Mikati and Hamieh Address Infrastructure and Security Concerns at Key Meeting.

Beirut: Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, on Friday convened with Caretaker Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Ali Hamieh, at the Grand Serail to discuss critical infrastructure issues and ongoing challenges facing Lebanon. According to National news agency - Lebanon, Minister Hamieh outlined that the meeting was a routine update on the Ministry's activities, focusing on operations at Rafik Hariri International Airport and the maritime routes connecting Tripoli Port to Beirut and Sidon Ports. He stressed that all facilities in Lebanon, including land crossings, are compliant with national laws and are managed in collaboration with administrative and security agencies. Hamieh also addressed the impact of a recent airstrike on Baalbek and nearby villages, noting the adversity faced by residents and displaced persons. He emphasized that the Prime Minister assured additional measures would be implemented, involving continuous monitoring and the formation of a small committee from the South Leban on Council. This committee, which includes Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan, will coordinate with the Government's Emergency Committee, Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, and the Union of Municipalities to address issues in real time. In response to inquiries about a parliamentary statement regarding closed doors at Beirut Airport, Hamieh clarified that he had fulfilled his duties in accordance with the law, providing necessary explanations. He reiterated that Lebanon's maritime ports, international airport, and land crossings are national assets under the protection and oversight of Lebanese citizens, the Ministry of Public Works, and relevant agencies, not subject to individual or sectarian ownership.