Latest news with #Raji
Ya Libnan
a day ago
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Lebanon FM stresses to Iranian counterpart the need to disarm Hezbollah
Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji informed his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Tuesday that Hezbollah put his country in a 'difficult situation' when it embarked on more than a year of fighting with Israel in 2023, and stressed the importance of disarming the Tehran-backed terror group. Araghchi met with Raji — a member of the Lebanese Forces party — in Beirut, on his first visit to Lebanon since October last year, when Hezbollah was in the midst of an all-out war with Israel in southern Lebanon. A month later, Beirut and Jerusalem would sign a ceasefire agreement that brought an end to the fighting During the meeting, Raji told Araghchi that recent 'military adventures' — an apparent reference to Hezbollah — had put the country in a 'difficult situation,' the Saudi Al Arabiya news outlet reported. These adventures, Raji told his Iranian counterpart, 'had not contributed to ending the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territory.' When Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon following the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces per the terms of the November 2024 ceasefire, it left troops stationed in five strategic hills located several hundred meters inside Lebanon, which it says are necessary to defend Israeli border communities. Six months on from the start of the ceasefire, the Lebanese state has been working methodically to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in the south of the country, and is estimated to have seized the majority of the group's weapons stockpile south of the Litani River area. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal last week, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said that his government had achieved 80 percent of its objectives regarding the disarmament of militias in the country's south. 'All over the Lebanese territory, the state should have a monopoly on arms,' Salam told the US outlet, stressing 'the need to extend and consolidate the authority of the state.' Echoing his prime minister on Tuesday, Raji appeared to take a firm stance against allowing Iran's agenda to influence Lebanon's future, telling Araghchi that the country's ability to recover from the recent fighting was tied to Hezbollah's disarmament, Al Arabiya reported. Unprovoked, Hezbollah began attacking military outposts and communities in northern Israel on October 8, 2023, in a show of support for fellow Iranian proxy Hamas in Gaza after its assault on southern Israel a day earlier. The fighting continued for more than a year, including some two months of open war in southern Lebanon, and ended with the ceasefire signed in late November. The fighting displaced over 1 million people inside Lebanon, and caused destruction that the World Bank has said will cost $11 billion in reconstruction. Raji informed Araghchi that 'coordination between Lebanon and Iran should occur through official state channels,' rather than via proxies like Hezbollah, which enjoys Tehran's support, monetary and otherwise, having received billions of dollars and all types of weapons over the years.
Asharq Al-Awsat
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanese Foreign Ministry Issues 2nd Summons for Iranian Ambassador
Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has set a new date for Iranian Ambassador Mojtaba Amani to appear after he declined an earlier summons over his controversial remarks criticizing discussions about disarming Hezbollah. The ambassador had been scheduled to visit the ministry on Wednesday but apologized for not attending. Foreign Minister Youssef Raji had initially summoned Amani to the ministry on Tuesday in protest over his recent statements. In Raji's absence abroad, the ambassador was expected to receive Lebanon's official position from the ministry's secretary general. However, Amani did not show up, later telling Lebanon's Al Jadeed TV that while he had received the summons, he had excused himself from attending and had yet to be informed of a new date. He stressed that Iran 'respects whatever agreement the Lebanese people reach' regarding Hezbollah's weapons, asserting that Tehran does not impose its views on Lebanese domestic affairs. Later in the day, Markaziah News Agency reported that the Foreign Ministry had indeed set a new appointment for Amani, although it did not disclose the date. The controversy stems from a post Amani made last Friday on X, in which he wrote: 'The disarmament project is a clear conspiracy against nations.' He added: 'We in the Islamic Republic of Iran are fully aware of the dangers of this conspiracy and the threat it poses to the security of the peoples in the region. We warn others