Latest news with #anti-Hezbollah
Al Manar
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Al-Manar Discloses Truth of Traitor Mohammad Saleh
Lebanon has always witnessed waves of dismantling spy groups or individuals traitors spying for the Israeli enemy as what happened in 2009 when the Lebanese security forces arrested over 100 spies in different cities and towns. However, after the recent war and the Zionist assassinations of a number of Hezbollah commanders and leaders, the talk about security breaches plaguing the Resistance has become a trend. The arrest of the traitor Mohammad Saleh reinforced the anti-Hezbollah propaganda. Security sources told Al-Manar about the truth of the traitor Saleh, unveiling details. Saleh is a former member of the Resistance, so he does not possess important data, according to the sources, which added that he did not provide his Zionist operator with critical data about the resistance. The sources added that Saleh's involvement in the assassinations of the Resistance fighters and cadres has not been settled as circulated via the social media platforms. According to the security sources, Saleh arrest did not lead to any other traitor, and the spy cell dismantled recently did not have ties with Saleh, nor did it include women as circulated. The security sources indicated that Saleh's main goal was gaining money due to the financial crisis he passed through over losses in the stock market dealings, adding that Saleh acknowledged receiving ةoney transfers from the Zionist enemy.
L'Orient-Le Jour
10-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Number of voters, regions, competing lists: Your cheat sheet on municipal elections in North Lebanon and Akkar
With just a few hours to go before the municipal elections in North Lebanon, the second round of voting this month, L'Orient-Le Jour put together a guide before the start of voting in the governorates of North Lebanon and Akkar. Here is everything to know about the municipal elections: Some figures on the municipal councils to be elected in North Lebanon and Akkar This Sunday, from the moment the polling stations open at 7 a.m., voters from North Lebanon and Akkar are called to vote to elect municipal councils and mokhtars (local officials). Here are some facts and figures to remember about this voting day. - The entire northern region of Lebanon is divided into two governorates: North Lebanon, which includes six districts, and Akkar. In total, across these two major administrative areas, 288 municipal councils will be elected. - The number of municipal councils for each region is divided as follows: In North Lebanon: Batroun: 31 municipal councils; Koura: 37 municipal councils; Minya-Dinniyeh: 37 municipal councils; Bsharri: 12 municipal councils; Zgharta: 32 municipal councils; Tripoli: five municipal councils, including that of the major city of the same name. In different regions, several municipal councils were elected unopposed due to a lack of competition at the closure of nominations. These include, in Batroun: Douma, Rashkida, Beit Shelala; in Zgharta: Eyaal, Haret al-Fouar, Raskifa, Arjis, Kfarhata, and Kfarfou; in Koura: Baakftein, Beshmezine, Bsarma, Baataboura, Darshmezin, Aafsaddiq, Batroumin, Kousba, Kfar Saroun, and Rashdibin. In total, approximately 648,600 voters are called to mobilize during the day in the governorate. In Akkar: the governorate is made up of a single large district, which includes 134 municipalities where new councils are to be elected. The total number of voters in Akkar amounts to 325,968. What are the major lists in different regions of northern Lebanon? For more details on the major battles to follow, read the following analysis here: In Tripoli, four main lists are competing: 1. The Vision of Tripoli Head of list: Abdel Hamid Karami Political support: The list is backed by an improbable coalition including Ashraf Rifi, a hawk of the anti-Hezbollah camp, and his biggest rivals: Faysal Karami, Taha Najji, and Abdel Karim Kabbara (an independent close to Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri). 2. The Tripolitan Fabric Head of list: Wael Zamarli Political support: Businessman and MP Ihab Matar, former Prime Minister Najib Mikati. 3. Lel Fayha' (Fayha' being Tripoli's nickname) Head of list: Samer Debliz Support: Actors of the Oct. 17 protest movement. 4. The Guardians of the City Support: The eponymous group composed of civil society volunteers and the Islamic Group. In Batroun: In Batroun itself, only one list is running, headed by Marcelino Hark, the outgoing president of the municipality. It is supported by a coalition of major Christian parties present: Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), Lebanese Forces (LF), and Kataeb. In other villages of the district, such as Chekka, Aabrine, or Tannourine: the competition mainly opposes the FPM to the LF-Kataeb alliance, which can also count on the support of Majd Harb, a local political figure. In Hamat: the FPM faces another improbable coalition, that of LF with the Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) and the Communist Party. In Zgharta: In Zgharta itself: The list supported by the Sleiman Frangieh clan, close to Hezbollah and the Amal Movement, faces an incomplete list from the protest movement. In other villages of the district: the Frangieh-FPM alliance faces the LF-Kataeb alliance, supported by reformist MP Michel Moawad. In Koura and Minyeh-Denniyeh: The battle is mainly familial, with notable influence from local families. Political parties have limited presence, and alliances vary by village. This region is notably marked by the decline of SSNP influence, following internal dissensions and the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. In Bsharri, the hometown of Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, the Lebanese Forces are expected to maintain high influence. In Akkar In the Akkar governorate, made up of a single district where over 130 municipal councils are to be elected, the competition is also mainly familial. In some Sunni villages, the battle will oppose the Islamic Group and local families.
