Naim Qassem's new tactic
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 961
an hour ago
- The 961
Pope Leo Might Be Coming To Lebanon In A Few Months!
Lebanon could be the very first stop for Pope Leo's travels abroad, and it might happen before the end of 2025. Maronite Patriarch Bechara Raï revealed in an interview that the pope is planning a trip to Lebanon 'by December.' No exact date has been confirmed yet, but preparations are already underway. This would be Pope Leo's first visit outside of Italy since becoming the head of the Catholic Church in May, and choosing Lebanon as his first destination carries a lot of meaning. Lebanon holds a special place for the Vatican. With millions of Catholics according to Vatican statistics and a deep historical connection to the Church, it's more than just another country on the itinerary. The pope also recently remembered the 5th anniversary of the Beirut port explosion, calling Lebanon 'beloved and suffering' and keeping it in the center of his prayers. According to Vatican sources, the Lebanon trip could also be tied into a wider tour that includes Turkey. Pope Leo is expected to attend events in İznik (the old Nicaea), marking 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea – one of the most important moments in early Church history. If it happens, the visit would be a huge sign of solidarity with the Lebanese people. It would also continue where Pope Francis left off – he was supposed to visit but had to cancel due to health issues.
L'Orient-Le Jour
4 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'Hezbollah emptied resistance of its true meaning,' criticizes Rai
Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai said, 'The sons of the Shiite community have had enough of the war and want to live in peace.' 'There is strong Lebanese consensus on the implementation of the decision to disarm Hezbollah,' he added. Speaking to Al-Arabiya TV, Rai stated that 'the statements of Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Naim Qassem, are nothing more than rhetorical posturing and there will be no civil war in Lebanon.' The Patriarch further said that 'Hezbollah must come to the conviction that the army protects all Lebanese, without distinction,' and recalled that 'coexistence is what characterises Lebanon and is enshrined in the Constitution.' 'Hezbollah has emptied resistance of its true meaning; resistance is not about submitting to Iran's dictates,' the Patriarch reiterated in one of his most virulent criticisms of Hezbollah. He continued that 'the Lebanese government's decision is clear: to put an end to illegal arms.' He stressed that 'Hezbollah must think about its 'Lebaneseness,'' adding that 'the war in support of Gaza has brought ruin to Lebanon,' he said. Rai believes that priority should be given to reconstruction and recovery, not war. 'The Shiite community is a Lebanese community that existed before the inception of what is called the resistance,' the Patriarch added. 'Hezbollah must have total allegiance to Lebanon and end its allegiance to Iran.' His remarks come after the Cabinet's decision to disarm armed groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah, and to approve the U.S. roadmap presented by U.S. Envoy Tom Barrack to the authorities. The Lebanese Army was subsequently tasked with submitting a plan by Aug. 31 that outlines the steps for disarmament to be carried out before the end of the year. These decisions have sparked anger in Qassem, who delivered a strong-worded speech last Friday, reiterating his party's refusal to hand over its weapons and even threatening civil war. This speech was made the day after Iran's Envoy Ali Larijani visited Lebanon, where he reiterated his support for maintaining arms. In this context, the patriarch described Iran's interference in the Lebanese affairs as 'flagrant' and emphasized that 'resistance is not synonymous with obedience to Iranian orders.' 'There is no obstacle to peace with Israel in the future, when conditions are right,' revealing that 'the Pope's visit to Lebanon will take place before the end of this year.' Hezbollah opened a front in support of Hamas one day after the Palestinian Islamist group carried out an attack inside Israeli territory on Oct. 7, 2023. This offensive plunged the Gaza Strip into a war with Israel that has been ongoing for nearly two years. In Lebanon, this new war with Israel left Hezbollah severely weakened and deprived it of its key leaders and political and military figures, including its former secretary-general, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed on Sept. 27, 2024.
L'Orient-Le Jour
4 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Protesters applauded William Noun as he left the Justice Palace
Summoned by the criminal police upon the instructions of Assistant Prosecutor General at the Court of Cassation, Sabbouh Sleiman, following a legal complaint filed by lawyer Ali Hassan Ibrahim, William Noun, the brother of a victim of the Aug. 4, 2020 Beirut Port explosion, was heard for two hours on Tuesday. Noun was released with a proof of residence at the order of Judge Sleiman. Read more William Noun targeted with legal complaint The plaintiff, who is clearly close to Hezbollah, said in his complaint that Noun expressed 'dangerous empathy with the Israeli enemy' during his speech on the fifth commemoration of the a video of his speech, Noun addressed participants at the commemoration rally who were chanting 'Hezbollah is a terrorist organization,' saying, 'there is no one left from Hezbollah.' According to the...
