Pierre Balanian

Israeli television correspondent reveals phases of Muhammad Al Zuari’s death. The Tunisian engineer lived in Syria and was linked to the radical Palestinian movement. According to intelligence he was perfecting a drones system for Hamas and Hezbollah, capable of transporting explosives. Others talk of remote-controlled submarines.

Michel Aoun gets the necessary votes to become president of Lebanon

It’s almost certain that Gen. Aoun will be elected new president of Lebanon during the session slated for 31 October. He is supported by Saad Hariri, Hezbollah, the Lebanese Forces. His party has good relations with Christians, Shiites and Sunnis. Jumblatt Druze dubious. Nabih Berri and Amal say no. Surprise silence of Saudi Arabia. The first president to have been "Made in Lebanon".

The Israeli air force strikes Syrian army positions in response to a mortar shell. Tensions between Syria and the Jewish state along the borders in the Golan are growing. Local sources say Israel is directly involved in the conflict with air strikes, artillery shelling and supplying weapons to the mujahedeen.

The local ancient community, boosted by genocide survivors, strongly rejects the idea of ​​emigrating. After pushing out Islamic State fighters, the city lives a serious humanitarian crisis. A Christian leader says "The world cannot forget us." Armenians mediate between Kurdish and government forces. Various groups are "determined to fight" Turkish troops.

Syrian Regular forces, with the help of allies, continue to advance south of the city. Tunnels used by Islamic extremist groups to bring men and weapons have been neutralised. After ceasefire talks fail, fighting continues. Washington uses Kurds and Turks to protect its interests, waiting for the next president, whilst the Russians want to maximise their military successes.

Tanks have invaded the town across the border, in Syrian territory. Ankara "wants to hit Islamic state militants" but jihadists have already left the area. The Turkish goal is Syria’s Kurds to block the emergence of an autonomous enclave. A game of alliances is being played with the US and Turkey in a tug-of-war.

New appeal of the head of the Maronite Church for the election of the head of state, vacant for over two years. But the 43rd parliamentary session, which took place yesterday, ended with yet another postponement. The cardinal was inaugurating an amphitheater dedicated to the Armenian martyr Ignatius Maloyian. He spoke of the genocide and the witness of faith of the Armenians and the "new genocide" of the Christians of the Middle East.

Ahmad Al Tayyeb offers condolences to the French president, the archbishop of Rouen, the victims' families and to the whole of France. The assailants "devoid of any sense of humanity." In Islam "there is the order to respect the sacred places of worship and the sanctity of non-Muslims”. Counter terrorism means also fighting “extremist thought” in Islam.

Parliamentarians call on the UN and the international community to have every country recognise this as a crime against humanity. Turkey is accused of being "colonialist at its base, founded on gigantic crimes". Egypt had documents showing the Ottoman Empire's intention to eliminate the Armenians, but they were torched in Alexandria on Erdogan’s direct orders.

As local residents are removed, Islamic State fighters begin digging in ahead of an Iraqi army attack. In al-Shirqat, resistance groups blow pole with the caliphate flag.

The pope did not waver from calling evil by its name, recognising the right of the Armenian people to remember. However, remembrance can no longer be an end in itself; it must become the vocation of the Armenian people and Diaspora. Armenians must become ambassadors and a bridge between cultures they met after the genocide, working for peace and religious coexistence. A Diaspora Armenian writes.