DAILY SCOPE: Aoun as President Possible, Syrian Army Retrieves Strategic Areas

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Syrian Army Making Dynamic Advances on Three Fronts

Will Geagea Finally Raise the Slogan "Definitely Aoun"?

AL-AKHBAR:

Hizbullah: Adherent to Aoun, Period!

AL-BINAA:

Saudi-Turkish Summit: Coordination with "Israel" to Confront Liabilities, Enemy is One

With two days left before entering the New Year, it has become obvious that the presidential impasse in Lebanon will continue longer than the Lebanese people had expected. Newspapers on Wednesday focused on the talks taking place between two major Christian figures concerned with the presidential elections, noting that Head of the Free Patriotic Movement Michel Aoun and Head of the Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea are carefully studying the presidential file. This take place while Hizbullah assured its adherence to Aoun as a candidate for presidency. Sources noted that with the coming New Year, there might be a possibility that Geagea accept Aoun as president as part of a comprehensive package that has not been uncovered yet.

Also, Lebanese newspapers followed on the regional developments, with special attention to the latest advances made by the Syrian army at the time when the humanitarian situation is in continuous deterioration.

AS-SAFIR: Geagea Might Accept Aoun as President?!

Well-informed Christian sources told As-Safir newspaper there is a possibility that head of the Lebanese Forces party Samir Geagea might accept Change and Reform Bloc chief MP Michel Aoun as president for Lebanon, pointing out that the process is being studied carefully by the two men.

The sources highlighted that such a deal is not impossible anymore, especially after the signing of ‘the declaration of intentions' through which the two sides entered a new phase together.

Moreover, the sources told As-Safir that the Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement will not make a haste decision [as a quick reaction or provocation to one another]; therefore, they are having a deep political discussion that is broader than the nomination for presidency.

The two sides underscored that presidency in Lebanon far and foremost concerns the Christians, assuring that they are the major players in the process. They noted that the presidential elections before and after the nomination of head of the Marada party Suleiman Franjieh is not the same.

The latest presidential initiative, proposed Saad Hariri, leader of the Future Movement, contemplated the selection of a March 8 coalition official, Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh. News of the presumed choice was met with staunch opposition from different sides in the country.

House Speaker Berri insisted that internal obstacles were preventing the plan from happening, while Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai maintained that the initiative was serious "regardless of the identity of the candidate."

AL-JOMHOURIA:Presidential Elections to Resume after Holidays

A former governmental official told al-Jomhouria newspaper that talks and communication on presidency will resume soon after the holidays, assuring that the Hariri initiative was a good move because it shook the presidential file that has been in stalemate for so long.

The source stressed the importance of "electing a president regardless of his identity, because an ongoing presidential void is a crime against Lebanon."

Meanwhile, the paper also reported that Hizbullah for its part and during a delegation's visit to the Maronite patriarchy in Bkirki declared that it continues to support Head of the Change and Reform Bloc Michel Aoun as President for the country.

Quoted by his visitors, Berri said on Monday that "The presidential elections are facing internal obstacles," pointing out that all officials in Lebanon are required to tackle the matter.

Hariri had proposed the nomination of Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as president as part of a greater settlement that would revitalize the political scene in Lebanon, but the initiative was opposed by different political parties in the country.

AL-AKHBAR-Syrian Army Retrieves Strategic Areas, Syrian People Suffer Food Insecurity

The Syrian army and resistance forces have been making advances on different fronts in Syria, where the Syrian army and its allies retrieved Maheen and Hawareen towns after fierce clashes with "ISIS" forces who had taken control of the two towns on December 11.

A field source told al-Akhbar newspaper that the operation "started last Sunday, through which Maheen mountains were retrieved, by that paving the way to enter the town."

The source stressed that "ISIS" forces once again failed to hold foot in the town which is considered as a lifeline to "ISIS" groups and a direct link to the Aleppo-Damascus international road.

In Latakia, the paper reported that the Syrian forces and their allies advanced towards al-Qasab Mountain following Russian aerial strikes on the area.

"Taking control over al-Qasab Mountain cut the support lines of the armed groups located between the Kurds and Turkmans mountains," military sources told the Lebanese daily.

Owing to these different advancements, the paper said the Syrian army and resistance forces seem to have the upper hand over several strategic locations across the country.

On a humanitarian level, al-Akhbar newspaper said it obtained a field survey conducted by the World Food Program, reporting that the food security in Syria has hit low levels and has become alarming not only in terms of scope but also severity.

The newspaper said that according to the report, around 6.3 million Syrians suffer food insecurity while 2.4 million are on the verge of entering the same phase of complete insecurity. This, according to the report, takes place in absence of any political development or solution and proper humanitarian aid, which makes the Syrian people in jeopardy of sliding into a far worse situation.

Source: al-Ahed News