Blinken met first with Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, whose economically and politically ravaged country is home to Hezbollah — an Iranian-backed force hostile to Israel.

Source: https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/blinken-tries-to-cajole-wary-arabs-on-support-for-post-conflict-gaza-as-israels-war-intensifies/

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati declared three days of national mourning after the announcement.

Source: https://english.almanar.com.lb/1760970

“It’s on Israel to stop provoking Hezbollah,” Mikati said in the interview.

Source: https://www.politico.eu/article/lebanese-hold-their-breath-as-fears-grow-hezbollah-will-pull-them-into-war/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication

Mikati angered many Lebanese when he decided last Thursday not to start daylight savings time over the last weekend of March but instead to roll clocks forward an hour on April 20.

Source: https://gazette.com/news/us-world/lebanons-cabinet-reverses-decision-to-delay-daylight-savings-time/article_aa8ee776-3b90-5a84-befa-253378bbeafb.html

Mr. Mikati called for an end to the fighting saying that what is happening in Ein el-Hilweh “does not serve the Palestinian cause and is harmful to the Lebanese state.”

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/clashes-resume-in-largest-palestinian-refugee-camp-in-lebanon-killing-3-and-wounding-10/article67289842.ece

We are proud to contribute to advancing payment solutions in the countries where we operate, and in partnership with Mastercard,” said Maher Mikati, CEO, Areeba.

Source: https://mid-east.info/mastercard-partners-with-areeba-to-enable-modern-payment-platforms-for-fintechs-in-the-middle-east/