Former Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, on Tuesday welcomed at the Central House Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, with whom he discussed the latest developments before the meeting expanded to include regional muftis, members of the Sharia Council, and scholars.
They meeting reportedly reviewed the current developments and general condition.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, received on Tuesday at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain al-Tineh, the Secretary-General of the Lebanese Writers Union, Dr. Ahmed Nazzal, and members of the Union’s new administrative body, in the presence of MP Dr. Ihab Hamadeh, who came on a protocol visit.
Discussions reportedly touched on the means to activate the said Union.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
House Speaker, Nabih Berri, received on Tuesday at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain al-Tineh, the Secretary-General of the Lebanese Writers Union, Dr. Ahmed Nazzal, and members of the Union’s new administrative body, in the presence of MP Dr. Ihab Hamadeh, who came on a protocol visit.
Discussions reportedly touched on the means to activate the said Union.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah reiterated that Hezbollah will continue its border offensive against the Israeli occupation sites near Lebanon border till the Zionist barbaric war on Gaza ends.
‘When the aggression on Gaza stops fire will be ceased in South Lebanon,’ Sayyed Nasrallah said.
Sayyed Nasrallah made his remarks while addressing Hezbollah ceremony held to mark the anniversary of the Birth of Imam Hussein (A.S.), Imam Sajjad (A.S.) and Abu Fadl Al-Abbas on Shaaban 4 and 5 and honor the prisoners and wounded fighters of the Islamic Resistance.
Hezbollah Secretary General commented on the recent threats made by the Zionist defense minister Yoav Gallant who said that the IOF will not stop aggression on South Lebanon even after Gaza ceasefire, stressing that, then, Hezbollah will continue its offensive.
‘When the war on Gaza ends, we will stop our offensive. If the enemy resumes its hostilities, we will, act in light of the rules and the formulas.’
It is Hezbollah duty and respon
sibility to deter the enemy and prevent the assault on Lebanon, Sayyed Nasrallah affirmed, adding that the Resistance responses will be proportionate, yet effective and productive.
Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the hundreds of thousands of settlers already displaced from the North will not be able to return to their homes in case of escalation.
‘Israel’ must prepare shelters, basements, hotels and schools to house 2 million settlers who will be displaced from northern Palestine if it expands the war zone, Sayyed Nasrallah warned.
If the Israeli enemy expands its war zone against Lebanon, Hezbollah will do too, Sayyed Nasrallah emphasized.
Hezbollah Resistance is more powerful, certain and determined than ever, Sayyed Nasrallah confirmed, stressing that the outcome of the ongoing battle will be the defeat of the Zionist enemy.
Hezbollah Leader emphasized that the border offensive being carried out by the Resistance has maintained the deterrence formula between Lebanon and the Zionist entity, adding that
the foreign delegations are visiting Beirut, thanks to the battle.
Sayyed Nasrallah pointed out that the Israeli enemy takes into consideration numerous factors when it mulls any attack on Lebanon for fear of Hezbollah.
All the foreign delegations coming to Lebanon from US, UK, EU and some Arab countries have one goal: protecting Israel’s security, according to Sayyed Nasrallah.
All the foreign mediators ask the Lebanese officials and Hezbollah to restore ceasefire on Lebanon border in order to let the Zionist settlers displaced from northern Palestine to return to their homes, Sayyed Nasrallah added.
Sayyed Nasrallah maintained that the foreign mediators adopt all the Zionist demands regardless of all the Lebanese interests and considerations, adding that they procrastinate when the discussion tackles Gaza ceasefire and the liberation of Lebanon’s territories occupied by the Zionist enemy.
His eminence highlighted that Hezbollah coordinates the responses to the foreign delegations’ offers with the Leban
ese officials hosting them, including mainly House Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker premier Najib Mikati.
Sayyed Nasrallah noted that, regardless of the actual Zionist plans, the foreign delegations have been intimidating the Lebanese officials by conveying false Israeli threats.
One month ago, one mediator said that the Israeli enemy would launch an all-out war on Lebanon within two days if Hezbollah does not cease fire on the border, Sayyed Nasrallah said, reiterating that these threats will fail to oblige Hezbollah to halt the border battle.
Sayyed Nasrallah addressed the foreign mediators and some Lebanese parties offering Hezbollah a battle end under certain conditions, stressing that ‘Israel’ is not powerful enough to impose its terms and Lebanon is not weak to make concessions.
It is the Israeli army which failed during four months to defeat the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, Sayyed Nasrallah said, calling on the Lebanese officials to include more Lebanese items and terms in the implementation of
the UN Resolution 1701.
‘It is easier to move Litani River forward to the borders than pushing back Hezbollah fighters from the borders to the Litani River,’ Sayyed Nasrallah said.
Sayyed Nasrallah warned that some Lebanese parties are involved in promoting and exaggerating the Israeli threats in order to intimidate the pro-Resistance citizens, reporting some phone calls which impersonate Israeli characters in order to convey fake threats.
Those base acts must be tried by the judicial authorities on charges of betrayal, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed.
Hezbollah Chief also warned against the misuse of the mobile phones and all the technological devices, including the surveillance cameras, connected to the internet, stressing that it is a spy gadget that provides the enemy will all the needed data without needing a real traitor on ground.
It is religiously prohibited to use such devices in a way that endangers the Resistance, nation and dignity, his eminence noted.
