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Lebanon Prepares Health, Social Plan Amid War Risks

A Lebanese inspects homes destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon (AFP)
A Lebanese inspects homes destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon (AFP)
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Lebanon Prepares Health, Social Plan Amid War Risks

A Lebanese inspects homes destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon (AFP)
A Lebanese inspects homes destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon (AFP)

Lebanese political and diplomatic efforts to calm tensions between Hezbollah and Israel in southern Lebanon have not eased fears of a potential all-out war. This has led Lebanese ministries to prepare for the worst.

Firas Abyad, the Minister of Public Health in the caretaker government, stated that his ministry has activated a war emergency plan and increased readiness among medical teams.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has also developed strategies to mitigate the impact and respond if a conflict erupts.

“We have a four-month supply of medicines. We’ve strengthened our energy sources like fuel, electricity, and the internet. We’ve also trained our staff for wartime conditions and expect hundreds of thousands to be displaced internally,” said Abyad a few days ago.

A source from the Ministry of Health explained that proactive measures taken in anticipation of potential conflict aim to avoid unexpected situations like those experienced in 2006.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat under the condition of anonymity, the source mentioned that Abyad has been actively involved in refining contingency plans.

“The minister has been actively involved in refining this preparedness plan for months, regularly updating it. We’re also coordinating with international bodies for assistance, which has been positively received,” revealed the source.

The source emphasized that while emergency plans aren’t based on specific war warnings, it’s crucial for the ministry, along with other government bodies, to remain prepared for any unforeseen events.

The source affirmed that the ministry is readying government hospitals, particularly emergency and operating rooms, and coordinating closely with private hospitals.

The ministry is also identifying suitable spots for field hospitals to handle emergencies, providing quick aid to the injured. Additionally, it’s preparing ambulance teams to be available 24/7.

Brig. Gen. Mohammed al-Kheir, the head of Lebanon’s Higher Relief Commission, assured Asharq Al-Awsat that HRC is fully prepared to handle any developments.

He emphasized their focus on providing food, bedding, and supplies to displaced people, particularly those currently fleeing from the south.

Al-Kheir mentioned that the commission operates within its modest annual budget and receives additional aid, including medicines for the Ministry of Health and government hospitals.

For security reasons, he declined to reveal the locations of new shelters or aid storage centers to prevent them from being targeted.

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Arab World

Iraq Says Dialogue over Factions’ Weapons to Continue After Sept. 30 Deadline

Vehicles of the Iraqi army at the entrance to the capital Baghdad’s suburb of Sadr City. (AFP file)
Vehicles of the Iraqi army at the entrance to the capital Baghdad’s suburb of Sadr City. (AFP file)
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Iraq Says Dialogue over Factions’ Weapons to Continue After Sept. 30 Deadline

Vehicles of the Iraqi army at the entrance to the capital Baghdad’s suburb of Sadr City. (AFP file)
Vehicles of the Iraqi army at the entrance to the capital Baghdad’s suburb of Sadr City. (AFP file)

The Iraqi government said on Thursday that the plan to impose state monopoly over weapons will begin after the complete withdrawal of anti-ISIS coalition forces by the September 30 deadline.

It stressed that dialogue is taking place at the highest levels with armed factions to ensure the success of the plan.

Spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces Sabah al-Numan said September 30 is the final deadline for ending the mission of the coalition and for the remainder of foreign forces to pull out of Iraq.

The withdrawal process is accelerating with the foreign forces showing a commitment to the deadline to end their mission in the country, he added.

ISIS has been defeated militarily in Iraq despite the continued presence of cells and remnants of the group, he remarked.

The armed forces are at the highest level of readiness to confront and destroy them, he declared.

On the armed factions, Numan said dialogue was ongoing with them over having them lay down their weapons, but the implementation will take place after the coalition ends its mission in Iraq.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had set as a priority the issue of imposing state monopoly over weapons. In remarks in June, he said there was no need for the “resistance” to remain after US troops pull out of Iraq.

The plan to impose state monopoly over weapons has lost momentum in recent weeks. Circles close to the government said they were hoping that negotiations with the factions would be a success.

