Lebanon Resorts to IMF Funds to Secure Medicines for Chronic Diseaseshttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/4476446-lebanon-resorts-imf-funds-secure-medicines-chronic-diseases
Lebanon Resorts to IMF Funds to Secure Medicines for Chronic Diseases
Health Minister Firas Abiad (NNA)
Lebanon’s Minister of Health, Firas Abiad, has said that the government’s subsidy of drugs for cancer and incurable diseases would continue.
His comments came amid fears of lack of the necessary financing after the end of the term of the Central Bank Governor, Riad Salame, and the refusal of his deputy, Wassim Mansouri, to transfer the needed amounts from the bank’s reserves, with the lack of the proper legal mechanisms.
Abiad was speaking following a meeting on Monday, which was held in the presence of Prime Minister Najib Mikati and members of the parliamentary health committee, to discuss the heath situation in the country.
The minister said that Mikati briefed the participants on the solutions which the government is seeking to implement to continue to subsidize medicines for cancer and incurable diseases, whether by resorting to the IMF or to other resources in US dollars.
In this context, MP Bilal Abdallah told Asharq Al-Awsat that the health ministry was deploying all efforts to implement new solutions in order to secure the necessary funding for the drugs subsidies.
“There are around 4,000 patients who need these medicines, and we cannot leave them hostages to political bickering,” he stated, noting that this file was the ministry’s utmost priority.
Taiz Repels Simultaneous Houthi Attacks in Fiercest Fighting in Yearshttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5325089-taiz-repels-simultaneous-houthi-attacks-fiercest-fighting-years
Taiz Repels Simultaneous Houthi Attacks in Fiercest Fighting in Years
Yemeni government forces engage in fierce clashes to prevent Houthis from infiltrating Taiz (Military Media)
Yemen’s Taiz province has witnessed its fiercest fighting in years as the Iran-backed Houthis launched simultaneous attacks on several fronts, opening a new battlefront in Samea district, while government forces intensified ground and airstrikes against Houthi positions and reinforcements across several provinces.
Government forces announced 468 strikes targeting Houthi fighters and equipment on the eastern fronts, in Al-Bayda and in Al-Mansoura in western Taiz’s Al-Wazi’iyah district, claiming hundreds of casualties and the destruction of military hardware.
The Taiz Military Axis media center reported fierce battles in Bani Bakari in Jabal Habashi district, Humeir in Maqbanah and Al-Aqroud southeast of Taiz, claiming Houthi losses in personnel and equipment.
Field sources said that government troops repelled a major assault in Al-Arbaeen, north of Taiz city, and thwarted infiltration attempts in Al-Kuraifat, Aqabat Munif and Al-Tashrifat to the east.
Clashes extended to Al-Shaqab in Sabir Al-Mawadim district, while heavy artillery exchanges continued along the city’s eastern front.
According to local reports, Houthi fighters retreated in Samea following ground strikes that killed or wounded dozens, with government forces seizing military equipment.
Residents also came under fire. Local sources noted that the Houthis fired 23 mortar shells at villages in Al-Dhabab, west of Taiz, spreading fear among civilians.
The Taiz Military Axis media center reported drone strikes on Houthi positions in Al-Kadhah, destroying a 120 mm artillery piece and setting an ammunition depot ablaze. Government forces also shelled positions in Jabal Ghurab, Tabbat Yasin, Al-Ashrouh, Asifarah and Al-Silw.
A Houthi fighter firing a mortar during clashes at an undisclosed location in Yemen. (AP)
Intensified Airstrikes
Sources further pointed to airstrikes against Houthi positions and vehicles in Al-Akboush, Al-Ahkoum and Hayfan southeast of Taiz, alongside attacks in Al-Wazi’iyah.
According to Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Col. Majed Al-Nuzaili, precision strikes were launched against Houthi reinforcements, weapons and equipment, including three artillery batteries in Al-Wazi’iyah and a mobile air defense system he said Iranian experts had developed in Mocha.
He also reported strikes targeting Houthi commanders and fighters in Al-Mansoura and Bab Al-Mandab.
