Wednesday  November  21, 2007 - Michel Edde is largely expected to be elected the next President of Lebanon.

Tuesday  November  20, 2007 - Although voting in parliament had been planned for Wednesday, Lebanon's presidential election has been postponed once again until Friday November 23, 2007 to give rival factions time to agree on a compromise candidate.  It is predicted that voting will be postponed beyond Friday.

- Pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, steps down Friday November 23, 2007.  Army Chief General Michel Sleiman is the most likely candidate to be elected President of Lebanon with a Constitutional Amendment.

- MP Saad Hariri, in Moscow, urges Putin to help block Iran and Syria from meddling in Lebanese election.

لفت الدكتور سمير جعجع إلى أنّ "هناك عراقيل كبيرة" متحدثاً عن "وجود بعض القوى الوطنية التي تعمل جاهدة لعدم حصول الانتخابات الرئاسية" واشار الى انه ستجري تسمية المعقلين خلال الـ٤٨ ساعة المقبلة معرباً عن اعتقاده أنّ الانتخابات لن تجري الأربعاء لكن قد تحصل الجمعة أو السبت
 

Monday  October  22, 2007 - Lebanon's presidential election has been postponed until next month to give rival factions time to agree on a compromise candidate, officials said Monday.

- pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, steps down Nov. 24, 2007.

- Commenting on alleged plans by the United States to set up a military base in Lebanon, Hizbullah threatened that U.S. troops would be treated as "occupation forces" on Lebanese soil.

- US Vice President Dick Cheney accused Syria of using "bribery and intimidation" to undermine a free vote in Lebanon's upcoming presidential election.

Saturday October  6, 2007 - President Bush told Lebanese majority leader Saad Hariri that he expects Syria to stay out of presidential elections in neighboring Lebanon.  "I am deeply concerned about foreign interference in your elections," he said. "The message has been sent to nations such as Syria that they should not interfere in the election of the president." 

The Lebanese parliament last week failed to elect a new president because of a boycott by the Syrian-backed opposition, led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, which receives funding from both Syria and Iran.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday accused Israel of killing anti-Syrian figures in Lebanon to cause strife and drag his militant movement into fighting other Lebanese communities.

Nasrallah, whose group leads the pro-Syrian opposition to Lebanon's U.S.-backed government, also warned the parliamentary majority against picking a president of their own to run the country if talks with the opposition failed, and called for polling the general population on their choice if the lawmakers fail to reach agreement.

Wednesday September  19, 2007 - 5:30pm - A large car explosion with 25 KG of explosives in 7ersh Tebet - Sin El Fil targeting Lebanese MP Antoine Ghanem (Maronite).  Preliminary reports indicate that at least 5 innocent civilians killed.  20 wounded.  MP Antoine Ghanem was killed by the hands of evil. 

MP Antoine Ghanem is the Baabda Maronite MP from the Kataeb Party.

قرب اوتيل "المتروبوليتن" خلف مكتبة إنطوان في حرش تابت وسحب النارترتفع
- السيارة المستهدفة من نوع "شفروليه" سوداء
-ستة قتلى حسب الصليب الأحمر
- الجيش اللبناني يمنع المواطنين من الإقتراب والسيارة المستهدفة في صندوقها نمرة زرقاء
- شهود عيان تفيد عن جرح 20 شخص  
 

Sunday September  2, 2007 - The legitimate Lebanese Army uproots Fatah Al Islam Terrorists after a 3 month siege at Nahr El bared

Monday August  17, 2007 - Former MP Nassib Lahoud officially announced his candidacy Thursday for the presidential post, amid accelerated efforts on the Lebanese political scene to forge a consensus concerning the presidency and avoid unsolicited escalations.  MPs Butros Harb and Robert Ghanem announced their candidacy earlier this week.

- Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea's comments Thursday reflected the position of the ruling coalition, with Geagea describing a consensus president as an absurd suggestion.  "Consensus rules out the democratic spirit elections should have," he added.

كشف دبلوماسي خليجي في لندن لصحيفة "السياسة" الكويتية ان مسألة فصل لبنان الى جزأين حسب النسب السكانية على الطريقة القبرصية او البوسنية لم تعد مرفوضة بالمطلق من عدد كبير من دول الامم المتحدة ومجلس الامن
 

Monday August  6, 2007 - Camille Khoury wins in Al Matn by-election by 418 votes. 39534  for Khoury v/s 39116 for Shaikh Amine Gemayel.  Voter Turnout: 46%.

- Mohammad Al-Itani wins in Beirut with 22988 votes.

- Lebanese army still battling Islamists at refugee camp as the battle entered its 12th week. More than 200 people, including 133 soldiers, have been killed in the standoff at the camp between the army and Fatah al-Islam militants.  Most of the camp's 31,000 residents have fled since the fighting began, but about 60 women and children related to the Fatah al-Islam fighters remain inside Nahr al-Bared used as human shields.

Sunday August  5, 2007 النتائج الرسمية للانتخابات الفرعية في المتن تشير الى فوز مرشح التيار العوني بفارق 418 صوتا-

باصات المجنّسين تعبرعند السادسة والنصف من صباح اليوم الحدود اللبنانية – السورية، وأصواتهم للمرشحين عون ونصرالله ناقلة مجموعة من المقترعين اللبنانيين – السوريين الذين يحملون الجنسية اللبنانية ولدى استيضاحهم افادوا انهم يتوجهون الى المتن لإنتخاب العماد ميشال عون فيما افاد آخرون انهم متوجهون الى بيروت للتصويت للسيد حسن نصرالله ولدى ابلاغهم ان عون ونصرالله ليسا مرشحين أجابوا انه طلب اليهم انتخاب عون ونصرالله

Saturday July 21, 2007 - Michel Aoun has launched his own television channel, OTV, hoping to set "new standards of objectivity" at a time when Lebanon is facing its most serious political crisis in years.

- The Lebanese army continues to shell last pockets  of Fatah Al Islam  militants holed up in Nahr-El Bared.  Fighters are ignoring messages broadcast by the army over loudspeakers in the Nahr el-Bared camp, calling for them to surrender. In addition, occasional gunfire and explosions can be heard.  More than 200 people have been killed since May 20 including more than 100 soldiers and at least 60 militants.

- The Lebanese government has received $6 billion in aid but it has been very slow in handing out compensation to war victims.

Tuesday July 17, 2007 - The Lebanese need more than vague, symbolic promises from their leaders

- Lebanese commandos close in on Islamist holdouts. The Lebanese flag was hoisted over a small strategic hill captured Monday, apparently leaving only the Haysassa area deep inside the seafront Nahr Al Bared camp still in the hands of Fatah Al Islam militiamen.
 

- Lebanese hospitals in crisis because of war

رئاسة الوزراء ردا على عون: اذا كنا مقصرين فالمحاسبة في المجلس النيابي

Monday July 16, 2007 - Four more Lebanese soldiers die in battle today raising the Lebanese Army death toll to to 100 in the Nahr El Bared Camp.  The Lebanese Army has reported significant progress and is making advances on the ground as it continues to tighten the noose on Fatah Al Islam.

- A small bomb went off near a U.N. peacekeeping vehicle in south Lebanon on Monday, causing no casualties.

- Talks between Lebanon’s 14 main political parties in La Celle Saint Cloud Château near Paris on Saturday broke the ice but did not achieve any breakthrough

العماد عون: الحكومة مقصّرة ومتواطئة في أزمة نهر البارد

 ابوهريرة احد مسؤولي فتح الاسلام قتل في الاشتباكات الاخيرة، الدائرة في مخيم نهر البارد

سوسن درويش تعود... «نكاية» بفتفت

علق نائب رئيس مجلس النواب فريد مكاري على عودة الاعلامية سوسن درويش الى عملها كالمعتاد في محطة ال ان بي ان، متهما الرئيس بري باعادت الموظفة التي استخدمت كلاما مذهبيا وفئويا وشتمت زميلا للرئيس بري استشهد على مذبح الوطن الى عملها بحسب تعبيره، وحمله اللوم بعدم تأديته واجب التعازي بالنائب الراحل وليد عيدو وختم بانتقاد الذين انتخبوا الرئيس بري رئيسا للمجلس بأنهم "واهمين" وبأن الكلفة الباهظة التي يتكبدها البلد هي أكبر دليل على ذلك

Thursday July 12, 2007 - Lebanese army gears up for major assault on camp.  A sniper from inside the camp killed a Lebanese soldier after the Fatah Islam fighters rejected repeated calls to surrender.

- Peaceful Demonstration by Lebanese Immigrants is scheduled in front of the United Nations.

- July 12, 2007 marks the one year anniversary of the Israeli attack against Hizballah and the senseless destruction of Lebanon's infrastructure..

Wednesday July 11, 2007 - International music festivals like Baalbeck and Beiteddine have elected to hibernate through a second summer. The organizers say the threat of random, opportunistic bombs make people leery about leaving the house, let alone traveling to open-air events.

Tuesday July 10, 2007 - Investigations with Ahmad Merhi, the Qaida member who smuggled the Honda CRV to Syria,  revealed information that allegedly links Walid Hassan Al-Boustany to the assasination of Pierre Gemayel.  Boustani led Fatah Al Islam's Qalhat-Qalamoon cell in North Lebanon.  Boustani had a fake ID by the name of Sami Karim Franjieh upon his arrest.

Monday July 9, 2007 - The number of Fatah Al Islam militants at the Nahr el Bared Camp, who have sustained substantial losses in clashes with the army and are reduced to no more than 50 m ilitants, can no longer offer prolonged resistance to Lebanese troops.  However, the Lebanese government seems to be hesitant to authorize a decisive assault on the camp.

- Syria handed over to Lebanon the broken down Honda CRV used in the Nov. 2006 assassination of Minister Pierre Gemayel.   The stolen car was found abandoned on the international highway linking Syria with Turkey. The stolen car owner had been compensated for his vehicle.

- investigation with Lebanese suspect Mohammed Merhi uncovered that Fatah al-Islam had a hand in the murder of Gemayel.

Saturday July 7, 2007 -  The investigation into the assassination of Pierre Amine Gemayel points to the involvement of Fatah-Al-Islam.

- More than 160 people, including 84 soldiers, have been killed in the Nahr el-Bared fighting.

Monday June 25, 2007 -  Lebanese troops killed seven Islamist militants, most of them foreigners, in a raid on their hideout in the northern city of Tripoli on Sunday, while sporadic battles shook a nearby Palestinian refugee camp. One soldier was killed and 14 were wounded during the 10-hour siege of an apartment building. The militants killed a policeman, his two daughters, aged 4 and 8, and his father-in-law after using them as human shields.

Sunday June 24, 2007 -  A bomb attack in southern Lebanon killed six U.N. peacekeepers Sunday, the first fatalities among the U.N. force since it was reinforced after the war last summer between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas.

Saturday June 23, 2007 -  A Lebanese soldier was shot dead on Saturday and an Islamist suicide bomber blew himself up and wounded several more.

Friday June 22, 2007 - Sporadic gunfire and occasional blasts were heard Friday from a Palestinian refugee camp in northern Lebanon, a day after Lebanon's defense minister declared that "Islamic militants inside the camp were defeated and that major combat was over but Nahr El Bared camp would remain a theater of operations and under siege until all militants surrendered"... adding "The army is combing the area. This terrorist organization has been uprooted".

- A ``large number'' of Fatah Islam commanders had been killed over the past month, while leader Shaker al-Absi, deputy leader Abu Hureira and others were on the run, suggesting they were hiding in the camp among several thousand Palestinian civilians still trapped there

- Elias El Murr demanded the body of the militant group's leader, Shaker al-Abssi, reportedly killed in the fighting, as proof that the Al Qaeda-inspired organization was ready to surrender.

- The Lebanese Army were dismantling and detonating land mines and bombs placed by the terrorists.

- 76 soldiers were killed and 150 wounded in the fighting, which began May 20, 2007.

Thursday June 21, 2007 - Lebanon's defense minister Elias Murr declared victory over the Fatah Al Islam militant group, saying it had been crushed after a monthlong military assault on its stronghold in a northern refugee camp and only mopping up remained.  Muslim cleric who has been acting as a mediator said later that Fatah Islam agreed to stop firing, and calm descended over the Nahr el-Bared camp outside the port of Tripoli

- Murr said the group's attacks on army posts May 20 were aimed at shaking the Lebanese military before a planned takeover of the region by militants. He said they intended to declare a "terrorist state" in the north and split from Lebanon.  Murr added ""Is there al-Qaida in Lebanon? Yes. Are there terrorist organizations? Yes. More explosions? Possible. Assassinations? Possible."

- Lebanese dread rumored closure of Syrian border.  Most of Lebanon's agricultural exports go through Syria and if Damascus decided to close all crossing points than we will be deprived of more than $1 billion in export revenues a year.

The prospect of a full land blockade on Lebanon surfaced again when Syria closed the border crossing at Qaa, in the northeast of the country.

The Lebanese government has accused Syria of smuggling weapons and terrorists into Lebanon, a charge strongly denied by Damascus.

Some observers say that by closing the crossings, Syria aims to discourage the deployment of international observers along the border.

ا - ادعى النائب العام لدى المجلس العدلي القاضي سعيد ميرزا على 4 اشخاص في محاولة اغتيال نائب رئيس محلس الوزراء وزير الدفاع الوطني الياس المر و هم: ابراهيم حسن عواضة، فراس عبدالرحمن عمران، محمود عبد الكريم عمران، وعزت محمد طرطوسي.
 

Monday June 18, 2007 - Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers were on full alert in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese army and police also set up snap checkpoints in the border zone.  The Lebanese government vowed to track down the militants.

- Three more Lebanese soldiers die at the hands of Palestinian extremists in Nahr el bared.  The attack takes the overall number of Lebanese soldiers killed to 72 since fighting started on May 20.

Sunday June 17, 2007 - The northern part of the Nahr al-Bared camp and the eastern sea part are now under the Lebanese  army's control. The army has taken control of the locations of Samed and al-Taawounia, the two main strongholds of Fatah al-Islam, and the army is continuing to bomb the UNRWA schools, the final building sheltering the militants.  Sporadic clashes continued in al-Taawounia and the Najji al-Ali compound in the camp, while the army seized 90 percent of Fatah al-Islam's strongholds in addition to a number of buildings the militia were using. The militia fired back with remote bombings.

- Three 107 millimeter Katyusha rockets were fired at Israel by unknown elements.  Two landed in Israel.  A search was underway to find the attackers.  Hezbollah denied any involvement and Israel said Hezbollah was not involved in the attack .  PM Saniora said the rocket attack was geared at undermining the stability of Lebanon and vowed to catch and prosecute perpetrators as the U.N. condemned today's incident as a serious violation to a cease-fire that ended a war last year.  The Lebanese army also discovered a rocket that was set to be launched Sunday on Israel and prevented it from being fired, shortly after the other three were launched.

See Feedback from Lebanon - Click Here!

Saturday June 16, 2007 -  The Lebanese government approved a decree to hold by-elections on August 5 to elect successors to the two assassinated MPs Walid Eido, the deputy for Beirut and Pierre Gemayel.  However, the deputy for Matn.  President Emil Lahoud opposed the move.  He is expected to veto the by-election, just as he did last year to attempts to replace the assassinated Pierre Gemayel.   Lahoud's signature is not the only approval needed for the decree need to be approved by, but it needs a vote in the 128-seat parliament. Pro-Syrian parliament speaker Nabih Berri has been refusing to allow the legislature to convene for months now.