Security expert Hussein Allawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the negotiations between the government and factions have entered a second phase through the formation of a committee that will facilitate the dialogue and reach common ground over “organizing the weapons”.

The government’s strategy after September 30 will focus on implementing its program with regards to development, reconstruction, investment and economic reform, as well as consolidating security, he added.

Professor at Al-Mustansiriya University Taleb Karim told Asharq Al-Awsat that the success of the plan is not measured by its existence on paper, but by the state’s ability to unify security decision-making and invest years of field experience in institutions and sustainable abilities in order to prevent Iraq from being used as an arena for the conflicts of others.

On the Kurdistan Region, spokesman Numan said coordination is ongoing between it and the federal government in Baghdad.

A high-level security meeting was held this week that included leaders of the Peshmerga forces during which urgent recommendations were raised for implementation, including securing border crossings.

The Kurdistan government is meanwhile ensuring that counter-terrorism efforts will continue with the international coalition.

President Nechirvan Barzani received Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren, the UK Defense Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa, for talks on joint coordination to fight ISIS remnants and terrorist threats,

A joint statement said they tackled the Iraqi government’s efforts to impose state monopoly over weapons and to unify Peshmerga forces.

Arab World

Yemeni Forces Reposition Themselves in Southern Mokha

Yemeni government forces fire a tank during clashes with Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis in a location given as near al-Hazm, Yemen, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released September 9, 2026. (Media Center of the Yemeni Armed Forces/Handout via Reuters)
Yemeni government forces fire a tank during clashes with Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis in a location given as near al-Hazm, Yemen, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released September 9, 2026. (Media Center of the Yemeni Armed Forces/Handout via Reuters)
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Yemeni Forces Reposition Themselves in Southern Mokha

Yemeni government forces fire a tank during clashes with Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis in a location given as near al-Hazm, Yemen, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released September 9, 2026. (Media Center of the Yemeni Armed Forces/Handout via Reuters)
Yemeni government forces fire a tank during clashes with Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis in a location given as near al-Hazm, Yemen, in this screengrab obtained from a handout video released September 9, 2026. (Media Center of the Yemeni Armed Forces/Handout via Reuters)

Battles on the Yemeni western coast and west of Taiz entered a new phase on Thursday as government forces reorganized their deployment south of the city of Mokha, and formed an alternative command center in the Dhubab district toward Bab al-Mandeb, following breakthroughs achieved by the Iran-backed Houthi group on a number of fronts during the past hours.

The development came following days of violent battles on the west coast, during which the Houthi forces managed to advance in al-Waziyah and Mawza and seize control of important positions as government forces withdrew from positions in Hays and al-Khawkha. The Houthis continued to push large human reinforcements to the confrontation lines, using missiles, drones, and heavy weapons.

Member of the Presidential Leadership Council and commander of the National Resistance Tareq Saleh said the armed forces on the west coast were regrouping in preparation for the next phase in the fighting.

According to local media, Saleh said the armed forces on the west coast “have paid a heavy cost, including martyrs and wounded, in the days they have been fighting the Houthi assault.”

The armed forces include the National Resistance, Giants Brigades and National Shield forces.

He said the forces confronted an attack “planned and supported by Iran.” He also accused Iran of being involved in the fight “though its various tools.”

The military media of the National Resistance announced the formation of the new command center in the Dhubab region, south of Mokha, in the direction of Bab al-Mandeb to positions closer to the city of Mokha.

Houthi militants had seized control Wednesday of al-Waziyah, southwest of Taiz, and Mawza, east of Mokha, in addition to the Khalid bin Al-Walid camp in the Mawza district, following violent battles with government forces.

National Resistance and other forces withdrew from areas in the Hays district north of Mokha and Khawkha south of Hays. The Houthis continued their advance on the northern and eastern axes leading to Mokha.

Military media sources reported that the Houthis stormed several areas in the Mokha district, seizing control of the Jabal al-Nar camp, which housed the headquarters of the military forces command on the western coast. Zuqar Island was struck by two ballistic missiles amid escalation that included wide areas of the coast and the Red Sea.

Air strikes meanwhile hit Houthi positions in al-Tahita, al-Salif, and Kamran island in Hodeidah. More air raids sough to weaken the group’s fire power and cut its supply routes.

