Latest news with #LebaneseAuthorities
LBCI
a day ago
- General
- LBCI
Israel violates Lebanese waters, seizes fishing vessel
An Israeli naval boat breached Lebanese territorial waters, intercepted a fishing vessel, and towed it toward Israeli-controlled waters, in what Lebanese authorities have described as a serious violation of national sovereignty. This maritime incident comes a day after Israeli forces carried out strikes across southern Syria. The attacks followed reports of two rockets launched from Syrian territory landing in the occupied Golan Heights.
Al Bawaba
4 days ago
- General
- Al Bawaba
Syria to reopen border crossing with Lebanon ahead of Eid al-Adha
ANKARA The Syrian authorities announced Sunday evening the reopening of the Al-Arida border crossing with Lebanon on Tuesday, ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday. 'We kindly inform travelers that the Al-Arida border crossing with Lebanon will open for passenger movement on Tuesday morning,' Syria's Land and Sea Ports General Authority said in a statement. The authority added that the decision was made 'despite ongoing restoration and maintenance work, in order to facilitate the movement of residents during the Eid al-Adha holiday,' which begins Friday. Located between the village of Al-Arida in Lebanon's northern Akkar Governorate and Syria's western Tartus Governorate, the crossing has undergone maintenance by Syrian authorities as part of rehabilitation efforts. Beirut has also carried out repairs on the Lebanese side of the crossing after it was targeted by Israeli airstrikes during the latest conflict between Lebanon and Israel last September. No official statement has been issued by Lebanese authorities regarding the reopening. The move is expected to ease travel for families and trade between the two countries during the holiday period. Lebanon and Syria are connected by six official border crossings: Jdeidet Yabous, Dabousiyah, Jusiyah, Talkalakh, Matribah, and Al-Arida.
LBCI
20-05-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Lebanon has 'more' to do on Hezbollah's disarmament, US envoy Morgan Ortagus says
Lebanon still has "more" to do in disarming Hezbollah following the war between the group and Israel, Deputy U.S. Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus said Tuesday. Lebanese authorities "have done more in the last six months than they probably have in the last 15 years," Ortagus said at the Qatar Economic Forum, referring to efforts to disarm Hezbollah. "However, there's a lot more to go," she added. "We in the United States have called for the full disarmament of Hezbollah. And so that doesn't mean just south of the Litani. That means in the whole country," Ortagus said at the Qatar conference, calling on Lebanese politicians "to make a decision." AFP
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.
