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US Forces Destroy Houthi Drone, Ballistic Missiles in Red Sea

Houthi supporters chant slogans during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 31 May 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
Houthi supporters chant slogans during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 31 May 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
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US Forces Destroy Houthi Drone, Ballistic Missiles in Red Sea

Houthi supporters chant slogans during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 31 May 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB
Houthi supporters chant slogans during a protest against the US and Israel, and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sanaa, Yemen, 31 May 2024. EPA/YAHYA ARHAB

US forces on Saturday destroyed one Iran-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial system in the southern Red Sea and saw two others crash into the sea, US Central Command said.

The Central Command forces also destroyed two Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles fired in direction of the USS Gravely, it said. No injuries or damage were reported by US, coalition or commercial ships, it added.

The Houthi militias have attacked ships off Yemen’s coast for months, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians fighting Israel in Gaza.

Their drone and missile strikes have been aimed at the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden.

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Arab World

Constitutional Path for Aoun’s Presidential Election in Lebanon

Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun (Reuters)
Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun (Reuters)
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Constitutional Path for Aoun’s Presidential Election in Lebanon

Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun (Reuters)
Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun (Reuters)

Gen. Joseph Aoun currently leads the race for Lebanon's presidency, but some warn his election could be unconstitutional because he holds a “Class A” position, requiring his resignation two years before running.
However, his supporters point to the 2008 election of Gen. Michel Suleiman, who was also army commander at the time, as a precedent. They argue the reasons given for Suleiman’s election should apply to Aoun as well.
At the time, Speaker Nabih Berri argued that the support of over 86 lawmakers for Suleiman made his election constitutional, as any constitutional amendment requires 86 votes.
MP Gebran Bassil, leader of the Free Patriotic Movement, continues to argue that Aoun’s election is unconstitutional under the current process.
He recently stated that constitutional amendments require a president, a functioning parliament, and a fully empowered government. The process also needs two steps: a two-thirds majority in the first vote and a three-quarters majority in the second.
Bassil’s argument is based on Articles 76 and 77 of the constitution, which say amendments can only be proposed by the president or parliament, but only during a regular session — which ended in December.
Dr. Paul Morcos, head of the “JUSTICIA” legal foundation in Beirut, told Asharq Al-Awsat that in 2008, parliament used Article 74 of the constitution to bypass the amendment to Article 49.
He explained that Gen. Suleiman’s election was considered an exception to the rule requiring military officials to resign six months before running for president, due to the presidential vacancy after President Emile Lahoud’s term ended in 2007.
Morcos added that the same reasoning could apply to Gen. Aoun’s potential election as president.