Latest news with #BekaaValley
LBCI
2 days ago
- Business
- LBCI
Samir Geagea urges government to begin disarming Palestinian factions
Lebanese Forces Party leader Samir Geagea on Wednesday accused 'the axis of resistance' of actively obstructing a government plan to collect unauthorized Palestinian weapons, warning that any further delays would severely undermine the state's credibility and Lebanon's chances for recovery. "Day by day, it becomes increasingly clear that the so-called Axis of Resistance is pressuring Lebanese authorities to stall and dilute efforts to begin the process of collecting Palestinian arms, which was scheduled to start in mid-June," Geagea said in a statement. "At the same time, they are inciting minor Palestinian factions to reject the handover of weapons under various pretexts publicly." He urged the government to proceed "seriously, transparently, and decisively" with the disarmament of Palestinian groups, beginning in the Beirut camps this month. He called for the plan to be extended to camps in northern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley, followed by the south. Geagea also demanded a parallel timeline for the collection of all illegal Lebanese weapons in the coming months. "Any delay or reluctance in this matter will portray the government as unserious, damage the momentum of the new presidential term, and risk dragging Lebanon back into the instability of the last two decades," he warned. Geagea emphasized that the failure to establish a functioning state would leave Lebanon isolated, particularly from its Arab allies, and would hinder its ability to secure the international aid necessary for reconstruction and economic revival. "It is unacceptable for anyone to hold the fate of the Lebanese people hostage to personal whims and ideologies that have repeatedly and catastrophically failed," he said. Geagea also noted that "The president and the government must act swiftly to establish Lebanon as a sovereign state that exclusively holds the right to bear arms and make decisions of war and peace—just like any normal, functioning country."
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
6 Months After Ceasefire in Lebanon
Published by Action Against Hunger. Contact [email protected] for inquiries. NEW YORK and BEIRUT, May 27, 2025 /3BL/ - Despite hopes for peace after a ceasefire agreement six months ago in November 2024 in Lebanon, military activity remains intense in southern parts of the country, the Bekaa Valley and southern suburbs of Beirut. Around 90,000 people remain internally displaced, and nearly 1.2 million suffer from high levels of food insecurity. The civilian population remains at high risk, and recent attacks have targeted populated areas, further endangering lives and livelihoods. 'One of the last air strikes was on 8 May,' explains Suzanne Takkenberg, director of Action Against Hunger in Lebanon. 'On that day, there were more than 19 attacks in the space of an hour in southern Lebanon, close to our distribution points, forcing us to temporarily halt our activities.' 1 in 6 people Cannot Return Home According to the International Organization for Migration, approximately 90,000 people remain internally displaced in Lebanon. While over 900,000 people have returned to their communities, many have found their homes uninhabitable. Families are forced to live in borrowed flats or rent temporary housing, and the risks of unexploded ordnance and violence remain. One such displaced person is Ali (name changed for safety). Ali's home was completely destroyed, and he lost his job due to the conflict. He had no choice but to flee. Like hundreds of others, Ali took refuge at the emergency shelter in Bir Hassan School in south Beirut, where now, eight months later, he remains. Displaced people like Ali struggle to access clean water, healthcare, and sanitation. 'Displacement, extraordinary increases in the cost of living, interruptions in food supply, loss of livelihoods and damage to water and sanitation infrastructure are some of the barriers that prevent civilians from meeting their most basic needs,' said Takkenberg. Agriculture and Food Crisis According to the latest UN report on food security in Lebanon, nearly 1.2 million people, including Lebanese, Syrians, and Palestinians suffer from high levels of acute food insecurity despite the ceasefire. The situation is mainly due to the protracted impact of the conflict, continued forced population displacement, and the deep economic crisis of recent years. The livelihoods of families, especially those who make their living from agriculture, have been severely impacted. According to the World Bank, damage to the agricultural sector is estimated at a minimum of $11 billion in losses since the start of the conflict in October 2023. The border area was one of the worst affected during the escalation of the conflict. Jaafar, a farmer in Beit Lif, a predominantly agricultural region along the border with Israel, says that 'because of the drones, everyone is afraid. All the land and all the fields are destroyed in this area in the south. The trees have either been uprooted or damaged.' Beit Lif's population used to be 7,000, but now only 125 remain as lack of access to fertilizer, water, and fuel makes land cultivation nearly impossible. Mahmoud, a displaced person from Odaisseh says, 'There is no life. There are no plants. There is nothing left.' He has been living with his family for over a year and a half and cannot return home due to the level of destruction. 'We didn't expect the conflict to last so long, so we didn't bring many things with us. If humanitarian organizations stopped working here, it would be like leaving us at the mercy of the desert,' he concludes. Action Against Hunger's Humanitarian Response 'Many families are struggling to afford essential food items, and food insecurity is widespread. The most urgent needs include emergency shelter, access to clean water, hygiene kits, and sanitation facilities,' explains Suzanne Takkenberg. 'Damage to water and sanitation infrastructures makes it very difficult for families to return home permanently. The risk of waterborne diseases remains high. The efforts of humanitarian organizations are crucial to protect the well-being and dignity of those affected.' Action Against Hunger is providing emergency support in Beirut, the Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, Nabatiyeh, and southern Lebanon. Activities include: *** Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Action Against Hunger
Al Bawaba
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Israeli warplanes strike multiple sites across southern Lebanon and Bekaa Valley
ALBAWABA- Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley on Tuesday, intensifying cross-border hostilities amid rising regional tensions. Two air raids were reported between the towns of Toul and Al-Sawana in southern Lebanon, alongside additional strikes on the outskirts of Boudai in the Bekaa Valley. Further bombardments targeted the areas of Mahmoudiya, Barghaz, and the Rayhan Heights. A drone carried out a warning strike on a building in the Toul area shortly before Israeli aircraft launched a direct raid on the same structure, which had reportedly been marked as a potential target earlier. Footage documents the israelis launching two deadly air strikes on Wadi al-Joz, on the outskirts of the village of Tulin, in south Lebanon — Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) May 22, 2025 Earlier in the day, an Israeli airstrike targeted a vehicle in southern Lebanon, part of a growing pattern of near-daily military operations in the border region. Reacting to the escalation, Lebanon's Army Commander-in-Chief issued a strong statement condemning Israel's continued violations of Lebanese sovereignty. He called on the Israeli military to cease its aggression, respect international law, and withdraw from occupied Lebanese territories. The commander also urged the deployment of Lebanese armed forces in southern areas to maintain stability and uphold national sovereignty.
LBCI
18-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Israeli warplanes fly at low altitude over Bekaa Valley amid municipal vote
Israeli military aircraft conducted low-altitude flights over Lebanon's Bekaa Valley on Sunday, according to the state-run National News Agency, as the country holds local elections in the governorates of Beirut, Bekaa, and Baalbek-Hermel.
Asharq Al-Awsat
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanon: Mysterious Evacuation Calls Renew Fears of Israeli Strikes
A wave of anonymous phone calls urging residents to evacuate buildings in southern and eastern Lebanon sparked fresh panic on Saturday over potential Israeli attacks. Though the threats later proved to be unfounded and traced to local sources, the incident unfolded amid heightened tensions and the continued presence of Israeli military aircraft in the skies above South Lebanon. According to local media reports, Lebanese citizens in the town of Tammine in the Bekaa Valley (eastern Lebanon) received phone calls urging them to evacuate a residential building. Security forces immediately launched an investigation into the origin of the calls, while residents evacuated the building as a precaution. After coordination with Lebanese security agencies, authorities confirmed the caller was Lebanese and the threat lacked credibility. Legal measures were initiated against the individual responsible for the hoax threat. Security sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the calls were made from within Lebanese territory, and the numbers are being tracked using technical means. 'We are monitoring these calls and pursuing those responsible,' a source said. This incident is the latest in a series of similar events. Over the past few months, especially during the expanded conflict along the Lebanon-Israel border, hundreds of Lebanese citizens have received anonymous calls warning of imminent strikes, spreading fear across communities. Lebanese authorities have arrested around 20 individuals linked to these threats. Security officials noted that during periods of active conflict, Lebanon's military intelligence identified coordinated foreign campaigns - some linked to Israel - aimed at inciting fear among the population. 'These calls were part of organized external efforts, and in some cases, the Lebanese army's intelligence managed to trace and neutralize them by blocking digital access points used to relay such messages,' a security source explained. 'They were indeed causing panic among residents.' Residents, particularly in southern Lebanon, say they have no choice but to treat such calls seriously. Israel has occasionally issued official warnings ahead of attacks, as seen in two incidents in Beirut's southern suburbs after a ceasefire agreement took effect. However, in other instances, Israeli aircraft have carried out strikes without warning, further fueling concern among civilians and prompting widespread caution. Saturday's panic was further heightened by intensified Israeli aerial activity over southern Lebanon. Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported low-flying Israeli fighter jets over the villages and towns of Tyre district, as well as over Jezzine and the eastern sector of the south. Local activists also reported Israeli drones flying at low altitude above the Litani River basin. One drone reportedly dropped two sound bombs over the Wadi al-Asafir area in the town of Khiam.
