October 2015 Highlights
October 1
PM Tammam Salam returns from New York.
‘Friend of the Court’ appeals against the verdicts issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon against Al-Jadeed Television and Karma Khayyat.
October 2
US Ambassador to Lebanon informs PM Tammam Salam that the US will grant the Lebanese Armed Force assistance funds worth USD 150 million.
PM Tammam Salam heads two meetings to address the crisis of garbage collection and a solution is expected to be reached after a few hours of deliberations.
Pro-Dar El-Fatwa scholars call on people not to politicize the Mina hajj stampede and praise the Saudi efforts in hosting the pilgrims.
October 3
At the head of a delegation of General Security officers, General Security Chief Abbas Ibrahim arrives in Vatican and holds talks with Pope Francis I.
October 4
Families of the kidnapped soldiers and policemen resume protests and for a while block the road leading to the airport.
Akkar’s residents stage a protest against the opening of the Srar landfill in the presence of MP Khaled Daher and some of the speeches criticize Saad Hariri.
On the 11th anniversary of the attempt to assassinate him, MP Marwan Hamadeh tells Al-Liwaa that recoiling from Aoun and Hezbollah will bring woes to Lebanon.
October 5
A roadside bomb targets a van on the Chtoura road without resulting in any injuries. It has been reported that the van carried Hezbollah members heading to Syria to engage in fighting.
A verbal scuffle escalates into a fistfight during the Parliament’s Energy Committee meeting as lawmakers belonging to the Future Movement (Jamal Jarrah) and Change and Reform Bloc (Ziad Aswad and Hikmat Dib) trade blame over the power crisis.
Hezbollah and the Future Movement hold their 19th dialogue session and the session’s statement emphasizes the need to revive the institutions’ ability to play an active role.
Four people die in a car crash on Matn’s highway.
October 6
The national dialogue table convenes for the fourth time in Parliament and the discussions cover the characteristics of the president of the republic and the garbage crisis.
Families of the kidnapped soldiers and policemen escalate their movement and for a while block the Rawshe road.
October 7
No progress is made in the dialogue deliberations and the talks are adjourned until October 26 due to the travel plans of Speaker Nabih Berri. MP Walid Jumblatt announces support for a holistic solution including the presidential elections, the electoral law and the government.
Supporters of the “We Want Accountability” movement stage a protest in front of PM Tammam Salam’s residence in the early morning, demanding a solution the garbage crisis before proceeding towards the Ministry of Justice.
Nasrallah’s statements before a number of Ashura mourners accuse Saudi Arabia of standing behind the July War and all the other wars in the region and Hariri responds by branding Nasrallah’s stance as being both far from true and ungrateful.
October 8
The civil movement’s rally in the Martyrs’ Square ends with night clashes with the Internal Security Forces resulting in the arrest of roughly seventy people after they are chased down in the nearby streets. The Security Forces transport some of the detainees to the Helou Barracks and their families and supporters head to the area to protest against the arrests and demanding their release.
Army Commander Jean Qahwaji appoints Colonel Maroun Qobayati as Commander of the Army’s Commando Regiment to replace Brigadier General Chamel Roukoz who will be retire on October 15.
Financial Prosecutor Judge Ali Ibrahim summons MPs Jamal Jarrah and Ziad Aswad over the Parliament’s Energy Committee brawl. The Parliament’s General Secretariat requests the lawmakers not to testify and reminds the judge of the rules on parliamentary immunity as stipulated in the bylaws of parliament.
October 9
Families of the kidnapped soldiers and policemen protest in front of both PM Tammam Salam’s residence and the Ministry of the Interior and Municipalities.
US Embassy in Beirut is to provide the Lebanese Army with laserguided projectiles.
October 10
The civil movement protests near the residence of General Prosecutor Samir Hammoud and the Helou Barracks urging the release of the detainees.
Former MP and Minister Elias Skaff dies at the age of 67.
October 11
Supporters of The Free Patriotic Movement flock to Baabda and General Michel Aoun stresses in his speech that he only thwarts wrong decisions and supports the election of a president who keeps his head high. Aoun adds that the change begins with parliamentary elections based on proportionality and revives the October 13 memory and the Syrian army’s invasion of the Baabda Palace.
MP Walid Jumblatt emphasizes his support for Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq noting that some of the civil movement groups have become rioters.
Speaker Nabih Berri arrives in Romania on an official visit and announces that the national dialogue is the only ray of hope at this stage. Berri assures that PM Tammam Salam will not resign and there will not be any elections without proportionality.
