Latest news with #SouthernLebanon
The Independent
a day ago
- General
- The Independent
Ireland to lodge letter of objection to Israel over shots fired close to patrol
Ireland is to lodge a formal letter of objection with Israel after shots were fired in the vicinity of peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. The incident came during a joint Irish United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and Lebanese Armed Forces patrol close to the Blue Line on Thursday. None of the Irish personnel – who were recently deployed to Unifil as part of the 126th Infantry Battalion – were injured in the incident. Oglaigh na hEireann said on Thursday that all personnel were reported to be safe and well, and that they continued to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon. Irish Minister for Defence Simon Harris said he had been briefed by the incoming chief of staff Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy. He said just before midday, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had fired shots into the patrol area. He also confirmed that a formal letter of objection from Ireland would be lodged with Israel via the UN on Friday. 'Brigadier General Mulcahy provided me with a detailed briefing on the serious events that took place yesterday involving Irish Defence Force personnel in southern Lebanon,' Mr Harris said. 'It's clear to me that the actions of the IDF were reckless, intimidatory, totally unacceptable and a clear breach of the international rules surrounding peacekeeping. 'Brigadier General Mulcahy has assured me that all of our troops impacted are safe and well. They have been debriefed following the incident and patrols are continuing as normal today. 'I want to pay tribute to our personnel deployed with Unifil, who are operating in an increasingly volatile and tense environment. 'My officials in the Department of Defence will today formally lodge a protest letter over what happened yesterday and this will be communicated directly with Israel.'
LBCI
a day ago
- Business
- LBCI
Between resistance and diplomacy: UNIFIL's mandate under pressure amid Israeli objections and southern tensions
Report by Yazbek Wehbe, English adaptation by Mariella Succar UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon are facing pressure from two fronts: Israel, which questions the mission's continued relevance, and some residents who oppose the peacekeepers' movements into towns without coordination with the Lebanese Army. Tensions have escalated over the past two weeks, prompting Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to urge southerners to 'avoid any mistakes with UNIFIL that could be used by those seeking to end its mission.' With exactly two months to go before the mandate renewal, the situation remains unclear. Tel Aviv is not in favor of UNIFIL's continued presence and, at best, supports a drastic change to its mission—an approach backed by Washington. France, along with Italy and Spain, which contribute the largest number of troops, opposes any major changes to the mandate. Lebanon's Foreign Ministry has launched a series of diplomatic contacts aimed at securing support for maintaining UNIFIL's current mandate, troop levels, and funding. Beirut argues that this transitional period following the recent war requires UNIFIL's continued cooperation with the Lebanese Army, particularly in mine clearance and in supporting civilians through social and economic development programs. Russia and China already backed Lebanon's position. Beirut is also counting on support from France, which is seen as sympathetic. France holds the so-called 'penholder' role on the U.N. Security Council for the UNIFIL file, meaning it drafts and negotiates relevant resolutions. The United Kingdom, for its part, remains somewhere between the French and American positions. A French diplomatic source told LBCI that the current context is not suitable for changing UNIFIL's mandate. However, technical and operational adjustments may be introduced, which could potentially affect troop contributions from countries with smaller deployments. Budget constraints are also in focus, especially following the U.S. decision to reduce its funding to the United Nations. The source noted that coordination with Lebanon's Foreign Ministry on the renewal process began weeks ago, and once Beirut presents its position paper, France is expected to lend its support. As the Israeli lobby moves swiftly to build momentum inside the United Nations, Lebanon is still preparing its proposal. But time is quickly running out for Beirut—pressure is mounting to act fast.
