Saudi Arabia says it supports the Lebanese government’s authority over the country’s entire territory and confiscation of weapons from armed Shiite groups, thereby limiting the influence of the southern-based Shiite movement Hezbollah. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday, following Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s visit to Riyadh. Aoun’s trip to Saudi Arabia marked his…
Mr Nicola Mandolesi, newly appointed United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Sector West Commander on Tuesday urged Lebanon and Israel to refrain from actions that could jeopardise the fragile stability in the region. “The full implementation of Resolution 1701 is of utmost importance, and we call on all parties to refrain from any actions…
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed optimism for Lebanon’s future as he wrapped up a two-day solidarity visit with a call on the new government. The UN chief called on the Lebanese people, and international community to “make the most of this atmosphere of opportunity”. Guterres made the call on Saturday in Beirut while answering…
The UN and Lebanon have unveiled a $371.4 million extension of the Lebanon Flash Appeal to provide life-saving assistance to civilians affected by the recent conflict and ongoing humanitarian crisis. Announced at the Grand Serail in Beirut by Deputy Prime Minister Saade el-Shami and UN Humanitarian Coordinator Imran Riza, the appeal extends emergency efforts through…
The Israeli military reported an incident in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, hours after the ceasefire with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia came into force. In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that soldiers had identified a vehicle with several suspects in a zone prohibited for movement in Lebanese territory. “IDF troops fired to prevent…
Turkey welcomes the ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and the Hezbollah militia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in the capital Ankara on Wednesday. Erdoğan separately called for an end to the fighting in the Gaza Strip. All parties, especially Israel, must now comply with their obligations, Erdoğan said in a speech to his parliamentary…
Germany’s Development Minister Svenja Schulze arrived in Lebanon on Monday for a short visit to pledge further aid to the country. This has been severely affected by the war between Israel and Hezbollah. In mid-October, the Bundestag provided her ministry with an additional 60 million euros (65.4 million dollars) to be used to provide health…
For many Arab American voters, the war in Gaza, and now Lebanon, has been a turning point in the US elections. Some voters, who usually support the Democrats, are having second thoughts about Kamala Harris. For them, she’s part of the current Biden administration that failed to end the war in the Middle East. There…
Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati says he has had no contact with Hezbollah representatives for weeks. Mikati told news broadcaster Al Arabiya this is happening even though the group has put up two Cabinet ministers and has 13 representatives in the Lebanese parliament. “There has been no communication with Hezbollah since the middle of…
Israeli warplanes has began bombing branches of Al Qard Al Hassan, a financial institution affiliated with Hezbollah, local media reported. The report confirmed that the branch of the financial institution in Chiyah in Beirut’s southern suburbs had been attacked, with no immediate casualties reported yet. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari has threatened earlier that the…