PM Tammam Salam holds a meeting at the Grand Serail with the Interior and Agriculture Ministers as well as the head of the Council for Development and Reconstruction to complete discussions over the garbage plan.
Hezbollah lays its military leader Hassan Hussein al-Hajj to rest in the southern town of Louaizeh after his death in battle in Syria.
The military judiciary releases five protesters from the civil movement and keeps another five in custody.
Baalbeck’s merchants protest at the prevailing insecurity by blocking roads.
In a ceremony held to launch the Marada Movement’s new website, MP Suleiman Frangieh says he is committed to his alliance with Aoun noting that Aoun’s presidential candidacy does not bother him.
MPs Ziad Aswad and Jamal Jarrah do not testify before the Financial Prosecutor as previously agreed.
Valerie Abou Chacra voted Miss Lebanon 2015.
October 13
MP General Michel Aoun tells Al-Jadeed Television that there won’t be a return to the Cabinet before the appointment of a new Army Commander, a Security Council and a Chief of the Internal Security Forces.
The civil movement stages a protest near the military court after Judge Riad Ghaida’s refusal to release the five detainees.
October 14
Members of the Safwan family drown after the boat carrying them from Turkey to Greece sank in the Mediterranean.
Hezbollah’s Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah says during his Ashura speech that hindering the political solutions will only exacerbate problems.
The funeral procession of former MP and Minister Elias Skaff leaves Beirut to Zahle and Skaff’s wife, Myriam, assures that his house will remain open to everyone. Heavy machine gun rounds mark the funeral.
MP Walid Jumblatt meets King Suleiman and former PM Saad Hariri in Saudi Arabia.
October 15
Brigadier General Shamel Roukuz says during a solidarity rally held in the Martyrs Square to honor him that he will never retire from public service because struggle and patriotism are not only restricted to a uniform or a position.
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon sets the start of the trial of Ibrahim el-Amin and al-Akhbar newspaper on January 28, 2018.
October 16
Head of the National Security Committee in Iran’s Parliament, Alaeddine Boroujerdi, arrives in Lebanon and meets PM Tammam Salam, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hezbollah’s Secretary General and a delegation of Palestinian factions and reiterates Iran’s readiness to supply the Lebanese Army with weapons. Boroujerdi says he hopes to visit Baabda’s presidential palace soon.
During a gathering marking the third anniversary of the assassination of Brigadier General Wissam Hassan, Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq threatens to resign, stressing that the disruption of the Cabinet activity has become unbearable and urging General Michel Aoun to forego his stiff attitude. MP Marwan Hamadeh calls on Hariri to return to Lebanon and implicitly criticizes MP Walid Jumblatt.
Mohammad Mehrez sets himself on fire in front of the military court in a protest against the detention of Civil Movement activists Waref Suleiman and Pierre Hachach.
October 17
Speaker Nabih Berri elected Head of the Arab Parliamentary Union and his term will start in the beginning of March.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants meets the Iranian President in Iran.
October 18
In a speech commemorating the death of a leading Hezbollah figure Hassan Hussein al-Hajj, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah says he refuses to be blackmailed, adding that Hezbollah is deliberating its persistence in dialogue with Hezbollah and reiterating commitment to the government despite its sluggish performance.
PM Tammam Salam says the situation is heading downhill and if there is no possible way to make the government convene, it is pointless for it to stay in power.
In a speech in Btouratij on the anniversary of assassination of Brigadier General Wissam Hassan, Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi describes Hezbollah as a ‘big lie’ noting that the issue of promotions has ended with a harsh blow to Aoun.
MP Walid Jumblatt tweets in response to MP Marwan Hamadeh’s statements, which accused him of abandoning his allies midway.
October 19
First Military Investigative Judge Riad Abou Ghaida releases Civil Movement activists Waref Suleiman and Pierre Hachach.
Speaker Nabih Berri returns to Lebanon after a visit to Romania and Switzerland.
October 20
Parliament convenes a short session during which it re-elects the members of the parliamentary committees and Speaker Nabih Berri urges the holding of a legislative session to avoid the elimination of Lebanon from the World Bank’s list of beneficiaries.
The Future Parliamentary Bloc adheres to both the dialogue and the government, deeming the talks of Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq an alarming call.
The military court postpones the trial of Sheikh Ahmad El-Assir until January 5, 2016 after his defense lawyer presented formal objections before the court.
October 21
The 30th session schedule to elect a President of the Republic adjourned until November 11 due to the lack of quorum.
The bodies of seven members of the Safwan family arrive at the Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport following their failed attempt illegally immigrating to Greece.
Hezbollah’s Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem slams the Future Movement, urging it to revise its policy instead of blaming the problems it has caused on others.
October 22
PM Tammam Salam warns of taking the inadequate decision if the deadlock in the garbage issue is to continue.
The General Security arrests a high-ranking official of the Islamic State extremist group in Ain el-Helwe Camp in Lebanon. The suspect confesses to having plotted a wave of attacks targeting a number of Lebanese figures and places, particularly during the Ashura commemorations in the Southern Suburbs.
An individual clash in Chiyyah develops into shooting resulting in the death of a citizen from stray bullets.
Speaker Nabih Berri says efforts are under way to convene a legislative session.
Head of the French Senate Gerard Larcher arrives in Lebanon and reiterates France’s unwavering support for Lebanon.
The Military Cassation Court postpones the trial of former minister Michel Samaha until November 26.
The Civil Movement stages a protest in front of EDL and Sukleen refusing the extension of Sukleen’s contracts.
October 23
Hezbollah’s Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah makes a live appearance at the Sayyed Ashuhadaa Compound and delivers a speech in which he attacks Saudi Arabia and says the US is leading all the battles in the region.
Minister of the Interior and Municipalities Nouhad Mashnouq reveals after meeting Berri that the latter has vowed to follow up on Tripoli’s security plan.
October 24
During his speech on the Day of Ashura, Hezbollah’s Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah reiterates adherence to dialogue and urges politicians not to bet on external forces.
During Amal Movement’s Ashura march, Minister Ali Hassan Khalil says only dialogue can bring the Sunni and the Shia’a together.
October 25
Heavy rains wash through the piles of garbage, littering the streets of Beirut and Mount Lebanon and blocking drainpipes.
Demonstrators rally in front of PM Tamam Salam’s residence demanding him to solve the garbage crisis.
October 26
The national dialogue committee convenes and resumes discussions over the characteristics of the president of the republic in the absence of MP Walid Jumblatt, former PM Fouad Seniora and Minister Boutros Harb. The Phalanges Party boycotts the session and the committee schedules its next session for November 3.
Saudi Prince arrested at the Beirut Airport for attempting to smuggle two million Captagon capsules to Saudi Arabia.
Former PM Saad Hariri responds to Nasrallah saying “we will not grant Hezbollah the chance to abort the dialogue and we will not forgive its grave track record in Lebanon and the region.”
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve checks on Syrian refugees during his visit to Lebanon and promises to help Lebanon weather the refugee crisis.
Teachers and public employees go on strike at the invitation of the Union Coordination Committee.
October 27
Parliament’s Bureau Committee convenes to discuss the agenda of the legislative session and adjourns discussions till next Tuesday.
The Amal-Lebanese Forces alliance wins the elections of the Casino du Liban Syndicate five to two against the Marada and the Free Patriotic Movement. A total of 653 employees participated in the elections.
Saudi ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Assiri announces after visiting Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouq that the Saudi Prince’s case is in the custody of the Lebanese hudiciary.
Hezbollah lays to rest three of its fighters in Syria.
October 28
Government and parliamentary deliberations flare up to ensure the disbursement of the salaries of the Lebanese Army members before the end of the month.
Heavy rains result in suffocating traffic in Beirut.
Patriarch al-Rai says from Rome “PM Tammam Salam is not as reckless as to tender his resignation and throw the country into the unknown.”
October 29
The civil society light candles during a silent ‘white march’ from the Mathaf area to Ain el-Mreisseh demanding solutions to the garbage crisis.
LF leader Samir Geagea says Iran is complicating the presidential elections in Lebanon adding that the LF and Aoun will not participate in any legislative sessions that do not prioritize the discussion of electoral law.
October 30
In a night meeting held at the Grand serial, ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Hussein Hajj Hassan inform PM Tammam Salam that Hezbollah and the Amal Movement will provide a landfill for the Southern Suburbs of Beirut. The Cabinet is likely to convene early next week to settle the garbage issue.
“We refuse to rupture the relations with Hezbollah,” says MP Bahiya Hariri in Saida.
Security Forces foil an attempt to smuggle 230 kilos of Captgaon to Qatar.
The Military Court postpones the trial of terrorist Naim Abbas until next July.
October 31
MP Talal Erslan rejects Costa Brava landfill and meets ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Hussein Hajj Hassan for this purpose.
Army Commander Jean Qahwaji reiterates the need to pay the salaries of the military and the government vows to ensure the payment within 24 hours.
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi slams General Michel Aoun.
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