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Lebanon’s Presidency Denies Rumors About Deterioration of Aoun’s Health

President Michel Aoun (NNA)
President Michel Aoun (NNA)
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Lebanon’s Presidency Denies Rumors About Deterioration of Aoun’s Health

President Michel Aoun (NNA)
President Michel Aoun (NNA)

The Lebanese President’s Information Office replied Monday on the recently circulated rumors regarding the health of President Michel Aoun, asserting that security and judicial apparatuses will prosecute the perpetrators.

"Some people spread cheap rumors on social media that deal with the health of His Excellency President Michel Aoun, the latest of which are the fabricated accounts that were circulated in the past two days, in order to cause deliberate confusion in the country and spread concern in the hearts of citizens," the Presidency said.



The Information Office categorically denied these circulated news, which it described as “unfounded.”

It said their broadcasts are prohibited by the laws and regulations in force.

“Therefore, the security and judicial apparatuses will prosecute the perpetrators and their promoters and take appropriate measures against them," the statement said.

In the past few days, media reports circulated on social media that Aoun was seriously ill.

Some of those media reports even attributed a statement to the National News Agency regarding the death of Aoun.

"After midnight yesterday, unidentified persons circulated on the WhatsApp application, a rumor about the passing of the President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, which included a false and unfounded scenario attributed to" the National News Agency',” NNA said.

"The agency categorically denies that it posted such news, and asserts that it has absolutely nothing to do with the fabricated accounts attributed to it, the purpose of which is to cause confusion," it explained in a statement.

In this regard, MP Ibrahim Kanaan of Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement published a video on his Twitter accout recording of himself and Aoun taking a walk in the Presidential Palace’s garden on Monday.

“My meeting today in Baabda with the President to discuss the latest economic, financial and social development,” the MP wrote.

Aoun, 85, is the oldest president in the Arab world.

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Israel Seeks to Maintain Areas of Control and Influence in Syrian Territory

Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)
Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)
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Israel Seeks to Maintain Areas of Control and Influence in Syrian Territory

Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)
Military mobility of Israeli army continues on the Syrian-Israeli border in the Majdal Shams region of Golan Heights in Syria on December 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)

Israel plans to maintain areas of “control” (occupation) and “influence” (intelligence) in Syrian territory, according to a new operational concept that security officials developed for the new reality in Syria that emerged following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Senior officials in Israel said that the country would need to maintain a 15 km operational perimeter within Syrian territory, where the Israeli army would maintain a presence to ensure that allies of the new regime couldn’t launch missiles toward the Golan Heights, according to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
They also noted the necessity of a “sphere of influence” extending 60 km into Syria, under Israeli intelligence control, to monitor and prevent potential threats from developing.
The new operational concept came a few days after Israeli officials confirmed that their forces will not withdraw from the border buffer zone and the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
Last week, the Kan public broadcaster said in an unsourced report that the new Syrian leadership has asked the US to pressure Israel to withdraw from the buffer zone.
Israeli officials told Kan that they have received no official request on the matter, adding that the Israeli army’s presence at and across the border is necessary to protect its security.
Last month, just hours after factions of the Syrian opposition swept president Bashar al-Assad from power, Israel captured the buffer zone, which was created following the Yom Kippur War of 1967. They also seized the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.
During a visit to Mount Hermon last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that his troops would remain stationed inside Syria “until another arrangement can be found that guarantees Israel’s security.”
Also, Israel has carried out hundreds of attacks across Syria, saying the strikes were aimed at keeping military weapons away from extremists.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli official said that while Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria's de facto leader, had sent messages to Israel claiming that his forces weren’t seeking conflict, Israel remained skeptical. “This might hold true for a year, two years, maybe even 10 or 20”, he said.
“But no one can guarantee that eventually, they won’t turn against us – and these are highly dangerous people. (Ahmed) Al-Sharaa’s current goal is to lift sanctions on Syria to bring in foreign funds. But in the long run, Israel must maintain a control zone and a sphere of influence in Syria,” the official said.
He also expressed hope that Israel would receive full backing against threats from Syria and Lebanon after the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
“In the meantime, we’ll have to remain there, ensuring a 15-km missile-free zone under our control, as well as a 60-km sphere of influence, to prevent threats from developing. We’re building an operational concept for this new reality,” he said.
Israel was also concerned about the potential entrenchment of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Syria, seemingly ignored by al-Sharaa, according to the newspaper.
“We won’t allow their establishment in Syria just as we prevented Iran’s foothold there,” the official said.
“We estimate that al-Sharaa prefers to keep them there so they can act against Israel, giving him plausible deniability,” he added.
These remarks came while Israeli officials were reportedly astounded by what they described as the West's “blindness” toward the regime of Ahmad al-Sharaa, according to Yedioth Ahronoth.