Sabhan in Beirut to Discuss Saudi-Lebanese Relations

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri meets with Saudi Minister Thamer al-Sabhan in Beirut (Dalati & Nohra)
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri meets with Saudi Minister Thamer al-Sabhan in Beirut (Dalati & Nohra)
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Sabhan in Beirut to Discuss Saudi-Lebanese Relations

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri meets with Saudi Minister Thamer al-Sabhan in Beirut (Dalati & Nohra)
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri meets with Saudi Minister Thamer al-Sabhan in Beirut (Dalati & Nohra)

Saudi Minister of State for Arab Gulf Affairs Thamer Al-Sabhan has met with a number of Lebanese officials during a visit to Beirut that he kicked off on Wednesday.

The Saudi official reviewed with Prime Minister Saad Hariri latest developments in Lebanon and the region, before meeting with Kataeb Party chief Sami Gemayel.

On Thursday, Sabhan visited the head of the Lebanese Forces, Samir Geagea, at his residence in the Keserouan village of Maarab, where he said in brief comments: “The weather is always beautiful in Maarab”.

For his part, Gemayel underlined the need to preserve the sovereignty of the Lebanese State throughout its territories. He also raised the issue of the Lebanese working in Gulf countries in general and the Kingdom in particular, stressing that they should not be held responsible for policies and positions that are not approved by all Lebanese people.

Well-informed Arab sources told Al-Markaziah news agency that Sabhan, who had visited Beirut in October, would discuss with Lebanese officials latest developments in the region, mainly the progress achieved in the Syrian file.

He will also emphasize that regional balances do not mean allowing Iran to expand its influence in any Arab country and that there is no truth in any information about concessions in favor of Iran, either in Yemen, Iraq, Syria or Lebanon, according to the sources quoted by the agency.



Trump Says there Could Be a Gaza Deal Next Week

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One on the way to New Jersey, US, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One on the way to New Jersey, US, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
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Trump Says there Could Be a Gaza Deal Next Week

US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One on the way to New Jersey, US, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on board Air Force One on the way to New Jersey, US, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard

President Donald Trump said on Friday it was good that Hamas said it had responded in "a positive spirit" to a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal.

He told reporters aboard Air Force One there could be a deal on a Gaza ceasefire by next week but that he had not been briefed on the current state of negotiations.

Hamas announced on Friday that it has completed its internal consultations, as well as discussions with Palestinian factions and forces, regarding the latest ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators to end the assault on the Gaza Strip.

In a press statement, the movement confirmed that it had submitted its response to the mediators, describing it as positive. Hamas also expressed its readiness to immediately engage in serious negotiations on the mechanism for implementing the proposed framework.

A Palestinian official familiar with the matter told Reuters that Hamas had submitted its response to the US-brokered ceasefire proposal, describing it as positive and likely to facilitate reaching an agreement.