L'Orient-Le Jour
08-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
‘Burn the resistance dollars': Fake bills dropped by Israeli drone in Naqoura
BEIRUT — An Israeli drone dropped fake bills with anti-Hezbollah slogans over Naqoura, in the Sour district, on Thursday, locals told our on-site reporter, Lyana Alameddine. The yellow and white bills featured various slogans, all against the party and its funding of its base. Some bills read: "The era of lies and deceit of the Resistance is over, burn the Resistance dollars," while others stated that "Hezbollah's dollars are ' haram ' [forbidden by God] and will serve you no purpose since Hezbollah has destroyed your homes and displaced your families." Unidentified characters and other words written in illegible script resembling decorative Arabic adorned these slips of paper. The fake dollar bills were covered with unidentified symbols and words written in an ornate, illegible script resembling decorative Arabic. It also contained typos, including the misspelling of the word "resistance." Intense bombings The bills were dropped over Naqoura, a village largely destroyed by Israeli strikes, while about 15 Israeli missiles hit the Nabatieh district in near-simultaneous strikes, killing at least one person, in bombings described as "among the most intense" on Lebanon since the cease-fire took effect on Nov. 27. Israel regularly drops leaflets on border towns in southern Lebanon to urge residents to oppose Hezbollah, and its army often broadcasts prerecorded messages using drones as they overfly southern Lebanese villages. During the war, it sometimes dropped leaflets urging citizens to evacuate certain areas, claiming it planned to target them because of the presence of Hezbollah infrastructure.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A weakened Hezbollah leads some in Lebanon to talk of peace with Israel as US pushes sides together
Since Israel's near annihilation of Hezbollah's terror leadership, and the backing of the Trump administration, whose special envoy to Lebanon has made clear the U.S. goal of limiting the power and influence of the Iran-terror proxy, the winds of change are slowly blowing over Beirut. "Thanks to Hezbollah being weakened and defeated after the war with Israel, we are finally in a position to have this conversation about peace with Israel," Rami Naim, Lebanon affairs journalist and analyst for Jusoor News, told Fox News Digital. "In the past the intelligence investigated me and took me to jail because I said we want peace with Israel, but now I say it openly, yes, we want normalization, and yes, we want peace with Israel without fear." Naim was personally attacked by Hezbollah last year for his outspoken views. The weakening of Hezbollah, Iran's proxy, and the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's president in January 2025, represents a turning point in the country's political trajectory. After more than two years of political deadlock, Aoun's election was seen as a victory for the anti-Hezbollah camp, and has seemingly made the shift in public opinion regarding peace with Israel more palatable. Lebanon's New President Strikes A Nationalistic Tone Amid Regional Shifts, Further Weakening Of Hezbollah Touting the U.S. president, Naim said, "We believe Trump will put things back on track and work toward peace, aiming for a major peace deal between Lebanon and Israel, which will require increased pressure on Iran." Interviews conducted by Jussor, a pan-Arab media outlet, have highlighted that many Lebanese citizens are now willing to consider normalization with Israel. One Lebanese man, interviewed on camera with his face showing, shared his hope: "I believe a day will come when there will be normalization with Israel. It will take time, but it will happen eventually." Read On The Fox News App Another interviewee echoed similar sentiments: "Israel wants peace. They don't want war. They are cleaning things up so war doesn't happen, and we want peace too. We're exhausted." Morgan Ortagus, U.S. deputy special envoy for Middle East Peace, has emphasized the necessity of disarming Hezbollah to stabilize Lebanon and pave the way for peace in the region. In an interview with Al Arabiya earlier this month, she described Hezbollah as a "cancer" within Lebanon that must be removed for the country to have any hope of recovery. She said, "When you