Title: Stagnation Expands... Failure to Appoint Chief of Staff for the Lebanese Army

All indicators suggest that matters are at a standstill, whether in electing a president for the republic or extending the term of the army commander. Information indicates that all efforts have failed, especially those made by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in an attempt to appoint a chief of staff for the Lebanese army, who is to come from the Druze sect. Despite former minister Walid Jumblatt and all members of the Democratic Gathering striving to fill this important position, the Resistance team informed Mikati that what happened with Major General Abbas Ibrahim—where no Shiite replacement was appointed and Major General Elias Bessari took over as the new head of the General Security—also applies to the Central Bank, where Deputy Governor Wassim Mansouri assumed the position of governor, as well as the leadership of the Internal Security Forces and the head of administrative affairs. Consequently, the prospect of extending the term of Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and the appointment of a chief of staff for the Lebanese army has been shelved. Lebanon will face a significant vacuum if a president is not elected by the upcoming New Year in 2024. Additionally, the caretaker prime minister and his ministers are focusing on how to address social issues if circumstances evolve, particularly if there are displacements of residents from the south. For his part, former MP Walid Jumblatt called for a cessation of all disputes and a focus on everyday matters, as he instructed party members in the mountain region to open all institutions if there is an influx of Lebanese from the south.