Category: GENERAL

The Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has soared to 20,057, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said on Friday. At least 53,320 others were injured in the Israeli attacks since Oct. 7, the ministry added. "At least 390 people have been killed and 734 others have been injured in the last 48 hours in which communications were disrupted in the Gaza Strip," it said in a statement. Source: National News Agency-Lebanon

The "Islamic Resistance" on Friday issued the following statement: "In support of our resilient Palestinian people in Gaza and in solidarity with their brave and honorable resistance, the Islamic Resistance targeted, at 8:30 am on Friday, December 22, 2023, the gatherings of enemy soldiers in the vicinity of the Shomera barracks (the occupied Lebanese village of Tarbikha) with missile and artillery fire, resulting in direct hits." Source: National News Agency-Lebanon

The Israeli enemy's artillery on Friday shelled the outskirts of Tayr Harfa and the Hamoul region in the western sector. Source: National News Agency-Lebanon

MENAFATF published Lebanon's Mutual Evaluation Report (MER) on AML/CFT measures, after having discussed and adopted the MER in its May 2023 plenary meeting, and subsequently endorsing in its December plenary meeting amendments to the MER as requested by the FATF. The MER indicates that Lebanon scored acceptable results on technical compliance in thirty four recommendations out of the FATF forty recommendations whereby 'Compliant' or 'Largely Compliant' ratings were achieved. In the six other recommendations where improvements are needed, Lebanon received 'Partially-Compliant' ratings, thus necessitating some legislative amendments. As for the eleven immediate outcomes that measure effectiveness, the MER indicated in nine immediate outcomes in which Lebanon received 'moderate' level of effectiveness ratings that the country's AML/CFT regime delivered some positive results that require further strengthening in areas covering; risk identification, international cooperation, supervision and other measures prim arily for the non-financial sector, legal persons and arrangements along with beneficial ownership, parallel financial investigations and targeted financial sanctions with respect to UNSCRs. The remaining two immediate outcomes in which Lebanon received 'low' level of effectiveness ratings are mainly associated with insufficient confiscation of criminal proceeds and assets, in addition to shortcomings related to money laundering prosecutions and convictions that need to be more commensurate with the country risks, and for which proportionate and dissuasive sanctions are needed. Lebanon was evaluated based on the FATF assessment methodology that is applied across all jurisdictions, whereby the evaluation process was carried out under known exceptional circumstances that continue to prevail. Nevertheless, as in all jurisdictions, the necessary corrective measures need a whole-of-government approach to be implemented by the concerned domestic competent authorities. As the national coordinator for the assessment process, the Special Investigation Commission (SIC) shall apprise the Speaker of the Parliament and the Prime Minister of the MER outcome so as to communicate to each concerned domestic competent authority the corrective measures needed to improve the effectiveness of Lebanon's AML/CFT regime. Henceforth; Lebanon will be required to submit to MENAFATF progress reports during 2024 that will be discussed and decided upon in its plenary meetings. Source: National News Agency-Lebanon

In the early hours on Friday, Israeli forces conducted artillery shelling from their positions in Berkit Risha, targeting the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab. Concurrently, reconnaissance aircraft were observed flying over villages adjacent to the Blue Line, extending towards the Tyre region. Overnight, the enemy also deployed incendiary and illuminating bombs into the forests near the Blue Line on the peripheries of Naqoura and Alma al-Shaab towns. This escalation has led to a surge in displacement, especially following the targeting of residential areas by the Israeli forces, resulting in civilian casualties. Meanwhile, the situation along the southern Lebanese region remains tense. Source: National News Agency-Lebanon