- Observers believe that Lebanon is heading towards a deeper political crisis, especially as the parliament is scheduled to convene in the coming months to choose a successor for Lahoud whose term will end by November 2007.

دعت لجنة المتابعة لقوى 14 آذار في بيان لها جميع مناصريها خارج لبنان للتظاهر والاعتصام امام السفارات السورية للاحتجاج على استمرار "الممارسات الارهابية للنظام السوري ضد لبنان والتدخل الفاضح في  شؤونه الداخلية ومحاولات زعزعة الامن والاستقرار من خلال تسهيل عبور الاسلحة والمسلحين الى الاراضي اللبنانية".

Friday June 15, 2007 -  Anti-Syrian minister Ahmad Fatfat sued NBN television news anchorwoman Sawsan Darwish after she allegedly made cruel remarks on the air that he could be the next politician to be killed.

While covering the bomb blast that killed anti-Syrian lawmaker Walid Eido Wednesday, Sawsan Darwish of the NBN channel of pro-Syrian Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri allegedly ridiculed the incident and said Fatfat, the sports minister, would be next.

"I sued because there was an incitement and a call to an assassination on a media outlet," Fatfat told Reuters. "I am using the justice system because I consider it an excellent means of protection."
 

- Six Lebanese soldiers from the engineering division of the army were killed on Friday by an explosion in a building booby trapped by Islamist militants at the Nahr al-Bared camp. Six more soldiers were wounded.

- Lebanese security forces are not allowed to enter the 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon under a 1969 Arab agreement.

CNN, Beirut - Hizballah gunmen intercepted and encircled three officers of the Lebanese Police (Darak) in a clearly marked vehicle. The officers were held for "entering a Hezbollah security zone". The Lebanese policemen were arrested  and disarmed in the vicinity of Bir El Abed and taken to a Hizballah interrogation center, where they were accused of "entering a Hizballah security zone.  They were released after the intervention of high-level political contacts.  Hizballah  has strong connections to Syria and Iran.  Hizballah fighters operate  with almost total autonomy in in Beirut and its suburbs.

بيروت CNN- طوّق مسلحون من تنظيم حزب الله اللبناني ثلاثة من عناصر دورية شرطة لبنانية (درك) كانوا يمتطون عربة تحمل شعارات وزارة الداخلية،  واحتجزت أعضاءها لفترة "لدخولهم منطقة أمنية تابعة لحزب الله". و تمّ تجريد رجال الشرطة من أسلحتهم في منطقة بير العابد وتمّ نقلهم إلى مركز استجواب تابع لحزب الله أين تمّ اتهامهم بدخول "منطقة أمنية تابعة لحزب الله". وبعد اتصالات رفيعة المستوى جرت مع أوساط سياسية، جرى إطلاق رجال الشرطة الثلاثة وإعادة أسلحتهم. لحزب الله علاقات قوية مع سوريا وإيران. ويتصرف مقاتلو حزب الله "باستقلالية تامة" منذ زمن في الضاحية الجنوبية لبيروت والمناطق المجاورة.

Thursday June 14, 2007 -  Abu-Musab of Fatah al-Islam stated that Fouad al-Siniora and  Walid Junblatt will be assassinated if his group is subjected to any attacks by the government.

- Lebanese troops on Thursday scored major advances in their battle against besieged terrorists at the northern refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared, seizing an arms cache and detaining one of the militants' medics, Dr. Omar Abu Merssi .

- Interior Minister Hassan Sabaa asked the government Thursday to issue a decree calling for the election of successors to assassinated Parliamentary Deputies Pierre Gemayel and Walid Eido in the Matn and Beirut constituencies.

- The United States Department of State continues strongly to urge Americans to defer travel to Lebanon.  See Travel Warning http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3072.html

- NBN's technical director forgot to mute the microphone of  anchorwoman Sawsan Darwish. Alledgedly, television audiences could hear the anchor speaking to an off-screen man, saying: "Why were they late until they killed him?" and then both people laugh. "We are not gloaters," the man says, to which the anchor replies, "It's not gloating, but we're tired of this. There's still Ahmed Fatfat, I'm counting them."  The off-screen man replies, "We still need ... four, five."  Ahmad Fatfat is already planning to sue NBN for implying that he is the next assassination target, and plans to ask U.N. Chief Investigator Serge Brammertz to raise the incriminating remarks with international courts. 

- Alledgedly, Sawsan Darwish was swiftly fired.

 

This video symbolizes what is plaguing Lebanon - The utter disregard by some Lebanese low life for the sanctity of human life

الجامعة اللبنانية: استئناف الامتحانات غدا في كل الفروع ما عدا الشمال 

الجيش يكشف دهاليز ومخابئ وذخيرة في موقع خالد الوحش في البارد ويضبط مخزنا كبيرا للمتفجرات في مخيّم نهر البارد

واشنطن تحذر رعاياها من السفر الى لبنان

Wednesday June 13, 2007 - Two more Lebanese soldiers were martyred today.

