Latest news with #LitaniRiver
Al Arabiya
12 hours ago
- General
- Al Arabiya
Israel strike on south Lebanon kills one
Lebanese official media said an Israeli strike killed one person in the south on Saturday despite a six-month-old ceasefire, as Israel said it targeted a Hezbollah militant. The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said a man was killed when an Israeli drone targeted his car as he was heading to pray at a mosque in Deir al-Zahrani, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Israeli border. Israel has continued to bomb Lebanon despite the November 27 truce that sought to halt more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of open war. The Israeli army said the strike killed a regional commander 'of Hezbollah's rocket array.' It charged that during the conflict, the operative 'advanced numerous projectile attacks... and was involved recently in efforts to reestablish Hezbollah's terrorist infrastructure' in south Lebanon. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back north of the Litani River, some 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle military infrastructure to its south. Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon but it has kept troops in five areas it deems 'strategic.' The Lebanese army has deployed in the south and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure.
Asharq Al-Awsat
12 hours ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel Resumes Airstrikes North of Litani Amid Hezbollah Disarmament Talks
Israel has resumed heavy airstrikes north of the Litani river amid discussions among Lebanese leaders on a possible agreement to disarm Hezbollah. President Joseph Aoun met on Friday with Speaker Nabih Berri at the Baabda Palace. Berri described the talks as "excellent' without giving further details. Aoun also held Friday a security meeting with the Minister of Defense, the Army Commander, and the Intelligence chief to discuss the security situation in the country, mainly in south Lebanon as Israel continues to carry out attacks that hinder the deployment of the Lebanese army. The officials also discussed the disarmament of Palestinian camps in Lebanon, which are set to start in mid-June in three Beirut camps. For the first time in three weeks, Israel carried out more than a dozen airstrikes overnight Thursday to Friday in south and east Lebanon, in areas lying north of the Litani river. The Israeli army said it targeted 'several military sites and terrorist infrastructure belonging to ... Hezbollah across Lebanon.' 'Among the targets was terrorist infrastructure containing combat equipment in the Sidon area, which had recently witnessed Hezbollah attempts to rebuild after it had been bombed in the past,' the Israeli army said. It added that Israel will 'continue to operate to eliminate any threat' and 'prevent any attempt by ... Hezbollah to establish itself.' The escalation came as Lebanese officials hold talks to limit illegitimate arms to state control, an issue that is set to be discussed by US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who is set to visit Beirut next week. Development and Liberation bloc MP Michel Moussa told a local radio station that the authorities haven't been informed yet about the timing of the visit or the agenda of her meetings. 'Ortagus is scheduled to follow up on discussions on major issues such as the implementation of Resolution 1701, reforms and the renewal of the UNIFIL mandate by the UN Security Council next August,' Moussa said.
LBCI
2 days ago
- General
- LBCI
Hezbollah's arsenal remains: Lebanon stalls on disarmament as international community awaits
Report by Maroun Nassif, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi February 26, 2025, marked the confidence vote session of Lebanon's new government. Ninety-two days have passed since then, but there has been no tangible progress on one of its most critical commitments: disarming all non-state actors and ensuring that weapons are solely in the hands of the Lebanese state. Despite repeated promises, Lebanon's official stance on the issue has moved at what critics describe as a "snail's pace." The international community continues to watch closely, expecting decisive action. Yet, Hezbollah maintains that it is willing to cooperate—only once the government fully implements both the ministerial statement and the inaugural presidential speech. When asked to clarify this position, MP Hassan Fadlallah confirmed that cooperation remains conditional. While the Lebanese Army has reportedly deployed across most of the area south of the Litani River, except the five Israeli-occupied hills, and has secured approximately 80% of Hezbollah's weapons stockpiles in that region, the remainder lies in areas that require demining. Efforts are ongoing, but they are far from sufficient. The broader concern remains north of the Litani, where Hezbollah's arsenal has not been addressed. Both President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are reportedly fully aware of the need to resolve this matter. Meanwhile, Israel has shown no intention of withdrawing from the five occupied hills and continues its violations and targeted assassinations. Talks over Hezbollah's detained fighters remain stalled, leaving the process in a political deadlock. Observers now question whether a breakthrough might come from initiating a national defense dialogue—one that Hezbollah might join unconditionally—or from jumpstarting reconstruction efforts to build trust, potentially starting with the $250 million World Bank loan designated for that purpose. In any case, the issue of disarmament requires urgent action before the country risks sliding back into a broader conflict—something Israel may be preparing for more eagerly than any other scenario.
LBCI
2 days ago
- General
- LBCI
MP Ashraf Beydoun tells LBCI: Israeli violations undermine UN Resolution 1701; praises President Aoun's leadership
MP Ashraf Beydoun said that ongoing Israeli violations are undermining the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. Speaking to LBCI, he stressed the need to establish a mechanism for demarcating the border with the occupied Palestinian territories, ensure a full Israeli army withdrawal, halt all violations, and reinforce the deployment of the Lebanese Army south of the Litani River. "I have full confidence in the Lebanese Army, and reaching safety is inevitable," he stated. Beydoun also praised President Joseph Aoun, saying he is "steering the ship" with a strong sense of patriotism and reinforcing national unity. On a separate note, he called for abandoning the culture of celebratory gunfire and tightening related penalties.
LBCI
4 days ago
- Business
- LBCI
Morgan Ortagus set to return to Beirut: US pushes Lebanon on Hezbollah disarmament and UNIFIL future
Report by Yazbek Wehbe, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Lebanese officials are preparing for the upcoming visit of Morgan Ortagus, U.S. Deputy Envoy to the Middle East, amid rising diplomatic pressure from Washington tied to Hezbollah's arms and the future of U.N. peacekeeping operations in Lebanon. According to informed political sources, Ortagus is expected to focus on three key issues: an expedited process to remove Hezbollah's weapons from areas north of the Litani River, a firm message that Israel will not withdraw from five occupied Lebanese positions without the creation of joint technical and military committees to address all 13 disputed border points, and opposition to renewing the UNIFIL mandate in its current form in August, which Israel deems ineffective. The U.S. reportedly supports an expanded and redefined mission for the U.N. peacekeeping force. In response, Lebanon's Foreign Ministry is preparing a formal position paper reaffirming its commitment to maintaining UNIFIL's current mandate without modification. France is said to be backing Lebanon's stance. Amid these developments, a notable meeting took place between President Joseph Aoun and a delegation from Hezbollah—the first since parliamentary consultations began. While not yet considered a formal political dialogue, observers view it as a sign of gradually deepening communication between the two sides through their advisers. During the talks, President Aoun reportedly pressed Hezbollah to take further steps toward demonstrating its willingness to place all arms under state authority, especially given the growing international pressure. In turn, Hezbollah questioned the guarantees it would receive should it relinquish its weapons, particularly if Israel were to continue its military operations and occupation and retain Lebanese prisoners. The group reportedly would be ready for such talks if Tel Aviv implements what it required of it. LBCI has learned that Hezbollah considers there to be 16 Lebanese individuals either missing or detained by Israel, whose fates remain unknown. This file appears to be partially shared with the Lebanese state, while a third party—possibly a Western country—is reportedly mediating between Hezbollah and Israel. The prisoner issue is further complicated by Israel's demand for the release of an Israeli researcher believed to be held in Iraq by an Iran-backed militia. That case is linked to the imprisonment of a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard in Iraq, charged with killing an American citizen. Lebanon's leadership now finds itself caught between two difficult tracks: Washington's push for swift disarmament of Hezbollah and the group's demand for confidence-building steps before entering any substantial negotiations on the matter.
