President Michel Aoun congratulated Lebanese citizens and Muslims on the occasion of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday, calling for adherence to values of solidarity, social cohesion, and working together to build a unified Lebanese society based on love, justice, and human dignity. He affirmed the state’s commitment to protecting all citizens’ rights and achieving sustainable development and social justice.

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed hope that this year’s Mawlid would serve as a moment to revive the legacy of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who united people of different colors and races on the basis of truth, justice, unity, noble morals, and mercy for all. He added that the Mawlid is a permanent occasion for the birth of human dignity, justice, and hope.

At the Grand Serail, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received a large delegation from the villages of the Jabal Akroum region in Akkar, including mayors and religious, military, and social figures. The delegation affirmed the residents’ support for President Salam and the government, especially regarding the disarmament file and extending state sovereignty over all Lebanese territories. Salam emphasized the importance of applying the Taif Agreement concerning the disarmament and achieving balanced development across all Lebanese regions, reminding of the Qulayaat Airport project.

The “Loyalty to the Resistance” bloc held its regular session, chaired by MP Mohammad Raad, discussing various political and parliamentary issues related to Lebanon, Palestine, and the region. The bloc stated that the government’s decision is unpatriotic and threatens stability, calling on the government to implement its commitments regarding reconstruction by including clear financial allocations in the 2026 budget to meet the needs of affected people.

In the electricity sector, Minister of Energy and Water Joe Chedid wrote on his X account that he briefed the President on the electricity and telecommunications sectors and the steps to establish modern large gas-powered plants. He also confirmed his readiness to present the list of names for the Electricity Regulatory Authority to the Cabinet, selected according to the approved mechanism.

On a serious field escalation, UNIFIL issued a statement about an attack on peacekeepers during obstacle removal, stating that Israeli army drones dropped four bombs near UNIFIL forces while they were removing obstacles blocking access to a UN site near the Blue Line. The attack is described as one of the most severe since the ceasefire agreement last November.

In Israel, the Shin Bet arrested a Hamas cell planning to assassinate Defense Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir using remote-controlled explosive drones. Ben-Gvir said those arrested will now experience the new conditions in Israeli prisons, adding “the party is over… the eternal nation does not fear.” Regarding hostages, former US President Donald Trump demanded Hamas immediately release all twenty Israeli hostages, noting that Israel’s war on Gaza would end if this happens.

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced the start of the second phase of “Gideon’s Vehicles” operation in Gaza. The UAE warned Israel that any annexation of the West Bank would be a red line and severely undermine the Abraham Accords that normalized relations with Israel.

In repeated Iranian criticism of the European Troika’s decision to reimpose sanctions on Iran, Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir attacked European policies, stating that activating the snapback mechanism violates all legal and international standards and lacks any legal legitimacy. However, he downplayed its effects, considering it more of a psychological propaganda tool than a real threat to the Iranian people. The International Atomic Energy Agency expressed regret over Iran’s decision to suspend cooperation following the Iran-Israel war and urged the swift resumption of inspections.

Regarding the war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is ready to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky provided the meeting is well-prepared but questioned the usefulness of such a meeting at this stage. He noted Zelensky’s powers have ended and that any meeting would not yield practical results but clarified he informed former US President Donald Trump of his readiness to hold a meeting with Zelensky in Moscow.

EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas said the participation of leaders from Russia, North Korea, and China in the massive military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II represents “more than just an anti-Western symbolic scene.” She added it constitutes a “direct challenge to the rules-based international order,” considering it part of efforts to build a “new world order” opposing the West.