- Bomb #8 - A car explosion hit Beirut's seafront Corniche al-Manara near an amusement park and a football club that looked like a mushroom cloud. Anti-Syrian parliamentarian Walid Eido , 64, a member of the Lebanese pro-government parliamentary bloc, Eido's son Khaled, 35, two bodyguards and six passers-by were killed in the blast.  The parked sports utility packed with 60-80kg of explosives blew up as Mr Eido's car was driving away from a Beirut beach club

- Condemnation of the killings came from France, Britain, the European Union, the United States and the United Nations.

- U.S. President George W. Bush said "The United States will continue to stand up for Lebanon, its people, and its legitimate government as they face these attacks,"

 فرنسا تبحث في كيفية حماية الشهود في قضية اغتيال الرئيس الحريري ورموز قوى 14 آذار المستهدفين والمرشحين للاغتيال في لبنان. كما ضمت قائمة المرشحين للاغتيال التي كشف عنها آنذاك لـ»السياسة« ضابط المخابرات السوري السابق الشاهد الملك في قضية اغتيال الرئيس الحريري محمد زهير الصديق كلا من النواب: سعد الدين الحريري ووليد جنبلاط ونبيه بري وأمين الجميل وبهية الحريري واحمد فتفت وستريدا جعجع والياس عطاالله واكرم شهيب ووائل ابوفاعور, والنواب السابقين فارس سعيد وعبدالحميد بيضون وكريم بقرادوني والاعلاميين مارسيل غانم وفارس حشان ونصير الاسعد
 

فقد نادي النجمة الرياضي، خلال حادث التفجير الذي استهدف النائب وليد عيدو، لاعبين من فرقه لكرة القدم، هما المدافع في الفريق الأول حسين دقماق (مواليد 1982)، والمهاجم في فئة الشباب حسين نعيم (مواليد 1987). ولم تقتصر الخسائر على الأرواح فقط، بل تضرر الملعب ومدرجاته جراء الانفجار.
 

دعا رئيس «اللقاء الديموقراطي» النائب وليد جنبلاط الى الرد السياسي بقوة والى عدم الخوف "كما فعلنا حين اغتالوا رفيق الحريري

Tuesday June 12, 2007 - The U.N. Security Council reiterated its call for implementation of resolution 1559 (2004) -- the withdrawal of all remaining foreign forces from Lebanon, the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias and  the extension of the authority of the Government throughout Lebanon-- and urged all concerned to cooperate fully with the Lebanese Government, the Security Council, and the Secretary-General to achieve that goal.  The Council condemned ongoing criminal and terrorist acts in Lebanon, including those perpetrated by Fatah al-Islam, and fully supported the efforts by the country's Government and Army to ensure security and stability throughout the country

- Militants Leader Shaker Abssi and his assistant Shehab al-Qadour, known as Abu Hureira have been missing for four days. Lebanese troops demolished Abssi's apartment Monday and confiscated extremely important documents and CDs.

- Heavy artillery fired into Palestinian refugee camp in continuing fighting. Lebanese troops killed 16 Fatah al- Islam militants who tried to break out of their besieged enclave

- Fighting to date has left at least 62 members of the Lebanese military dead.

- Many Lebanese families and young students start making plans to emigrate and make a new future outside Lebanon.

- Lebanon's army is shackled by fear of civilian casualties.

Monday June 11, 2007 - Two Red Cross workers were killed Monday by Fatah Al Islam fire at the entrance of Nahr El Bared camp as sporadic gunfire continues.

- A poll conducted by Beirut-based Information International  found that one in three Lebanese wants to leave Lebanon.

- Last summer it was Israeli air strikes and Hezbollah rockets. This year, it's al-Qaida-inspired militants and explosions keeping tourists away.  Thousands of expatriates and Arab visitors have canceled planned trips to Lebanon this summer.  Newspapers regularly carry notices of cancelations or postponements of wedding receptions, concerts and conferences.

- After dark, Beirut's streets are largely deserted, the only traffic being at military checkpoints. Some bars and restaurants — even on Gemayzeh Street, where business went on as usual during the Israel-Hezbollah war — now close early for lack of customers.

- A few adamant revelers say that they wait until 11 p.m. to go out to let any bombs that are planned explode first — most of the attacks have taken place between 8 and 11 p.m.

- A man found a hand grenade near Zahrat al-Ihsan school in Beirut's Ashrafiyeh district, the National News Agency said. The man called internal security forces after finding the grenade lying on the street which was also near the house of former Justice Minister Joseph Shaoul.  Security forces blocked the road as a military bomb expert safely removed the grenade, which did not explode.

Sunday June 10, 2007 - Heavy clashes with militants left six Lebanese soldiers dead. 59 Lebanese troops killed in more than three weeks of fighting

- Two Lebanese men, Saeed Rajab and Ahmed Arab,  wanted on previous warrants were arrested late Sunday after threatening to detonate a bomb near the house of Internal Security Forces commander Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi in north Lebanon. The assailants on a motorcycle tried to run past an army checkpoint near Rifi's mansion in the port city of Tripoli at 10:30 p.m. Sunday.
 

