Lebanon Storm: Snow Reaches Shores, Temperature Drops

Lebanon has been since Thursday in the grip of storm “windy”, with snow reaching shores and temperature significantly dropping in the third storm to hit the country this year.


Heavy rains fell on the coast as snow blanketed mountains and reached areas only 300 meters above sea level and the shores in some coastal regions.
 
Education Minister Elias Bou Saab ordered a closure of private and public schools on Friday and Saturday. For his part, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour announced that nurseries will close on Friday.

The storm Windy “still dominates over the Mediterranean Eastern basin and it is expected to recede on Saturday,” the National News Agency quoted the Meteorology Department at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport as saying.

The weather in Lebanon is expected to be partly cloudy and chilly with rains and snow at 600m, especially in the South, according to the Meteorology Department.
 [almanar.com.lb]
20/2/15
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Related:

• Palestinian Authority forms 'central operation rooms' to deal with snowstorm

Syria: Israeli jets bomb army facilities near Damascus airport. (no reports of casualties)

Syrian media reported on Sunday evening that Israeli jets had bombed targets near Damascus international airport and in the town of Dimas, north of Damascus and near the border with Lebanon.
There were no reports of casualties in the reports, but the general command of the Syrian army said in a statement that several facilities had been hit, both at the Damascus International Airport and in the area of Dimas.

According to the reports, the Israeli air force flew at least 10 sorties over the Dimas area and attacked several military targets. Residents of Damascus reported hearing loud explosions on the outskirts of the city

• Israeli officials have neither confirmed nor denied the reports and it is unclear how reliable they are.

• "This aggression proves Israel's direct involvement in supporting terror in Syria, along with other Arab and regional countries," the Syrian military command said..

"The Israeli attack was designed to lift the morale of the terror groups, primarily Jabhat al-Nusra and the Islamic State, after the blows they have received from the Syrian army."

• Lebanese sources that the Israeli air force had been flying over southern Lebanon since Sunday morning. It was not specified whether the planes entered Syrian air space or fired from within Lebanese air space."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a planned live video broadcast on Sunday evening due to "events in Jerusalem." The premier made do with a short, pre-recorded speech to the Brookings Institution’s Saban Forum, being held in Washington.

Earlier, during the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that Israel "is following the Middle East and what is happening very closely, with wide open eyes and ears – and a lot is happening.

"We will continue to keep our fingers on the pulse and we will deal with these threats and these challenges, which never take time off. We will deal with them with the same responsibility that we have demonstrated until now." 
 [haaretz.com]
7/12/14 
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Related:

• Israel has been accused of carrying out two air strikes on Syria near the capital Damascus, according to Syrian and Lebanese television reports...

• Syrien: Israelische Luftwaffe soll Waffenlager bei Damaskus attackiert haben...

• Israel lanza ataques aéreos contra un depósito de municiones en Damasco ...

Kerry urges Assad's allies to end Syria war

BEIRUT: US Secretary of State John Kerry dismissed Syria's election as a "great big zero" on Wednesday, urging President Bashar al-Assad's allies Iran, Russia and Hezbollah to end the country's three-year war.

His remarks during a surprise trip to Beirut came ahead of the publication of official results from the election, dubbed a "disgrace" by Washington.

Kerry also announced US$290 million in humanitarian aid for Syria and neighbouring countries hosting refugees, key among them Lebanon.

Assad is expected to win in a poll that was not even held in the roughly 60 percent of the country out of government control.

"With respect to the elections that took place, the so-called elections, the elections are non-elections," Kerry told journalists in the Lebanese capital.

"The elections are a great big zero. They're meaningless, and they're meaningless because you can't have an election where millions of your people don't even have an ability to vote, where they don't have an ability to contest the election, and they have no choice."

He said that "nothing has changed" as a result of the poll, adding: "The conflict is the same, the terror is the same, the killing is the same."

Syrian state media has trumpeted a high turnout, with pro-government newspaper Al-Watan saying "millions" had cast ballots and estimating 70 per cent participation in some provinces, a figure dismissed by activists who charged that people voted out of fear rather than conviction.

Nationwide violence, however, killed 209 people on polling day, including 71 civilians, a monitoring group said.

• Despite the criticism from Kerry and other senior American officials, Syrian opposition activists have slammed Washington for failing to take more decisive action on the years-long conflict.

Former US ambassador to Syria Robert Ford joined in the criticism, telling CNN he had retired last month after almost three years working with the opposition because he could no longer defend US policy.

Kerry urged key backers of the Syrian president to end the war.

• "I particularly call on those nations directly supporting the Assad regime ... I call on them -- Iran, Russia, and I call on Hezbollah, based right here in Lebanon -- to engage in the legitimate effort to bring this war to an end."

