Lebanon: Extensive Efforts to Prevent 'Implosion'

Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, on Tuesday met at Dar al-Fatwa with the Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea, in the presence of Information Minister Melhem Riachi/NNA
Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, on Tuesday met at Dar al-Fatwa with the Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea, in the presence of Information Minister Melhem Riachi/NNA
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Lebanon: Extensive Efforts to Prevent 'Implosion'

Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, on Tuesday met at Dar al-Fatwa with the Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea, in the presence of Information Minister Melhem Riachi/NNA
Grand Mufti of the Republic, Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, on Tuesday met at Dar al-Fatwa with the Lebanese Forces leader, Samir Geagea, in the presence of Information Minister Melhem Riachi/NNA

Four days following the resignation of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the Lebanese state gathered on Tuesday all its forces to prevent an implosion of situation in the country.

Political forces were exerting efforts to find a solution that could protect "stability” in the state and reach a settlement among the different parties.

Their efforts could elevate the chances of forming a cabinet of technocrats capable of supervising the upcoming parliamentary elections.

In Beirut, the political dynamic kicked off on two separate lines: President Michel Aoun launched talks with State members at the presidential Palace, while several leaders, along with the French ambassador to Lebanon, had visited the Dar al-Fatwa headquarter to discuss the latest developments.

According to constitutional expert Antoine Saad, Hariri should send his written resignation to President Aoun, who would list it in his archive and give it a number.

Saad told Asharq Al-Awsat that after the president accepts the resignation, he could then issue a presidential decree announcing the resignation of Lebanon’s government.

The expert said that if Hariri does not offer Aoun a written resignation in the near future, then the president has the constitutional right to issue the resignation decree based on Hariri’s televised speech.

Sources close to the talks told Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that following the storm of Hariri’s resignation, Lebanon has now “entered an area of unrest.”

The sources said that the current situation triggered all State leaders and political forces to mobilize in order to “limit the repercussions of the resignation and to consolidate the stability and safety of Lebanon” at this delicate phase.

According to the same sources, “this dynamic kicked off after parties sensed that the situation was dangerous and that there is a need to look for means to protect Lebanon.”

Meanwhile, Hariri’s press office said on Tuesday that the prime minister left Riyadh to Abu Dhabi, where he met with the Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at noon, before returning back to Saudi Arabia.

Head of the Future parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Siniora said on Tuesday that Hariri is expected to return to Lebanon, adding that his homecoming is now a priority.



Netanyahu Asks US to Broker Israel-Syria Negotiations

US envoy Tom Barrack meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Türkiye on May 24, 2025 (EPA)
US envoy Tom Barrack meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Türkiye on May 24, 2025 (EPA)
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Netanyahu Asks US to Broker Israel-Syria Negotiations

US envoy Tom Barrack meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Türkiye on May 24, 2025 (EPA)
US envoy Tom Barrack meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Türkiye on May 24, 2025 (EPA)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US envoy Tom Barrack he is interested in negotiating with the new Syrian government, with the US serving as mediator, two Israeli officials told Axios on Wednesday.

“Netanyahu is interested in negotiating an updated security deal and working up towards a full peace agreement,” according to a senior Israeli official.

“When Barrack met Netanyahu last week, the Israeli prime minister told him he wants to use the momentum from the Trump-al-Sharaa meeting to start US-mediated negotiations with Syria,” an Israeli official said.

A senior Israel official also told Axios that Netanyahu's goal is to try and reach a set of agreements, starting with an updated security deal based on the 1974 disengagement of forces agreement, with modifications, and ending with a peace deal between the countries.

The prime minister believes Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa's aspiration to build close ties with the Trump administration create a diplomatic opportunity. “We want to try and move towards normalization with Syria as soon as possible,” the official said.

According to the official, Barrack told the Israelis that al-Sharaa is open to discussing new agreements with Israel.

After his visit to Israel, Barrack traveled to Washington and briefed Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

A US official said the Israelis presented to Barrack their “red lines” on Syria: No Turkish military bases in the country, no renewed Iranian and Hezbollah presence and the demilitarization of southern Syria.

The Israelis told Barrack they will keep their forces in Syria until a new agreement is signed that includes the demilitarization of southern Syria, an Israeli official said.

The official added that in a new future border deal with Syria, Israel wants to add US forces to the UN force that was previously stationed on the border.

In a related development, the Israeli forces on Wednesday seized one vehicle and arrested three workers employed by Al-Quneitra city council. The forces had advanced into Al-Qahtaniyah village in Syria’s southern countryside of the governorate, deploying within residential neighborhoods and firing guns into the air.

The Syrian TV reported that the deployment coincided with loudspeaker announcements calling on residents to stay in their homes.

Last Sunday, the Israeli forces destroyed an agricultural land near the border in the southern countryside of Quneitra and confiscated a flock of sheep.

Earlier, the Israeli forces had carried out airstrikes in southern Syria, saying it hit weapons belonging to the government in retaliation for the firing of two projectiles towards Israel.

Israeli shelling also targeted agricultural areas in the Wadi Yarmouk region.

Residents described increased tensions in recent weeks, including reported Israeli incursions into villages, where they have reportedly been barred from sowing their crops.