DAILY SCOPE: Lebanon’s Offshore Oil in Danger, 75% of ’ISIL’ Refineries’ Work Disrupted

Local Editor

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

"Israel" Steals Lebanon's Gas, Companies

Possible "ISIL" Attacks Owing to CIA, Europe!

AL-AKHBAR:

Lebanon Haunted by Terrorism Ghost

Lebanese Oil in Danger

AN-NAHAR:

Moscow, Washington Dispute on al-Assad at Its Height, US Senators Halt Receiving Refugees

AD-DIYAR:

Settlement in Lebanon Impossible as Long as War in Syria Ongoing

AL-LIWAA:

Kuwait Dismantles "ISIL" Terrorist Network

Lebanese newspapers on Friday tackled the different topics including domestic issues, highlighting the issue of counter-terrorism and cooperation with foreign bodies to confront the threats. Papers also touched on the latest developments in Yemen and Syria; the region's most debated topics as the Saudi-led coalition continues its illegitimate war on Yemen but has been inflicted with major losses, and Syria where "ISIL" seems to be losing more ground and suffers a serious ‘oil' problem.

AL-JOMHOURIA: Lebanese Security Agencies Coordinating with Foreign Ones on Terrorism

"The Lebanese security agencies are increasingly coordinating with foreign agencies in their fight against terrorism, taking into consideration the scope of dangers and threats," reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Friday, quoting a well-informed security source.

The source told the daily "The fight against terrorism has exceeded geographical borders, and dormant cells have been awakened due to political developments," explaining the rise in cooperation between the two sides.

"The terrorist organizations believe that targeting the West with assaults, pressure, and confusion may halt or hamper the serious western campaign against them," they underscored, adding that "in its turn, Lebanon will also be a target since it is part of the war on terror."

Furthermore, it noted that the coordination between Lebanon's security agencies and foreign ones, as well as the alertness of the security apparatus and spreading forces to curb any threats against the country is the reason why a number of terrorist cells have been discovered quickly, like the case was after the Burj al-Barajneh explosions.

Earlier on Thursday, a security source told al-Jomhouria newspaper that the security operations that were carried out during the past 24 hours have saved Lebanon major shocks that were expected by the day, as new networks similar to that of the latest Southern Suburb attack were arrested in different areas across Lebanon.

Last week, twin suicide bombings targeted the Burj al-Barajneh district in southern Beirut.

AS-SAFIR: Lebanon Oil under Threat from "Israel"

Speaker Nabih Berri received on Thursday a message from the Lebanese Petroleum Association that Lebanon's offshore oil wealth is under threat from "Israel", reported As-Safir newspaper on Friday.

Yet, sources told the paper that if Lebanon acts quickly, it can still confront that threat.

The Ministry of Energy had issued a report warning authorities that if they did not take action in this file, then the country is facing a real danger of losing its wealth.

The sources explained that parliament had issued the necessary laws linked to tackling the petroleum file, but it is now a victim of political dealings between the government and various political forces.

In August 2014, the government postponed for the fifth time the first round of licensing for gas exploration over a political dispute. The disagreements were over the designation of blocks open for bidding and the terms of a draft exploration agreement.

AL-AKHBAR: Yemeni Army, Committees Take Back Important Taiz Areas

The Yemeni army and popular committees took back important areas in Taiz on Friday, including the al-Wazi'ya bazar and the Muthalath region, al-Akhbar Lebanese daily quoted military sources as saying.

The newspaper reported on Friday that they chased the terrorist groups from different sides, with dozens among them either killed or injured.

The sources also told al-Akhbar that the army and committees also foiled a smuggling attempt, where terrorists were trying to infiltrate into Ma'areb. This, according to the source, was an attempt to break the siege imposed on the Kofel military camp.

Earlier on Tuesday, Yemeni forces also repelled an offensive by militiamen loyal to fugitive former President Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi in Kofel district of Yemen's central province of Ma'rib.

Tens of Saudi soldiers were also reportedly killed when Yemeni army forces ambushed them close to the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

AL-KHBAR: 75% of "ISIL" Oil Refineries Hit by Russian Raids, Stop Working

Sources from Syria's al-Raqqa told al-Akhbar newspaper on Friday that around 75% of oil refineries of which the terrorist groups have been benefiting have stopped working after the heavy Russian air raids on the area.

This, according to the source, will have heavy consequences on "ISIL", as it has caused a crisis in almost all areas of the terrorist organization in terms of transportation and electricity.

About 500 terrorists' fuel trucks that had been illegally transporting oil from Syria to Iraq were destroyed by Russian aviation in a few days, Col. Gen. Andrei Kartapolov, Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, said on Thursday.

Michael Knights, an Iraq expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy has said earlier that most often refined in Syria, the group's oil is trucked to cities such as Mosul to provide people living under its ‘black banner' with fuel for generators and other basic needs. It's also used to power the war machine.

Source: al-Ahed News, Edited by website team