The trio have been repeatedly criticised by Western countries for backing Assad, with Moscow in particular coming under fire for vetoing draft resolutions in the UN Security Council four times in defence of its ally Damascus.

Russia earlier called for the speedy appointment of a new UN envoy after Lakhdar Brahimi, who brokered two rounds of abortive peace talks between the Syrian regime and the opposition, stepped down over the weekend saying his mediation had reached a stalemate.

• Brahimi had infuriated Damascus by criticising Tuesday's election as an obstacle to his peace efforts.

Kerry meanwhile pledged to boost humanitarian aid to people affected by the Syrian war.

"Today, I am pleased to announce on behalf of the American people and on behalf of President Obama another US$290 million in humanitarian assistance for those affected by the conflict, both inside Syria and the communities throughout the region where they have taken refuge," he said.

"With the newest contribution that I've announced today, the United States has now committed more than US$2 billion to support refugees and the nations that have opened their doors to them," he added.

"A large portion of the assistance that I just announced today, US$51 million, will go directly to refugees in Lebanon and the communities that I just mentioned that host them here," he said.

• At more than one million, Lebanon hosts the highest number of Syria's nearly three million refugees.

"It's important for all of us to recognize the human catastrophe that is unfolding before our eyes, and that is why we in the United States have worked so hard to try to push for a political solution, which is the only real solution to this conflict," Kerry said.

A peaceful revolt demanding political change broke out in Syria in March 2011, but the crackdown by the Assad regime was so brutal that protesters later took up arms.

The war that ensued has killed more than 162,000 people and forced nearly half the population to flee their homes.
- AFP
channelnewsasia.com
4/6/14
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Related:

• Syria hails big turnout in presidential poll

• Russia, China block Security Council referral of Syria to International Criminal Court

• Syrian opposition asks for anti-aircraft arms from US. -- Washington has consistently resisted previous requests

• Women, children allowed to leave besieged Syria city Homs

• Syrian peace talks stuck over Assad's future

Ban welcomes formation of new Government in Lebanon. -The United States welcomes Lebanon’s formation of a new government

15 February 2014 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed Saturday's announcement of the formation of a new Government in Lebanon, and congratulated Prime Minister Tamam Salam “on this important step”.
In a statement issued by his Spokesperson in New York, the UN chief encouraged Lebanon's political leaders to build on the constructive engagement which led to the formation of the new Government to ensure that the country's forthcoming presidential election is successfully conducted within the timeframe set by law.

“The Secretary-General pays tribute to outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati for his leadership,” said the statement, which added that the UN looks forward to working with the new Government in its efforts to serve the people of Lebanon and to ensure the effective implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 and other resolutions which remain essential to the country's stability.
Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and the Lebanese group Hizbollah, calls for respect for the Blue Line, the disarming of all militias in Lebanon, and an end to arms smuggling in the area.
In the statement, Mr. Ban emphasizes that, given the severity of the security, humanitarian and economic challenges facing Lebanon, it will be important for the Government to be able, without delay, to act effectively to address such issues with the full support of all parties.
 un.org
15/2/14
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• Formation of New Government in Lebanon. -Press Statement, John Kerry, Secretary of State....

"The United States welcomes Lebanon’s formation of a new government, subject to the confidence of parliament. We have long said that the people of Lebanon deserve a government that responds to their needs and protects their interests.
We look to today’s announcement to be an important first step in addressing the political uncertainty that has hampered Lebanon in recent years. Amidst growing terrorism and sectarian violence, we look to the new cabinet, if approved by parliament, to address Lebanon’s urgent security, political and economic needs. The challenges ahead for Lebanon include addressing the needs of Lebanese communities hosting refugees from Syria; strengthening national institutions; countering extremist ideologies and redoubling counterterrorism efforts; encouraging economic growth, including offshore energy development; and holding presidential and parliamentary elections in a timely, transparent, democratic, and fair manner, in accordance with Lebanon’s constitution.
The United States reiterates its strong commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and stability. We will continue to support the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces – the sole legitimate security forces in Lebanon. We look to the Government of Lebanon to continue to support these institutions and to do all it can to ensure that all parties comply with Lebanon’s obligations and commitments, including UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701. All those in Lebanon must uphold the Taif Agreement and the Baabda Declaration, including Lebanon’s policy of disassociation from the Syrian and other foreign conflicts. This policy is the best way to ensure Lebanon’s stability and security.
The United States looks forward to working effectively with the new Lebanese government to bolster peace, stability and prosperity in Lebanon, for the sake of the Lebanese people."
 http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/02/221691.htm
15/2/14