'Outskirts Dawn' successful operation

President of the republic, Michel Aoun, on Thursday maintained that the "Dawn of the Outskirts" offensive, carried out by the Lebanese army against Daesh terrorists in the peripheries of Ras Baalback and al-Qaa, was a successful military operation.

"The army proved high efficiency, and it has liberated the majority of the occupied Lebanese lands," Aoun told a Cabinet session at Beiteddine summer presidential palace.

"There is only a small area that is left; the army will work on liberating it at the right moment," he said.

Aoun also highlighted the necessity to provide the required equipment and aid to the Lebanese military.

It is to note that conferees observed a minute of silence in tribute to the military martyrs.

On a different note, the President underlined the obligation to endorse the state budget in order to activate the work of the government.

Tackling the visit of Iraqi Vice President Ayad Allawi to Beirut, Aoun informed the Cabinet that Allawi had suggested that Lebanon host a conference on coexistence.

"Allawi also expressed his country's readiness to help Lebanon resolve the issue of the debts of the Lebanese in Iraq," he added.

Furthermore, Aoun reiterated his wish to solicit rendering Lebanon a world center for religions and civilizations' dialogue, before the United Nations during his presence in New York next month.

In addition, the President tasked Education Minister Marwan Hamade with launching a dialogue campaign between the private schools and the teachers, in light of the freshly-approved salary scale.

Moreover, Aoun indicated that he would work with the Ministry of Culture to rehabilitate Beiteddine palace.

For his part, Prime Minister Saad Hariri informed the Cabinet of the outcome of his fresh inspection of the Lebanese military outposts on the eastern borders, hailing the professional performance and the high spirits of the army.

"The army is now deployed in places that nobody has ever been," he said.

He also maintained that the army would deploy in the liberated areas and would set up observation centers and reinforcements.

"As a government, we must work on providing those needs," he stressed

Source: NNA