Lebanon’s Interior Minister: Security Will Remain Maintained after Oct. 31

Lebanon’s Caretaker Minister of Interior Bassam al-Mawlawi with Grand Mufti of the Republic, Abdul Latif Derian (NNA)
Lebanon’s Caretaker Minister of Interior Bassam al-Mawlawi with Grand Mufti of the Republic, Abdul Latif Derian (NNA)
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Lebanon’s Interior Minister: Security Will Remain Maintained after Oct. 31

Lebanon’s Caretaker Minister of Interior Bassam al-Mawlawi with Grand Mufti of the Republic, Abdul Latif Derian (NNA)
Lebanon’s Caretaker Minister of Interior Bassam al-Mawlawi with Grand Mufti of the Republic, Abdul Latif Derian (NNA)

Lebanon’s Caretaker Minister of Interior, Bassam al-Mawlawi, affirmed on Friday that security is maintained in Lebanon and will remain preserved even after Oct. 31, when the term of President Michel Aoun ends.

Mawlawi also stressed that Lebanon constantly coordinates efforts with Arab countries to combat drug trafficking.

Mawlawi’s comments came during his meeting with Grand Sunni Mufti of the Republic, Abdul Latif Derian, congratulating him on the anniversary of the Prophet’s birthday.

“His Eminence has stressed that Lebanon should remain stable, both on the security and political levels, to reach economic and financial stability,” Mawlawi said, vowing keenness to maintain security.

The minister admitted that the situation in the crisis-hit country is complex, but praised the “unifying positions of the Grand Mufti”, which he said bring all the Lebanese together under coexistence and national interest.

Asked about the presidential elections and maintaining security during that delicate stage, the minister explained that electing a president must take place within the constitutional timeframe and that the matter is up to the members of the parliament.

Mawlawi stressed that security is under control and will remain so, especially after Oct. 31, vowing to work around the clock to ensure stability in the country.

In response to a question about the coordination with Arab countries, especially after the arrest of drug smugglers, he said there is permanent coordination with Arab countries, and that work is underway to control drug trafficking.

He stressed that Lebanon should not be a source of harm to the Arab countries.



Damascus, Ankara Agree Natural Gas Deal for Syria

 A drone view shows the power plant in Aleppo, Syria, April 15, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the power plant in Aleppo, Syria, April 15, 2025. (Reuters)
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Damascus, Ankara Agree Natural Gas Deal for Syria

 A drone view shows the power plant in Aleppo, Syria, April 15, 2025. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the power plant in Aleppo, Syria, April 15, 2025. (Reuters)

Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir said Friday Damascus and Ankara had reached a deal for Türkiye to supply natural gas to the war-torn country via a pipeline in the north.

"I agreed with my Turkish counterpart Alparslan Bayraktar on supplying Syria with six million cubic meters of natural gas a day through the Kilis-Aleppo pipeline," Bashir said in a statement carried by state news agency SANA.

Kilis is near Türkiye’s border with Syria, which is north of the city of Aleppo.

The deal will "contribute to increasing the hours of electricity provision and improve the energy situation in Syria", Bashir added.

Syria's authorities, who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December, are seeking to rebuild the country's infrastructure and economy after almost 14 years of civil war.

The conflict badly damaged Syria's power infrastructure, leading to cuts that can last for more than 20 hours a day.

Bayraktar told the private CNN-Turk broadcaster late Thursday that "we will provide natural gas to Syria from Kilis within the next three months".

"This gas will be used in electricity generation at the natural gas power plant in Aleppo," he said, confirming an expected daily flow of six million cubic meters.

In March, Qatar said it had begun funding gas supplies to Syria from Jordan, in a move aimed at addressing electricity production shortages and improving infrastructure.

That announcement said the initiative was set to generate up to 400 megawatts of electricity daily in the first phase, with production capacity to gradually increase at the Deir Ali station southeast of Damascus.

Both Türkiye and Qatar have close ties with Syria's transitional government, and were the first two countries to reopen their embassies in Damascus after Assad's ouster.

Both have also urged the lifting of sanctions on Syria.

In January, Syria's electricity chief said two power ships were being sent from Türkiye and Qatar to increase supply after the United States eased sanctions, allowing fuel and electricity donations to Syria for six months.

Last month, Britain said it was lifting energy production sector sanctions, a move Damascus said would "directly contribute to improving" Syrians' living conditions.