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Lebanon: Aoun Bargains with Interior, Finance Ministries to Keep Control Over Energy

President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib during talks at the Baabda Palace (Reuters/ Mohammed Azakir)
President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib during talks at the Baabda Palace (Reuters/ Mohammed Azakir)
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Lebanon: Aoun Bargains with Interior, Finance Ministries to Keep Control Over Energy

President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib during talks at the Baabda Palace (Reuters/ Mohammed Azakir)
President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib during talks at the Baabda Palace (Reuters/ Mohammed Azakir)

Lebanese President Michel Aoun is responsible for the delay in the formation of the new government, Lebanese political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The president’s first priority, according to the sources, is to bring back his son-in-law, former Minister and MP Gebran Bassil, to the forefront, and to reserve the largest number of ministerial seats for his Christian bloc, including the ministry of Energy.

The political sources revealed that the General Security chief, Major General Abbas Ibrahim, has been working behind the scene to resolve the nodes that are hindering the cabinet formation. Ibrahim has recently met with Aoun, who informed him that he favored a government of 24 specialists of political background, “to facilitate the implementation of reforms.”

According to the sources, Aoun supports, in one way or another, Bassil’s request to implement rotation in the redistribution of portfolios to the different sects. They said he suggested that the financial and the interior ministries be the share of the Christians, in exchange for assigning the defense and foreign ministries to the Muslims.

The same sources explained that Aoun wanted to convey a message that the Shiites’ insistence on preserving the finance portfolio - which grants them the authority to sign the decrees of a financial nature - does not give them the right to veto the redistribution of ministerial portfolios.

In other words, Aoun - according to these sources - absolutely refuses any party to use the right of veto to prevent the allocation of the ministry of Energy to a Christian minister. The president considers the energy as an exclusive right to his political party, led by Bassil.

Therefore, the sources said Aoun was bargaining with the Interior and Finance ministries, in exchange for maintaining the energy within his share.

Moreover, the president’s insistence on forming an expanded government was aimed at bringing Bassil to the forefront, in light of the rejection of the Lebanese Forces and the Kataeb party to participate in the government, according to the sources.

However, Prime Minister-designate Mustapha Adib would not approve a cabinet of 24 ministers and insisted on excluding Bassil from his ongoing talks with Aoun.

Adib is also working to prepare a draft ministerial lineup that he would present to the Baabda Palace at the end of this week.

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Arab World

Israel Says It ‘Will Enforce’ Ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
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Israel Says It ‘Will Enforce’ Ban on 37 NGOs in Gaza

The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)
The sun sets behind the ruins of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on December 31, 2025. (AFP)

Israel said on Thursday that 37 international NGOs operating in Gaza had not complied with a deadline to meet "security and transparency standards," in particular disclosing information on their Palestinian staff, and that it "will enforce" a ban on their activities.

"Organizations that have failed to meet required security and transparency standards will have their licenses suspended," said spokesman for the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Gilad Zwick.

In March, Israel gave a ten-month deadline to NGOs to comply with the new rules, which expired on Wednesday night.

The UN has warned that the ban will exacerbate the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Arab World

Syria’s Interior Minister Warns Remnants of Former Regime

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
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Syria’s Interior Minister Warns Remnants of Former Regime

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Syrian Security forces stand guard near military vehicles on the day people protest in Latakia, Syria, December 28, 2025. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri/File Photo

Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab has warned the remnants of the former regime against efforts to lead chaos, killing, and destruction as his ministry announced the arrest of several people in Latakia and Tartus for involvement in war crimes and instigations that threaten civil peace.

Khattab stressed on Wednesday that the state is the sole guarantor for all citizens, ensuring their security, preserving their dignity, and safeguarding their rights.

The minister said in a statement on X that since the early days following Syria’s liberation, the ministry has positioned itself as a central force in restoring order and safety across the country.

This effort has been carried out in coordination with other government agencies and local communities to confront a wide range of security challenges.

Khattab stressed that the ministry’s new approach to policing prioritizes public safety over intimidation. “Our goal is to protect citizens, not to frighten them,” he said, adding that a formal code of conduct has been introduced to ensure law enforcement operates within clear legal and ethical boundaries.

Despite these reforms, remnants of the deposed regime who have aligned themselves with wanted criminals have misinterpreted the ministry’s ethical approach as weakness. “We will protect the oppressed and hold accountable anyone who threatens our country’s security,” he said.

The minister warned the remnants of the defunct regime and their criminal gangs, who insist on continuing the path of chaos, killing, and destruction to “await their inevitable fate.”

“Let this message serve as a final warning to them to cease their actions,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ministry said on its Telegram channel that several people were arrested in operations in Latakia and Tartus after external calls by instigators have led to sectarian chaos and left many people dead and injured.

“The operation came in response to external inciting calls of a sectarian nature, which led to a state of chaos, the death of a number of people, the injury of others, and assaults on public and private property,” it said, noting that “operations are ongoing against these corrupt individuals.”

The ministry said in its statement that it has played an active role in restoring the social fabric and strengthening civil peace. However, “some parties have sought to exploit this stage to spread chaos, undermine security, and threaten stability.”

Arab World

This Is Our Story, Mohammed

The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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This Is Our Story, Mohammed

The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The late Mohammed al-Shafei in his office. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

This is our story, Mohammed. We fell in the trap early. We were lured by the beautiful, but deceitful, ink. We chose a thorny profession. We chose a long tunnel. No breaks and no truces. It is the hot pursuit of the news that takes up most of our lives. The reader is insatiable. The journalist pursues stories for so long, until they become the story. A story in their own newspaper. A story about a death. A story about farewell.

We were preparing to say farewell to the year, not say farewell to you. You took part in our meeting on Tuesday. You always made it to our daily meetings. You always brought your experience with you, your kind way of speaking. It was as if you were trying to tell us a message. The old warrior never retires. He would rather fall in the ring. Hours after the meeting, we received the painful news. Your heart betrayed you, as it is likely to do.

The nature of our profession had it so this calm man would occupy himself with thorny files and tough men. Afghanistan took up his interests. He used to travel there when it was teeming with al-Mujahideen. He would return from those arduous journeys with news, investigations and interviews. Even as old age took its toll, Mohammed al-Shafei never abandoned his passion. News intrigued him.

He joined Asharq Al-Awsat nearly four decades ago. He loved the Asharq Al-Awsat family and it loved him back. As in all love stories, he never hesitated, never backed down and was never withholding. I say Asharq Al-Awsat family, while it is a garden of news and headlines, investigations and articles. The family is composed of various nationalities and experiences. They are united under one roof and one passion. He was proud of being part of a trusted newspaper that has preserved its spirit over the years.

How difficult it is to face death. For it to take away a dear son and a valued teacher. How difficult the loss will be. We were used to arguing with you, asking you questions and learning from you. How difficult it will be to pass by your empty office. How difficult it will be to not see you at our meetings.

This is our story, Mohammed. We live between the lines and die between the lines. We will finally rest in the archives of the newspaper. The warmth of our colleagues. Asharq Al-Awsat, with its diversity and generations, embraces everyone who was a part of the family and enriched the experience of its readers. Your heart betrayed you, as it is likely to do, but friendships know no betrayals.