Saturday June 9, 2007 - Following unconfirmed news that school children have been targeted in bomb explosions, schools across Lebanon were forced to end the academic year early.  "Terminales" students will be taught in shelters.

- Lebanese authorities make 13 more arrests. From the apartment of one of the detainees, Lebanese troops confiscated detonators and timers and uncovered vehicles rigged with explosives that were hidden in a garage with several rockets. Also, 12 Iraqi nationals with forged foreign passports were arrested at the Masnaa Lebanon-Syria border crossing.

- The Lebanese Army continued advancing against Fatah al-Islam positions in the Nahr al-Bared camp taking over buildings used by Fatah al-Islam snipers and tightening the army's grip on what remains of the militant group's fighters amid heavy and persistent bombardment.

- Five Lebanese soldiers killed in refugee camp battles. At least 125 people, including 53 soldiers and 42 militants, have been killed since the fighting began on May 20 making it Lebanon's worst internal violence since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Friday June 8, 2007 -  Lebanese army continues to pound Islamists stronghold at Nahr-El-Bared

- captured militants had told interrogators that among their targets were peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Thursday June 7, 2007 -  Lebanese troops  seized a truckload of GRAD rockets and ammunition for automatic rifles and machine guns belonging to Hezbollah guerrillas at a random army checkpoint near the town of Baalbeck.

- Lebanese troops diffused 2 bombs in Zahle and Tyre.

- Fatah Islam snipers in Nahr el-Bared killed a Lebanese soldier and attacked an armored personnel carrier, wounding three soldiers

- Bomb #7 - A car explosion that targeted a warehouse of oxygen bottles in Zouk Mosbeh at 9:20 pm resulted in large fires in several buildings. A Lebanese foreman was killed and three Syrian workers were injured. Firefighters and police rushed to the scene of the explosion and cordoned off the area.

 أوقف أمن الدولة 3 إرهابيين في بر الياس إعترفوا بتجهيز 3 سيارات مفخخة للتفجير. الجيش يضرب طوقا أمنيا في المنطقة وإستدعاء خبراء متفجرات للكشف على السيارات
 

Wednesday June 6, 2007 -  The morale of Fatah al Islam is crumbling and many fighters have surrendered.  Their leader threatened to kill all those that surrender.

 .تمكن الجيش اللبناني من تفكيك شحنة ناسفة في صور قرب استراحة صور كانت موضوعة بمَجمع للحليب مربوطة بصاعق ومعدة للتفجير -- -Lebanese troops dismantle a pack of 4.4 pounds of explosives placed in an empty can of baby milk powder wired to a timer near Tyre beach

- Fatah al-Islam threatened to take their fight across Lebanon and beyond.

- Lebanese military prosecutor today laid terrorism charges against 31 captured militants from Fatah al-Islam.  If convicted, they could face the death penalty.

- The Lebanese army arrested a male Fatah al Islam terrorist that was disguised as a woman and was trying to run away from the camp.

Monday June 4, 2007 -  Bomb #6 - A powerful bomb exploded in an empty passenger bus in Sadd el Bouchrieh, next to the Mar Tacla church at 8:15 pm injuring at least 10  "innocent" passers-by.  The Centre Abdel Massi7 was heavily damaged in the attack, as was the neighborhood in general as windows and cars were shattered by the explosion

- Jund al-Sham militants clashed with Lebanese troops at Ein al-Hilweh, Lebanon's biggest Palestinian refugee camp.  Residents of Sidon remained indoors fearful of being caught up in a new battle front with Islamists as armored vehicles and troops took to the streets.

- More U.S. Military Aid to Lebanese Army

- Fatah al Islam says it will take up arms alongside Jund al Sham against the Lebanese Army in Ain al-Hilweh.

- Syria closes the Arida and Dabbousieh border crossings in North Lebanon

Sunday June 3, 2007 - Violence spilled over to the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein al-Hilweh in Sidon on Sunday, killing two soldiers and two Jund al-Sham militants and raising fears of a bloody drawn-out siege like the standoff at the northern camp of Nahr al-Bared.

- Interrogations of arrested Fatah al-Islam fighters revealed that they were planning a September 11-style series of attacks on a Beirut hotel, the Shekka tunnel and  embassies in Lebanon using four simultaneous suicide truck bombs and launching suicide attacks on embassies in east and west Beirut.  The explosives that made their way via Syria were seized in a weapons depot in Tripoli.  Planned attacks on the Shekka tunnel linking Beirut to Tripoli aimed to cutting off the north and proclaiming an Islamic state there.

- Fatah al-Islam militants booby-trapped donkeys and dogs and set them in the direction of Lebanese army lines, but the poor animals were shot and detonated before reaching army positions.  10 Fatah al-Islam suicide bombers blew themselves up at al-Thawra mosque and an adjacent building.

- The Fatah al-Islam "755 plan" was to terrorize Tripoli and turn it into an Islamic State.

Saturday June 2, 2007 - Lebanese Army seizes Fatah al-Islam key positions along the Nahr el Bared camp perimeter encircling the building where the  Fatah al-Islam's leader, Shaker Abssi, is holed up.  six army soldiers were confirmed dead and 20 others were wounded, said the source, raising the total of army deaths to 38.  Fouad Siniora called on the "terrorist gang" to surrender or be crushed.

