News

The ISF General Directorate- Public Relations Department, announced in a statement on April 20, that on 18/4/2019, a woman with special needs, (born in 1972) reported to the Abbasiyeh regional gendarmerie unit that, on April 16, that she was sexually assaulted by two Syrian nationals at her home in South Lebanon. Upon surveillance, the Information Department managed to identify and arrest the suspects, S.M (born in 1984, Syrian) and E. A (born in 1993, Syrian), and hand them over to the competent judiciary, the statement said. On the same day, the ISF Information Office in Marjey3oon-Hasbaya detained M.S (Syrian), on charges of threating to kill with a pistol a woman (H.Kh) from Hasbaya. Also, the ISF directorate referred in a statement on April 22, to a number of armed robberies within the Mount Lebanon governorate. The latest involved a citizen and his wife who were robbed by a van driver in the locality of Jiyyeh south of the capital, Beirut. Upon investigation, the Judiciary Police unit, on April 17, successfully arrested the suspects in the town of Shweifat, and they are: F.S (born in 1974, Lebanese) and his wife H.J (born in 2000, also Lebanese). Both suspects admitted to a number of lootings in different areas, in addition to drug abuse and facilitation of sex work. (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, April 20, 23, 2019)
 

The GS head, Maj. General Abbas Ibrahim, revealed in a television interview on April 18, that he, personally, along with the GS and information squads, were negotiationg with the Kurdish factions in the East Euphrates region for the return of Lebanese women married to ISIS fighters detained in Syria with their children. “We will bring back whoever we can of these women,” Ibrahim said. On the subject, informed sources told LBC that the GS deal with the Kurds was restricted to returning Lebanese wives of ISIS militants and their children, and not captured ISIS members. The reported number of Lebanese women in North Syria is 10 and could reach 25 with their children, LBC said. To recall, the Lebanese Army Intelligence has earlier received from the British Intelligence two Lebanese-British women married to ISIS fighters. (: https://bit.ly/2PqrDlc ). (Al Diyar, April 19, 2019)
 

The minister of tourism, Avedis Guidanian, jointly with MP Faisal Karameh, launched on April 21, the ‘Smart Corner for Digital Tourism’, an initiative by the Chamber of Commerce in Tripoli and the North, at the Chamber’s premises in the northern capital. On the occasion, applied models were presented of a number of religious, heritage and touristic sites in Tripoli, Mina and Batroun and which professionally taken using the 3D scanner 360 imaging. Guidanian said the smart corner is a key pillar for cooperation and a meeting point for tourists, where they can virtually explore and visit any one of the landmarks before hitting the sites on ground. This is an excellent step, he boasted, especially that it will be open to all Lebanese regions. Guidanian also mentioned the signing of a partnership agreement to this effect, stressing the need for his ministry to contribute its share of the project in order to benefit from it at the national level. On the other hand, on April 22, under the patronage of the municipality of Tyre, and UNIFIL participation, the ‘Tyre Brings Us Together’ group, kicked off a festival in the heart of the city, in the presence of the minister of culture, Mohamad Daoud, and dignitaries. Two other exhibitions, including, the Lebanese and Continental Food Expo and the Handicrafts and Mouneh Fair by Tyre women, were also opened. On the occasion, UNIFIL Commander stressed, in his address, the unyielding support of his forces to local residents and the municipalities in implementing archeological undertakings, noting their significance in the blending of civilizations and cultures. Daoud for his part, said his ministry will be in the forefront in sponsoring similar activities. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, April 23, 2019)
 

On the occasion of Easter, UNIFIL Italian battalion, in cooperation with MP Inaya Ezzedeen, organized an exhibition at the UNIFIL headquarters in the southern town of Shama’, with the participation of over 70 local women. Ezzedeen stressed the importance of strengthening the role of southern women and supporting them in all arenas, noting the need for collaboration of the ministries of tourism, industry, economy and agriculture in marketing the foodstuff and handicrafts, and hoping for increased interaction between UNIFIL units and locals. For his part, the Italian commander thanked the participating associations, pointing to the remarkable contribution of UNIFIL soldiers in buying local handmade goods. (Al Mustaqbal, April 19, 2019)