Assad’s brother-in-law Assef Shawkat confirmed dead

The brother-in-law of Syrian President Bashir al-Assad, who also is the troubled nation’s former intelligence chief, is dead after an apparent assassination attack Sunday in Damascus, Syrian opposition leaders tell U.S. News & World Report.
The Free Syrian Army, an armed opposition group that has been fighting Assad’s military for months, said Sunday it had killed six senior members of Assad’s cabinet. (more…)

Saudi Arabia will issue travel advisory if needed, envoy

Following a meeting with Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Grand Serail, Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri said on Monday that his country would issue a travel advisory restricting travel for Saudi nationals to Lebanon if the situation in the country warranted it. (more…)

How Lebanon is Threatened by Syria’s Rebellion

An uneasy, fragile calm returned to the Lebanese capital Beirut and the northern city of Tripoli on Monday, a day after the worst clashes between pro- and anti-Syrian Lebanese factions since 2008. The violence erupted after the killing of a prominent anti-Syrian Sunni cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abdel Wahed, (more…)

UN concerned over Syria violence spillover into Lebanon

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern on Monday that violence in Syria could spill over into neighboring Lebanon and reiterated fears it could also develop into a full-blown civil war. (more…)

Beirut tense after violent clashes linked to Syrian unrest

Lebanon’s capital was badly shaken Monday after a night of fighting in which factions for and against the embattled president of neighboring Syria clashed, stoking fears that Syrian unrest could spark serious violence here.
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Thousands attend the funeral of killed Lebanese cleric

Mourners fired guns in the air as thousands poured into the streets Monday in northern Lebanon for the funeral of a Sunni Muslim cleric, whose killing sparked intense clashes in Beirut and raised fears the crisis in Syria was spilling across the border. (more…)

Berjawi: No one can force us out of Tariq al-Jedideh

Arab Movement Party leader Shaker al-Berjawi said on Monday that “no one can force us out of Tariq al-Jedideh,” a day after clashes in the Beirut neighborhood left two people dead and 18 wounded. (more…)

Higher Islamic Council: Wahid, Merheb were assassinated

The Higher Islamic Council branded on Monday the murder of Sheikh Ahmed Abdel Wahid and his companion Sheikh Mohammed Merheb on Sunday as an assassination, according to a statement issued after a meeting at Dar al-Fatwa . The council demanded (more…)

Mikati abruptly left emergency meeting at Dar al-Fatwa

Prime Minister Najib Mikati abruptly left an emergency meeting that was held by Dar al-Fatwa with Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani without giving any statement, LBC television reported on Monday.

Earlier on Monday, Dar al-Fatwa held an emergency meeting to discuss Islamic and national affairs (more…)

Army tanks on Beirut streets after clashes over Syria

A  tense calm prevailed Monday across the Lebanese capital following overnight clashes between pro and anti-Syrian Sunni-Muslim groups, which left two people dead and 18 injured, the state-run Lebanese News agency said.

Troops backed by tanks were deployed across the city (more…)