Iran security chief vows continued ‘support' for Lebanon
Ali Larijani's trip to Lebanon comes after Iran expressed opposition to a government plan to disarm Hezbollah, which before a war with Israel last year was believed to be better armed than the Lebanese military.
'If... the Lebanese people are suffering, we in Iran will also feel this pain and we will stand by the dear people of Lebanon in all circumstances,' Larijani, the head of the National Security Council, told reporters after landing in Beirut.
Dozens of Hezbollah supporters gathered along the airport road to welcome Larijani. He briefly stepped out of his car to greet them as they chanted slogans of support.
In Lebanon, Larijani is scheduled to meet President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, as well as parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who is close to Hezbollah.
Iran has suffered a series of blows in its long-running rivalry with Israel, including during 12 days of open war between the two countries in June.
Hezbollah's grip on power has slipped since a war with Israel ended in a November 2024 ceasefire and the new Lebanese government, backed by the United States, has moved to further restrain it.
Hezbollah is part of Iran's so-called 'axis of resistance' — a network of armed groups in the region, including Hamas in Gaza and Yemen's Houthi rebels, united in their opposition to Israel.
The ouster in December of Bashar Assad in Syria, which long served as a conduit for weapons deliveries between Iran and Hezbollah, cut off the supply route to Lebanon.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Hamas voices keenness on quick return to Gaza talks
Hamas expressed its keenness on a speedy return to Gaza ceasefire negotiations during a meeting with the Egyptian intelligence chief in Cairo as mediators push for talks, Egypt's state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV said on Wednesday. Developing
Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
Israel says it killed 5 armed militants posing as US charity personnel
Israel's military has said it killed five armed militants in the Gaza Strip pretending to work for the US-based World Central Kitchen charity which condemned anyone posing as humanitarian personnel The military said it confirmed the five were not affiliated with the charity before killing them in an air strike last week while wearing WCK garb and posing a threat to Israeli troops. 'The terrorists deliberately affixed the emblem and wore yellow vests in an attempt to conceal their activity and avoid being targeted, cynically exploiting the status and trust afforded to aid organizations,' it said. WCK said late on Tuesday that it was contacted by Israeli authorities and confirmed the vehicle and people were not linked. 'We strongly condemn anyone posing as WCK or other humanitarians as this endangers civilians and aid workers,' it said in a statement on X. In December, WCK fired dozens of Palestinians working for the charity in Gaza, employees told Reuters at the time, after Israel said at least 62 staff were linked to militants. Israel's military did not give any identities of those killed in last week's incident. The WCK did not give more details or say whether the people targeted had been previously affiliated with the organization. An Israeli strike in April of last year hit a convoy of three vehicles and killed seven staff of WCK, including foreign aid workers. Israel apologized for what it said was a mistake. Aid organizations are struggling to meet the needs of Gaza's more than 2 million population after nearly two years of war have devastated the Palestinian enclave, killing tens of thousands of people and causing widespread hunger. Israel has often said Hamas militants infiltrate aid groups, while humanitarian organizations have urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to ease aid restrictions.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Recognizing Palestine cannot distract from Gaza ‘genocide': UN special rapporteur
LONDON: International momentum toward recognizing a Palestinian state should not distract UN members from bringing an end to the 'genocide' in Gaza, Francesca Albanese has said. The UN special rapporteur for the Occupied Territories told The Guardian that the extended debate about Palestinian statehood has yielded no political progress, instead enabling the spread of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. 'The territory has been literally eaten out by the advancement of the annexation and colonization,' she said. Recognition of a Palestinian state is 'important,' but something so simple that 'it's incoherent that they've not done it already,' Albanese added. Renewed global attention toward statehood should not 'distract the attention from where it should be: the genocide,' she said, calling for a total arms embargo and a cessation of trade agreements with Israel. 'Ending the question of Palestine in line with international law is possible and necessary: End the genocide today, end the permanent occupation this year and end apartheid,' she added. 'This is what's going to guarantee freedom and equal rights for everyone, regardless of the way they want to live — in two states or one state, they will have to decide.' Albanese said growing worldwide angst over the destruction of Gaza is an 'ultimate struggle' and a matter of 'light and darkness.' Despite inaction by Western countries, she sees hope in the 'millions of people taking to the streets and asking for an end to the genocide.' She added: 'An entire new generation now speaks the language of human rights. For me, this is a success in and of itself.' Her most recent report focused on the corporate power — 'profiting from genocide' — behind Israel's actions in Gaza. 'The occupation is profitable, and so is the genocide, and this is shocking, but it is to be known in order to be seen and to be stopped,' Albanese said. 'The power is not just with the prime ministers or with the governments. The power is with us, and we can start choosing through our wallet.'