have cancer, you don't treat part of the cancer in your body and let the rest of it grow and fester; you cut the cancer out." Ortagus also criticized Iran for fueling regional instability and dragging Lebanon into conflicts it did not seek. She noted, "The government of Lebanon didn't want to go to war with Israel. It was on Oct. 8, 2023, that Hezbollah and Iran decided to get into the war… people were forced into a war that nobody wanted to be in." "We are grateful to our ally Israel for defeating Hezbollah," Ortagus said at a news conference in Beirut's southeastern suburb of Baabda after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the Associated Press reported. Naim said that while the public may be ready for peace, it is the Lebanese political elite that must take action. "We need America to keep pressure on Lebanon's corrupt politicians, who have enabled Hezbollah to rebuild its military capabilities… These politicians must publicly endorse peace. It's not just activists and journalists who should be saying it. The decision-makers must step forward." Israel Degrades Iran-backed Hezbollah Terrorists In Spectacular Pager Explosion Operation: Experts Naim's call for international intervention underscores the continued importance of U.S. influence in Lebanon's political direction. "We have suffered under the Biden and Obama administrations, as well as those who have made compromises and deals with Iran behind our backs, disregarding our interests," Naim said. "During Trump's first term, there was significant pressure on Iran, which had posed aggression in the region. However, when Trump left the White House, Iran rebuilt its capabilities and grew stronger. Now, we have big hopes for Trump's second term. His return to the White House would change the equation. What makes us optimistic about Trump is that he fulfills his promises and conducts negotiations from a position of strength, not weakness." While there is growing support for peace with Israel, the issue of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon remains a significant hurdle. One man interviewed by Jussor News pointed out, "I believe the whole region is heading toward peace. But we have our demands – you can't have 500,000 Palestinians living here, then the Israelis come make peace and normalization, and leave them all here with us." Another woman told Jussor: "We are for peace in Lebanon. Not fighting other people's wars which are not in Lebanon's interests. Neutrality, as our patriarch said: enough already. We shouldn't be looking for excuses or saying, 'We want to liberate Palestine' while we keep destroying Lebanon. The Palestinians told us, 'Relax, we don't need anything from you.'" "The Lebanese people are divided, but not into two equal parts," said Naim. "The majority of the Lebanese people today are supportive of normalization and peace with Israel. This is no longer a taboo in Lebanon. Lebanese citizens can say today, 'I am supportive of peace and normalization because I have suffered from these failed wars. The Israelis want peace, and we want peace. We want to live in peace. So it's a win-win situation.'"Original article source: A weakened Hezbollah leads some in Lebanon to talk of peace with Israel as US pushes sides together
Fox News
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
A weakened Hezbollah leads some in Lebanon to talk of peace with Israel as US pushes sides together
Since Israel's near annihilation of Hezbollah's terror leadership, and the backing of the Trump administration, whose special envoy to Lebanon has made clear the U.S. goal of limiting the power and influence of the Iran-terror proxy, the winds of change are slowly blowing over Beirut. "Thanks to Hezbollah being weakened and defeated after the war with Israel, we are finally in a position to have this conversation about peace with Israel," Rami Naim, Lebanon affairs journalist and analyst for Jusoor News, told Fox News Digital. "In the past the intelligence investigated me and took me to jail because I said we want peace with Israel, but now I say it openly, yes, we want normalization, and yes, we want peace with Israel without fear." Naim was personally attacked by Hezbollah last year for his outspoken views. The weakening of Hezbollah, Iran's proxy, and the election of Joseph Aoun as Lebanon's president in January 2025, represents a turning point in the country's