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- General
- BreakingNews.ie
Ireland to lodge letter of objection to Israel over shots fired close to patrol
Ireland is to lodge a formal letter of objection with Israel after shots were fired in the vicinity of peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. The incident came during a joint Irish United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and Lebanese Armed Forces patrol close to the Blue Line on Thursday. Advertisement None of the Irish personnel – who were recently deployed to Unifil as part of the 126th Infantry Battalion – were injured in the incident. Óglaigh na hÉireann said on Thursday that all personnel were reported to be safe and well, and that they continued to monitor the situation in southern Lebanon. Irish and Maltese peacekeeping troops on patrol in Lebanon earlier this year (Niall Carson/PA) Minister for Defence Simon Harris said he had been briefed by the incoming chief of staff Brigadier General Rossa Mulcahy. He said just before midday, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had fired shots into the patrol area. Advertisement He also confirmed that a formal letter of objection from Ireland would be lodged with Israel via the UN on Friday. 'Brigadier General Mulcahy provided me with a detailed briefing on the serious events that took place yesterday involving Irish Defence Force personnel in southern Lebanon,' Mr Harris said. 'It's clear to me that the actions of the IDF were reckless, intimidatory, totally unacceptable and a clear breach of the international rules surrounding peacekeeping. 'Brigadier General Mulcahy has assured me that all of our troops impacted are safe and well. They have been debriefed following the incident and patrols are continuing as normal today. Advertisement 'I want to pay tribute to our personnel deployed with Unifil, who are operating in an increasingly volatile and tense environment. 'My officials in the Department of Defence will today formally lodge a protest letter over what happened yesterday and this will be communicated directly with Israel.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Shots fired at Irish peacekeepers in Lebannon
Irish soldiers, who are serving as peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, have come under fire while on a joint patrol with the Lebanese Armed Forces, the tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) has incident happened near the Blue Line in South Lebanon.A number of small arm rounds were fired in the vicinity of the area in which the patrol was operating, the Irish Defence Force were no reported injuries and no damage to the armoured vehicles they were operating from. Simon Harris, also the Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the fact that they "came under fire while on patrol is deeply worrying," RTÉ reported."Today's incident illustrates the dangers that our peacekeepers face every single day while on a patrol in a region that has been increasingly unstable and volatile." He added that he was pleased soldiers are "safe and well". The Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said that what happened was "completely unacceptable".In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, he said that "the safety of peacekeepers carrying out their mandated duties must be respected by all". The Irish Defence Forces said the patrol withdrew from the said soldiers "continue to monitor the situation in Southern Lebanon and are committed the stability of the region as impartial peacekeepers". "We wish to remind all actors of their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of UN Peacekeepers," a statement said.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Can Lebanon succeed in disarming Hezbollah when Israeli troops still hold territory?
LONDON: Lebanon's armed forces say they have taken control of several villages near the border with Israel that had long been held by the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. But behind these official declarations is a more complicated reality — and a fragile peace that may not hold. On April 30, the Lebanese army announced it had dismantled more than 90 percent of Hezbollah's military infrastructure south of the Litani River, near the Israeli border. The operation followed a ceasefire in late November between Israel and the militia. That same day, President Joseph Aoun told Sky News Arabia that the army had deployed across 85 percent of southern Lebanon. He emphasized that efforts to remove weapons not under state control were taking place nationwide, although the 'priority is the southern part of the country' — Hezbollah's stronghold. 'The army, despite its limited resources, is deployed across the entire Lebanese territory, inside the country as well as at the east, north, northeast, and south borders,' Aoun said. About two weeks later, at the Arab League Summit in Baghdad, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 — the framework for the current truce. But enforcing that commitment comes with its own set of challenges. 'The president and prime minister's affirmation of Lebanon's monopoly on force is a step in the right direction,' Fadi Nicholas Nassar, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, told Arab News. 'But its promise fades the moment Hezbollah's open defiance goes unchallenged.' He said the ceasefire offered a prime opportunity to disarm Hezbollah, which continues to resist full disarmament during Israel's ongoing occupation of parts of Lebanon. 'The ceasefire agreement that ended the war must be framed, not as a de-escalation, but as a decisive window for Lebanon to complete Hezbollah's disarmament — anything less risks another military confrontation Lebanon cannot afford,' he added. Israel continues to occupy five hilltop positions it deems strategic, despite a Feb. 18 deadline for withdrawal. Aoun said this has prevented the Lebanese army from fully deploying along the border. Aoun said Lebanon had asked the US and France, the ceasefire's guarantors, to pressure Israel to pull out. In a recent interview with Egyptian channel ON E, he said Israel's occupation of the five sites is a major obstacle to border control. 'We are in constant contact with the US to urge it to pressure Israel,' he said, stressing that Lebanon is seeking a durable truce — not normalization of ties. While Hezbollah has avoided further escalation, its deputy leader Naim Qassem said in February that Israel must withdraw completely, saying 'there is no pretext for five points nor other details.' 