Lebanon’s Hariri Pledges to Protect Taif Accord

PM Saad Hariri speaks at a ceremony marking the 14th anniversary of the assassination of his father, Rafik Hariri on Thursday. Dalati and Nohra
PM Saad Hariri speaks at a ceremony marking the 14th anniversary of the assassination of his father, Rafik Hariri on Thursday. Dalati and Nohra
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Lebanon’s Hariri Pledges to Protect Taif Accord

PM Saad Hariri speaks at a ceremony marking the 14th anniversary of the assassination of his father, Rafik Hariri on Thursday. Dalati and Nohra
PM Saad Hariri speaks at a ceremony marking the 14th anniversary of the assassination of his father, Rafik Hariri on Thursday. Dalati and Nohra

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri pledged on Thursday to protect the Taif accord and refused to remain silent to any attempt to paralyze the government.

He pledged “not to abandon Taif, or accept the breach of Taif.”

“We are the guardians of the Taif agreement, today and tomorrow!,” the PM said in a speech delivered at a ceremony organized by his Mustaqbal movement at the Sea Side Arena Center for the 14th commemoration of the assassination of his father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Hariri said that 2019 would be the year of justice that he has been waiting for to know the truth about his father’s murder.

In the ceremony, attended by representatives from all Lebanese parties, except for Hezbollah, the PM said Beirut is not a state affiliated with any axis and is not a theater for the arms race in the region.

He said Lebanon should deal with challenges to give the country a real rescue opportunity.

“President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and I decided to turn the Council of Ministers and Parliament into a work cell,” Hariri told the crowds.

“It is not reasonable, after all the hard work exerted at the CEDRE Conference (held in Paris last April) and with the international community, to return to the politics of no solutions or that cabinet returns to political unkindness,” the PM said.

On the issue of Syrian refugees, Hariri said Lebanon’s interest lies in their return to their country in a dignified and safe manner.

“The best thing we can do for the displaced is to work for their return to their country, voluntarily, and I emphasize on the world voluntary,” he said, while calling on the international community to take additional practical steps that end the tragedy of the displacement.



Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
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Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)

Intense clashes erupted in southern Syria between local factions in Suwayda province and armed tribal groups from the surrounding countryside, stoking fears of renewed sectarian violence between communities in Suwayda and neighboring Daraa.

The fighting broke out in the western countryside of Suwayda, just a day after Druze religious leaders and community elders announced the start of an agreement intended to bring stability to the area. Conflicting reports have emerged about the reasons behind the escalation.

Local Telegram channels reported what they called a “military escalation” as armed Bedouin groups, described as “outlaws,” were accused of attempting to break a siege around Bedouin-inhabited villages in the western countryside. Mortar exchanges and machine gun fire were reported between the two sides.

In particular, the village of Al-Dara, home to Bedouin tribes, was reportedly shelled from the nearby town of Al-Thaala. In response, tribal fighters launched a counteroffensive, leading to clashes that involved the use of heavy weaponry.

The independent news outlet Suwayda 24 reported that Al-Thaala itself came under attack from unknown groups firing mortars and machine guns from the western outskirts of the town. The incident triggered a gun battle between local defenders and the attackers.

Rumors further fueled tensions, with some claiming that local factions attempted to destroy a mosque and targeted civilian neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Al-Rasid, another outlet covering Suwayda, noted a sharp increase in provocative videos and audio messages alleging that Suwayda factions were besieging tribal areas and setting fire to mosques.

Officials have denied these claims. Religious leaders reaffirmed that mosques remained protected by local factions. Despite this, armed groups from eastern Daraa, reportedly not locals, began shelling Suwayda villages.

Sources in Daraa told Suwayda 24 that these groups, arriving on motorcycles and in vehicles equipped with mortars and heavy weapons, have been trying to provoke unrest for days. Videos and messages circulated on WhatsApp were allegedly aimed at inciting local communities.

The clashes have already had humanitarian consequences. Mortar attacks on villages including Haran, Al-Thaala, Rasas, and Ara resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to eight others. Dozens of families, particularly women and children, have fled to safer areas.

Local sources say the violence is a deliberate attempt to sow discord between the Druze and tribal communities. They urged residents of both Suwayda and Daraa to resist incitement and work together to de-escalate the situation.

Meanwhile, Syria’s Interior Ministry announced the release of 22 detainees from the towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya in Damascus Countryside, stating they were not involved in bloodshed during recent unrest.

Separately, the Israeli military announced it had raided and destroyed a former Syrian regime command post on Mount Hermon. Israeli forces reportedly uncovered weapons caches and military infrastructure during the operation and seized the materials.