The designated Prime Minister of Lebanon, Nawaf Salam (on the right), received by the Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri at Aïn el-Tiné, on January 17, 2025. (Credit: Hassan Ibrahim/Flickr account of the Parliament.)
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam arrived at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Ain al-Tineh to meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. This visit had not been announced by the state-run National News Agency (NNA) or on the official X account of the Grand Serail.
According to another statement released after the meeting by NNA, the two men discussed the latest political and on-the-ground developments, in light of Israel's continued violations of the cease-fire agreement and its attacks on Lebanon. On the sidelines of this meeting, Lebanese media reported that the U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, was expected to arrive in Beirut in the coming hours, amid heightened security tensions following two Israeli strikes targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut in recent days.
In addition to security concerns, Lebanon must also prepare to meet with representatives from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington this April to discuss the reforms the country must undertake in order to qualify for an IMF aid program.