Report: Hariri to Donate $15 Million to Aid Arsal Residents

Head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri informed Prime Minister Tammam Salam of his intention to make a personal donation to aid the residents of the northeastern town of Arsal who were affected by the army's clashes with Islamists earlier this week, reported al-Liwaa newspaper on Saturday.

It said that he has decided to donate 15 million dollars to the town.

The funds will go to constructing houses damaged in the unrest, as well as restoring infrastructure in the area.

Al-Liwaa explained that the infrastructure is suffering from the town's harboring of some 30,000 Syrian refugees.

Clashes broke out between the army and Islamists on August 2 following the military's arrest of prominent al-Nusra Front member Imad Jomaa.

Scores of soldiers were killed and wounded in the unrest and heavy damage was incurred in Arsal.

Saudi Arabia announced later during the week a billion dollar grant to the army to help it combat terrorism.

Hariri made his surprise return to Lebanon on Friday in order to manage the spending of the grant.

The former premier had repeatedly claimed that his three-year absence in Lebanon was due to security reasons.

M.T.

D.A.