US envoy Witkoff to meet Qatari PM in Spain to discuss plan to end Gaza war
Under international criticism, the Israeli army on Saturday prepared to take control of Gaza City, the largest city in the Palestinian territory, in order to 'defeat' Hamas and secure the release of hostages.
After 22 months of war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces intense pressure both in Israel and abroad to end his offensive in the Gaza Strip, where more than 2 million Palestinians are threatened with 'widespread famine,' according to the United Nations.
Under a plan approved by Israel's security cabinet, the army 'is preparing to take control of Gaza City,' a largely destroyed urban area in the north of the territory, 'while distributing humanitarian aid to civilians outside combat zones.'
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Ya Libnan
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By : Ya Libnan The killing of six Lebanese soldiers in Wadi Zibqin should shock the nation into action. These soldiers were not fighting an invading army—they were dismantling a Hezbollah weapons depot concealed in a residential neighborhood near the Israeli border. Their mission, part of the November ceasefire's disarmament mandate, ended in a deadly explosion that once again exposed the lethal cost of allowing an Iran-backed militia to operate above the law. Funeral of the 6 Lebanese soldiers killed in blast at Hezbollah arms depot near Israel border in South Lebanon According to the Lebanese Army, the soldiers died while dismantling the depot's contents. The fact that such stockpiles exist at all—let alone in civilian areas—confirms that Hezbollah's weapons are not only a threat to Israel but also to Lebanon itself. Every hidden cache is a potential bomb waiting to kill Lebanese soldiers, civilians, and children. Hezbollah is not merely a political party—it is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Canada, the UK, Germany, and several other nations. Its track record includes hijackings, bombings, assassinations, and serving as a proxy for Iran's regional military agenda. By keeping its own armed forces outside the control of the Lebanese state, Hezbollah undermines Lebanon's sovereignty and drags it into conflicts it did not choose. MP Pierre Bou Assi put it plainly: 'Disarming Hezbollah has become an absolute necessity, even by force. Its continued presence poses an existential threat to Lebanon.' He warned that the absence of a functioning state fuels instability and risks plunging Lebanon into civil war. If the state reclaims its authority, Hezbollah will have no choice but to surrender its arms—because disarmament is no longer optional, it is survival. For decades, Hezbollah's arms have dragged Lebanon into wars it did not choose—2006, Syria's war, and repeated border clashes. The group has hidden weapons in Beirut's port, in schools, and in family neighborhoods. Now, six soldiers have paid with their lives to dismantle just one of those arsenals. Lebanon cannot survive as both a state and a battleground for a militia's regional agenda. Either the Lebanese state finally takes full control of all weapons, or Hezbollah's weapons will control Lebanon's fate. The choice is stark, the time is now—and the cost of delay will be measured in more Lebanese lives.
Ya Libnan
2 hours ago
- Ya Libnan
Six Lebanese soldiers killed in blast at Hezbollah arms depot near Israel border
At least six Lebanese soldiers have been killed in an explosion while inspecting a weapons depot in a residential neighborhood in southern Lebanon,near the borders with Israel The Lebanese troops were dismantling the Iran-backed group's weapons facility near the Israeli border when the explosion occurred. Beirut is under pressure to disarm Hezbollah under a ceasefire deal signed in November. Six Lebanese soldiers were killed on Saturday as they were inspecting a weapons depot belonging to the Iran -backed Hezbollah group in the southern city of Tyre, the army said. The depot was reportedly part of Hezbollah's military infrastructure, which the Lebanese army has been dismantling in cooperation with a United Nations team as part of a ceasefire agreement with Israel . What do we know about the blast? A statement from Lebanon's army said the soldiers were killed 'while an army unit was inspecting a weapons depot and dismantling its contents in Wadi Zibqin,' in the Tyre district near the Israeli border. Investigations were underway to determine the cause of the blast, it added. A military source, requesting anonymity, told the AFP news agency the blast took place 'inside a Hezbollah military facility.' Troops were 'removing munitions and unexploded ordnance left over from the recent war' between Israel and Hezbollah when the blast occurred, the source added. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the explosion as a 'painful incident,' while Prime Minister Nawaf Salam paid tribute on X to the troops who were killed 'while performing their national duty.' Lebanon bears brunt of regional turmoil Lebanon has been caught in the middle of a side conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that began after the October 7, 2023, terror attacks on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas , which sparked the Gaza war. Israel and Hezbollah exchanged regular fire and attacks across the shared Lebanon-Israeli border for several months. Hezbollah suffered major losses with over 5,000 fighters killed, along with senior commanders, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah . Nasrallah was assassinated last September in an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah's headquarters in a suburb of Beirut. The smaller conflict was ended by a US-brokered ceasefire in November, under which Lebanon agreed to confiscate all 'unauthorized' weapons in the country. In return, Israel said it would stop offensive operations against Lebanese targets. Hezbollah, Iran push back against disarmament The Lebanese government met this week to order the army to develop a plan to disarm Hezbollah before the end of the year. The Iran-backed group has pushed back against the move. Naim Kassem, Hezbollah's current leader, has rejected calls to disarm, calling them 'US dictates' and a threat to Lebanon's sovereignty. Hezbollah plays a special role in Lebanon as both a major political party and a heavily armed group that's stronger than the national army. This gives it huge influence over the country's government and security. Iran supports Hezbollah financially and militarily, along with Hamas and Yemen's Houthis , to expand its regional power and as a counterweight to Israel and the US in the Middle East. An adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said Saturday that Tehran is opposed to Hezbollah's disarmament, according to Iran's pro-government Tasnim news agency. Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by the US, Israel and several other countries, whereas the EU only recognizes Hezbollah's armed wing as a a terrorist group. THe Lebanese Army's warning Commenting on the violent protest by Hezbollah and its ally the Amal movement the Army Command warned citizens against endangering the country's security through reckless actions. It added: 'The Army, while respecting the freedom of peaceful expression, will not allow any breach of security, violation of civil peace, blocking of roads, or encroachment on public and private property. It emphasizes the need for citizens and all parties to act responsibly during this difficult period, and the importance of their unity and solidarity in order to overcome the dangers threatening our country.'
LBCI
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'Last lifelines' are collapsing in Gaza: UN chief
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