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Lebanese army recaptures third of IS stronghold near Ras Baalbek

Handout from the Lebanese army shows troops waving both the Lebanese and Spanish flags in the territory of Ras Baalbek

bbc- The Lebanese army has recaptured a third of an enclave held by so-called Islamic State near the north-eastern border with Syria, officials say. Troops launched an offensive near the town of Ras Baalbek on Saturday. The army says there are about 600 militants in the mountainous area, which IS has held since 2014 and is the group's last stronghold in the country. About 20 militants have been killed in the latest operation and 10 soldiers have been injured, the military says. The offensive was aimed at ridding the area of IS militants, who are armed with anti-aircraft and armour-piercing missiles and drones, the Lebanese army said. Youssef Roufeyel, a resident of Ras Baalbek, told Reuters news agency that local people would do whatever was necessary for victory. "This battle requires help and support from the people, and we are behind the army and by their side," he said. Islamic State group: The full story Is this the end for IS? The Lebanese army later posted an image on its website showing its troops waving both a Lebanese and a Spanish flag in Ras Baalbek in what it described as a "salute from our troops" to the victims of the Barcelona terror attack in which 13 people were killed on Thursday. IS said it had carried out the attack, which took place in the city's famous Las Ramblas district, though it is not clear whether any of the attackers were directly connected to the group or simply inspired by it. The latest operation in Lebanon comes as IS faces a number of military strikes on territory it controls in both Syria and neighbouring Iraq, where a brutal fight to rid Mosul of its militants left the city in ruins. Militants have long been active in mountainous eastern Lebanon near the border with Syria, where a bloody civil war has raged since 2011. Meanwhile, the Syrian army and the Lebanese Shia Islamist group, Hezbollah, announced their own offensive against IS, though Lebanon said that the two operations were not connected

by sputniknews.com - The Lebanese Army has launched the ‘Fajr al-Joroud’ (Dawn of the Outskirts) offensive to drive Daesh militants out of the Lebanese-Syrian border region. Brigadier General Ali Qansuh, during a press conference on August 19, announced the start of this large counterterrorist operation. According to the general, the main purpose of the offensive is to return all Lebanese lands under the control of the government right up to the borders with Syria. It was especially noted that coordination between the Hezbollah movement and the Syrian Army is not envisaged, and there are also no plans to conduct any negotiations with Daesh militants. The army leadership also expressed hope to liberate captured soldiers of the Lebanese Army as soon as possible. According to the general, in Lebanon there are about 600 militants, which are divided into three groups with some located in the north of the Raas al Baalbek and al Qaa mountains. These terrorists are armed with anti-aircraft weapons, sniper rifles and they often move from place to place on motorcycles. Daesh militants hide in the caves and crevices of the mountains, so the Lebanese Army must battle its enemy great skill and maneuvering. A deputy of the Lebanese Parliament, a member of the "Islah wa tagiir" block, Amal Abu Zeid, told Sputnik that this operation is noteworthy for several reasons. “Firstly, this political decision was made in the presence of the Lebanese President and the head of the Supreme Defense Council, without objections from the government, and secondly, this is exclusively a Lebanese solution without any outside influence,” Zeid said. He further added that keeping in mind these factors it is clear that this operation is carried out exclusively in the interests of the Lebanese people. Lebanon announced the start of the offensive against the Daesh enclave on the northeast part of its border with Syria on Saturday. Damascus and the Lebanese militia movement Hezbollah are also currently carrying out their anti-Daesh offensive on the Syrian side of the border. The Lebanese Army eliminated 12 Daesh strongholds on the Lebanese-Syrian border during the second day of its anti-Daesh offensive, according to a statement of the army’s command obtained by Sputnik on Sunday.

Amazon can borrow money more cheaply than Russia, Mexico and China

by Joe Ciolli - Business Insider - Amazon got a pretty sweet deal on its recent $16 billion debt financing. The deal was so good, in fact, that a chunk of it ended up being better than what the governments of Russia, Mexico, Greece, Chile and China could've gotten, according to a report from Quartz's John Detrixhe. The offering priced on Tuesday amid strong demand from investors, the Wall Street Journal reported . The company sold a $3.5 billion tranche of 10-year bonds at a 0.9-percentage-point yield-premium to Treasurys, below guidance set by underwriters, according to the WSJ. Given the 10-year Treasury is currently trading at around 2.27%, that makes for a yield on Amazon's debt of around 3.2%. Detrixhe pointed out that while that's still more expensive than what borrowing costs in Germany, the US and Canada, it puts some other world powers to shame. Consider, for example, that the 10-year bond for Russia yields 7.8%, while their Mexican counterparts return roughly 6.8% and similar-maturity Chinese government securities yield 3.6%. Amazon is planning to use the $16 billion it raised in the debt market to fund its recently announced $13.7 billion acquisition of Whole Foods. The tech giant isn't the only high-flying company translating investor goodwill into favorable borrowing terms. Tesla, which has a junk rating and quickly burns through cash, easily priced a $1.8 billion bond offering on Friday. The deal ended up getting done at a record-low coupon for a bond of such maturity and low quality, according to a Bloomberg News report. What's more, the originally sought $1.5 billion was bumped up to $1.8 billion because of outsize demand. So if you're an innovative, fast-growing corporate juggernaut, it looks like a good time to tap debt markets. And even if you don't get the type of bargain enjoyed by Amazon, you'll probably get a better deal than Russia.

