A self-assured UAE is playing a balancing role in a dynamic world
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The National
8 hours ago
- The National
Sudan mediators urge rivals to ease worsening aid crisis
Sudan is in the grip of a worsening humanitarian crisis with ever more people facing 'severe malnutrition and famine', a group of peace brokers including the UAE has warned. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the US and Switzerland said the Sudanese people's needs were reaching 'critical levels'. They made seven demands to the combatants in Sudan's civil war – the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces – to help ease the crisis. The demands include keeping key routes open for aid convoys, such as roads to the stricken Darfur region where prosecutors in The Hague have alleged war crimes. The rival powers are urged to 'lift all bureaucratic impediments' affecting aid. The two warring sides are told to 'ensure safe passage for civilians to access assistance', and guarantee that aid workers will not face retaliation if they lend assistance in areas held by their rivals. They should also 'allow and facilitate a sustained UN humanitarian presence', particularly in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, restore communications across Sudan, and 'ensure the protection of critical civilian infrastructure' such as energy and water, the countries said. The civil war in Sudan has been raging since April 2023. In recent months the country has found itself effectively divided between two rival governments after the RSF established an administration in areas under its control. Army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan moved this week to place allied fighters under the military's control. The UAE and its four partners, along with the UN and African Union, have acted as go-betweens in the conflict. After talks in Geneva last year they named themselves the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (Alps) Group – a nod to the Swiss hosts. They called on fighters to abide by commitments they made in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 2023 to protect Sudan's people. The combatants had pledged to avoid attacks on civilians and allow them to leave besieged areas. 'The Alps coalition is appalled by the continuous deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Sudan, including the growing number of people in situations of severe malnutrition and famine,' the countries said on Wednesday. 'Civilians continue to pay the highest price for this war. With the situation in Sudan worsening and humanitarian needs reaching critical levels, urgent action is needed by the conflict parties to protect civilians and allow and facilitate humanitarian access to those in need.'
The National
9 hours ago
- The National
Hezbollah urges Lebanon to 'take step back' from plan to disarm group
Hezbollah has called on Lebanon's leaders to reconsider their plan to disarm the group, warning it could destabilise the country if there is no similar step back by Israel. The Lebanese cabinet voted two weeks ago to endorse a US plan to disarm Hezbollah and other militants and assert a state monopoly on weapons. The contentious decision was made in the absence of Shiite ministers, highlighting deep divisions on the issue. After meeting Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun on Monday, US envoy Tom Barrack said Lebanese leaders had 'done their part' and that 'now what we need is Israel to comply with that equal handshake '. But Hezbollah does not expect that to happen, said the group's spokesman and head of media relations Youssef Al Zein. 'We hope we're wrong, but we don't expect that Barrack will return with a positive Israeli response,' he told The National. He accused the US and allies of 'applying what the Israeli entity wants as soon as possible – even at the cost of Lebanon's stability'. Mr Al Zein called on the Lebanese government to 'take a step back and re-evaluate, not only waiting for the Israeli response or approval, but a step back to rectify a decision that could put the country in an unstable position'. Iran-backed Hezbollah has repeatedly said it will not accept a disarmament plan until Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory and stops its attacks on the country – a commitment Israel has yet to make. Israeli military's chief of staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir boasted last week that air strikes on Lebanon had breached a ceasefire about 600 times. Hezbollah is concerned that the US and allies are dictating the pace and substance of Lebanese decision-making on national security. But the group's opponents in Lebanon accuse it of prioritising Iran's interests at the cost of Lebanon's stability. Hezbollah claims the state itself has failed to enforce the ceasefire's obligations on Israel and that the Lebanese leadership 'justifies every step it takes on the basis of foreign pressure', Mr Al Zein said. Lebanon, a small nation with a historically weak and chronically underfunded national army, has long been under the sway of competing foreign powers. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has warned there would be 'no life' for Lebanon if the government confronted the group, accusing it of yielding to US demands on Israel's behalf. Iran has told Lebanese leaders that the group cannot be disarmed as the prospect of a new war with Israel grows, according to sources briefed on meetings of Iran's security chief Ali Larijani in Beirut last week. Hezbollah and its arsenal serve as Iran's first line of defence against Israel, which remains determined to neutralise the threat posed by the group. Mr Al Zein said Lebanon is being pressured to offer 'free gifts' to Israel, 'without any guarantees in return,' even as Israeli forces continue to occupy five strategic positions in southern Lebanon and conduct near-daily attacks despite the ceasefire announced last November. 'The Israeli military's chief of staff walked into Lebanese territory and bragged that they've killed more than 240 Lebanese citizens and conducted over 600 air raids since the ceasefire was declared,' he said. 'And not a single Lebanese authority responded to this.' Hezbollah maintains that it has shown willingness to abide by the ceasefire by disarming south of the Litani River. 'We've shown our commitment to the ceasefire through our actions,' Mr Al Zein said. Rather than insisting on Israel's withdrawal and an end to Israeli attacks, 'the Lebanese state has not committed to the ceasefire in the same way', he added.
The National
9 hours ago
- The National
Over 1.3 million Gazans lack tents and shelter materials, UN says
UAE and Jordan lead 76th airdrop into Gaza Macron says two-state solution 'only credible way forward' US targets more ICC judges as it keeps up pressure over Israel Israel to place $500 million US-funded order for Boeing refuelling tanker aircraft At least 62,122 Palestinians killed and 156,758 wounded in Gaza since war began
