1- An-Nahar headline: Remembering March 8 and 14 deterred the ‘Duo’

The sudden and unusual call by the ‘Duo’—Amal Movement and Hezbollah—under the guise of a ‘union’ protest against the Cabinet decisions on August 5 and 7 in Riyad Al-Solh Square almost dominated the Lebanese scene and all related developments this week. However, the cancellation of the gathering revealed a reality that cannot be ignored, as it relates to any possible scenario of street mobilization and sectarian mobilization to obstruct the state’s exclusive control over arms.

2- Morgan Ortagus: We want a strong Lebanon… and Hezbollah does not represent the Lebanese

US envoy Morgan Ortagus stated on Tuesday that ‘Hezbollah and its deputy secretary general Naim Qassem do not represent the Lebanese. They represent foreign forces, namely Iran.’ She added, ‘We are trying to work with the Lebanese government and improve official institutions, especially the military. We want the same as President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.’

3- Australia expels Iranian ambassador: IRGC to be listed as a terrorist organization

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday that his government decided to expel the Iranian ambassador from Canberra after proving Tehran’s involvement in at least two anti-Semitic attacks inside Australia. He revealed that Australia suspended its embassy operations in Tehran and confirmed that all Australian diplomats are now safe in a third country.

4- Will Kim and Trump meet soon?

The South Korean president’s office announced that President Lee Jae-myung proposed a meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later this year if Trump decides to visit South Korea for a regional forum. The South Korean presidential spokesperson said that Lee and Trump had an ‘enjoyable’ meeting exchanging compliments and discussing assassination attempts against them.

5- Record rise in gold prices over two weeks… How much today?

Gold prices rose to their highest level in two weeks on Tuesday as the dollar weakened after US President Donald Trump announced the dismissal of Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve Board.

Selected articles from An-Nahar today include analyses on Tehran’s role in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s regional behavior, Israeli escalation against Iran, Western shifts against the Muslim Brotherhood, and new US visa and citizenship criteria.