Following are summaries of some of the main stories in a selection of Lebanese newspapers Saturday. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
As-Safir An attack targeted UNIFIL in south of Litani ... and France will not withdraw The resistance exposes CIA network [by revealing] names and places
National security, in particular security in the south, was shaken yesterday with the aggression that targeted a French patrol belonging to UNIFIL in south Lebanon in an apparent attack against the international observers. These aggressions did not even exclude the U.N. blue-caps or Lebanese civilians. The attack left five wounded, all who are in good health now, according to French Ambassador Denise Pietton, who Friday said France would not give in to the attack and would remain part of the UNIFIL to protect the security and stability of south Lebanon. The incident was met with a wave of condemnation in Lebanon, particularly from the Cabinet that was chaired by Prime Minister Najib Mikati. He said that the attack would not affect France's participation in UNIFIL.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah took the initiative, through Al-Manar television stations, to strike at the Americans by broadcasting a detailed report about the structure of the CIA in Lebanon with names, dates and methods used by the agency during its operations.
Ad-Diyar Why did France not hold Syria accountable for the attack against its forces? The French Foreign Ministry statement came before the investigators arrived The resistance tells the CIA story
The explosion that targeted the French peacekeeping force in UNIFIL Friday drew international attention. The French, who are backing those trying to topple the Syrian regime, took an interesting position following the attack on their forces in Tyre. France's position, which was announced by Foreign Minister Alain Juppe, did not accuse Syria of being behind the incident. Paris said it would wait for the results of the investigation before making any judgments. However, President Nicolas Sarkozy said six weeks ago that any attack on French troops in UNIFIL would prompt the withdrawal of his troops.
European sources considered France's stances as contradictory, attributing the change in policy to the chaos that is taking place within French diplomacy. France seemed to have backed down from its aggressive stances which it had taken regarding events in Syria and this means that France is now evaluating its position.
Meanwhile, the Islamic resistance revealed the whole story about the CIA's work in Lebanon and noted that the headquarters of U.S. intelligence in the country is in one of the buildings of the U.S. Embassy in Awkar, north of Beirut.
Al-Mustaqbal Paris will not yield to terrorism ... and continues to be with UNIFIL
Meddling with strategic security in the south resumed Friday when UNIFIL forces, in particular the French contingent, was targeted once again. This prompted speculation as well as a wave of condemnation over the incident. However, Paris gave assurances that such "despicable operations" would not intimidate it, according to a statement released by Foreign Affairs Minister Alain Juppe. The recent attack, which targeted a French patrol driving through Al-Bourj Al-Shemali in Tyre, left five soldiers wounded. Two Lebanese citizens were also wounded as they were passing through the area at the time of the blast.
Former Minister Mohammad Baydoun told Al-Mustaqbal that senior security officials, on behalf of President Bashar Assad, had told the French that if Paris took a position against Damascus, he [Assad] would respond by attacking UNIFIL in the south. And that is what is happening and what has happened.
An-Nahar Paris: Our commitment will continue U.N. Security Council statement condemns ‘terrorist attack’
Cabinet supports steps to control Lebanon-Syria borders and is working in “productive environment” Threats against the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, particularly the French contingent, are nothing new as shown by the June 26, 2011, attack near Tyre. Friday’s attack, which led to the wounding of five members of the French contingent of UNIFIL, demonstrates the validity of these threats. These threats indicate, according to diplomatic sources, that the Lebanese train will pass through difficult stations in the next few weeks. One of these stages includes a visit by a team from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to Beirut and then the announcement of new indictments. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will also visit the country on Jan. 11 and 12 of next year. Friday’s attack on French peacekeepers was met with strong interest both at the local and regional levels in light of a previous warning by Paris that France’s continuing role in UNIFIL was contingent on any future security developments after the June attack.
During a Cabinet session at the Grand Serail, Prime Minister Najib Mikati briefed ministers about the attack on UNIFIL in the south. The government also looked into the steps that are expected to be taken in order to improve border controls between Lebanon and Syria. The government voiced its support for the measures.
Ministers also played down the positions that followed the Cabinet session that dealt with raising workers’ salaries. In Paris, Foreign Affairs Minister Alain Juppe denounced the blast and said: “France is adamant to carry out its commitment in UNIFIL and will not be intimidated by acts like this explosion,” that targeted the French contingent. In New York, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon expressed “great concern” over the attack on UNIFIL near the city of Tyre and called for a probe into the incident and that those involved be brought to justice.
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