Latest news with #Israeli-Hezbollah
Nahar Net
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Reports: US, Israel mulling end to UNIFIL's presence
by Naharnet Newsdesk 09 June 2025, 13:18 U.S. officials are considering pulling American support from UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, in a bid to cut costs associated with its operations, the Israel Hayom newspaper reported Sunday evening, with US sources later confirming to The Times of Israel that the option was on the table. Should the U.S. move ahead with its decision to pull support from the U.N. body, Israel will back the decision, Israel Hayom reported, both out of a desire to align itself with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and in light of the Israeli security establishment's 'cooperation with the Lebanese army since the ceasefire in November,' the Times of Israel said. According to Israel Hayom, the presence of the Lebanese Armed Forces in southern Lebanon has proven relatively effective in 'beating back the threat of Hezbollah' and keeping the group from rearming itself, making 'redundant' much of UNIFIL's operations in the region. Sources familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel that the U.S. has not yet made up its mind regarding its future support for UNIFIL, but that it wants to see major reforms, which could mean pulling support. As UNIFIL's mandate is granted through a U.N. Security Council resolution each year, the U.S. could simply veto the next resolution, due to be put forward in August. UNIFIL has been operating in southern Lebanon since 1978, when it was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the area following the end of Israel's first invasion of south Lebanon. The U.N. peacekeeping force expanded its mission following the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, allowing peacekeepers to deploy along the Israeli border to help the Lebanese military extend its authority into the country's south for the first time in decades. Aimed at ending the 2006 war, Resolution 1701 also called for a full cessation of Israeli-Hezbollah hostilities and the disarmament of Hezbollah. UNIFIL's mandate has been renewed annually ever since, although critics have questioned the efficacy of the force. Following the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, which put an end to more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war, the Lebanese Army moved into southern Lebanon to enforce the terms of the ceasefire, which itself is based on Resolution 1701. The resolution requires Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani River — about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the border — and dismantle all military infrastructure in southern Lebanon. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told the Wall Street Journal last month that his government had achieved 80 percent of its objectives regarding the disarmament of Hezbollah and other militias in the country's south. At the same time, the Israeli army has continued to launch strikes on Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure, alleging violations of the truce agreement. According to the Israeli army, over 180 Hezbollah operatives have been killed since the truce came into effect.
L'Orient-Le Jour
02-05-2025
- Business
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Plans to launch ferry linking Lebanon and Cyprus underway
BEIRUT — A passenger ferry linking Lebanon and Cyprus is set to launch soon, announced Cypriot Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades in an interview with Cyprus Mail on Tuesday. The initiative was also confirmed to L'Orient Today by Pierre Akl, managing director of supply chain at Lebanese manufacturing company INDEVCO Group, who is overseeing the project. The island could, so far, only be reached by plane or private boats. Launched in 2021 by MP and INDEVO Group CEO Neemat Frem, the plan was a longstanding ambition of Frem's father, according to Akl. 'It was initially meant to serve as an alternative in the event of war or airport disruption in Lebanon,' explained Akl. 'But it also establishes a direct European link through Cyprus and could help ease pressure on air travel. Around 100,000 passengers travel between Lebanon and Cyprus during the summer months.' Lebanon and Cyprus were once linked through ferry services, but this was halted over 20 years ago. 'A line operated by the Lebanese Forces ran between Larnaca and Jounieh for about two years during the Civil War before it was discontinued,' Akl recalled. Following the escalation of the Israeli-Hezbollah war in late September, many residents fled Lebanon by sea to Cyprus, as commercial flight options dwindled after all airlines — except the national carrier, Middle East Airlines — suspended operations in and out of the country. With MEA flights overwhelmed by surging demand and often fully booked, desperate travelers turned to exorbitantly priced yachts and ferrie s as their only remaining means of escape. 'This initiative is expected to boost economic activity and tourism,' said Frem to L'Orient Today. He added that the connection could even pave the way for joint itineraries linking the two countries, encouraging tourists headed for Cyprus to visit Lebanon on that same trip. 'Around five million tourists visit Cyprus per year. We could capitalize on this opportunity to attract visitors to Lebanon,' said Frem. Travel will also become easier for 'Cypriot businesses looking to expand into Lebanon, and vice versa,' the Cyprus Mail noted. Operations could begin by early summer 2025 According to Cyprus Mail, 'interest in the project picked up after the change of government in Lebanon earlier this year, in February.' A delegation from INDEVO, including Frem and Akl, met with Cypriot Transport Minister Vafeades last week to pitch the proposal. The minister reportedly welcomed the plan. Initial contact was facilitated through national investment authority Invest Cyprus, 'which acted as an intermediary and arranged all the meetings with the relevant authorities in Cyprus,' Akl said. Contacted, Invest Cyprus CEO Marios Tannousis said, 'It's early days [for the project]. This was a fact-finding mission by the investors.' The ferry will operate between the Larnaca and Jounieh (Kesrouan) ports (about 24 kilometers north of Beirut), with each crossing expected to take around four hours. Passengers holding Lebanese passports will be required to present valid EU Schengen visas to enter Cyprus. 'INDEVCO will establish a company in Cyprus to run the line, and will purchase the vessel which will sail under a Cypriot flag,' he added. 'We will operate only one ferry in the first phase, with a capacity of around 200 passengers.' According to a preliminary study conducted by the group, ferry tickets could be lower than plane tickets by 20 to 30 percent. 'They may go up to $200 and could go down to anything between $100 and $150 depending on the season, demand, and the load on the vessel,' Akl explained. In that case, Lebanese people would have the possibility of taking the ferry to Cyprus and catching more affordable flights to destinations across the Mediterranean and the world. 'There are a few approvals and clearances that are underway,' but operations may launch at the beginning of summer 2025 if all goes according to plan. Rachad Zeaiter, advisor to the Lebanese Public Works and Transport Minister for seaports and airport affairs, told L'Orient Today that the Jounieh port requires key infrastructure upgrades, 'including security scanners and the deployment of security forces and military men to manage the cross-border movement.' He says efforts are underway to assess and meet these requirements to facilitate the launch of Frem's project. An upcoming meeting is scheduled between INDEVCO and the ministry this week, Akl added.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lebanese army says it detained suspects in March attacks on Israel, no mention of Hezbollah
CAIRO (Reuters) - The Lebanese army said on Wednesday it had detained a number of Palestinians and Lebanese suspected of involvement in two attacks from the country on Israel in March and did not mention Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has denied any role. On March 28, Israel carried out its first major airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs in months, retaliating for an earlier rocket launch from Lebanon. Israel had struck southern Lebanon on March 22 after it said it intercepted rockets fired from across the border. The Israeli attacks amounted to the most serious test of a shaky ceasefire deal agreed in November between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese armed group has denied any involvement in the rocket firing. In its statement, the Lebanese army did not mention Hezbollah. It said it conducted raids in several areas, detained a number of individuals and confiscated the equipment used in the two attacks. The Israeli-Hezbollah conflict marked the deadliest spillover of the Gaza war, and a blistering Israeli offensive after months of cross-border exchanges of fire wiped out Hezbollah's top commanders, many of its fighters and much of its arsenal. The truce in November halted the fighting and mandated that southern Lebanon be free of Hezbollah fighters and weapons, that Lebanese troops deploy to the area and that Israeli ground troops withdraw from the zone. Each side accuses the other of not entirely living up to those terms.