not to fall into the trap laid by the enemies.' Amani also stressed that maintaining deterrence capability is 'the first line of defense for sovereignty and independence, and it must not be compromised.' On Wednesday, Raji reiterated that the new Lebanese government 'adheres to a clear policy aimed at asserting the state's sovereignty over all its territory, ensuring that arms are solely in the hands of the state, and that it alone holds the authority to decide on matters of war and peace.' He also underscored commitment to the National Pact, the Taif Agreement, and genuine power-sharing between Lebanon's communities, saying these principles are essential for national unity and effective participation. Speaking at the meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo, Raji addressed what he called Israel's continued aggression against Lebanon. According to a statement from the Foreign Ministry, Raji said: 'The world has witnessed Lebanon's full commitment to the ceasefire declaration. However, Israel insists on undermining the agreement and continues to violate Lebanon's sovereignty on a daily basis.' He reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to peaceful and diplomatic solutions, including full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and stressed that Lebanon's legitimate security institutions, particularly the Lebanese Army, are determined to carry out their national duties.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Yahoo
Family of student murdered in London 10 years ago make fresh appeal for help
The family of a 21-year-old student who was shot and stabbed while cycling home after watching a football match 10 years ago has renewed an appeal for the public's help to find those responsible. Ola Raji had spent the evening at a friend's house watching a Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Porto before he was killed in Peckham, south London on the night of Tuesday 21 April 2015. He had been cycling on the East Surrey Grove estate, near Commercial Way, when he was stabbed and shot in an attack by two men. He later died in hospital. Raji's sisters, Zainab Raji and Ruki Ware, said the anniversary of their brother's death was 'a painful reminder of 10 years of loss'. 'Our family is not going to get that time back,' they said in an appeal. The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the murder. The Metropolitan police said it was interested in speaking to witnesses, including a woman driving a black Vauxhall Corsa in the area between 21.45 and 23.00, and two men 'who returned to an address in Pear Court at 23.10'. In an appeal for information, Raji's sisters said: 'When we get together, there is always that sense of something missing. There are children who never get to know their uncle, who would still be so young even now. The laughter we share is that little less loud. There is a smile absent in the photographs. 'But this is not just about our family. It's about safety on the streets of Peckham and the wider south London area. There is no doubt the people who did this once could carry out similar attacks again. Maybe they already have. 'We are getting closer to the truth – for example, we now know about phone calls Ola received shortly before the attack. Just the smallest piece of evidence from any witnesses or those with knowledge of what happened could be enough to put those responsible behind bars and make the streets safer for the entire community.' The pair told MailOnline last week that they had found two new witnesses after being forced to investigate the crime themselves due to police failings. DCI Alex Gammampila, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Ola was an innocent man, in the wrong place at the worst time. His murder has devastated his friends and family, and those in the local community. 'Ten years on, we continue to appeal for anyone who has any information to come forward. 'Were you out in Peckham that night? Were you also watching the football that night, or were you near Commercial Way? Did you see or hear the shooting or anything that struck you as being unusual? 'No piece of information is too small, and could be the final piece of the puzzle that leads us to identify Ola's attackers.' Alexa Loukas, London regional manager at Crimestoppers, said Raji's death was 'deeply unsettling for his loved ones and the local community'. Detectives are continuing to investigate the possibility that Raji's attackers left the scene on foot, the Met said. Three individuals were arrested on suspicion of murder, and a further two individuals were arrested for perverting the course of justice but no further action was taken against them and no criminal charges were ever brought. Anyone with information should call 101, giving the reference 2597/16APR25, or upload information, including photos or videos, to the dedicated appeal page.
