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Lebanon Awaits Le Drian’s Visit to Search for a 'Third Presidential Option'

Advisor to the General Secretariat of the Saudi Council of Ministers, Nizar bin Suleiman Al-Aloula, met with Le Drian on Tuesday in Riyadh. (SPA)
Advisor to the General Secretariat of the Saudi Council of Ministers, Nizar bin Suleiman Al-Aloula, met with Le Drian on Tuesday in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Lebanon Awaits Le Drian’s Visit to Search for a 'Third Presidential Option'

Advisor to the General Secretariat of the Saudi Council of Ministers, Nizar bin Suleiman Al-Aloula, met with Le Drian on Tuesday in Riyadh. (SPA)
Advisor to the General Secretariat of the Saudi Council of Ministers, Nizar bin Suleiman Al-Aloula, met with Le Drian on Tuesday in Riyadh. (SPA)

Lebanese political circles are awaiting a visit by the French envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, who is expected to arrive in Beirut next week, to meet with political forces and restore momentum to the presidential elections.

Le Drian will arrive in Beirut after his participation in a meeting in Doha held Monday by the five-member committee of countries concerned with following up on the presidential crisis in Lebanon, sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The committee includes representatives from Saudi Arabia, the United States, France, Qatar and Egypt.

The advisor to the General Secretariat of the Saudi Council of Ministers, Nizar bin Suleiman Al-Aloula, met with Le Drian on Tuesday in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

It added that the meeting reviewed the bilateral relations between the Kingdom and France, and the latest developments in Lebanon.

Le Drian’s visit to Lebanon falls within an attempt to hold a dialogue table that would bring together representatives of the political forces, amid a severe internal crisis over the election of a president.

While the Hezbollah and Amal Movement are still insisting on supporting former Minister Sleiman Franjieh for the presidency, the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) is calling from removing Franjieh’s name from the list of potential candidates.

While FPM sources hinted at the party’s willingness to participate in the dialogue, the head of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, said he was surprised at the call for dialogue “by those obstructing the presidential elections.”

“Dialogue that is proposed by the defiance team is a sort of distraction and an attempt to deprive the Lebanese of the opportunity to elect the president, which was almost achieved in the session of June 14...” Geagea said.

The head of the media and communication body in the LF, Charles Jabbour, said that the party has informed Le Drian that it would not participate in the dialogue.

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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.