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EU to Unveil Economic Aid for Lebanon to Stop Refugee Flows

Syrian refugees prepare to leave Lebanon toward Syrian territory through the Wadi Hamid crossing in Arsal on Oct. 26, 2022. (Getty Images/AFP)
Syrian refugees prepare to leave Lebanon toward Syrian territory through the Wadi Hamid crossing in Arsal on Oct. 26, 2022. (Getty Images/AFP)
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EU to Unveil Economic Aid for Lebanon to Stop Refugee Flows

Syrian refugees prepare to leave Lebanon toward Syrian territory through the Wadi Hamid crossing in Arsal on Oct. 26, 2022. (Getty Images/AFP)
Syrian refugees prepare to leave Lebanon toward Syrian territory through the Wadi Hamid crossing in Arsal on Oct. 26, 2022. (Getty Images/AFP)

The European Union will reportedly offer economic aid for Lebanon close to one billion euros to stop the flow of Syrian refugees, dpa news agency said on Thursday.
The economic package will be used to bolster health, educational and social services in Lebanon, according to EU officials.
Special funds will also be allocated to provide assistance to the security forces and Lebanon’s army to help them combat human smuggling, and to implement economic and financial reforms.
The European Union will offer the aid when the head of the bloc’s executive and the Cypriot president jointly visit Beirut on Thursday, a Cypriot official said on Tuesday.
EU member Cyprus has grown increasingly concerned at a sharp increase in the number of Syrian refugees making their way to the Mediterranean island. Lebanon, a mere 100 miles (185 km) away from Cyprus, hosts hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.
“The President of the European Commission will present an economic aid package for Lebanon,” Cypriot government spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said in a statement.
President Ursula von der Leyen, due in Cyprus on Wednesday, would jointly travel to Beirut with the Cypriot President, Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday morning.
Discussions would focus on challenges Lebanon presently faces and stability reforms it needs, Letymbiotis said.
“The implementation of this (package) was at the initiative of President Christodoulides and the Republic of Cyprus and is practical proof of the active role the EU can play in our region,” Letymbiotis said.
Lebanon, in the throes of an economic meltdown since 2019, has not enacted most of the reforms required by the International Monetary Fund to get access to its funding, but has asked friendly countries to continue backing it.
Some Lebanese officials have used the growing presence of migrants and refugees in the country as a bargaining chip, threatening to stop intercepting migrant boats destined for Europe unless Lebanon received more economic support.
Cyprus took in more than 2,000 Syrians who arrived by sea in the first quarter of this year, compared to just 78 in the same period of last year. Earlier this month, it took the unprecedented step of dispatching patrol vessels to international waters off Lebanon to discourage crossings and said it was suspending the processing of asylum applications from Syrians.

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Arab World

Al-Alimi Calls for Containing Escalation in Eastern Yemen, Praises Saudi Role

  Caption: Soldiers loyal to Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council inspect a truck outside the presidential palace complex in Aden (Reuters)
  Caption: Soldiers loyal to Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council inspect a truck outside the presidential palace complex in Aden (Reuters)
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Al-Alimi Calls for Containing Escalation in Eastern Yemen, Praises Saudi Role

  Caption: Soldiers loyal to Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council inspect a truck outside the presidential palace complex in Aden (Reuters)
  Caption: Soldiers loyal to Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council inspect a truck outside the presidential palace complex in Aden (Reuters)

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi on Thursday urged political, tribal and social forces in the eastern provinces of Hadramawt and Al-Mahra to close ranks behind state efforts and local authorities to contain the fallout from the recent security and military escalation.

While praising Saudi Arabia’s role in easing tensions, al-Alimi warned of the repercussions of continued unrest on Yemen’s economic and living conditions, noting early warning signs, including the International Monetary Fund’s announcement that it has suspended key activities in the country due to the deteriorating security environment.

A source in the presidential office said al-Alimi, during two phone calls with Hadramawt Governor Salem al-Khanbashi and Al-Mahra Governor Mohammed Ali Yasser, stressed the need for all forces brought in from outside the two provinces to withdraw, and for local authorities to be fully empowered to carry out their security and service responsibilities in line with the constitution and the law.

He also reiterated earlier directives to conduct a comprehensive investigation into all human rights violations linked to what he described as the Southern Transitional Council’s “unilateral measures,” including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and attacks on public and private property, emphasizing accountability and an end to impunity.

Al-Alimi cautioned against any further escalation that could lead to more bloodshed and deepen the economic and humanitarian crisis, stressing that the national priority must remain confronting the Iran-backed Houthi militia, which he described as the greatest threat to security and stability.

He commended Saudi efforts to de-escalate tensions and support stability in Hadramawt and Al-Mahra, affirming the state’s full backing for these initiatives and its commitment to strengthening the role of local authorities in safeguarding social peace and citizens’ interests.

According to the presidential source, al-Alimi underscored the need to restore conditions in the two provinces to their pre-escalation state, respect the frameworks governing the transitional period, and enable the government and local authorities to fulfill their constitutional duties.

He warned that the severe living conditions facing Yemenis “cannot withstand the opening of additional internal fronts,” calling on all parties to prioritize the public interest and preserve national gains, ensuring focus remains on the main battle against the Houthis and allied terrorist groups.

The appeal comes amid broader rejection of unilateral actions in the east. Parliament issued a statement condemning any military moves outside national consensus, describing recent developments as a “clear violation of constitutional legitimacy” and the powers of the Presidential Leadership Council.