The Guardian
21-04-2025
- The Guardian
Family of student murdered in London 10 years ago make fresh appeal for help
The family of a 21-year-old student who was shot and stabbed while cycling home after watching a football match 10 years ago has renewed an appeal for the public's help to find those responsible. Ola Raji had spent the evening at a friend's house watching a Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Porto before he was killed in Peckham, south London on the night of Tuesday 21 April 2015. He had been cycling on the East Surrey Grove estate, near Commercial Way, when he was stabbed and shot in an attack by two men. He later died in hospital. Raji's sisters, Zainab Raji and Ruki Ware, said the anniversary of their brother's death was 'a painful reminder of 10 years of loss'. 'Our family is not going to get that time back,' they said in an appeal. The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the murder. The Metropolitan police said it was interested in speaking to witnesses, including a woman driving a black Vauxhall Corsa in the area between 21.45 and 23.00, and two men 'who returned to an address in Pear Court at 23.10'. In an appeal for information, Raji's sisters said: 'When we get together, there is always that sense of something missing. There are children who never get to know their uncle, who would still be so young even now. The laughter we share is that little less loud. There is a smile absent in the photographs. 'But this is not just about our family. It's about safety on the streets of Peckham and the wider south London area. There is no doubt the people who did this once could carry out similar attacks again. Maybe they already have. 'We are getting closer to the truth – for example, we now know about phone calls Ola received shortly before the attack. Just the smallest piece of evidence from any witnesses or those with knowledge of what happened could be enough to put those responsible behind bars and make the streets safer for the entire community.' The pair told MailOnline last week that they had found two new witnesses after being forced to investigate the crime themselves due to police failings. DCI Alex Gammampila, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Ola was an innocent man, in the wrong place at the worst time. His murder has devastated his friends and family, and those in the local community. 'Ten years on, we continue to appeal for anyone who has any information to come forward. 'Were you out in Peckham that night? Were you also watching the football that night, or were you near Commercial Way? Did you see or hear the shooting or anything that struck you as being unusual? 'No piece of information is too small, and could be the final piece of the puzzle that leads us to identify Ola's attackers.' Alexa Loukas, London regional manager at Crimestoppers, said Raji's death was 'deeply unsettling for his loved ones and the local community'. Detectives are continuing to investigate the possibility that Raji's attackers left the scene on foot, the Met said. Three individuals were arrested on suspicion of murder, and a further two individuals were arrested for perverting the course of justice but no further action was taken against them and no criminal charges were ever brought. Anyone with information should call 101, giving the reference 2597/16APR25, or upload information, including photos or videos, to the dedicated appeal page.
The Independent
21-04-2025
- The Independent
Family of student shot and stabbed on his way home 10 years ago launch fresh appeal
The family of a man who was fatally shot and stabbed when coming home from a football match a decade ago have issued a fresh appeal for information. Ola Raji, a 21-year-old student, was attacked and killed in Peckham, south London, on 21 April 2015, the Metropolitan Police said. He had spent the evening at a friend's house watching a Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Porto. Later that night, while cycling through the East Surrey Grove estate, he was stabbed and shot by two men. He later died in hospital. The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £20,000 for information that leads to the identification and prosecution of those responsible for the murder. The force said it was particularly interested in speaking to witnesses described as 'a female driving a black Vauxhall Corsa in the area between 9.45pm to 11pm', and 'two males who returned to an address in Pear Court at 11.10pm'. Mr Raji's sisters, Zainab and Ruki Ware, described the anniversary as 'a painful reminder of 10 years of loss', adding: 'Our family is not going to get that time back.' They said Mr Raji's absence is felt deeply during family gatherings. 'When we get together, there is always that sense of something missing,' they said. 'There are children who never get to know their uncle, who would still be so young even now. The laughter we share is that little less loud. There is a smile absent in the photographs.' But the sisters stressed the tragedy goes beyond their personal grief. 'This is not just about our family,' they said. 'It's about safety on the streets of Peckham and the wider south London area. 'There is no doubt the people who did this once could carry out similar attacks again. Maybe they already have. 'We are getting closer to the truth – for example, we now know about phone calls Ola received shortly before the attack.' They urged anyone with information to come forward, adding: 'Just the smallest piece of evidence from any witnesses or those with knowledge of what happened could be enough to put those responsible behind bars and make the streets safer for the entire community.' Detective chief inspector Alex Gammampila, who is overseeing the case, said the victim was 'an innocent man, in the wrong place at the worst time'. He said the killing had a lasting impact on those close to the 21-year-old, adding: 'His murder has devastated his friends and family, and those in the local community.' A decade later, police are still urging the public to help. 'We continue to appeal for anyone who has any information to come forward,' he said. He called on anyone who may have been in the area that night to think back: 'Were you out in Peckham that night? Were you also watching the football that night, or were you near Commercial Way? Did you see or hear the shooting or anything that struck you as being unusual?' He stressed that even the smallest detail could prove crucial: 'No piece of information is too small, and could be the final piece of the puzzle that leads us to identify Ola's attackers.' Detectives continue to investigate the possibility that Mr Raji's attackers left the scene on foot via a cut through from Cator Street, into Sumner Road, before turning into Rosemary Road heading in the direction of the Surrey Canal Path, the Met said. Three individuals were arrested on suspicion of murder, and a further two individuals were arrested for perverting the course of justice, but no further action was taken against them and no criminal charges were ever brought.
