🛑 Kataeb party leader Samy Gemayel announces the end of their “political” struggle against Hezbullah, and the start of a new stage where they explore “non-political” approaches.

Update (Twitter): “To my comrades in the Phalangist party, I say: know that your party has moved to a new stage, and as of today our struggle is existential and is no longer a traditional political struggle.”

U.S. Treasury sanctions Riad Salameh after 30 years of tenure

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned today former Lebanese central bank governor Riad Salameh, his son Nady Salameh, his brother Raja Salameh, his aid Marianne Hoayek, and his child's mother Anna Kosakova. All are accused of participating in embezzlement and corruption schemes.

The US protected Salameh until the end of his tenure (on 31 ⁠July), which started in 1993. In 2022, US Ambassador Dorothy Shea pressured PM Mikati to block the subpoena against him. In 2021, US State Department's David Hale said he “hasn't seen any evidence” of corruption. Under Western pressure, Salameh sought to close Hezbullah's non-profit bank Qard Al-Hasan that is not part of the official banking system.

⋯ In a 2020 interview, US Ambassador Dorothy Shea expressed the US's support of Salameh as Lebanon's central bank governor.

“The US has worked with him over the years. He enjoys great confidence in the international financial community”

Update according to security sources: A stray bullet hit the minister's vehicle. It was not an assassination attempt.

The photo of the incident, as published by the defense minister's office.

Footage was released by Kataeb party media showing their attempt to steal the contents of the ammo boxes Hezbullah was moving towards its units.

Hezbullah units are supplied for defense against Israel.

A new video surfaced on social media showing the truck and crane attempting to gather the content and leave, while few locals are heard debating in the background about shooting at them.

One says "Give me the rifle, I'll shoot."

No clashes occurred beforehand.

📺 An orchestral concert has been on loop 24/7 on state channel Télé Liban (video) since the staff began a strike on the 3rd of August.

Employees have their salaries still based on the exchange rate of 1,500 Lebanese pounds. 1.5M-pound salaries equivalent to $1,000 in 2019 are worth $16 today. There are fears that an official closure of the station is under preparation.

On a side note, what are they playing? 🤔

🚨 Information Minister Ziad Makari took the decision to close Télé Liban.

This is the concert the orchestra was playing whilst Télé Liban was sinking into the deepest depths of the Mediterranean. Lebanon will be left with sectarian stations.

Max Bruch - Piano Quintet in G minor (1868/1888):
1. Allegro molto moderato. Tranquillo (0:00)
2. Adagio (8:22)
3. Scherzo. Allegro molto. Trio (13:53)
4. Finale. Allegro agitato (19:58)

During the funeral of Fadi Bejani, dozens of armed men in Kahale mourned his death, a few hours and days after their leaders called to rid Lebanon of Hezbullah's illegal weapons and restrict arms to the state.

While Hezbullah is armed for Israel, what are they armed for?

Hezbullah's SG Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to speak on Monday at 8:30 pm to commemorate the Second Lebanon War victory and discuss internal Lebanese politics.

The committee in charge of censoring cinema films, which includes representatives of Public Security and the Ministry of Economy, watched the movie #Barbie this morning, and concluded it did not find any scene to justify banning it.

Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs official, Tammy Honig, posts the image of a Kahale local, voicing implicit support of their actions against Hezbullah and their protest against Iran.

Hezbullah officially introduces it's twin-ATGM launcher, which it introduced to service as early as 2015.

The video released by its military media showcases a weapon-demonstration launch.

The double launch is meant to defeat Israel's trophy system, by hitting before it reloads.

⋯ The system will also assists in increasing chances of destroying Israeli vehicles that are very-well armoured and protected against attacks.

Télé Liban resumed broadcasting, amid union dispute

Lebanon's public broadcaster Télé Liban resumed broadcasting by 7 ⁠p.m. yesterday, after a suspension of a few hours.

Minister Ziad Makari denied that the station would be permanently closed. He explained in a statement shared by LBCI that the temporary suspension was “in the interest of public funds” and “in light of the steadfastness of the president of the Union of Télé Liban Employees, Mirna Chidiac” whom he blamed for stopping all program broadcasts and using the public screen exclusively “for disseminating her statements”.

Makari noted that Télé Liban requires “20,000 liters [of diesel] per month for its transmission facility in Tallet Al-Khayat”. The minister said he obtained a financial advance of 70B pounds ($750k) to settle accumulated debts dating years back, including health insurance benefits for the employees.