constitution, as reported by As-Safir newspaper on Wednesday. The minister told the daily that "Any lawful democratic action is allowed as long as it does not cause any problem or security unrest."

FPM chief MP Michel Aoun announced on Tuesday that his supporters will be holding protests against the extension of the terms of top military officers.

Internal Security Forces chief Major General Ibrahim Basbous told the daily: "The measures are very normal and they are the same ones taken during any extraordinary development," adding "Our measures are primarily aimed at protecting the demonstrators and we therefore cannot separate our presence from that of the army."

Military sources meanwhile told the daily that the army "will not stand as an obstacle against any peaceful and democratic movement."

Free Patriotic Movement supporters are planning to take to the streets on Wednesday following a call by MP Michel Aoun to demonstrate against the extension of the mandate of top military officers in an attempt to put pressure on the government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

FMP sources told Al-Jomhouria newspaper on Wednesday that the move is exclusively related to the party's right in expressing its stance on a domestic matter, adding that they will not stop the protests due to the visit of Iran's FM or any other official.

The sources also told the paper that the goal behind these street protests is ‘to express that we exist in this equation and that we demand to be part of it because this is our right.'

Source: Al-Ahed News, Edited by website team