Lebanon repeals ‘marry the rapist’ law

Associated Press BEIRUT — Lebanon’s parliament on Wednesday abolished a law that allowed rapists to avoid prison by marrying their victims. The repeal of the law, which had been in place since the 1940s, follows years of campaigning by women’s rights advocates. Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt have canceled similar ‘‘marry the rapist’’ clauses over the years, and Jordan’s parliament recently repealed a similar law. The clause remains on the books in Algeria, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, the Palestinian territories, and Syria, as well as several countries in Latin America and in the Philippines and Tajikistan, according to Human Rights Watch. Conservatives in the Middle East who support such laws argue that marriage salvages the honor of the woman and her family. The Lebanese law stated that rape is punishable by up to seven years in prison, or more if the victim is mentally or physically disabled. Article 522 added that if the rapist marries the victim, criminal prosecution is suspended. Human Rights Watch welcomed the move by Lebanon’s parliament but said more should be done to ensure women’s rights. ‘‘The repeal of article 522 is an important and overdue step to protect women’s rights in Lebanon,’’ said Bassam Khawaja, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch. ‘‘Parliament should now follow this up by passing pending legislation to end child marriage and marital rape, both of which are still legal in Lebanon.’’

US Army gives Fighting Vehicles and armored field artillery ammunition supply vehicles to the Lebanese Army

Ambassador Elizabeth Richard participated today in the delivery of eight M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and armored field artillery ammunition supply vehicles to the Lebanese Armed Forces at Port Beirut. These are the very first of a total shipment of 32 Bradleys that will be delivered in the coming months. This contribution to the Lebanese Armed Forces represents an investment of over 100 million dollars. It will provide the Lebanese Armed Forces with new capabilities to protect Lebanon, to protect its borders, and to fight terrorists In the past 12 months, the United States has provided the following defense articles to the Lebanese Army:
- 40 M198 howitzers - 50 armored Humvees - an Armed Cessna aircraft with hellfire missiles - 55 mortar systems - 50 Mark-19 automatic grenade launchers - 1100 machine guns, including 800 50 caliber machine guns - 4,000 M4 rifles - Over half a million rounds of ammunition - 320 night vision devices and thermal sights - 360 secure communication radios.

Part of Ambassador Richard speech "America’s support for Lebanon is based on the shared interests of the American people and the Lebanese people. Our support is based on the principle that we share the same goals for stability and security in this country, and we share the view that the Lebanese Armed Forces need to maintain their rightful place as the sole provider of security and stability to the Lebanese people." Ambassador Richard at the delivery of Bradley Fighting Vehicles to the Lebanese Army - August 14, 2017. The full remarks are available at the following link: goo.gl/VZQoMJ

Three Lebanese among Burkina Faso victims

The daily star.com.lb - BEIRUT/OUAGADOUGOU: Three Lebanese nationals, including a pregnant woman, were among 18 killed in a terrorist attack on a Turkish restaurant in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou, Lebanese authorities said Monday. A statement from the Lebanese Foreign Ministry identified the Lebanese victims as Ahmad al-Bali, Mohsen Fneish and his wife who was pregnant at the time but was not named in the statement. It added that they were killed in the crossfire between security forces and the terrorists who had attacked the restaurant. At least eight foreigners of multiple nationalities were among the deceased. Prime Minister Saad Hariri ordered the head of the Higher Relief Committee Gen. Mohammad Kheir to coordinate with his counterparts in Burkina Faso and offered them any resources they might require to help the affected Lebanese nationals. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place Sunday evening. However, Burkina Faso’s Communications Minister Remi Dandjinou said that it was “a terrorist attack.”

Amy Sawadogo, waitress at the popular restaurant, told AP about the horror of the attack. Sawadogo was still searching for her colleagues as of Monday morning. “I just want to go to the hospital and see who is still alive,” the distraught young woman, who was still dressed in her uniform said Monday. “I am calling them in vain, no response.” The Aziz Istanbul restaurant is often packed with expats who would go there to watch football. Authorities said that many of the victims are children dining with their families. The attack began around 9 p.m. Sunday when the restaurant was full with customers. Two young men wearing jeans and jackets drove up on motorcycles and began indiscriminately shooting at the people inside with Kalashnikovs, witnesses told AP.

