by ABC news Tara Brown and Stephen Rice (R) were detained in Lebanon for weeks over the story.

The Nine Network today released its report into the bungled child recovery in Lebanon. A statement from Nine said Rice, the producer of the story about Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner and her bid to return her children to Australia, would leave the company immediately.

Nine chief executive Hugh Marks said the recovery operation exposed the crew to "serious risks" and "significant reputational damage". "We got too close to the story and suffered damaging consequences," Mr Marks said. "Amongst other elements of the execution of this story it was inappropriate, and at odds with our standard procedure, for a payment to be made directly by 60 Minutes to the recovery agency that had been independently contracted by Sally Faulkner.

"It was also inappropriate, with the risks involved for our crew, not to have consulted with Nine's security advisers before the story was finalised."

Matar called for resolute action, saying that “if Christians in the Middle East are suffering today, the whole world will be suffering …

24 May 2016 – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the holding of municipal elections in Lebanon, which are expected to conclude …

Daily Star.com.lb, Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi reaffirmed his staunch opposition to the naturalization of Syrians in Lebanon Monday, voicing fears that a delayed solution to Syria's conflict would prolong the refugee crisis in Lebanon.

“We are afraid of the Syrian refugees remaining in Lebanon, not because of the UN’s politics or of the report issued by the UN Secretary General [Ban Ki-moon], but because of the Syrian (refugee) status in Lebanon and the Syrian war,” Azzi said.

The minister made his remarks during a joint press conference with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag. He added that “the obstruction of political and necessary military solutions in Syria will make the Syrians staying in Lebanon a possibility, and the Lebanese must work to prevent this, not only to protect Lebanon but Syria also."