Lebanon Hopes Fuel Deals with Iraq will Help Generate Electricity

A view of a street during a power cut in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters file photo
A view of a street during a power cut in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters file photo
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Lebanon Hopes Fuel Deals with Iraq will Help Generate Electricity

A view of a street during a power cut in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters file photo
A view of a street during a power cut in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters file photo

Lebanon wants to sign deals with Iraq to secure fuel oil for its power sector without imposing additional pressure on the country's remaining foreign currency reserves.

The deals are part of a long-term cooperation between Lebanon and Iraq that includes the development of the health, agricultural, and industrial sectors. It will also open new horizons for economic cooperation.

Lebanon's caretaker prime minister, Hassan Diab, plans to visit Iraq along with a ministerial and economic delegation, but the trip has been delayed for "technical reasons", government sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

They indicated that the visit was postponed pending the Iraqi government’s approval of its budget.

The sources said that agriculture, energy, industry, and health ministers will be part of the delegation seeking to sign the agreements, namely, to supply Lebanon with fuel oil, which will secure the operation of the country's power plants.

Lebanon's power sector is suffering from a major crisis as a result of the fuel shortage and the country's inability to secure the foreign currency for fuel shipments, in light of an economic and financial crisis that has greatly reduced the Central Bank’s reserves of the US dollar.

This could cause a total blackout and put a halt to government subsidies on food and medical supplies, which have already dwindled.

Earlier, government officials from both countries discussed fuel deals, and Iraq agreed to provide 500,000 tons of heavy fuel oil, which Lebanon will exchange for oil derivatives that operate its power plants from international oil companies.

The agreement stipulated that the payment be in the form of Lebanese Lira deposits at the Central Bank in an account under the Iraqi government's name, the Lebanese government sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The agreements also include introducing Lebanese agricultural and industrial products to Iraqi markets, and in turn, Lebanon will advise the Iraqi government, and provide services to its health sector.

The sources explained that the revenues will be in US dollars and will contribute to providing new job opportunities and chances of cooperation with Lebanese markets, thus providing essential support to the local productive sectors.

The anticipated agreements are part of an Iraqi support package for Lebanon, which was discussed last summer during the Iraqi delegation's visit to Beirut, where they reviewed cooperation in various sectors.

On Wednesday, Iraqi Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi arrived in Beirut aboard an aircraft carrying medical aid.

Sources indicated that Tamimi will sign Thursday a number of bilateral agreements.

Lebanese officials also seek to restore and secure transport lines from Iraq to northern Lebanon through Syrian territory.

During its visit to Lebanon last July, the Iraqi delegation discussed with officials lifting customs tariffs on Lebanese goods.

The Lebanese sources said that the consultations for the trade exchange plan also included providing Lebanon with fuel oil products under a one-year loan, which will be discussed during the Lebanese delegation’s visit to Baghdad.



Jordan Describes Shooting near Israeli Embassy as ‘Terrorist Attack’

Police vehicles on a street near the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Police vehicles on a street near the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
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Jordan Describes Shooting near Israeli Embassy as ‘Terrorist Attack’

Police vehicles on a street near the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
Police vehicles on a street near the Israeli embassy in Amman, Jordan November 24, 2024. REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak

Jordan described Sunday’s shooting near the heavily fortified Israeli embassy in the capital Amman as a “terrorist attack”.
Jordan's communications minister, Mohamed Momani, said the shooting is a “terrorist attack” that targeted public security forces in the country. He said in a statement that investigations into the incident were under way.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, security sources described the incident as “an individual and isolated act, unrelated to any organized groups”.
The sources added that preliminary investigations indicated that the attacker was “under the influence of drugs”.
A gunman was dead and three Jordanian policemen were injured after the shooting near the Israeli embassy in Sunday's early hours, a security source and state media said.
Police shot a gunman who had fired at a police patrol in the affluent Rabiah neighborhood of the Jordanian capital, the state news agency Petra reported, citing public security, adding investigations were ongoing.
The gunman, who was carrying an automatic weapon, was chased for at least an hour before he was cornered and killed just before dawn, according to a security source.
"Tampering with the security of the nation and attacking security personnel will be met with a firm response," Momani told Reuters, adding that the gunman had a criminal record in drug trafficking.
Jordanian police cordoned off an area near the heavily policed embassy after gunshots were heard, witnesses said. Two witnesses said police and ambulances rushed to the Rabiah district, where the embassy is located.
The area is a flashpoint for frequent demonstrations against Israel.