During a visit to Beirut, Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi announced a new aid package for Lebanon, including $40 million dedicated to the electricity sector, alongside development, and humanitarian initiatives.
President Aoun reaffirmed the importance of Qatar’s support and expressed gratitude for Doha’s continued role in the country’s stability. Addressing security issues, Aoun noted that the Lebanese Army (LAF) continues to carry out its missions south of the Litani River, while Israeli violations persist in southern villages and occasionally extend into the Bekaa region.
Ahead of the February meeting of the ceasefire monitoring “mechanism,” Aoun stressed the need for Israel’s cooperation to ensure full implementation of UN Resolution 1701, emphasizing that the army requires equipment, vehicles, and other resources to fulfill its duties.
Minister al-Khulaifi underscored that Lebanon remains a priority for Qatar and announced initiatives to support voluntary Syrian refugee returns, as well as programs in education, health, and energy. He highlighted progress in bilateral economic discussions and reaffirmed Doha’s backing of the LAF as a “central national institution.”
In addition to his meeting with President Aoun, Al-Khulaifi met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Grand Serail.
During a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, Al-Khulaifi detailed the aid package, which includes 185 scholarships for Lebanese youth, an economic project in the electricity sector, the reconstruction of the Quarantine Hospital damaged in the Beirut port explosion, and $20 million for the first phase of the voluntary refugee return program.
“The time has come for Lebanon to recover, reconnect with growth, and progress,” al-Khulaifi said, praising the warm reception from Lebanese officials and reiterating that Lebanon’s stability is essential for regional stability.
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