Friday, June 1, 2007 - Sewage remains primary pollutant in Lebanese waters

- The Lebanese army sent tank and troop reinforcements  and used intense artillery to bombard, with little pause, Islamic militants holed up in a in the Nahr Al Bared Camp, as it intensified pressure on the militants to surrender.  Lebanese artillery targeted two of Fatah al-Islam's main positions and the army destroyed several sniper positions.  At least two Lebanese soldiers and an unknown number of militants were killed. The government has demanded that Fatah al-Islam surrender and face justice.  Fatah al-Islam says it will fight to the death.

Thursday, May 31, 2007 - Syria said that an international tribunal might destabilize Lebanon.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - Bombings in Beirut and violence in north Lebanon are jeopardizing Lebanon's tourism industry, just as the normally lucrative summer season approaches.  Arabs, who make up 40% of Lebanon's tourists. Europeans account for 25% of tourists.

- A Lebanese military magistrate filed terrorism charges against 20 suspected members of the militant Fatah Islam.

- U.N. voted 10-0 to unilaterally establish an international tribunal  by June 10 under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which deals with threats to international peace and can be militarily enforced. Russia, China, South Africa, Indonesia and Qatar abstained from the vote.

- Syria denounced the U.N. vote as a "degradation of Lebanon's sovereignty". Iranian-proxy Hezbollah was dismayed after it has spent the last six months attempting to block the tribunal by calling mass demonstrations.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007 - Heavily armed foreign jihadists are entering Lebanon from Syria.

Monday, May 28, 2007 - In Beirut, Lebanese Army troops opened fire on a Mercedes Benz taxi carrying two passengers that sped past a checkpoint outside the international airport, killing Hassan Ali Kareki, a Lebanese, and seriously injuring the driver, Hamadeh Hammoud Haj Ahmed, a Syrian, later died in the hospital.  Ahmed did not stop at the checkpoint apparently because he had been convicted by a Lebanese court on forgery charges.  The car did not appear to have explosives or contraband.

Sunday, May 27, 2007- Al-Qaeda threatens "seas of blood" to Christians if the Lebanese Army does not end its siege of the Nahr el Bared Camp

- Bomb #4 - A hand grenade thrown off a bridge at the Barbir crossroads late on Sunday at a security forces checkpoint in a Sunni Muslim area injuring two policemen, an army soldier and two civilians.

- Bomb #5 - An assailant tossed a concussion grenade at a municipal building containing a prison in  Zahle, causing panic but no injuries.

Saturday, May 26, 2007- Fatah al-Islam threatens if non-conventional weapons including nerve gas and cluster bombs are used by the Lebanese army against their group, that they will respond with non-conventional attacks in different parts of Lebanon.  At least 50 Lebanese soldiers and militants have been killed in the fighting at the camp so far. The civilian death toll is not known.

Thursday, May 24, 2007- A shipment of U.S. military ammunition is being sent to  the Lebanese army.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - Arab countries sent arms for Lebanese army to boost its fight against Islamic militants - and the U.S. plans to send $280 Million in aid to the Lebanese Government.  Walid Jumblatt predicted that the explosions will increase and accused Damascus of backing the Fatah al-Islam militants and added that the Lebanese Army ought to crush Fatah al-Islam once and for all. PLO supports Lebanese army entering Palestinian camp in north Lebanon.

- The commander of Fatah al-Islam said that he had enough weapons to fight for nine months and that it will continue its battle with the Lebanese army despite a ceasefire which has allowed thousands of civilians to flee the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in northern Lebanon.

- Bomb #3 - Explosion in Aley on the main shopping street. The bomb was placed inside a briefcase at the entrance of one of the buildings near Centre Afif causing extensive damage to homes and shops in the area.  16 people were injured.

Tuesday May 22, 2007 - Lebanese government orders army to finish off  Fatah al-Islam

Monday May 21, 2007 - Bomb #2 - Night explosion in Verdun near Centre Dune from a car park near the Russian Cultural Center in the posh district wounding 10 people.

Sunday May 20, 2007  - Bomb #1 - Night explosion across the street from the busy ABC shopping mall  in Achrafieh that killed a 63-year-old woman and injured 12 other people.

Sunday May 20, 2007  - Clashes between the army and al-Qaeda-linked militant group Fatah al-Islam militants accused of robbing $120,000 from a bank a day earlier around the Palestinian refugee camp Nahr al-Bared near Tripoli.   Clashes kill 23 Lebanese soldiers and 19 militants.

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Friday, June 15, 2007 - "After what we went through on Wednesday, I feel speechless. Honestly, I can't seem to find the words to express how I feel. I just have this to say: If they think, they're going to break us, they have to think again, again and again. Lebanese People Are Unbreakable." - Faris, D.T.A=Doors To Aspiration

Thursday, June 14, 2007 - "Two theories quickly spread after the attack. One accused Damascus of killing Mr. Eido as part of a string of assassinations and bombings seeking to destabilize Lebanon in the wake of the Syrians' forced departure more than two years ago. A more novel view charged that Washington is indirectly fomenting strife in the entire region — there was also terrible violence in Iraq and the Palestinian territories Wednesday — as a means of forcing Arab governments to seek U.S. support to fight groups supported by Syria and Iran." - Rami Khouri

Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - Leila Rawdah, a Lebanese-Canadian who returned to Lebanon with her two children in 2005, is now packing her things and leaving.  'This time for good. I hate to say that, but I cannot live in a country where my two young children are threatened by Moslem extremists who can plant a bomb anywhere,' said Rawdah.

