Mikati meets with several officials, discusses conflict escalation in Lebanon

BEIRUT — Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati met on Thursday with several Lebanese Ministers, departments and relevant institutions at the Grand Serail to discuss their readiness for a potential escalation of the conflict with Israel, the premier's media office said. 

Mikati received a delegation from the Food Importers Syndicate in Lebanon, headed by Hani Bohsali, who assured Mikati that people have not been stockpiling items, adding that "there are goods available to everyone."

"The most important thing is for the port to remain open," Bohsali said, adding that his syndicate is "not allowing anyone to raise prices, and we are working as a syndicate and merchants to distribute our goods in all Lebanese regions."

"The situation is not stable and this has affected the tourism situation, but despite that, the Lebanese are still optimistic and some of them are still coming, albeit in small numbers, and we hope to continue the season this summer," he also said. 

The caretaker premier assured "the continuation of diplomatic efforts to prevent the war from expanding."

Mikati also received Tourism Minister Walid Nassar and "discussed with him the current situation and possible measures by the ministries to withstand this difficult reality that Lebanon is going through," Mikati's media office said. 

He also met with the Director General of the Internal Security Forces, Major General Imad Othman, and discussed with him the overall developments and security situation in the country.

Hezbollah has been exchanging cross-border fire with the Israeli army daily for nearly 10 months in support of Hamas in Gaza. Fears of a regional flare-up are intensifying, with Iran and its allies having promised to retaliate for the assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, attributed to Israel, and the Hezbollah military chief Fouad Shukur in an Israeli strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut.