The Cabinet began its session on Tuesday afternoon with a 30-point agenda, which may include an off-agenda item: the future of the students who have passed the military academy entrance exam successfully.

At the beginning of the session, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that "no matter how high the level of concern over the security situation in the south and the threat of Israel launching a war against Lebanon, our interests remain focused on not expanding the war."

"Some of the scenarios being circulated in the media for supposed negotiations for the post-war period in south [Lebanon] are inaccurate or do not accurately reflect the reality of the initial dialogues that took place," Mikati added. Many media platforms have been anticipating a full-scale war between Lebanon and Israel once the one in Gaza is stopped.

Commenting on the presidential stalemate, Mikati said, "Constitutional stability is achieved through the election of a president. Political differences should not prevent the Lebanese from showing solidarity to quickly save our country from the dangers that threaten it."

Commenting on Lebanon's electricity issue, Mikati said, "We are also in the process of taking measures to address urgent developments in the electricity file."

Electricity du Liban (EDL) confirmed on Monday that the Deir Ammar power plant, one of the country's two operational power plants, has "temporarily ceased operations" since July 6, while the Zahrani plant has "partially suspended operations" since Sunday due to financial constraints. Despite alarms raised by various parties, a source within the Energy Ministry stated that the plants should be supplied with power again on Tuesday.

Mikati also confirmed that what the Telegraph newspaper reported about the Rafik Hariri International Airport hoarding Hezbollah arms "falls within the framework of the rumors and psychological warfare being waged against Lebanon." It is "incorrect, and we are conducting diplomatic dialogues regarding it to rectify the matter."

Military academy item

This issue has created a long-standing dispute between Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and caretaker Defense Minister Maurice Slim, who is aligned with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM). The FPM refuses to endorse the selection of 118 out of roughly 800 candidates announced by the Military Council led by Aoun in November. Slim believes the results did not meet the "criteria for choosing an army officer, whether in terms of education level or personal skills and abilities."

Slim is calling for a new session to admit 55 additional recruits on top of the 118 already accepted, as the government permitted the army command in September 2023 to select 173 candidates.

Slim arrived at the Grand Serail on Tuesday and met with Mikati and a number of ministers ahead of the cabinet session, in which he did not participate.

"I explained to [the Army Commander] how I could save the [military academy] course and add 55 officer cadets to the 118 accepted officers. The number will be completed in accordance with the cabinet's decision, which could approve 173 officer cadets, and thus the army and security institutions would gain an additional 55 officer cadets."

This issue is not the only point of contention between Aoun and Slim. They also disagree on the appointment of Chief of Staff Hassan Aoude, which Slim refuses to endorse, and on the composition of the Military Court of Cassation. The latter differ on whether a law degree is necessary for positions within this court.

Asked whether he was boycotting the government by not attending the session, Slim said that this "is a constitutional position. I am in regular meetings with the Prime Minister and colleagues, and I attend all consultative meetings. We do not boycott the government, we are part of it and we exercise our responsibilities in our ministries."

Qatari Donation and Retired Military Pensions

Among the thirty agenda items are discussions on accepting a financial donation from Qatar to the Lebanese army and pensions for retired military personnel.

Requests from various ministers related to their portfolios will also be considered. Caretaker Information Minister Ziad Makary is seeking to have journalists killed in the Hezbollah-Israel conflict recognized as "martyrs" eligible for compensation from the South Council. Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi is requesting funds for "classified" projects by the General Security Directorate.

The government will also be asked to approve family allowance evaluations and distributions by caretaker Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram. The Cabinet will also address maintenance costs for the customs scanner at Beirut port (under the Transport Ministry) and repairs to the Education Ministry building.

The Council will also discuss the resignations of the chairmen of the boards of two government hospitals (Bint Jbeil and Ehden). If necessary, Health Minister Firas Abiad will be tasked with ensuring "continuity of public service," according to the document published by the General Secretariat of the Cabinet.