Latest news with #NNA
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Lebanon's local elections provide litmus test for weakened Hezbollah
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Saturday called on his compatriots to vote en masse in local elections seen as an important litmus test for the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and its allies. The elections, which have been taking place since the beginning of May, entered their final phase on Saturday in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah traditionally has its strongholds. The area has been a major battlefield between Hezbollah and Israel since the eruption of the Gaza war in October 2023. Voting took place in the other regions of the country on previous weekends. Aoun on Saturday toured parts of southern Lebanon, casting his vote in his hometown of al-Aaishiyah. 'I call on all people to vote in large numbers not only because it is a democratic right, but also because these elections are developmental, not political,' he said. 'Votes must be for those who represent [locals] in the development of the cities and villages concerned, and for those who appreciate the people's sacrifices,' Aoun added, according to Lebanon's state National News Agency (NNA). The Lebanese government is under pressure to implement a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah that has been in effect since the end of November, amid increasing calls for the disarmament of the militia. Around 500,000 Lebanese are eligible to participate in Saturday's round of voting, which is being held amid tight security, according to local media. Voter turnout at 4pm (1300 GMT) stood at 27% in the South Governorate, and at 23.6% in the neighbouring Nabatieh Governorate, the Lebanese media outlet LBC reported, citing figures from the Lebanese Interior Ministry. The election was originally supposed to take place in 2022. However, due to the economic crisis, the massive port explosion in the capital Beirut and administrative issues, it was repeatedly delayed. Voter turnout and the outcome of the elections in the predominantly Shiite regions of southern Lebanon could provide an insight into Hezbollah's remaining support among the population and its ability to mobilize voters. For a long time, Hezbollah operated - with the approval of its supporters in the country and Iran's backing - like a state within a state. In addition to its military wing, it also acts as a political party within Lebanon. Since the war with Israel, Hezbollah is considered to have been significantly weakened. Despite the ceasefire, Israel and Hezbollah accuse each other of violations. The Israeli military continues to carry out almost daily attacks in Lebanon, resulting in frequent casualties and injuries. (DPA)
Roya News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
"Israeli" airstrike targets building in southern Lebanon
An Israeli Occupation airstrike on Thursday struck a building in the southern Lebanese town of Toul, shortly after residents were warned to evacuate, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA). The agency reported that the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) carried out a 'warning strike' before launching a direct attack on the building. 'The Israeli enemy carried out an airstrike targeting the building in Toul, after an earlier warning strike,' the NNA said. The IOF confirmed the strike, claiming the building housed 'facilities belonging to Hezbollah.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lebanese PM condemns wave of Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has denounced a wave of Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon, calling on the international community to pressure Israel to respect a ceasefire reached in November with Lebanese group Hezbollah. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said on Thursday that the Israeli military struck a building in Toul, a town in the Nabatieh governorate. The army had earlier warned residents to evacuate the area around a building it said was used by Hezbollah. Lebanese media outlets also reported Israeli bombardment in the towns of Soujod, Touline, Sawanna and the Rihan Mountain – all in the country's south. In a statement, Salam's office said the Israeli attacks come at a 'dangerous' time, just days before municipal elections in Lebanon's southern districts on Saturday. The contests are expected to be dominated by Hezbollah and its allies, and there have been growing concerns about the safety of voters, especially in border towns, amid the continued Israeli occupation of parts of southern Lebanon. 'Prime Minister Salam stresses that these violations will not thwart the state's commitment to holding the elections and protecting Lebanon and the Lebanese,' his office said in its statement. As part of the November ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back north of the Litani River and dismantle military infrastructure south of that demarcation line. For its part, Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon but it has kept troops in parts of south Lebanon. It argues it must maintain a presence there for 'strategic' reasons. The truce was based on a UN Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be the only people to bear arms in southern Lebanon, and calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups. On Thursday, the Israeli military said its forces had carried out several strikes targeting Hezbollah sites and killed one fighter in the southern Lebanon town of Rab el-Thalathine. Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the Israeli army's claim. Separately, a shepherd was injured in a different Israeli attack nearby, the NNA reported. The Israeli military said its forces also 'struck a Hezbollah military site containing rocket launchers and weapons' in the Bekaa Valley in northeastern Lebanon. The NNA described Israel's attacks as some of the heaviest since the ceasefire went into effect.
Nahar Net
6 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Israeli strikes hit south and Bekaa amid rare evacuation warning for building in Toul
by Naharnet Newsdesk 22 May 2025, 21:20 Lebanese state media said an Israeli air strike hit a building in southern Lebanon on Thursday after Israel's military issued an evacuation call warning of imminent action against an alleged Hezbollah site. Israel has kept up its air strikes in neighboring Lebanon despite a November truce aimed at halting more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah that included two months of full-blown war. Without confirming the reported attack on the southern town of Toul, the Israeli military said its forces had carried out several strikes targeting Hezbollah sites and killed one militant. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said that the Israeli army struck a building in Toul, where the Israeli army had warned residents to evacuate the area around a building it said was used by Hezbollah militants. The "urgent warning" was accompanied by a map showing a structure and the 500-meter (0.3-mile) radius around it marked in red. "You are located near facilities belonging to ... Hezbollah," the statement said in Arabic, urging people "to evacuate these buildings immediately and move away from them." There were no immediate reports of casualties in Toul. In a separate statement, the military said it had "struck and eliminated a Hezbollah Radwan Force (operative) in the area of Rab El Thalathine," about 17 kilometers (10 miles) to the southeast. The NNA reported a "martyr" in an air strike in the same area, without identifying them. The Israeli military said its forces also "struck a Hezbollah military site containing rocket launchers and weapons" in the Bekaa Valley as well as "terrorist infrastructure sites and rocket launchers belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization... in southern Lebanon," amid reports of Israeli airstrikes on the heights of the Iqlim al-Tuffah region in the South and the outskirts of the Bekaa town of Bouday. Israeli strikes also targeted the outskirts of the southern towns of Touline, al-Sawwaneh and al-Ezziyeh. An Israeli military statement said that "the presence of weapons in the area and Hezbollah activities at the site constitute blatant violations of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon" under the November ceasefire agreement. Israel will "continue to operate to remove any threat... and will prevent any attempt by Hezbollah to re-establish its terror capabilities," it said. Under the ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back north of the Litani River and dismantle military infrastructure south of it. Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon, but it has kept troops in five areas that it deems "strategic". The Lebanese Army has deployed in the south and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure. The truce was based on a U.N. Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and U.N. peacekeepers should be the only people to bear arms in south Lebanon, and calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups.
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Israel strikes south Lebanon, army says Hezbollah fighter killed
BEIRUT: Lebanese state media said an Israeli air strike hit a building in southern Lebanon on Thursday after Israel's military issued an evacuation call warning of imminent action against Hezbollah. Israel has kept up its air strikes in neighbouring Lebanon despite a November truce aimed at halting more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah that included two months of full-blown war. Without confirming the reported attack on the southern town of Toul, the Israeli military said its forces had carried out several strikes targeting Hezbollah sites and killed one. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said that 'the Israeli enemy' struck a building in Toul, where the army had warned residents to evacuate the area around a building it said was used by Hezbollah. The 'urgent warning' was accompanied by a map showing a structure and the 500-metre (0.3-mile) radius around it marked in red. 'You are located near facilities belonging to the terrorist (group) Hezbollah,' the statement said in Arabic, urging people 'to evacuate these buildings immediately and move away from them'. There were no immediate reports of casualties in Toul. Lebanon says two dead in strikes as Israel says killed Hezbollah fighter In a separate statement, the military said it had 'struck and eliminated a Hezbollah Radwan Force terrorist in the area of Rab El Thalathine', about 17 kilometres (10 miles) to the southeast. The NNA reported a 'martyr' in an air strike in the same area, without identifying them. The Israeli military said its forces also 'struck a Hezbollah military site containing rocket launchers and weapons' in the Bekaa Valley as well as 'terrorist infrastructure sites and rocket launchers belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation… in southern Lebanon'. A military statement said that 'the presence of weapons in the area and Hezbollah activities at the site constitute blatant violations of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon' under the November ceasefire agreement. Israel will 'continue to operate to remove any threat… and will prevent any attempt by Hezbollah to re-establish its terror capabilities', it said. Under the ceasefire, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back north of the Litani River and dismantle military infrastructure south of it. Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon, but it has kept troops in five areas that it deems 'strategic'. The Lebanese army has deployed in the south and has been dismantling Hezbollah infrastructure. The truce was based on a UN Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be the only people to bear arms in south Lebanon, and calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups.
