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Report: Army chief tells Raad he's ready to be president if there's consensus

The undeclared meeting between Army chief General Joseph Aoun and Hezbollah’s top lawmaker Mohammed Raad tackled the security situations, the Kahale incident and the UNIFIL resolution as well as the presidential file, media reports said.

According to ad-Diyar newspaper, Aoun told Raad that he is not currently engaged in the presidential battle, but is willing to assume the post if there is “national consensus” over his nomination.

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Two dead as renewed clashes rock Ain el-Helweh

Two people were killed Saturday in clashes that erupted again after a relatively calm night at the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Helweh on Sidon's outskirts, official media reported.

Fresh violence broke out late Thursday in Ain el-Helweh, just weeks after deadly clashes pitted members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement against Islamist militants.

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Report: 5 nations to nominate army chief, Doha to convince Iran

The five-nation committee on Lebanon is inclined to endorse the presidential nomination of Army chief General Joseph Aoun and Qatar will seek to convince Iran of him due to the good relations between the two countries, a media report said on Saturday.

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Ain el-Helweh camp: Island of misery in south Lebanon

A new outbreak of violence is rocking the densely populated, walled-off Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Helweh on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese city of Sidon.

Over the years, Islamist militants have established a presence in the impoverished camp, home to tens of thousands of people, and its isolation has also made Ain el-Helweh a haven for those seeking to evade the Lebanese authorities.

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US ambassador, Lebanese Army celebrate a mine-free Arsal and Ras Baalbek

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea joined Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun in Ras Baalbek on September 8 to celebrate the completion of explosives clearance in the area of Arsal and Ras Baalbek. Shea reviewed progress made since the 2017 defeat of jihadist groups in the area.

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Two men questioned in Lebanon over Carlos Ghosn 2019 escape

Lebanese judicial authorities have questioned two people at the request of Turkey on suspicion of being involved in the 2019 escape of auto tycoon Carlos Ghosn from Japan to Lebanon, officials said Friday.

The recent questioning of the two men in Beirut came a week before a hearing in Lebanon about the $1 billion lawsuit that Ghosn, formerly the president of Nissan, filed against the company and about a dozen people in Beirut over his imprisonment in Japan and what he says is Fmisinformation spread against him.

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Al-Rahi meets Abi al-Mona as he tours Chouf, Aley on reconciliation anniversary

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi started Friday a tour to the Chouf and Aley regions on the anniversary of the 2001 Mountain Reconciliation.

After meeting Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Sami Abi al-Mona in the town of Chanay, al-Rahi highlighted the diversity of Lebanon.

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Geagea slams 'disorienting' dialogue, says Berri 'master of antics'

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has dubbed a seven-day dialogue proposed by Speaker Nabih Berri an attempt to obstruct the presidential election.

"Berri is a master of political antics," Geagea said, adding that dialogue is a futile farce.

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Twenty wounded as clashes resume in Ain el-Hilweh

Clashes resumed in Lebanon's largest Palestinian refugee camp overnight, with heavy gunfire and shelling wounding at least 20 people and prompting residents of the camp and the surrounding area to flee on Friday.

There had previously been several days of street battles in the Ein el-Hilweh camp between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and Islamist groups after Fatah accused the Islamists of gunning down one of their military generals on July 30. Those street battles left at least 13 dead and dozens wounded, and forced hundreds to flee from their homes.

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Jumblat lauds al-Rahi, urges US, Iran to facilitate president election

Progressive Socialist Party former leader Walid Jumblat on Friday lauded Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s “local, Arab and international efforts for resolving the presidential crisis.”

“We also highly appreciate your support for dialogue, despite the various obstacles,” Jumblat added addressing al-Rahi, at a gathering in Mukhtara that was part of the patriarch’s tour of the Chouf and Aley regions.

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