Thair Abbas

The Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam admitted that Lebanon committed an error and has wronged Arab Gulf countries and the Arabs. He also stressed that it would make amends by adhering to Arab consensus in all forthcoming matters.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Salam criticised the roles of Iran and Hezbollah and their interference in some Arab countries, and added that Arab countries have the right to confront this expansion.

He believed that the only solution to confront Hezbollah’s influence is the country’s refusal to be a platform for the organisation to fight Arab countries. He added “With regards to the security and stability of the Arab Gulf states and Arab countries in general, we have no uncertainty” indicating his support for actions taken by GCC authorities against any Lebanese person “who insults his country of residence or compromises its security”.

by Pamela Engel

Many experts weren't surprised when Islamic terrorists targeted France in attacks that killed at least 130 people and injured hundreds more in Paris in November.

John Schindler, the national-security columnist for The New York Observer, tweeted after the attacks: "Jihadists with Balkan small arms were shooting up France in 1995 ... got no idea why anybody is surprised."

Attackers used guns and bombs at several sites across Paris in November, including the Stade de France and the Bataclan concert hall, where a shooting rampage and hostage situation left about 89 people dead.