- "Now and after the situation deteriorated, I decided to move back with the children to the United States again. This is very painful for me and my family" - Rima Naamani, a Lebanese-American

- "Half of the people who graduated from universities in 2006 and the summer of 2007 are now packing and applying to leave the country. Such emigration would lead to a brain drain threatening the economic and social future of Lebanon" - Riad Tabara, former Lebanese ambassador to the United States.

- "We registered a high number of Lebanese families departing from Beirut International Airport to destination like the US, United Arab Emirates and Canada." - An official at Beirut International Airport.  The official expected the month of June to witness an increased number of departures when the school year ends mid-month.

- Lebanon counts heavily on its summer season, which usually brings in a high number of visitors - particularly Arabs from the oil-rich Gulf and the many Lebanese living abroad - who come for the country's nightlife, beaches and mountain resorts.  "Lebanon will have a 'dark and bad summer. Hotels have a very low occupancy rate. Some restaurants are running out of business because people are staying away from going out at night due to the explosions".  Elie Hobeika, Economist.

- "The tourism ministry along with travel agencies had been preparing to promote new programs to bring back tourists this summer, but the explosions and the fighting in northern Lebanon is keeping everybody away." -  Nabila Khoury, a tour operator

Monday, June 11, 2007 - "Thank God, each summer we have something different so that we don't get bored," said a sarcastic Rola Bejjani, a vendor in an empty shoe store at a deserted Beirut shopping center. "I haven't made a single sale in four days."

- "It is a real catastrophe ... So many institutions are just barely surviving," said Paul Ariss, president of the syndicate of restaurant owners. "The only traffic at Beirut airport this year is outgoing. It's either Lebanese vacationing outside to escape the violence or young Lebanese going to work abroad," 

Saturday, June 6, 2007 - "There is no one on the roads... everyone is worried about the next explosion" - Rabih in NJ (who just came from Lebanon)

Tuesday, June 5, 2007 - "This crisis will not impact the banking sector.  However, if the political dispute gets out of control, local and foreign investments will drop to alarming levels.  If the crisis ends peacefully, we may even see more tourists coming to Lebanon this summer... but all this depends on our politicians." - Markam Sader

- Schools in North Lebanon's Akkar province, where Nahr al-Bared is located, resumed teaching... a sign of the Lebanese Army success

Thursday, May 31, 2007 - "The danger is that the opponents of the tribunal in Lebanon will escalate the violence further to a dangerous level" - Paul in Lebanon.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007 - " In Dhour el Choeueir, it seems this summer will be active, new and old restaurants are openning now, yess even though the situation is bad in lebanon but believe me there is no more houses for rent all are booked !!!" - Hala in Choueir

- "It will be a disaster for Lebanon, if the instability continues.  If the violence did not stop, the summer would be dominated by 'a declared war against terrorism'", said Joseph Sarkis, Lebanon's tourism Minister.

- "U.N. voting for tribunal, while justified, will not be good for Lebanon.  I predict the escalation of violence this summer and throughout the year" - Naji in New Jersey.

Sunday, May 27, 2007 - "Fatah al-Islam may be a Sunni group but it is backed by Syria that backs Hizballah.  This summer, instead of drawing more negative attention to Hizballah,  Syria backed Fatah al-Islam. It is a conspiracy to ruin another summer in Lebanon and keep the Lebanese immigrants, mostly Christians, out of Lebanon".  - Joseph in Tyre

Saturday, May 26, 2007 - "We pray that the terrorists will not use non-conventional weapons against civilians in Lebanon". - Roula in Ashrafieh

Thursday, May 24, 2007 - "I live in El-Mina which is on the outskirts of Tripoli. We're a couple of hundred meters away from where the fighting in Tripoli.  It was a battle field out here the last couple of days. I haven't been able to go to school where I teach and I haven't been able to send my kids to school either. My wife, our 4 kids and I have been staying home basically. The sound of machine guns blazing, bombs, grenades, etc... is making it pretty tough for everybody here. I haven't gone to school to teach for the last couple of days and I haven't sent the kids either. I hope all of this chaos will blow away real soon." - Fares in Al Mina, Tripoli

- "The situation is bad... We do not know what is going to happen next.  At the time of the Ain Alaq explosion few months ago, the evildoers threw a stick of dynamite in the Saint Coeur play ground in Bickfaya that injured 3 schooj l children". - Bernadette in Maz3a3et Yashou3

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - So far, everyone agrees that 1. the Lebanese army should be allowed weed out evildoers and 2. the Lebanese for the most part are going about their daily lives as normal but with a little caution.

Tuesday May 22, 2007 - It appears that the Lebanese in general are not affected much by the clashes in Tripoli and the explosions in Achrafieh and Verdun.   The Tourism sector hopes for a quick resolution. Please send any feedback from Lebanon to news@lcnj.com .  Thank you for your cooperation.

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