“I heard a noise when they smashed a car with their motorbike and before I understood what happened they started shooting at the customers on the terrace,” Assane Guebre, who had been keeping an eye on customers’ cars parked outside, said. “They were close to me, and I still don’t know how they did not hit me first,” Guebre said. His hands were still bleeding from the cuts he had suffered when he threw himself to the ground to avoid the bullets.A Reuters witness saw customers running out of the Aziz Istanbul restaurant as police and paramilitary gendarmerie surrounded it, amid gunfire. The shots rang into the night before the country’s special forces ended attack hours after it began. Initially, authorities had said there were three or four assailants. However, government spokesman Remy Danguinou told reporters early Monday that two attackers had been killed by the authorities.

Hariri to Kuwait: Will cooperate over security

Federica Marsi| The Daily Star - BEIRUT: Prime Minister Saad Hariri Sunday vowed to cooperate closely with Kuwait after relations were strained when a alleged Hezbollah-linked terror cell was discovered in 2015. The pledge was made during a meeting with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah during the premier’s official one-day visit to the Gulf state to address the issue of the so-called Abdali cell. “We clearly said that we condemn what happened regarding [the] Abdali cell and that Lebanon is prepared to cooperate, with all its agencies, to end the issue,” Hariri said after the meeting, according to a statement issued by his office. In the summer of 2015, Kuwaiti security services raided farmhouses in the town of Al-Abdali, near the Iraqi border, uncovering the largest-ever weapons cache discovered in the country. Kuwait charged 25 nationals – all of them Shiites – and one Iranian with spying for Iran and for Hezbollah. In January 2016, a Kuwaiti court found 23 of the 26 guilty of various crimes. Two were sentenced to death, including the Iranian, in absentia. The others were fined or received jail terms between five years and life, while three were acquitted.

In January, Kuwait’s highest court overturned the death sentence imposed by a lower tribunal against one of the men, reducing it to life, it also reduced the life sentence for another man to 15 years in prison and sentenced several others previously judged “not guilty” to 10 years. Twelve of the Kuwaiti nationals convicted in absentia were arrested Saturday on charges of spying for Iran and Hezbollah. Two other Kuwaitis and one Iranian national remain at large. In July, Kuwait expelled 15 diplomats for alleged links to the cell. “There is a great Kuwaiti resentment toward [this matter] and they are right about it, and we in Lebanon will cooperate on the issue,” Hariri said.

Following a meeting with his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sheikh Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabagh, Hariri said he was hopeful this resentment would not translate into measures against Lebanon, but said the issue had to be addressed “clearly and boldly” in order to prevent further strains between the two countries. President Michel Aoun also pledged to follow up on the issue. “The Kuwaiti people, state and emir always treated Lebanon and the Lebanese as they treat the Kuwaitis. I hope that the relations will improve,” Hariri said. The diplomatic strain recently led to speculation that Gulf Cooperation Council countries could implement a blockade against Lebanon, similar to that against Qatar, with dire repercussions for economic stability.

Lebanon's Hezbollah says U.S. can't hurt it, dismisses sanctions

Hezbollah fighters are seen in Jroud Arsal

BEIRUT (Reuters) - The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah on Sunday dismissed the prospect of tougher U.S. sanctions against his group, which is backed by Iran, and said the U.S. administration had no way to harm it. "The American administration, with all available and possible means, will not be able to damage the strength of the resistance," Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised address to mark the anniversary of the end of Hezbollah's 2006 war with Israel. Nasrallah said Lebanon was being subjected to intimidation and threats over Hezbollah - which is part of the Beirut government but classified as a terrorist group by Washington - and alleged that Lebanese officials had been told that Israel could launch a war. European and American officials had warned them "during diplomatic meetings and international visits ... if you don't do this, Israel will launch a war on Lebanon, and if Hezbollah doesn't do this, Israel will launch a war on Lebanon", Nasrallah said. He did not spell out what had been asked of Lebanon or Hezbollah. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, a well armed Shi'ite movement, have risen this year. Nasrallah has played down the prospect of a war while simultaneously warning Israel against a conflict. Trump last month called Hezbollah a "menace" to the Lebanese people and to the entire region during a news conference with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri. U.S. lawmakers last month introduced legislation seeking to increase sanctions on Hezbollah by further restricting its ability to raise money and recruit and by increasing pressure on banks that do business with it, though it was not clear when or if it would come to a vote. Officials in Lebanon have raised concerns that any widening of the U.S. sanctions could damage their banking industry. Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Kevin Liffey