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L'Orient-Le Jour
a day ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
The UNIFIL mandate in southern Lebanon wavers under US pressure
At the end of August, the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) may expire due to a lack of consensus in the U.N. Security Council. Long considered a diplomatic formality, its renewal has in recent years become a political battleground. Behind discreet negotiations in New York, the fragile balance in southern Lebanon is at stake. On Aug. 18, the Security Council is scheduled to hold closed consultations to hear Mohammad Khaled Khiari, U.N. assistant secretary-general for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific. In earlier similar reports Washington wants to suspend UNIFIL funding, change its mission, Rajji says Since the war ended on Nov. 27, 2024, following Franco-American mediation, an unstable equilibrium has taken hold. Inspired by U.N. Resolution 1701 (2006), the agreement calls for the Israeli army to...
L'Orient-Le Jour
31-07-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Israeli army says it targeted 'Hezbollah military sites' in south and Bekaa
The Israeli army said Thursday it targeted "infrastructure that was used for producing and storing strategic weapons," after a series of strikes carried out on southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley. According to L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent in the region, the Israeli strikes hit Mahmoudieh, near the Lebanese Army checkpoint at the Khardali Bridge, the outskirts of Aishieh, and the village of Jarmuq (Sour). In the Bekaa, L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent reported that the bombings struck the Brital Heights (Baalbeck) and the surroundings of Nabi Sreij. In a statement, the Israeli military saidf it launched a series of strikes on sites belonging to Hezbollah and targeted "explosive manufacturing sites" as well as an "underground site for the production and storage of strategic weapons." It also accused the party of trying to rebuild its infrastructure. 'The largest missile production site' Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the Israeli army had attacked "the largest site for the production of Hezbollah precision missiles in Lebanon," according to Haaretz. "Any attempt by the organization to rebuild, reestablish, or threaten will be met with relentless force," he said. According to the statement, this site had been previously targeted. "The Lebanese government is responsible for preventing any violation of the cease-fire agreement. We will not allow Hezbollah to threaten the residents of northern Israel," he added. These strikes come as the international community continues to press for Hezbollah's disarmament. On Thursday, President Joseph Aoun once again called for exclusive control of arms "from today" by the army and Lebanese security forces, while urging Hezbollah's opponents to avoid "provocations." Militarily weakened by its 13-month war with Israel, the party is conditioning any concessions regarding its weapons on clear guarantees concerning the intentions of Israel and the United States. The cease-fire agreement between Hezbollah and Israel, in effect since Nov. 27, calls for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, where they still occupy five positions and conduct strikes nearly every day. On the Lebanese side, the agreement was to lead to the disarmament of Hezbollah, first south of the Litani River, then across the country, as mandated by U.N. Resolution 1701, which provided the framework for the truce deal — a provision the party rejects. Israeli attacks in Lebanon over the past eight months have killed at least 285, according to a L'Orient-Le Jour and United Nations count.
L'Orient-Le Jour
21-07-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'Minor incident' between UNIFIL patrol and residents in Haris
SOUTH LEBANON — Vehicles from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrolling Monday in Haris (Bint Jbeil district) in southern Lebanon were briefly stopped by residents while patrolling. "It was a minor incident that was quickly resolved," UNIFIL deputy spokesperson Kandace Ardiel told L'Orient Today. According to her, one of the vehicles encountered a mechanical issue and had to be taken apart, which required spending some time on site. According to our correspondent in southern Lebanon, the peacekeepers were accompanied by a unit of the Lebanese Army at the time of the incident. While southern Lebanon comes under near-daily Israeli fire — despite a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hezbollah — the region saw a rare moment of fragile calm on Monday. The agreement, brokered by the U.S. and France and in effect since Nov. 27, 2024, called for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Yet, the Israeli army continues to occupy five positions, carries out frequent ground incursions, and conducts almost daily airstrikes. On the Lebanese side, the deal called for the gradual disarmament of Hezbollah, starting south of the Litani River in line with U.N. Resolution 1701 — a condition Hezbollah has firmly rejected. Over the past eight months, Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 270 people. Tensions between U.N. peacekeepers and residents in the south — where Hezbollah maintains strong influence, have increased since the truce began. Friction often arises when UNIFIL convoys patrol without accompaniment by the Lebanese Army. Locals frequently block or confront these patrols, accusing the U.N. force of overstepping its mandate. According to Resolution 1701, UNIFIL is authorized to move independently within its areas of deployment. However, its operations fall under Chapter VI of the U.N. Charter, which limits the use of force. Hezbollah has long challenged UNIFIL's freedom of movement when not coordinated with the Lebanese Army. The Lebanese military, for its part, says it lacks the manpower to escort every U.N. patrol. Meanwhile, UNIFIL, along with the U.S., France, Lebanon, and Israel, is part of the international monitoring committee overseeing the cease-fire.
