⋯ FPM leader Gebran Bassil tweeted:

“What was necessary has finally happened: the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and soon Syria. This will lead to a wave of stability throughout the region including Lebanon; God save us from [Lebanese] vandals [thieves, saboteurs]... But no solution to our crises will come from outside if we do not take the initiative at home to develop solutions without holding grudges and obstructing.” (...)

Gebran Bassil is the leader of the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM).

⋯ Until now, there was no reaction by the Lebanese Forces party (LF) or its leader Samir Geagea.

⋯ I could not find a reaction by prominent Sunni politicians too.

⋯ Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal al-Saud to Al-Arabiya: “Lebanon needs a Lebanese rapprochement not an Iranian-Saudi rapprochement.”

His remark relates to the presidential election deadlock, and echoes what Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Gebran Bassil have said recently.

⋯ Ashraf Rifi (Saudi-aligned) tweeted:

“The restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in accordance with the pledge of non-interference can be a real start in the region, if the mullahs are convinced that the policy of imposing guardianship over states through the construction of militias and shaking stability has fallen irretrievably. (...) We hope that the date of 10/03/2023 will be the end of the Iranian adventure that ruined the region.”

Rifi was the chief of the Internal Security Forces in 2005–2013. He broke ranks with Hariri in 2016—ousting his party from Tripoli—in a bid to win over Sunni politics. Staunchly anti-Hezbullah, he ‘allied’ with Geagea in Tripoli to win the seat of (outgoing) Mikati last year. His brother got a 10-year prison sentence in absentia for spying for Israel.

⋯ Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said today that there is a “glimmer of hope”.

“Yes, we were sure that the will of convergence and consensus must be victorious, ‘and do not dispute with one another, or you would be discouraged and weakened’ [Quran 8:46]. (...) I congratulate KSA, IRI, and the leaders of the two countries for completing this historic, strategic agreement.”

He concluded: “We renew the sincere call to all political forces in Lebanon to quickly take the initiative to converge on controversial issues and achieve our constitutional duties, foremost of which is the election of a president of the Republic (...) to prove our brothers that we have reached the age of national maturity and are truly sovereign and worthy of Lebanon.”

⚽ The final of the Premier League turned into a battlefield!

Beirut's Al-Ahed football club was winning 3—⁠2 against Al-Ansar, when the match was stopped in Jounieh... Unhappy supporters broke off plastic chairs that were bolted to the stadium, after the security forces foiled their attempt to storm the field.

Al-Ahed was crowned champion of the Lebanese Premier League for the 9th time, but there was no award ceremony.

⋯ More footage

Head of Jounieh Municipality to MTV:

“We will not close the Fouad Chehab Complex for football matches. The chairs can be fixed, but what can't be fixed are the mentalities. The clubs that did not calm their supporters bare responsibility for what happened.”