Lebanon
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6 killed in Israeli drone strike in Lebanon near eastern border with Syria

Six people were killed and two injured in Lebanon on Saturday in an Israeli drone strike in the area of Janata near the eastern border with Syria, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it struck “Hezbollah operatives” who “were operating in a strategic weapons manufacturing and storage site” belonging to the militant group.

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Army says began responding to gunfire from Syria at Aoun's orders

The Lebanese Army said it had responded to incoming fire from across the Syrian border on Saturday, two days after the new authorities in Damascus said they had launched operations against smugglers in the area.

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EU urges 'reform-oriented agenda' from Lebanon's new govt.

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas on Saturday warmly congratulated Lebanon on the formation of a new government, wishing Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and the entire government "full success in delivering on the aspirations of the Lebanese people."

"I extend my congratulations in particular to Youssef Rajji for his appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, and look forward to engaging with him," she added.

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Who are the ministers of the new government?

Below are the names of the new government’s ministers as announced by Council of Ministers Secretary-General Mahmoud Makkiyeh:

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UN welcomes 'brighter chapter' as crisis-hit Lebanon forms government

The United Nations welcomed the formation of a new government in Lebanon on Saturday, which ended more than two years under a caretaker cabinet.

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US Embassy welcomes formation of new government

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut on Saturday welcomed the formation of a new government in Lebanon, despite the latest remarks by Deputy U.S. Envoy for Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who warned against Hezbollah’s participation in the new cabinet.

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New Lebanese government announced from Baabda

Lebanon's prime minister named a new government on Saturday, the presidency announced, after an agreement was reached to appoint Fadi Makki as the so-called "fifth Shiite minister." Makki will serve as State Minister for Administrative Development.

Premier Nawaf Salam vowed to "restore confidence between citizens and the state, between Lebanon and its Arab surroundings, and between Lebanon and the international community" and to implement reforms needed to bring the country out of an extended economic crisis.

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Salam may visit Baabda amid reported progress on '5th Shiite minister'

The atmosphere is positive regarding the naming of the so-called “fifth Shiite minister” in the new cabinet and PM-designate Nawaf Salam might visit the Baabda Palace in the afternoon, MTV reported on Saturday.

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Aoun and al-Sharaa seek to calm border clashes

President Joseph Aoun and Syria's interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa discussed fighting that has broken out on the border between the two countries “and agreed to coordinate to control the situation and prevent targeting civilians,” Aoun’s office said in a statement.

Clashes have been ongoing for three days between Syrian security forces and Lebanese clans in the border area.

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Hezbollah's Raad slams comments by US official as 'blatant interference'

The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, slammed comments by visiting U.S. official Morgan Ortagus on Friday as "blatant interference" in Lebanon's affairs.

Ortagus's statement was "full of malice and irresponsibility" and attacked a component of "Lebanese political life", Raad said in a statement, adding that the remarks amounted to "blatant interference in Lebanon's sovereignty".

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