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Lebanon to File UN Complaint over Israeli Aggression

Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib (Dalati and Nohra)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib (Dalati and Nohra)
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Lebanon to File UN Complaint over Israeli Aggression

Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib (Dalati and Nohra)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib (Dalati and Nohra)

Lebanon said on Sunday that it intends to file a complaint with the UN Security Council against Israel's aggression on Lebanon, following a rocket barrage fired at Israel from southern Lebanon on Thursday.

Lebanon’s caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Bou Habib, said the complaint is to be presented by the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the UN, Jean Murad, to both the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Security Council.

The complaint was decided to be filed at the request of Abdullah and after consultations with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Lebanon renewed refusals that its territories be exploited as a platform to destabilize stability but also stressed its legitimate right to self-defense.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to keeping the lines of communication open with the United Nations and UNIFIL forces as the best means to solve problems and maintain calm and stability.

On Friday, Israel unleashed rare airstrikes on southern Lebanon and bombarded the Gaza Strip.

The early morning strikes followed a large rocket barrage fired at Israel from southern Lebanon.

The violence erupted after Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem earlier in the week, sparking unrest in the contested capital and outrage across the Arab world.

Voicing alarm over the latest developments in the region, mainly the escalation on its southern border, Lebanon said the Israeli airstrikes on its territory are a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon, endangering the life of people and the safety of the land.

Cautious calm prevails in southern Lebanon after the Israeli response to the missiles. Only material damages were reported in the Lebanese areas hit by the missiles, according to the National News Agency.

The Lebanese army found on Friday a deserted rocket launcher in the Al-Qolayle plains in the south. The launcher, which contained 12 rocket compartments, contained several unlaunched rockets.

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Aoun Leading Efforts to Avert Shiite Boycott of New Lebanese Govt

A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
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Aoun Leading Efforts to Avert Shiite Boycott of New Lebanese Govt

A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)
A handout photo made available by the Lebanese Presidency Press Office shows Lebanese President Joseph Aoun (C) attending a meeting with Lebanese parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (L) and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, 14 January 2025. (Lebanese Presidency Press Office)

Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam arrived in Beirut on Tuesday to kick off parliamentary consultations to form a new government.

He assured that it will “not exclude anyone”, but seek “unity and partnership.”

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that President Joseph Aoun is leading efforts to avert a Shiite boycott of the new government after the “Shiite duo” of the Hezbollah and Amal movement, which is led by parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, refrained from naming Salam for the position of PM during Monday’s consultations.

Their abstention has raised fears that the new government will not be constitutional without the representation of the largest Shiite parties in the country.

Reports have said that the duo may boycott the parliamentary consultations to form a government that Salam will hold on Wednesday.

Sources said the duo may skip the first day of talks, which will conclude on Thursday, to demonstrate its “annoyance” with the developments.

Berri, however, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the “situation is not that negative”. He did not elaborate on the duo’s next steps.

Moreover, Asharq Al-Awsat learned that French President Macron had even intervened to avoid a dispute over the government, holding telephone talks with Aoun and Berri.

Salam’s appointment as prime minister came as a major shock given the large number of votes he won from the parliamentary blocs, compared to his predecessor Najib Mikati and against the will of the Shiite duo. In past years, Hezbollah has repeatedly blocked Salam from becoming prime minister.

Aoun stressed the need to “avoid placing obstacles in the government formation process.”

Aoun held a meeting with Salam at the presidential palace on Tuesday before later being joined by Berri, who left the palace without making a statement.

After the talks, Salam spoke before reporters to express his gratitude to parliament and the people for entrusting him with the “difficult task of serving Lebanon” and “achieving the people’s dreams.”

“It is time to open a new chapter that is rooted in justice, security, progress and opportunity, so that Lebanon can be a nation of free people who are equal under their rights,” he added.

On the possible boycott of the Shiite duo, he said he was against exclusion and on the contrary supported unity. “This is my sincere call, and my hands are extended to everyone,” he added.

The formation of a government in Lebanon often takes months due to political wrangling.

Aoun said on Tuesday that Lebanon has a “very major opportunity that we should all seize.”

He received a delegation from the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council.

“Obstacles must not be placed in the formation process,” he urged. “We must send positive signals to the international community that Lebanon can govern itself, carry out reconstruction transparently and build the state that we are all calling for.”

“If one segment of Lebanon is broken, then the whole country will break,” he stressed, saying Monday’s consultations to appoint Salam were a democratic process and that the public interest remains the top priority.

Aoun, who was elected last week, added that he has declined visits from well-wishers over his election “out of respect for the martyrs” who were killed during Israel’s war on Lebanon, which ended with a ceasefire in November.