Derian Hails Saudi Arabia’s Insistence Not To Abandon Lebanon

Derian received on Tuesday Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari. (NNA)
Derian received on Tuesday Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari. (NNA)
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Derian Hails Saudi Arabia’s Insistence Not To Abandon Lebanon

Derian received on Tuesday Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari. (NNA)
Derian received on Tuesday Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari. (NNA)

Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdullatif Derian expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its unwavering insistence not to abandon Lebanon despite "preferential" positions made by some Lebanese parties.

Derian expressed “great appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for the insistence of the wise leadership not to abandon Lebanon and its people, despite some unfair stances against the Kingdom issued by some Lebanese parties."

Derian’s remarks came during his Tuesday meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari.

Bukhari underlined the Kingdom’s keenness on Lebanon’s security and stability.

He said seditious rhetoric does not gain legitimacy, nor does any attempt to change Lebanon’s Arab identity.

Bukhari stressed the importance of permanent communication with Dar Al-Fatwa.

"The Ambassador stressed that Dar el-Fatwa is the moderate religious and national reference, which maintains its unifying role during the crises that Lebanon is witnessing,” the media office of Dar Al-Fatwa said in a statement.

The ambassador affirmed the Kingdom’s keenness on the security and stability of Lebanon and its institutions, and on the consolidation of Muslim-Christian coexistence.

Derian noted that relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia “were and will remain firm because the Kingdom continues to view Lebanon and its people as a brotherly Arab country.”

Bukhari also visited on Tuesday Druze Sheikh Al-Aql, Sheikh Sami Abi Al-Mona.



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.