'Hezbollah has taken serious hits,' Nassar said. 'It's lost much of its arsenal and key figures in its leadership, both vital to its ability to adapt and survive.' Despite this, 'it's still a disciplined, ideologically driven force that can threaten to derail the progress unfolding across the Levant,' he added. The recent conflict was triggered by the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 240 were taken hostage. After Israel retaliated by launching airstrikes and ground incursions against Gaza, Hezbollah began rocket attacks on Israel from the north. By autumn 2024, the cross-border exchanges had escalated into full-scale war. Over the course of the conflict, Israeli airstrikes killed more than 3,800 Lebanese, injured about 15,700, and displaced nearly 1 million, according to Lebanese health authorities. The World Bank put Lebanon's economic losses at $14 billion. Hezbollah, meanwhile, suffered heavy losses to its leadership, fighters, weapons, and public support. A ceasefire was reached on Nov. 27, brokered by Washington and Paris. Anchored in UN Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war, the deal called for Israel's full withdrawal and for Hezbollah to relocate fighters north of the Litani River and dismantle all military sites in the south. However, six months on, Israel still occupies Jal Al-Deir and Jabal Blat in Bint Jbeil district, Labbouneh and Alma Al-Shaab in Tyre, and Hamames Hill and a newly built outpost along the Markaba-Houla road in Marjayoun. An Israeli military spokesperson said their troops 'need to remain at those points at the moment to defend Israeli citizens, to make sure this process is complete and eventually hand it over to the Lebanese armed forces,' Reuters reported. The UN high commissioner for human rights raised the alarm in April over the increase in Israeli offences since the ceasefire began. At least 71 civilians have been killed and critical infrastructure destroyed, according to a preliminary OHCHR review. Aoun also reported nearly 3,000 Israeli ceasefire breaches. Meanwhile, Israel said at least five rockets, two mortars, and a drone have been launched from Lebanon toward northern Israel since the ceasefire. 'Israel should stop carrying out strikes in Lebanon immediately,' David Wood, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, told Arab News. 'The whole point of the ceasefire deal was to empower the Lebanese army to exert control over all Lebanese territory, to the exclusion of Hezbollah.' He said that continued Israeli attacks risk undermining state authority and bolstering Hezbollah's narrative. 'Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon, even as the army makes progress on implementing the agreement, threaten to undermine the state's authority,' he said. 'Especially in areas facing constant assaults, locals might increasingly view Hezbollah's armed resistance as their only effective defense against Israeli aggression.' While Hezbollah has cooperated with army efforts south of the Litani, it refuses to disarm elsewhere until Israel leaves Lebanese soil. Hezbollah chief Qassem insists only his forces can defend Lebanon. 'Lebanese officials are satisfied that Hezbollah is cooperating with the disarmament process in the area south of the Litani River, which is next to the Lebanese-Israeli border,' Wood said. 'However, Hezbollah refuses to surrender its weapons in the rest of the country, at least until Lebanon's various political factions have entered into dialogue concerning a new national defense strategy.' Disarmament is a key demand from the US, Qatar, and other foreign donors. But Lebanese authorities prefer dialogue to confrontation, wary of igniting civil conflict or scaring off badly needed investment. 'Lebanon's new president and government have made clear that, when it comes to Hezbollah's disarmament, they prefer cooperation over confrontation,' Wood said. 'They want to achieve the state's monopoly over arms yet also avoid a potentially dangerous clash between the Lebanese army and Hezbollah.' Last month, Aoun said the decision to limit the monopoly on weaponry to the state 'has been made' and will be carried out 'through dialogue, not force.' Still, international pressure on Lebanon is mounting. 'Lebanon faces growing pressure — chiefly from the US, Israel, and some of Hezbollah's domestic opponents — to accelerate the disarmament process, even without Hezbollah's approval,' Wood said. Last week, Morgan Ortagus, the deputy US special envoy to the Middle East, said Lebanon has 'more work to do' to fully disarm Hezbollah, despite making more progress in the past six months than in the previous 15 years. 'We in the US 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 told the Qatar Economic Forum. Aoun, however, cautioned against moving too quickly. He reiterated in his interview with Egypt's ON E that Hezbollah's disarmament should proceed through dialogue, not confrontation. Makram Rabah, an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut, said the army is not expected to 'engage in a physical clash with Hezbollah.' Even so, he warned, the state must stop clinging to the notion that disarmament depends solely on Hezbollah's cooperation. 'The government should stop promoting the idea that disarming Hezbollah requires dialogue — that it only requires coordination with Hezbollah for them to hand over their weapons,' Rabah told Arab News. 'If they refuse to do so, they will have to deal with Israel.' He said Lebanese authorities are failing to meet their obligations under Resolution 1701. 'The president of the republic was elected on a platform of establishing full sovereignty, and up until now, he has failed to do so.' Elaborating, Rabah said the core problem lies in the government's reliance on consensus — a strategy, he argued, that plays directly into Hezbollah's hands. 'It's clear that Hezbollah's weapons — which are Iranian in nature — have exposed and devastated Lebanon,' he said. 'Once the government starts acting like a real government, there will be no justification for Israel to maintain a physical presence in Lebanon. 'Israel's continued airstrikes serve as a reminder to the Lebanese authorities that they are failing to do their job,' he added, stressing that 'it's not a question of capability — it's a question of will. 'Frankly, I don't think the Lebanese leadership is even serious about confronting the issue, because they expect Israel to handle it for them. And that, ultimately, is deeply damaging to Lebanon as a sovereign state.'
