DAILY SCOPE: Russian Raids Target Armed Extremists in South Syria

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Syrian Vienna Marathon: A New Round Today

AL-AKHBAR:

A Sectarian Solution for Waste Landfills' Crisis

AL-BINAA:

Washington, Moscow Encourage Iranian-Egyptian Duality After Vienna Meeting .. Lebanon Present

Lebanese newspapers on Thursday discussed domestic and regional topics, focusing on the garbage crisis and the latest events in Syria.

AS-SAFIR: Berri Suggests Solution to Solve Garbage Crisis

As-Safir newspaper said on Thursday that House Speaker Nabih Berri suggested that Hizbullah and Amal Movement are ready to carry the burden of the garbage in their areas.

"I have suggested that Hizbullah and Amal Movement bear the responsibility of waste disposal in their areas through decentralization and strengthening the role of municipalities," added the Speaker.

Berri had stated that he did not want to intervene in the controversial waste management dossier because there was a cabinet decision waiting for implementation on the issue, but the obstacles that hindered its resolution have compelled him to make a suggestion that still waits implementation, the Daily said.

If Berri's suggestion was approved, then the cabinet would call for an urgent meeting within 24 to 48 hours to approve a comprehensive solution to the trash crisis and other pressing issues.

Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb is meanwhile expected to announce on Thursday that he will no longer continue his efforts to resolve the garbage crisis, which will grant the PM more time to exert political pressure on those hindering an agreement on the minister's proposal, said the sources.

The waste crisis had erupted in July when Lebanon's largest landfill in Naameh was closed. Trash began piling up on the streets of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, forcing the dumping of wastes in makeshift sites and along riverbanks.

The cabinet has been unable to convene because of major differences between its members on the promotion of high-ranking military officers and the decision-making mechanism that it should adopt in light of the presidential impasse.

AL-JOMHOURIA: Agriculture Minister Holds Meetings to Solve Waste Crisis

Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayeb will hold a meeting with head of the Change and Reform Bloc General Michel Aoun and head of the Phalange Party Sami Gemayel on Thursday to inquire from them whether they want to activate the waste landfills in the areas of Kisirwan and Maten, said al-Jomhouria newspaper on Thursday.

On Wednesday, Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayyeb and Health Minister Wael Abou Faour met with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh. After the talks, Shehayyeb said, "Minister Abou Faour and I will engage in communication today so that we can reach firm ground tomorrow regarding the garbage crisis and its deadlock."

Politicians in Beirut, divided by local and regional conflicts, have been unable to agree on where to dump the capital's rubbish. Mounting piles of garbage festering in the summer heat are triggering health warnings, as well as protests by residents furious at their government's failure to avoid a crisis ignited by the long-scheduled closure of a major landfill site last month.

AL-AKHBAR: Russia Strikes Terrorist Areas in Southern Syria

Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Thursday that the Russians informed their allies on the ground in South Syria that the ballistic missiles will also target the southern area.

According to the source, the Russians have carried out several qualitative raids targeting military posts and zones of terrorist armed groups, namely in the rural areas of Daraa, Tal Hara, Tal Antar and others.

Moreover, the source told al-Akhbar that the raids hit the targets with high precision. Another field source said that the Syrian army will soon start redeployment in the southern areas.

Turkish, Qatari, and Emirati airplanes have transferred more than 500 "ISIL" terrorists from Syria to Yemen following the Russian airstrikes on the terrorists' positions, the spokesman for the Syrian Armed Forces said Tuesday.

Brigadier General Ali Mayhoub said two planes from Turkey, one from the United Arab Emirates and a fourth from Qatar transported 500 "ISIL" terrorists fleeing the country, following the Russian strikes, to an airport in Yemen's port city of Aden.

Russia launched its military operations against terrorists in Syria on September 30 upon a request from the Damascus government. Since then, Russian Air Force jet fighters have made several gains against terrorist groups operating in the country.

Source: al-Ahed News