Lt. Gen. Mohammed al-Qahtani, who headed a Saudi delegation that visited Hadramawt, stressed that Riyadh rejects “any attempts to impose a fait accompli by force” in the two provinces and supports restoring conditions to what they were prior to the escalation.

Al-Qahtani said Saudi Arabia, as leader of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, is working to resolve the crisis through a series of measures agreed upon with all parties, including the Southern Transitional Council.

Arab World

Iran’s Araqchi to Visit Beirut After Lebanese FM Declines Trip to Tehran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi looks on during a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi looks on during a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
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Iran’s Araqchi to Visit Beirut After Lebanese FM Declines Trip to Tehran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi looks on during a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqhchi looks on during a press conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said on Thursday he would travel to Beirut for talks after receiving a formal invitation from his Lebanese counterpart, who a day earlier had declined to visit Tehran for direct talks.

On Wednesday, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji said "current conditions" prevented him from travelling to Tehran, but stressed that the move did not mean rejection of dialogue with Iran.

Raji told Reuters late on Wednesday that he had invited Araqchi "in a formal diplomatic letter to come to Beirut to hold talks."

Araqchi said on X that he would "gladly accept the invitation to come to Beirut," although he said he found Raji's position "bemusing." He said foreign ministers of countries with "full diplomatic relations" did not need a neutral venue to meet.

"Subjected to Israeli occupation and blatant 'ceasefire' violations, I fully understand why my esteemed Lebanese counterpart is not prepared to visit Tehran," Araqchi added.

Raji said on Wednesday that Lebanon was ready to open a new phase of relations with Iran based on mutual respect, sovereignty and non-interference.

He added that no strong state could be built unless the government held the exclusive right to bear arms, in an apparent reference to calls to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned Lebanese armed group.

Arab World

Berri Rejects Threats to the Lebanese

Lebanon Speaker Berri Receives United States Ambassador Michel Issa (Parliament)
Lebanon Speaker Berri Receives United States Ambassador Michel Issa (Parliament)
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Berri Rejects Threats to the Lebanese

Lebanon Speaker Berri Receives United States Ambassador Michel Issa (Parliament)
Lebanon Speaker Berri Receives United States Ambassador Michel Issa (Parliament)

Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri dismissed what he called efforts to intimidate the Lebanese and underscored the "fundamental principles” that he says anchor negotiations with Israel via the Mechanism Committee.

He insisted that the May parliamentary elections will go ahead as scheduled and described his personal relationship with Saudi Arabia as “very good”, adding that ties between Lebanon and the kingdom were “good”.

Berri made the remarks during a meeting with senior Lebanese journalists from the Press Syndicate headed by Aouni Al-Kaaki.

His comments coincided with his second meeting in 24 hours with the United States ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa.

According to a statement from the Speaker’s office, the talks reviewed “developments in the general situation and the latest events, as well as bilateral relations”.

Barrack’s “mistake”

Responding to a question from the syndicate on “threats voiced by some diplomats, especially repeated remarks by United States envoy Tom Barrack about joining Lebanon to Syria”, Berri said: “No one threatens the Lebanese."

"It is inconceivable to address the Lebanese in such language, especially from diplomats, let alone from someone like Ambassador Tom Barrack. What he said about annexing Lebanon to Syria is a big mistake that is completely unacceptable,” he added.

Berri said the Lebanese have “no alternative and no escape” from facing risks, repercussions and threats from any side except through unity, adding, “With unity we can liberate the land.”

Turning to the ceasefire agreement and negotiations, Berri asked, “Is the Mechanism Committee not a negotiating framework?”

“There are principles we negotiate through this committee, namely Israeli withdrawal, deployment of the Lebanese Army, and limiting weapons in the area south of the Litani to the hands of the Lebanese Army,” he explained, adding that the committee operates under American, French and United Nations sponsorship.

He added, “I have said more than once that there is no objection to bringing in any civilian or technical figure if needed, provided the agreement is implemented.”

Berri said Lebanon has fulfilled all required steps since November 2024. He said the Lebanese Army has deployed more than 9,300 officers and soldiers with the support of UNIFIL, which confirmed in its latest reports Lebanon’s compliance with all its obligations.

He added that Israel has violated the agreement with about 11,000 breaches.

Berri said the Lebanese Army has implemented 90 percent of the ceasefire provisions south of the Litani and will fully complete the remaining steps by the end of the year.

He said this was confirmed by UNIFIL, the Mechanism Committee and Army Commander General Rodolf Haykal.

“It is unfortunate that no one is asking whether Israel has complied with even a single clause of the ceasefire agreement. Instead, it has expanded its occupation of Lebanese territory,” he said.

No cancellation of parliamentary elections

On calls by some parliamentary blocs to amend the electoral law regarding expatriate voting, Berri said the existing law is in force and the elections will be held according to it.

“There will be no cancellation and no postponement. Everyone wants elections,” he said.

He added that he remains open to any formula leading to consensus on outstanding issues that divide political forces, especially the question of expatriates.

“No one wants to exclude expatriates. Even so, I have said and will repeat that we should implement the Taif Agreement in its provisions related to the electoral law and the establishment of a Senate. But are they willing?” he asked.

Berri reiterated that Lebanese bank deposits are “sacred rights” and warned that these rights must not be compromised, surrendered or accepted as lost.