Qatari Minister Holds Meetings in Lebanon amid International Action to Help Address Crisis

 The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)
The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)
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Qatari Minister Holds Meetings in Lebanon amid International Action to Help Address Crisis

 The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)
The head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, received Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday. (Franjieh’s Twitter account)

International action to help Lebanon overcome its crisis have recently come to the fore, especially the quintet meeting that recently brought together representatives of the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Qatar in Paris.

In parallel, Qatar’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al-Khulaifi, continued to hold meetings with Lebanese officials within the framework of an exploratory tour that started on Monday.

The Qatari diplomat stressed the need to maintain support for the Lebanese military institution to enable it to carry out its tasks in preserving Lebanon’s security.

A statement issued by the Lebanese Army Command said that Al-Khulaifi met with the Army Commander, General Joseph Aoun, with whom he discussed the general situation in Lebanon and the region.

As part of his meetings on Tuesday, the Qatari minister met with the head of the Lebanese Forces party, Samir Geagea, in Maarab, the day after his talks, on Monday evening, with the head of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), Walid Jumblatt.

Also on Tuesday, the head of the Marada Movement, former Minister Sleiman Franjieh, met with Al-Khulaifi and his accompanying delegation, in the presence of the Qatari Ambassador to Lebanon, Ibrahim Al-Sahlawi, MP Tony Franjieh, and former Minister Roni Araiji. Discussions touched on the general situation and the latest developments in Lebanon and the region.

In a related context, former Minister Nehme Tohme highlighted in a statement the “Arab and international role aimed at rescuing Lebanon from its crises and setbacks, and pushing the concerned political forces to elect a president for the republic to end the presidential vacuum.”

Pointing to the role of Saudi Arabia, Tohme said: “Here is the Kingdom today, maintaining its role to help our country, not to mention the economic support it provided, which had a positive impact in fortifying the Lebanese economy for many years, accompanied by its embrace of the largest Lebanese community that enjoys all appreciation and respect…”

“Saudi Arabia remains the main axis in this movement that is taking place today, whether in the quintet meeting or through its role and presence at the regional and international levels, thanks to the wisdom of the Saudi leadership and the clear vision of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman,” he added.



Houthis: Ceasefire Deal with US Does Not Include Israel

Members of the media take pictures of a destroyed plane at Sanaa International Airport, in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
Members of the media take pictures of a destroyed plane at Sanaa International Airport, in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
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Houthis: Ceasefire Deal with US Does Not Include Israel

Members of the media take pictures of a destroyed plane at Sanaa International Airport, in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah
Members of the media take pictures of a destroyed plane at Sanaa International Airport, in the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 7, 2025. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah

A ceasefire deal between Yemen's Houthis and the US does not include sparing Israel, the group said on Wednesday, suggesting its shipping attacks that have disrupted global trade and challenged world powers will not come to a complete halt.

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the US would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, saying that the group had agreed to stop attacking US ships.

After Trump made the announcement, Oman said it had mediated the ceasefire deal to halt attacks on US vessels.

There have been no reports of Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea area since January.

"The agreement does not include Israel in any way, shape or form," Mohammed Abdulsalam, the chief Houthi negotiator, told Reuters.

"As long as they announced the cessation (of US strikes) and they are actually committed to that, our position was self-defense so we will stop."
While tensions may have eased between the United States and the Houthis, the agreement does not rule out attacks on any other Israel-linked vessels or targets.
The US intensified strikes on the Houthis this year, to stop attacks on Red Sea shipping.