Israeli strike kills one in South Lebanon: NNA
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L'Orient-Le Jour
3 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
UN chief puts Israel, Russia 'on notice' over conflict-related sexual violence accusations
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Israel and Russia on Tuesday that he has serious concerns about certain patterns of sexual violence carried out by their armed and security forces, according to a report seen by Reuters. The alleged crimes included incidents of genital violence, extended forced nudity of captives, and abusive, degrading strip searches meant to humiliate and interrogate. In his annual report to the Security Council on conflict-related sexual violence, Guterres warned Israel and Russia that they could be listed next year among parties "credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence." The warning stemmed from "significant concerns regarding patterns of certain forms of sexual violence that the United Nations have consistently documented," he wrote. Israel's U.N. Ambassador Danny Danon called the concerns unfounded accusations. The U.N. must address the shocking war crimes and sexual violence committed by Hamas, as well as the release of all hostages. Israel will not hesitate to protect its citizens and will continue to act in accordance with international law," Danon said in a statement. Hamas, whose Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel triggered the ongoing war in Gaza, were listed in Guterres' report on Tuesday as a group "credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for patterns of rape or other forms of sexual violence" in armed conflict. 'We categorically reject all these allegations," senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters, adding in reference to Israeli remarks: 'These are certainly new attempts to use lies to divert attention from the ongoing brutal crimes committed by this fascist government and its army against our people in Gaza." 'Credible information' In his warning to Israel, Guterres said he was "gravely concerned about credible information of violations by Israeli armed and security forces" against Palestinians in several prisons, detention centers and a military base. Cases documented by the United Nations show patterns of sexual violence, including genital violence, extended forced nudity, and repeated strip searches performed in an abusive and degrading way," he wrote in the report. While Israeli authorities had engaged with his special envoy on sexual violence in conflict over the past year, Guterres said, "limited information has been provided on accountability measures undertaken in relation to alleged incidents of sexual violence, despite witness testimony and digital evidence of Israeli soldiers committing such violations." Russia's mission to the U.N. in New York did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the report. Guterres stated that Russian authorities have not engaged with his special envoy. Guterres stated that he was "gravely concerned about credible reports of violations by Russian armed and security forces and affiliated armed groups," mainly against Ukrainian prisoners of war, in 50 official and 22 unofficial detention facilities across Ukraine and Russia. "These cases comprised a significant number of documented incidents of genital violence, including electrocution, beatings and burns to the genitals and forced stripping and prolonged nudity, used to humiliate and elicit confessions or information," he said. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022.
LBCI
13 hours ago
- LBCI
Lebanese Army losses unexplained: South Lebanon blasts deepen mystery over munitions clearance
Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Over the past eight months, the Lebanese Army, working in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the international ceasefire mechanism, has taken control of more than 500 sites linked to Hezbollah, dismantled weapons, and transported munitions. Three separate explosions during these operations have killed or wounded soldiers, the latest occurring days ago in Wadi Zibqin. On April 20, 2025, a blast along the Braikeh road in Nabatieh killed an officer and two soldiers when munitions being transported by an army vehicle detonated. Investigators have not reached a definitive conclusion on the cause, though early findings indicate the extreme sensitivity of handling such explosives. In Wadi Aaziyyeh, another explosion killed one soldier and injured three during an army engineering sweep of a Hezbollah facility resembling the one recently hit in Zibqin. According to a previous army statement, the blast occurred when a soldier opened an ammunition box containing a suspicious object. Investigators have considered the possibility of a booby trap but have not determined whether it was planted by Hezbollah or by Israeli forces in the context of their ongoing conflict. The booby-trap theory is also being examined in the Wadi Zibqin explosion, though it remains unclear whether it was planted earlier by Hezbollah to deter Israeli incursions, or by Israel itself during military operations or through security breaches. Final conclusions are pending a report from French military experts who inspected the site, as well as the recovery of an injured soldier who was with the unit when the blast occurred. Notably, the only two facilities where such fatal explosions have occurred, in Aaziyyeh and Zibqin, are located close to each other. While sabotage remains a leading theory, investigators are not ruling out human or technical error until the probe is complete. The army also noted that in more than 500 previous dismantling missions, no booby-trapped munitions were found. UNIFIL, including its French contingent, has handed over similar sites to the army in the past without incident.
L'Orient-Le Jour
a day ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Statue of Virgin Mary vandalized in Jezzine district
BEIRUT — A statue of the Virgin Mary was destroyed in the village of Qtaleh (Jezzine district), a security source told L'Orient Today on Tuesday, just days before the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which takes place every year on Aug. 15. The source had not yet been able to determine when exactly the incident occurred but added that an investigation has been launched. MP Charbel Massaad condemned 'the cowardly act of vandalizing the statue" in a statement relayed by the state-run National News Agency, and called on the security and judicial authorities to 'take immediate and serious action to identify the perpetrators and impose the harshest penalties on them." However, he also insisted that 'coexistence and mutual respect" among the region's residents will "remain stronger than any attempt to sow discord or stir up sectarianism.' Although southern Lebanon has a Shiite majority, the district of Jezzine is predominantly Christian. This kind of incident is not rare in Lebanon. Various regions across the country have seen similar incidents where religious statues are vandalized, arousing the emotions of the faithful. Last February, the destruction of a Virgin Mary statue in Sania, another village in the Jezzine district, raised concerns. Earlier this year, several individuals were arrested for stealing saint figurines displayed in a Christmas grotto in Shadra. In June, also in Shadra, two motorcyclists allegedly threw a heavy stone at a small structure housing an icon of the Virgin and Child Jesus.
