Norwegian Ambassador delivers to President Aoun message of support
Norwegian Ambassador to Lebanon Hilde Haraldstad delivered a message from King Harald V of Norway to President Joseph Aoun, congratulating him on his election and emphasizing Norway's commitment to strengthening ties between the two countries.
During a meeting with Lebanese Ambassador to Liberia and Mali Henry Kastoun, President Aoun discussed the conditions of the Lebanese community in both countries.
Ambassador Kastoun provided an overview of the bilateral relations with Liberia and Mali, highlighting areas of cooperation and challenges faced by the Lebanese diaspora.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Manar
2 hours ago
- Al Manar
Speaker Berri Rejects Clashes with UNIFIL, Says Lebanon Fully Adhered to Ceasefire
Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri voiced rejection to any kind of clashes between Lebanese citizens and UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon. In remarks published by Al-Jomhouriyah Newspaper on Friday, Speaker Berri said the UNIFIL movements on the ground must be coordinated with the Lebanese Army and the international forces must be accompanied by the national army. 'However, if this doesn't happen sometimes, overreaction should be avoided,' he said, as quoted by the paper. In this context, Speaker Berri stressed the 'need to address any misunderstanding calmly and wisely,' noting that the 'UNIFIL was subjected to several Israeli attacks during the latest war on Lebanon.' 'We know that the Israeli enemy does not want it to remain in south Lebanon, and that is enough for us to stand with it.' The Lebanese speaker affirmed that reconstruction is a top priority. 'It should be a priority for the government,' he explained, adding that he 'counts on the Council of the South playing a key role in monitoring the reconstruction efforts and accelerating its stages.' Speaker Berri stressed, meanwhile that Lebanon has 'fully adhered to the ceasefire agreement regarding dismantling weapons south of the Litani River.' On the other hand, he pointed to the importance of the municipal elections held in south Lebanon last week in defiance of the difficult circumstances resulting from the Israeli aggression. He noted that the elected municipalities will have to play an effective role in the reconstruction project when it will be launched. Asked about the relation with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Speaker Berri said that the premier's tone sets the tone. 'He brings the heat, we'll match it; he stays cool, so will we.'
Al Manar
2 hours ago
- Al Manar
Israeli Airstrikes Pound Southern and Eastern Lebanon in Escalation of Ceasefire Violations Amid Official Silence
Israeli occupation warplanes launched a wave of intense airstrikes across southern and eastern Lebanon late Thursday night, marking a blatant violation of Lebanese sovereignty amid state silence. The aerial assault began with concentrated strikes on the Iqlim al-Tuffah region, where warplanes targeted Wadi al-Safa, located between the towns of Kfarfila, Sarba, and Ain Qana. Additional strikes hit the town of Qaaqaiyat Al-Snoubar, while Israeli surveillance drones conducted extensive low-altitude flights over the Al-Zahrani area—reportedly in unprecedented silence, indicating possible use of advanced stealth technologies. The bombardment continued with two additional airstrikes on the Rihan hills in Jezzine and an attack on the Jabbour area in the town of Kfarhouna. Fighter jets maintained a heavy presence over the broader southern airspace throughout the night. The assault culminated in two of the night's most intense strikes on the town of Bnaafoul in the Sidon district—described by local sources as the most forceful bombardments yet—constituting what Lebanese officials labeled a blatant violation of national sovereignty. Earlier this evening, Israeli warplanes bombed the southern Lebanese villages of Al-Rayhan, Al-Bissariya, Ramia, Yater, Ain Qana, Kfar Fila, Tebna, Wadi Barghaz, and the outskirts of Kfar Kila. — The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) May 29, 2025 In a parallel offensive, four successive Israeli airstrikes targeted the outskirts of the town of Shmestar, near Taraya, west of Baalbek, shortly after midnight. These strikes extended the geographic scope of the attacks deep into Lebanon's eastern interior. Separately, the Lebanese Army reported that one of its units, in coordination with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), worked to dismantle Israeli-erected earth mounds and reopen roads in the vicinity of Adaisseh, in the Marjayoun district. According to a military statement, Israeli occupation forces—including a tank—attempted to obstruct the operation but failed to stop the army from completing the task. UNIFIL's Deputy Head of Mission, Hervé Lecoq, reaffirmed that Hezbollah has not engaged in any offensive actions against the Islaeli enemy since the last truce agreement, nor has the group obstructed the Lebanese Army's operations in the south. He noted no visible military presence of Hezbollah in the area, countering Israeli claims. The Israeli attacks occur in the continued absence of any meaningful response from the international monitoring committee overseeing the ceasefire, chaired by the United States. Lebanese officials have criticized both the lack of enforcement and the failure to pressure Israel to halt its assaults. Since November 27, Israeli occupation forces have reportedly committed 3,347 violations and attacks, according to Lebanese military figures.
Ya Libnan
12 hours ago
- Ya Libnan
‘We want Israel out yesterday, not tomorrow:' Lebanon's PM urges US to pressure Israel to withdraw troops
Israel's military occupation in parts of southern Lebanon is undermining Beirut's attempts to restore sovereignty over a nation reeling from decades of conflict, the country's prime minister has told CNN. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he would like to see the current United States administration put pressure on Israel to withdraw from five locations in southern Lebanon. A US-mediated agreement in November last year paused months of fighting between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed militant group that operates in Lebanon. Israel has significantly weakened Hezbollah over the past year, killing much of its top leadership and severely degrading its power through mass airstrikes. 'Israel's presence is politically counterproductive. It's undermining my government…we want Israel out yesterday, not tomorrow.'Salam The prime minister said Lebanon has been honoring its commitments to the November agreement and that the Lebanese military is 'consolidating control' over the south of the country and its borders. Hezbollah is committed to an agreement that affirms that the Lebanese military is the only authority allowed to bear arms, Salam said Wednesday. However, 'Israel has not honored its commitments,' he added. The 'Israeli presence in Lebanon is a red line for everyone. This is not a red line for Hezbollah alone,' he told CNN's Becky Anderson in Dubai, where he's attending the Arab Media Forum and meeting Emirati leadership. 'Israel's argument is as follows… they need to be in these five points in order to have a better monitoring of the situation in southern Lebanon… but we are not in World War One…we are in the age of satellite imagery, of drones with cameras. They have balloons monitoring the region, let alone a network of spies operating on the ground,' Salam said. 'Israel's presence is politically counterproductive. It's undermining my government…we want Israel out yesterday, not tomorrow.' Despite agreeing to withdraw from Lebanese territory as part of the US-mediated agreement, Israel has said that the Lebanese army has yet to take control of a region with Hezbollah presence. Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, said in March that the Israeli military would remain in these five points 'indefinitely, to protect the residents of the north – regardless of any future negotiations.' Along with the United States, France and the United Nations are monitoring the ceasefire. 'I'm sure they can testify that Lebanon has been honoring its commitments while Israel has not honored its commitments,' Salam said on the mediating countries. Salam, who rose to prominence after presiding over the International Court of Justice during South Africa's genocide case against Israel, was designated Lebanon's prime minister in January in a surprise move that was seen as a blow to Hezbollah and its allies. Widely seen as a reformist, the prime minister declared specific priorities for his mandate, including ending institutional corruption and regaining sovereignty over his country by disarming Hezbollah and Palestinian factions. 'The goal… is that the state should have exclusive monopoly over arms, over all its territory,' he said in the interview. (CNN)