political trajectory. After more than two years of political deadlock, Aoun's election was seen as a victory for the anti-Hezbollah camp, and has seemingly made the shift in public opinion regarding peace with Israel more palatable. Touting the U.S. president, Naim said, "We believe Trump will put things back on track and work toward peace, aiming for a major peace deal between Lebanon and Israel, which will require increased pressure on Iran." Interviews conducted by Jussor, a pan-Arab media outlet, have highlighted that many Lebanese citizens are now willing to consider normalization with Israel. One Lebanese man, interviewed on camera with his face showing, shared his hope: "I believe a day will come when there will be normalization with Israel. It will take time, but it will happen eventually." Another interviewee echoed similar sentiments: "Israel wants peace. They don't want war. They are cleaning things up so war doesn't happen, and we want peace too. We're exhausted." Morgan Ortagus, U.S. deputy special envoy for Middle East Peace, has emphasized the necessity of disarming Hezbollah to stabilize Lebanon and pave the way for peace in the region. In an interview with Al Arabiya earlier this month, she described Hezbollah as a "cancer" within Lebanon that must be removed for the country to have any hope of recovery. She said, "When you have cancer, you don't treat part of the cancer in your body and let the rest of it grow and fester; you cut the cancer out." Ortagus also criticized Iran for fueling regional instability and dragging Lebanon into conflicts it did not seek. She noted, "The government of Lebanon didn't want to go to war with Israel. It was on Oct. 8, 2023, that Hezbollah and Iran decided to get into the war… people were forced into a war that nobody wanted to be in." "We are grateful to our ally Israel for defeating Hezbollah," Ortagus said at a news conference in Beirut's southeastern suburb of Baabda after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the Associated Press reported. Naim said that while the public may be ready for peace, it is the Lebanese political elite that must take action. "We need America to keep pressure on Lebanon's corrupt politicians, who have enabled Hezbollah to rebuild its military capabilities… These politicians must publicly endorse peace. It's not just activists and journalists who should be saying it. The decision-makers must step forward." Naim's call for international intervention underscores the continued importance of U.S. influence in Lebanon's political direction. "We have suffered under the Biden and Obama administrations, as well as those who have made compromises and deals with Iran behind our backs, disregarding our interests," Naim said. "During Trump's first term, there was significant pressure on Iran, which had posed aggression in the region. However, when Trump left the White House, Iran rebuilt its capabilities and grew stronger. Now, we have big hopes for Trump's second term. His return to the White House would change the equation. What makes us optimistic about Trump is that he fulfills his promises and conducts negotiations from a position of strength, not weakness." While there is growing support for peace with Israel, the issue of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon remains a significant hurdle. One man interviewed by Jussor News pointed out, "I believe the whole region is heading toward peace. But we have our demands – you can't have 500,000 Palestinians living here, then the Israelis come make peace and normalization, and leave them all here with us." Another woman told Jussor: "We are for peace in Lebanon. Not fighting other people's wars which are not in Lebanon's interests. Neutrality, as our patriarch said: enough already. We shouldn't be looking for excuses or saying, 'We want to liberate Palestine' while we keep destroying Lebanon. The Palestinians told us, 'Relax, we don't need anything from you.'" "The Lebanese people are divided, but not into two equal parts," said Naim. "The majority of the Lebanese people today are supportive of normalization and peace with Israel. This is no longer a taboo in Lebanon. Lebanese citizens can say today, 'I am supportive of peace and normalization because I have suffered from these failed wars. The Israelis want peace, and we want peace. We want to live in peace. So it's a win-win situation.'"