These developments come a week after a broad Houthi attack began in western Taiz and southern Hodeidah, during which the group managed to mobilize large numbers of fighters and open more than one front at the same time, with heavy use of missiles, drones, and artillery shelling to cover its ground movements.

Despite the Houthis’ heavy losses, they continued to bring more reinforcements to the fronts amid apparent disarray in government forces and a depletion of their reserves.

Arab World

Syrian Parliament Seeks to End Institutional Disorder

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa addresses the Syrian People’s Assembly in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, July 12, 2026. AP
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa addresses the Syrian People’s Assembly in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, July 12, 2026. AP
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Syrian Parliament Seeks to End Institutional Disorder

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa addresses the Syrian People’s Assembly in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, July 12, 2026. AP
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa addresses the Syrian People’s Assembly in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, July 12, 2026. AP

The Syrian People’s Assembly has begun coordinating with a number of executive bodies to launch a legislative phase focused on modernizing the legal framework governing state institutions.

The administrative steps are part of broader efforts to improve government efficiency and governance.

Speaker of the People’s Assembly Abdul Hamid Awak previously stressed that priority would be given to legislation proposed by the executive branch.

He said that a balance would also be maintained between bills submitted by government institutions and proposals put forward by lawmakers.

In recent months, several ministries and government agencies have moved forward with drafting new laws and regulations for parliamentary approval. These include proposals from the Ministry of Interior for legislation defining its functions and responsibilities, as well as a law regulating firearm ownership and combating crime.

Other proposed legislation concerns the Ministry of Sports and Youth, including amendments related to its responsibilities and affiliated institutions. Additional measures seek to strengthen the organizational structure and authority of the Ministry of Local Administration and its subsidiary bodies and councils, in addition to the final draft of a financial law governing administrative units.

Work is also underway on a project covering expropriation, property law, and agrarian reform.

A committee formed by the Ministry of Agriculture is leading the initiative in cooperation with several ministries and agencies, including the Ministries of Public Works and Housing, Local Administration, Defense, and Interior, before submitting it to the relevant parliamentary committees.

Parliament is also awaiting a new media law drafted by the Ministry of Information, journalism and media unions, and specialized committees tasked with defending journalists’ rights in Syria. Additional legislative proposals include judicial codes of conduct and laws governing the Ministry of Justice and its operations.

These steps follow the creation of internal committees within ministries and relevant institutions after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. A series of workshops was organized to review existing legislation, identify legal gaps, incorporate recommendations, and begin drafting new legal frameworks.

According to sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, parliament is currently focused on approving the committees recently formed, defining their mechanisms of operation, completing logistical and procedural preparations, and approving the budget for its 30 month term.

The budget is expected to be approved and announced during the next session, scheduled for the second week of this month. According to the sources, this will be the last session dedicated to parliament’s internal affairs before the legislative phase officially begins.

The sources described the process as a “comprehensive legislative revolution” targeting all state institutions and the three branches of government.

According to members of the People’s Assembly, the next phase and parliamentary agenda will focus heavily on these projects, which are estimated to number in the dozens and have been submitted by various ministries and institutions, including the Ministries of Justice, Interior, Local Administration and Environment, Sports and Youth, Agriculture, and others.

They expect the legislative and voting phase to begin during the next session, starting with laws concerning civil and service institutions linked to local communities and public life. These measures aim to resolve legal contradictions, close loopholes, and clarify overlapping authorities.

They are considered urgent legislation needed to improve organizational structures and revitalize institutions that currently face significant governance challenges due to multiple supervisory authorities and the accumulation of laws and decisions.

Nevertheless, lawmakers said that parliament’s top priority remains legislation concerning transitional justice, political isolation, and civil service reform.

“These laws are directly connected to the Syrian revolution and its social base,” members said, emphasizing their importance in promoting social peace, strengthening stability, and addressing injustices suffered by people dismissed from their jobs because of their support for the revolution.

On that basis, the first parliamentary sessions are expected to approve legislation dealing with individuals dismissed because of their stance toward the former regime. The law would establish provisions and mechanisms to address this complex issue, particularly in terms of compensation and creating a special pathway for reinstating them to their former positions or assigning them to other government jobs.