Tag Archives: lebanon

The chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee lifted a hold on $100 million in aid to Lebanon’s military. The UN is concerned that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has raised tensions in the country, and Hezbollah has made no efforts to disarm.

A court sentenced radical al Qaeda cleric Omar Bakri to life in prison for training terrorists at a camp near Tripoli. Bakri was one of 25 people sentenced to life for terror-related charges by the military court.

Hisham Awad, the son of slain Fatah al Islam chief Abdulrahman Awad, was among three Lebanese members of Fatah al Islam who were recently killed in Iraq. The other two fighters were identified as Shadi Makkawi and Khaled Afandi.

Security forces killed Abdulrahman Awad, the suspected leader of al Qaeda-linked Fatah al Islam, during a shootout near the border with Syria. The government is setting up a fund for citizens to contribute in support of the Lebanese Armed Forces after the US suspended more than $100 million in aid.

The US Congress blocked $100 million in military aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces over concerns it is allied with Hezbollah. Lebanese leaders dismissed Hezbollah leader Nasrallah’s claim that Israel was behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Three Lebanese soldiers and a reporter were killed during a clash with Israeli forces along the shared border. The fighting began when Lebanese troops opened fire on Israelis as they were performing maintenance on the border fence. Syrian President Bashir Assad said his country would back Lebanon.