Al-Nuzaili had earlier announced 468 strikes across three fronts, including Al-Wazi’iyah, claiming hundreds of Houthi casualties and the destruction of military equipment.
The broader escalation extended to Saada, Amran, Marib, Hodeidah and Taiz, with reports of strikes against weapons depots, artillery batteries, communications networks, reinforcements and fixed and mobile positions.
Fighting Spreads Beyond Taiz
Clashes erupted in Al-Aghbarah, near Lahj’s Al-Mudarabah and Al-Arah district, along the province’s western border with Taiz. Military and tribal forces also announced the recapture of parts of Al-Mansoura.
In Shabwa, the Shabwa Defense Forces said that Houthi attacks and infiltration attempts were thwarted on four fronts - Harib, Ain, Bayhan and Upper Markha - claiming casualties and forcing the attackers to retreat. Drones simultaneously struck Houthi positions and movements.
The operations reflect an expanding confrontation as government forces seek to consolidate defensive lines and prevent further Houthi breakthroughs along the western coast and approaches to Taiz and Lahj.
Yemeni government forces ride on a military pick-up vehicle as they patrol a road leading to a frontline of clashes with Houthi fighters, in Taiz province, Yemen, September 30, 2026. REUTERS/Ebrahim Al-Suhaibi
Government Mobilization
Meanwhile, Yemen’s government began implementing Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi’s directives for general mobilization.
In Aden, Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Taher Al-Aqili chaired a military meeting on readiness and coordination, stressing the need for cooperation between the armed forces, state institutions and society in confronting the Houthis.
Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ahmed Al-Basr also met committees established by the defense minister to discuss implementation, allocate responsibilities, mobilize personnel and resources, and strengthen coordination.
Iran Asks Iraq to Return Flights Between the Two Countries to Normal Conditionshttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5325019-iran-asks-iraq-return-flights-between-two-countries-normal-conditions
Iran Asks Iraq to Return Flights Between the Two Countries to Normal Conditions
Two Iranian airlines planes at Imam Khomeini International Airport south of Tehran (Archive - Mizan)
Iran asked Iraq to take steps to lift flight restrictions caused by US sanctions and return flights to normal conditions, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement on Thursday.
Flights between the two countries were suspended amid US sanctions restricting services to Iranian airlines, Reuters said.
Egypt Accuses 6 Arrested Journalists of Being Members of the Muslim Brotherhoodhttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5325009-egypt-accuses-6-arrested-journalists-being-members-muslim-brotherhood
Egypt Accuses 6 Arrested Journalists of Being Members of the Muslim Brotherhood
Headquarters of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior (Ministry's Facebook page)
Egyptian authorities have accused six journalists arrested this week of being members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, saying they produced fabricated news for an online outlet in exchange for foreign funding.
Egypt’s Interior Ministry on Thursday described "Matsadaash" as an unlicensed page managed from abroad by a “fugitive Brotherhood member” it identified as Abdelrahman Mansour.
It said the six people detained were part of a Brotherhood “media committee” that prepared false and fabricated news for Mansour to publish.
Only one of the six is a member of the Journalists’ Syndicate - the national press union - the statement said. It said legal measures have been taken.
On Wednesday, the Journalists' Syndicate demanded the Interior Ministry and the General Prosecutor to release the six journalists and disclose the circumstances and reasons for their arrest, as well as their places of detention.
In the report submitted by the Head of the Journalists' Syndicate, Khaled El-Balshy, the Syndicate stated that it had received complaints from lawyers and colleagues regarding the arrest of six journalists from the platform, one of whom holds syndicate membership.
It confirmed that "the six colleagues Abdullah Qadri, Mohamed Sharaf, Mohamed Adel, Islam Barakat, Mohamed Mahmoud, and Omar Hidayah were arrested from their homes over the past two days."
The Syndicate affirmed that it is making "diligent efforts around the clock to secure the release of the six colleagues ... with a full commitment to their appearance for any investigations should any charges be brought against them."
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