Regarding the local debate in Lebanon about H
ezbollah border offensive, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that some parties are deaf, dumb and blind.
Sayyed Nasrallah said that some Lebanese parties have prejudices and accordingly reject the logic of resistance without any plausible argument, adding that disputes among the Lebanese pertaining the resistance issue have been ongoing since 1948 and must not be given a sectarian aspect.
Those parties will never acknowledge the rightfulness of the resistance path despite all the achievements, yet falsely rely on the international community’s role in protecting Lebanon, his eminence said.
Sayyed Nasrallah called on the Resistance supporters to avoid engaging in debates with those parties, underlining the importance of addressing those who may accept the logical arguments.
Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that the Lebanese southerners are bearing the main burden of the border confrontation with the Zionist enemy, adding that most of the Resistance martyrs in this battle descend from the border towns.
The majority of the
dwellers of border villages have always witnessed that the Resistance defends them, so they have embraced it with all the challenges of the battles and military confrontations which leave martyrs, injuries and massive destruction, Sayyed Nasrallah said, highlighting that the destroyed houses in the ongoing battle will be rebuilt to be better than it was.
Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that Hezbollah border offensive springs from the religious and moral duty and responsibility of supporting Gaza against the Zionist aggression despite all the stances which blame the Resistance Party for this escalation.
Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that ‘Israel’ has failed over 130 days to achieve any target in Gaza war, except the monstrous attacks on the civilians.
Concerning the Zionist war on Gaza, Sayyed Nasrallah stressed that he will address more details about during a speech he is scheduled to deliver on Friday (February 16) the anniversary of Hezbollah Martyr Commanders.
Sayyed Nasrallah felicitated Hezbollah wounded fight
ers and prisoners as well as their families on their day, stressing that their sacrifices have earthly and divine merits.
It is our responsibility to preserve the achievements made by the sacrifices of the prisoners and the wounded, Sayyed Nasrallah maintained.
All our prisoners have been liberated, thanks to the sacrifices of resistance, Sayyed Nasrallah said.
Sayyed Nasrallah also indicated that Iran has chosen Imam Hussein (A.S.) Birthday as the Revolutionary Guard Day, congratulating the IRGC and highlighting that how the axis of resistance has benefited from the blessings of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Former Prime Minister, Tammam Salam, on Tuesday welcomed at his Mseitbeh residence United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, with whom he broached the current situation and the latest developments in Lebanon and the region.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
For his part, President Biden said the Israeli military operation in Rafah should not proceed without a credible plan for ensuring the safety and support of more than 1 million people sheltering there, including many who have been displaced multiple time fleeing the violence in the north, and now they are exposed and they need to be protected.
“We’ve also been clear from the start, we oppose any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza,” Biden said.
The US president said many of the over 27,000 Palestinians killed in this conflict are innocent civilians and thousands of children, noting that hundreds of thousands have no access to food, water or other basic services.
“Many families have lost not just one but many relatives; cannot mourn for them, or even bury them, because it is not safe to do so,” the president continued.
The United States is working on a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, which would bring an immediate and sustained period of cease-fire to Gaza for at least six weeks, which cou
ld then lead to build something more enduring with a two-state solution for two peoples, the president added.
“We’re working to create the conditions for lasting peace,” President Biden said, noting that the discussions with His Majesty addressed efforts to guarantee Israeli security as well as ensure that Palestinian aspirations for their own state fulfilled.
“That’s the only path that guarantees Israel security for the long term. To achieve it, the Palestinians must also seize the opportunity,” he said, noting that “not only do we pray for peace, we’re actively working for peace, security, and dignity for both the Palestinian people and the Israelis.”
The US president said his discussions with the King also covered “how to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza”, adding that “from the very beginning, my team and I have relentlessly worked to get more aid” into the Strip.
President Biden said that he has spoken repeatedly of partners across the region, including the King, to facilitate the flow of aid into
Gaza as much as possible and get to the people in need, pointing to efforts to open Rafah crossing and to open other routes as well.
He lauded His Majesty’s efforts to support the humanitarian response in Gaza and facilitate the delivery of vital medical supplied, adding that Jordan’s leadership and humanitarian commitment are commendable.
“We’ve known each other for many years and His Majesty has been a good friend all those years, a steadfast partner, alongside the Queen and a beloved leader to their people. The partnership between the United States and our ally Jordan is strong and it is enduring,” President Biden said.
“I’m grateful to him for his friendship, including his and Jordan’s unique role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem.,” the president added.
“We’re grateful to our partners and allies like the King who will work with us every single day to advance security stability across the region and beyond. It’s difficult times like these where the bond between nations are more important tha
n ever, and Jill and I are pleased to welcome him and the Queen and the Crown Prince to the White House today,” President Biden concluded.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington, DC, Dina Kawar, as well as a number of senior US officials attended the meeting.
Earlier, Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah II and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II had been received by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden upon arrival at the White House.
Her Majesty Queen Rania also met with First Lady Jill Biden at the White House on the sidelines of the visit.
Source: Jordan News Agency
National News Agency correspondent reported that convoys roamed Beirut’s Tariq al-Jadida area and some streets of the capital, on the eve of the 19th commemoration of the martyrdom of Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.
The convoys were led by motorcycles, carrying the flags of the ‘Future Movement’ and pictures of martyr Prime Minister Rafic Hariri, and that of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
The convoys chanted slogans supporting and welcoming the return of former Prime Minister Hariri.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
