Israel's military says chief of staff approved 'main concept' for attack plan in Gaza
Israel has said it will launch a new offensive and seize control of Gaza City, which it captured shortly after the war's outbreak in October 2023, before pulling out.
Reuters
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L'Orient-Le Jour
12 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Islamist fighters sign a petition to obtain Syrian citizenship
Foreign fighters who participated in the Syrian civil war have recently requested Syrian citizenship from the new Islamist government in Damascus, arguing that they have earned it for the role they played in seizing power alongside the rebels who overthrew former leader Bashar al-Assad last December, Reuters reports. The fate of foreign fighters has been uncertain since Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) took power, as few states are willing to host these individuals, often considered extremists, and whom Syrians themselves distrust. Many fighters and their families, as well as others, including humanitarian workers and journalists who joined the rebels, do not have proper documentation. Some have been stripped of their original nationality and fear long prison sentences or even death in their home countries. However, granting them Syrian citizenship could harm Syria's relations with the foreign states in question, even as the new Syrian government seeks their support for unifying and rebuilding a country devastated by war and shaken by sectarian massacres, the agency notes. A petition submitted Thursday to the Syrian Ministry of Interior argues that foreigners should be granted Syrian citizenship so they can settle, own land, and even travel. 'We have shared bread, we have shared pain, and we have shared the hope of a free and just future for Syria… Yet, for us, the muhajireen (emigrants), our status remains uncertain,' the letter reads. 'We respectfully request that the Syrian leaders, with wisdom, insight and fraternity, grant us full Syrian citizenship and the right to hold a Syrian passport,' it continues. The letter was submitted to the ministry by Bilal Abdel Karim, an American actor turned war journalist who has been living in Syria since 2012 and is a prominent figure among foreign Islamists in the country. He stated that the petition aims to help thousands of foreigners from more than a dozen countries. These include Egyptians, Saudis, Lebanese, Pakistanis, Indonesians and Maldivians, as well as British, German, French, American, Canadian and people of Chechen and Uyghur origin. It was not possible to determine how many people supported the petition for citizenship, but three foreigners in Syria — a Briton, a Uyghur and a Frenchman — confirmed that they had. A spokesperson for the Syrian Ministry of Interior said that it is up to the Syrian presidency to decide on the issue of foreign citizenship. In the weeks following his rise to power, interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former HTS leader, stated that foreign fighters and their families could obtain Syrian citizenship, but no public information has been provided on the matter since.
LBCI
15 hours ago
- LBCI
UNIFIL renewal talks progress as Lebanon hosts US officials: Here's what we know
Report by Nada Andraos, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian On the issue of renewing the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mandate, diplomatic contacts are intensifying between Beirut and key capitals ahead of Morgan Ortagus' visit to Beirut on Sunday, accompanied by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack. Lebanon plans to deliver a clear message rejecting any changes to the peacekeeping force's mandate, insisting it remain as it was set in last year's renewal decision. The Lebanese position is based on two factors: UNIFIL's mission and its funding. Beirut has been in continuous contact with both the French and American sides, alongside a meeting held in Paris two days ago between the U.S. and France dedicated to discussing the renewal of UNIFIL's mandate. France, as the 'penholder' on Lebanon at the U.N. Security Council, is playing a key role. According to reports, Washington had insisted, until the Paris meeting, on introducing changes to the resolution and to UNIFIL's tasks. It is still unclear how the United States will respond to Lebanon's stance, though Beirut is counting on initial signs suggesting possible flexibility in Washington's position, which could be reflected during Ortagus and Barrack's visit. Britain, like France, supports keeping the mission unchanged. Lebanon will tell the American visitors that it is firmly committed to its position and that the Lebanese army will remain ready to work alongside UNIFIL in the south to ensure no incidents occur between the peacekeepers and local residents. Sources confirmed to LBCI that Lebanon will emphasize three key points to the U.S. officials. The first is that UNIFIL is a vital necessity for the south and a cornerstone in implementing Resolution 1701, strengthening the Lebanese army's deployment along the border. The second is that the Lebanese state plans to increase troop numbers in the south by 4,500 soldiers, after having already added 1,500 earlier, bringing the total to around 10,000 by the end of this year. This expansion requires ongoing coordination with UNIFIL. The army has completed the first recruitment and training phase and is preparing for the second. The third is that UNIFIL is not only a military or security force, but also plays an essential social and humanitarian role, providing health care, education, and employment opportunities. This is especially critical after Israeli attacks destroyed most social and health centers in the south. Many Lebanese families, from the south and beyond, rely on jobs created by UNIFIL. As for funding, sources said that if Washington insists on cutting its contribution to U.N. agencies, including UNIFIL in Lebanon, Arab and European states are expected to step in and cover the shortfall. European officials have already assured all parties of their commitment to maintaining UNIFIL's presence, mandate, and budget without any reduction.
LBCI
15 hours ago
- LBCI
France urges Israel to drop West Bank settlement plan
France's foreign ministry Saturday called on Israel to drop a plan to build thousands of new homes in the West Bank, calling the project "a serious violation of international law." A ministry spokesman said that France "condemns with the utmost firmness" the Israeli decision to build 3,400 homes in a particularly contentious area of the occupied West Bank. Several countries have said that the project, called E1, undermines hopes for a contiguous future Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. AFP
