DAILY SCOPE: Presidential Void Good Grounds for Political Assassination, Syrian Army Making Major Advances

Local Editor
NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:
AS-SAFIR:
Security Sources Warn: ‘Political Assassination' Rising Again
AL-AKHBAR:
Lavrov: No Place for ‘Jaysh al-Islam' and ‘Ahrar al-Sham' in the Negotiations
AN-NAHAR:
Waste Management Scandal: Exporting Company Is a Small House in Holland, German Branch Sells Kitchens
AL-LIWAA:
German Delegate in Beirut Asks Nasrallah for Appeasement with ‘Israel'
Lebanese newspapers on Thursday touched on the different regional and domestic political matters, with focus on the ongoing presidential void. The newspapers reported anticipation of security sources that the continuous deadlock might be a good environment for new political assassinations that could lead to chaos. The dailies expected that the deadlock will continue in the New Year unless some serious action is made soon.
Also, papers highlighted the latest developments in Syria, as the Syrian army captured Sheikh Meskin town and pushed terrorist groups towards the North.
AS-SAFIR-Presidential Impasse Good Environment for Political Assassinations
As-Safir newspaper on Thursday said that the ongoing presidential impasse can be "grounds for unpleasant dramatic developments inside Lebanon."
Security sources told the paper that they fear political assassinations [of prominent figures] in the country, in order to shuffle the cards and push towards holding instant elections. The sources further underscored the importance of being alert and cautious during this sensitive period of time.
Informed sources said two weeks ago that "the March 8 and 14 camps will soon hold separate meetings in order to "resolve the internal rifts" that emerged in wake of the presidential proposal. Upon an initiative made by Hariri to end the vacuum in the presidency, Franjieh emerged in recent weeks as a potential presidential candidate.
Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.
AL-BINAA-Rift Among Christian Leaderships, Maronite Patriarch Crystal Clear
The Lebanese cabinet enters the New Year on Friday with many political woes and security challenges to carry on its back, with difficulty to say whether the presidential void will end soon or not, said al-Binaa newspaper on Thursday.
Sources close the Maronite patriarchy told al-Binaa that "the distancing between the Maronite political factions in the country and the Maronite Patriarch is crystal clear, as none of the Christian officials paid a visit to the Patriarch to congratulate him on the Christmas and New Year holidays, contrary to previous years."
The latest presidential initiative, proposed by Saad Hariri, leader of the Future Movement, contemplated the selection of Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh. News of the presumed choice was met with 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."
AS-SAFIR-Syrian Army Makes Advances, Puts More Pressure on Terrorist Groups
With the coming of the New Year, dramatic developments take place on the Syrian level, as the army and its allies took control of the Sheikh Meskin area; allowing them to put more pressure on the terrorist groups located in South Syria near Dara'a.
A field source in Syria told As-Safir newspaper that the battle which took place in the strategic and important town of Sheikh Meskin amid withdrawal of armed groups forces was very decisive, adding that the land and air operations that started a few days ago in the South and East paved the way for the Syrian ground troops to advance quickly.
The Syrian army continued on Wednesday the operation in northern Dara'a countryside, targeting an armed group at the Sheikh Meskin roundabouts that was fortifying inside a building.
Syrian state-run news agency SANA reported on Wednesday that terrorists were fleeing en masse from Sheikh Meskin after a number of their leaders were killed, while the army cut off all supply routes for terrorist organizations.
AL-AKHBAR - Yemen's Qaher 1 Hit Saudi Military Base!
Almost on a daily basis, Yemeni ballistic missiles hit new strategic targets inside the Saudi territory, as part of new strategic choices declared by the Ansarullah movement, at the time Saudi allegations that it has destroyed the Yemeni army and its capabilities continue, said al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday.
In this context, sources assured that a new Yemeni Qaher-I ballistic missile precisely hit Saudi Arabia's military bases in Jizan province, inflicting heavy losses on them.
Following Saudi claims that the missile did not hit any target and was destroyed by Saudi-led coalition forces, military source assured to al-Akhbar newspaper that the missile hit the target accurately, and that the Saudi claims come as part of a media blackout campaign that fails to provide true evidence to support its claims.
Yemen has been since March 26 under brutal aggression by Saudi-led coalition. Thousands have been martyred and injured in the attack, with the vast majority of them are civilians. Riyadh launched the attack on Yemen in a bid to restore power to fugitive president Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi who is a close ally to Saudi Arabia.
However, Yemeni army, backed by the popular committees has been engaged in battles with Saudi-led mercenaries and Hadi's militias in several areas across the country.
Source: al-Ahed News
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