Lebanon's Army Deploys Helicopter to Put out Massive Fires

On Saturday, a massive fire broke out in Lebanon's city of Jbeil and spread over an area of more than 70,000 meters, according to LBCI local TV channel.

Lebanon's civil defense personnel from Jbeil, Batroun, Keserwan and people from neighboring villages rushed to the village of Bentael to help put off the fire while water companies distributed water in support for their efforts.

They also brought an army helicopters to contribute to putting out the fires that reached not only houses but also a number of plastic agricultural tents. No casualties have been recorded.

Massive fires erupted earlier this month in forests in southern and northern Lebanon due to the rise in temperature.

On Thursday, the newly-designate Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri vowed to form a new government as soon as possible in order to halt the country’s economic collapse, calling it a “last opportunity” to save the country hit by multiple political and financial crises.

In a brief statement, Hariri pledged a government of non-partisan specialists tasked with implementing economic, financial and administrative reform according to a French initiative that was endorsed by mainstream Lebanese politicians.

“I say to Lebanese who are suffering hardship to the point of despair, I intend to keep my promise, to work on stopping the collapse that threatens our economy, society and security,” Hariri added.

Hariri won by a simple majority Thursday, securing a total of 65 votes out of 120 lawmakers polled by President Michel Aoun amid sharp pisions over the shape of the Cabinet that Hariri is expected to form.