Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Yemeni Armed Forces: The blockade on the Port of Haifa comes following the successful imposition of the siege on the Port of Umm al-Rashrash, which has since ceased operations
Yemeni Armed Forces: The Port of Haifa is now officially part of our target bank
Yemeni Armed Forces calls on companies with ships currently in the Port of Haifa or en route to it to take into account the contents of the statement and any forthcoming announcements
Yemeni Armed Forces: The imposition of a blockade on the Port of Haifa comes in response to the enemy’s escalation of its brutal aggression against Gaza and the continued siege and starvation
Yemeni Armed Forces: Our decisions and operations against the occupying entity will not cease until the aggression on Gaza ends and the blockade on it is lifted
Yemeni Armed Forces: We have decided to begin enforcing a naval blockade on the Port of Haifa, which is now among our list of designated targets
The Israeli occupation has released the child Mohammad, the son of martyr Ahmad Sarhan, whom it abducted earlier today from Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, but his mother remains in detention
UK, France, and Canada in a joint statement: The Israeli Government’s denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law
Leaders of UK, France, and Canada warn that their countries would take action if "Israel" does not stop a renewed military offensive in Gaza and lift aid restrictions
Putin says Trump in conversation expressed his position on cessation of hostilities in Ukraine

Defense Council of Lebanon warns Hamas, reaffirms electoral neutrality

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 May 2025 15:42
  • 2 Shares
4 Min Read

Lebanon’s Supreme Defense Council warns Hamas against destabilizing actions from Lebanese soil and vows strict legal action over recent rocket attacks, while emphasizing electoral neutrality and national sovereignty ahead of municipal elections.

Listen
  • x
  • Defense Council of Lebanon warns Hamas, reaffirms electoral neutrality
    Defense Council of Lebanon warns Hamas, reaffirms electoral neutrality

Lebanon's Supreme Defense Council, headed by President Joseph Aoun, submitted a recommendation to the Cabinet warning Hamas against using Lebanese territory to conduct any actions that undermine national security. The council stated that it would take “the strictest necessary measures to put a final end to any act that violates the country’s sovereignty.”

The council also acknowledged that judicial proceedings will begin early next week against those detained in connection with rocket launches on March 22 and 28, 2025, and that all individuals found implicated in the investigations will be prosecuted.

The announcement followed a meeting held at Baabda Palace, chaired by President Joseph Aoun and attended by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and the ministers of finance, defense, economy and trade, foreign affairs, justice, and interior.

Aoun began the session by emphasizing the significance and authority of the Supreme Defense Council, this being its first meeting under his presidency, and addressed the general security situation. He stressed the importance of consolidating stability and reasserting state authority across all Lebanese territory, citing the Taif Accord, his oath of office, and the government’s policy statement.

Aoun firmly stated that Lebanon must not become a platform for destabilization, while reaffirming the central importance of the Palestinian cause and rejecting any attempt to drag Lebanon into what he described as external wars.

Elevated readiness for municipal and local elections

Related News

Lebanon municipal elections: Beirut polls close, Baalbek leads turnout

Lebanon's 2025 municipal elections begin in Mount Lebanon

The Lebanese President also called on relevant ministers to raise readiness levels to ensure smooth municipal and local elections, based on democratic principles and the peaceful transfer of power. He emphasized the importance of transparency, stating that “candidates must compete freely and citizens must vote according to conscience and national duty, without any undue influence,” since municipal work is inherently developmental.

He affirmed his impartiality toward all candidates and stressed that the role of the government and security institutions is strictly to oversee and secure the elections, while public prosecutors are to pursue violations, particularly those related to the electoral law.

Regarding current security events in Syria, Aoun underlined the need to contain any potential spillover into Lebanon, particularly in connection with the Syrian refugee crisis.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed the need to hold the long-overdue elections, Lebanon’s first municipal elections in nine years, and emphasized the neutrality of the government and its institutions. He expressed confidence in the professionalism of the election administration, which he said would enhance the vote’s credibility.

Salam also reiterated the importance of “handing over all illegal weapons,” in line with the Taif Accord and the government's policy statement, and stated that no party, including Hamas, would be allowed to destabilize Lebanon. He stressed that Lebanese territorial integrity is paramount while affirming the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination in accordance with international law and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Security preparations underway

Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar provided a briefing on the ongoing security and logistical preparations for the elections. Instructions were issued to ensure the elections run smoothly, with emphasis on the neutrality of security agencies and their non-interference in the process.

Also present at the meeting were the public prosecutor, heads of the military and security agencies, the government’s commissioner to the military court, the director general of the presidency, the secretary general of the Supreme Defense Council, and the president’s military and security advisors.

Military and security leaders presented reports on the situation across Lebanon, particularly regarding the recent rocket launches toward the occupied territories. Suspects have been detained, and orders were given to proceed with the appropriate legal action.

The council convened amid a sensitive political and security climate in Lebanon, marked by escalating tensions along the southern border due to Israeli ceasefire violations, pressure surrounding the Syrian refugee crisis, and the country’s preparation for its first municipal elections in nearly a decade.

  • municipal elections
  • Israel
  • Israeli occupation
  • Lebanon
  • Hamas
  • Palestinian resistance

Most Read

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025
Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025
YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Foreign secretary David Lammy leave after attending the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Labour Minister breaks ranks, blasts government over Gaza

China’s advanced AI may surpass US Efforts: Report
Asia

China’s advanced AI may surpass US efforts: Report

A Boeing 777X is brought on the runway ahead of a display flight, at the Farnborough Air Show fair in Farnborough, England, Tuesday, July 19, 2022 (AP)
US & Canada

Boeing stock rises after Trump secures major Gulf deals

MEPs urge the Commission to act so that all EU citizens can travel to the US without visas©AP Images/European Union-EP
US & Canada

Americans race for EU residency as immigration doors begin to close

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS