Gebran Bassil, head of the Free Patriotic Movement, warns that tensions in Middle East could spark a refugee crisis in Europe
into a “belt of fire,” warns Gebran Bassil, head of the Free Patriotic Movement, one of the most powerful parties in the Lebanese parliament. A Maronite Christian who has served as Lebanon’s foreign minister and energy minister, he is the son-in-law of Michel Aoun, the country’s president until his term ended last year.
Mr. Bassil spoke to The Globe and Mail from his home high in the northern Lebanese mountains, next to a ski resort and overlooking a development of luxury villas.It’s a stronghold of exposed wood and thick timber beams that sits a world apart from the difficult circumstances for many in the country, not least roughly 1.5 million Syrian refugees, many of whom arrived after the start of Syria’s civil war in 2011. Roughly 90 per cent of them live in what the United Nations calls extreme poverty.
Lebanon’s political establishment has spoken out against the prospect of escalation with Israel, with caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati saying this week that, “it’s of no one’s interest to open a front from southern Lebanon because the Lebanese are unable to bear the repercussions of a new war.”
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
U.K. prime minister lands in Israel, warns against escalation of Israel-Hamas warBritish Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks to the media after landing at Ben Gurion international airport in Lod, Near Tel Aviv, Israel October 19, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
Read more »
On Israel-Lebanon border, families flee on both sides as as violence flaresExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »
On Israel-Lebanon border, families flee on both sides as as violence flaresExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »
Morning Update: Israel in final preparation to invade Gaza, faces threat from Yemen and Lebanon militantsThe U.S. says a Navy warship in the Red Sea shot down missiles and drones from Yemen toward Israel, and Hamas says it has attacked from Lebanon
Read more »
Israel pounds Gaza, evacuates town near Lebanon ahead of expected ground offensive against HamasA Palestinian boy walks with his belongings at the site of Israeli strikes on a house, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip October 20, 2023. REUTERS/xx
Read more »
Israel to evacuate residents of town near Lebanon border after flare upExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »