DAILY SCOPE: ’ISIS’ Mastermind Arrested in Lebanon, Syrian Army Captures Strategic Hills

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS' HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Restoration Week: Hizbullah- Future National Dialogue... and Cabinet?

Zarif: Saudi Arabia Trying to Impede Syrian Crisis Solution

AN-NAHAR:

Arabs Support Saudi Arabia in Confronting Iran, Lebanon Abstains from Voting

AL-AKHBAR:

"Ansarullah": Stop Aggression, then Start Dialogue

AL-BINAA:

Riyadh Fails to Isolate Tehran on the Gulf, Arab, Islamic, and International Levels

AL-JOMHOURIA:

Salam: We Will Not Watch the Collapse Happen

Lebanese newspapers on Monday discussed several domestic and regional topics, highlighting that the coming cabinet session is expected to deal with a number of pending files. The dailies also followed up on the developments related to the presidential elections, as new stances emerged on the matter.

Also, newspapers touched on the different regional issues, including the broiling stances on Iran and the latest Saudi stances against the Islamic Republic, where Arab countries supported the oil-rich kingdom. This comes as Lebanon stepped aside and did not engage in the political war on Iran.

AN-NAHAR-Salam: Dialogue Can Preserve Interest of Lebanese People

Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam has stressed that he is keen on keeping the cabinet away from all disputes and controversial issues, assuring that dialogue can preserve the interests of all Lebanese people and guarantee an exit from the series of crises hitting the country.

Talking to An-Nahar newspaper on Monday, Salam reassured that the only option remaining on the table to solve all unresolved crises in Lebanon is dialogue. He hoped that this week's cabinet session would be successful in discussing lingering matters, and reiterated that he will stick to the cabinet's agenda.

Salam also told the Lebanese daily that political crises cannot be solved through the cabinet, adding that the Lebanese factions should work hard to reach agreements on the different issues.

The cabinet last met in December to approve a plan to resolve Lebanon's waste management crisis and export the garbage. But it has failed to hold regular sessions because of the dispute on the decision-making mechanism and in the light of an ongoing presidential void.

On the presidential elections, an-Nahar newspaper reported that the Lebanese Forces has informed the March 14 alliance that it would back Change and Reform bloc leader MP Michel Aoun for the presidency.

The daily said that the party's lawmaker George Adwan announced during his party's meeting that the LF has a serious intention to back Aoun for presidency.

Lebanon has been without a president since May 2014 when the term of Michel Suleiman ended without the election of a successor.

The latest presidential initiative, proposed by Saad Hariri, leader of the Future Movement, contemplated the selection of Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Berri insisted that internal obstacles were preventing the plan from happening, while Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rai maintained that the initiative was serious "regardless of the identity of the candidate."

As for the national dialogue between the Future Party and Hizbullah, an-Nahar reported that Berri told his visitors on Sunday "the dialogue will resume today Monday." According to his visitors, Berri said it is up to the two sides to determine the topics they will discuss.

Dialogue between the two parties had kicked off on December 23, 2014. Following the third session on January 16, the conferees declared that they had made "clear progress" that might lead to results that can help "consolidate national stability."

Both sides have repeatedly voiced their support for dialogue between rival factions in an attempt to cope with Lebanon's political and security challenges.

AS-SAFIR-"ISIS" Mastermind Arrested before Fleeing to Syria

The Lebanese security forces arrested one of the important masterminds of ISIS attacks in Lebanon. According to as-Safir newspaper, the terrorist formed the link between the terrorist group in Qalamoun and Arsal and the terrorist networks in Lebanon.

Known as Khaled, the extremist "ISIS" member was in charge of the preparation and execution of terrorist attacks in Lebanon, revealed sources, adding that he had accompanied the suicide bombers who carried out the attacks in Beirut's southern suburbs in Burj al-Barajneh.

According to the newspaper, Khaled disappeared on the same day the explosions took place, especially after the arrest of one of the attackers called Ibrahim al-Jamal who knew Khaled pretty well.

Khaled tried then to communicate with "ISIS" members in Syria to facilitate his smuggling from Arsal borders to Syrian Raqqa, but the attempt failed due to Lebanese forces security monitoring and measures.

On November 12, two suicide blasts rocked the area of Burj al-Barajneh in Beirut's Southern Suburb [Dahieh], leaving 44 martyrs and 216 injured.

The Lebanese security forces carried out a large scale crackdown in which it arrested almost all the terrorists who planned the blasts and assisted the suicide bombers.

AL-AKHBAR-Syrian Army Captures Ten Strategic Hills in Surprise Attacks

Military field sources in Syria told al-Akhbar newspaper on Monday that fresh new operations have started in Zahia and Qasab mountains, towards the strategic hills where the terrorist groups are located in the Northern outskirts of Latakia.

The sources told al-Akhbar that the operations conducted by the Syrian army and its allies came as a ‘surprise' to the terrorist groups, who were least expecting attacks in such harsh weather.

According to the sources, the operations were of major importance, especially as it led to the collapse of the terrorist armed forces in the area. The Syrian army was able to take control of ten important strategic hills, which not only allowed the army to encircle the terrorist groups, but also cut the supply lines that have been supporting them.

Source: al-Ahed News