L'Orient-Le Jour
21-07-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Hussein Hajj Hassan: Hezbollah 'ready for any discussion on Lebanese internal issues'
Hussein Hajj Hassan, a Hezbollah MP and former minister, said Monday that his party was "ready for any discussion on Lebanese internal issues" with the aim of "defending Lebanon against Israeli and terrorist threats, as well as American attempts to destabilize the region." This statement comes as U.S. envoy Tom Barrack is visiting Beirut for the second time in two weeks, at a time when the issue of the disarmament of the party is heightening political debate both in Lebanon and internationally. Hezbollah insists that the fate of its weapons is strictly a matter for internal dialogue, under the aegis of the president and as part of a national defense strategy, rejecting any timeline or commitment imposed from outside. In a speech delivered in the village of Sariane (Bekaa), Hajj Hassan warned against what he called "American sabotage of regional dynamics," stating that this project required "responsible dialogue, if anyone is willing to listen to the disasters being plotted." The U.S. envoy warned: "If Lebanon does not take action," referring to the possible persistence of Hezbollah's arms and a blockage of reforms, "the country will revert to Bilad al-Sham." This phrase, despite a subsequent correction, was widely perceived as a veiled threat of Lebanon returning to "Greater Syria." 'Lebanon has fully respected the agreement' Returning to the cease-fire agreement that ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah last November, the MP emphasized that "Lebanon has fully respected the agreement, while the Zionist enemy has respected nothing." Coming into force on Nov. 27 under the auspices of the U.S. and France, the agreement called for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. However, the Israeli army still occupies five positions on Lebanese territory, regularly conducts ground incursions and carries out almost daily airstrikes. On the Lebanese side, the agreement called for the progressive disarmament of Hezbollah, starting with the area south of the Litani, then across the whole territory, in accordance with U.N. Resolution 1701 — a requirement the party flatly rejects. Israeli attacks on Lebanon over the past eight months have killed more than 270 people. Hajj Hassan also denounced the attitude of "certain" Lebanese political forces, whom he accused of "undermining the official position" of Lebanon in the face of Israel. He called for "joint national action" to "strengthen the state's position, impose a halt to the aggression, and kickstart the reconstruction" of areas devastated by war. The Hezbollah MP also singled out "certain Arab and Islamic capitals," claiming that "their internal conflicts have given the American and Israeli enemies sources of strength," condemning a "normalization [with Israel] tantamount to total submission to the American will on political, security, and economic levels." 10 days ago, President Joseph Aoun ruled out any normalization of ties with Israel, while declaring himself in favor of a peaceful situation with the neighboring country, which still occupies part of its territory. This was the first official Lebanese reaction to comments made by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who said on June 30 that Israel was "interested" in normalization with Syria and Lebanon.
L'Orient-Le Jour
21-07-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Barrack at the Grand Serail: Washington cannot give guarantees to Lebanon
American envoy Tom Barrack stated Monday, following a meeting with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, that Washington wants to ensure the return of stability to the region, which justified his return to Beirut for the second time in two weeks, but that it cannot "force Israel to do anything," admitting that the cease-fire agreement reached at the end of November to end the war between Hezbollah and Israel "has not succeeded." This agreement, which came into effect on Nov. 27, was brokered by the U.S. and France. It called for a total withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon, where they still occupy five positions on Lebanese territory, continue to conduct ground incursions and carry out almost daily airstrikes. On the Lebanese side, it was to lead to the disarmament of Hezbollah, primarily south of the Litani, then in the rest of the country, as stipulated by U.N. Resolution 1701, which served as the framework for the truce agreement — something the party rejects. Israeli attacks on Lebanon over the past eight months have killed more than 270 people. No guarantees, no threats, no sanctions Stating from the Grand Serail that the truce agreement "has not succeeded" and that the United States wants to "resolve" this situation, Barrack, himself of Lebanese origin, said he was present "because President Donald Trump attaches importance to the situation in Lebanon and to restoring stability in the region." "We want to discuss with national actors, the government, to see how we can help," he said, adding he had not taken note of "comments" by Hezbollah regarding the roadmap proposed by Washington and reminding that, for the American administration, the party is "a terrorist organization." "We are trying to help, to use our influence on all parties," he added, stating that disarming Hezbollah was "a Lebanese internal matter." He further stressed that the United States was not there to "threaten" and has no intention of imposing new sanctions on Lebanese officials. "Imposing sanctions is a complicated process, which is not currently being discussed," he stated. However, there are no "guarantees" made to Lebanon, he said in response to a question, stating that the United States "cannot force Israel to do anything." "We are here to help you achieve a better understanding with your neighbors, and not just Israel, but it's up to you and your government to work this out," he said, insisting that Washington "wants to restore stability in the region and not pour oil on the fire." Draft memorandum for the implementation of Lebanon's commitments Arriving Sunday in Beirut, the American envoy was met, before his meeting at the Grand Serail, by President Joseph Aoun. According to the presidency, during this meeting, Aoun gave the diplomat, "on behalf of the Lebanese state, a draft comprehensive memorandum to implement Lebanon's commitments," whether it concerns the modalities of the truce agreement, the swearing-in of the president or the ministerial statement of Nawaf Salam's cabinet. Barrack's meetings are being held in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson. According to local media, the American envoy is also expected to meet during the day with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Rai, Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut Bishop Elias Audi, Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, as well as former PSP leader Walid Joumblatt. A dinner gathering with several MPs is also planned at the U.S. Embassy. Barrack's visit to Lebanon is part of efforts to consolidate the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. During his previous stay, he received the Lebanese response to an American proposal, notably calling for Hezbollah's disarmament. Lebanon was to receive feedback on this response a few days later, specifically requesting the completion of the disarmament of the party by the end of the year, especially regarding heavy and medium weapons. This new trip was an opportunity to continue dialogue and bring viewpoints closer. According to L'Orient-Le Jour's information, Lebanon intends to clearly commit to a return to the state's monopoly on weapons and will propose to conduct this process "in stages," which would progress as Israel fulfills its part of the deal by withdrawing from southern Lebanon. This position directly contrasts with that of Hezbollah, whose secretary-general, Naim Qassem, called on Friday for officials to "postpone the issue of monopoly on arms."
