Latest news with #US-mediated
Ya Libnan
3 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
‘We want Israel out yesterday, not tomorrow:' Lebanon's PM urges US to pressure Israel to withdraw troops
Israel's military occupation in parts of southern Lebanon is undermining Beirut's attempts to restore sovereignty over a nation reeling from decades of conflict, the country's prime minister has told CNN. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he would like to see the current United States administration put pressure on Israel to withdraw from five locations in southern Lebanon. A US-mediated agreement in November last year paused months of fighting between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed militant group that operates in Lebanon. Israel has significantly weakened Hezbollah over the past year, killing much of its top leadership and severely degrading its power through mass airstrikes. 'Israel's presence is politically counterproductive. It's undermining my government…we want Israel out yesterday, not tomorrow.'Salam The prime minister said Lebanon has been honoring its commitments to the November agreement and that the Lebanese military is 'consolidating control' over the south of the country and its borders. Hezbollah is committed to an agreement that affirms that the Lebanese military is the only authority allowed to bear arms, Salam said Wednesday. However, 'Israel has not honored its commitments,' he added. The 'Israeli presence in Lebanon is a red line for everyone. This is not a red line for Hezbollah alone,' he told CNN's Becky Anderson in Dubai, where he's attending the Arab Media Forum and meeting Emirati leadership. 'Israel's argument is as follows… they need to be in these five points in order to have a better monitoring of the situation in southern Lebanon… but we are not in World War One…we are in the age of satellite imagery, of drones with cameras. They have balloons monitoring the region, let alone a network of spies operating on the ground,' Salam said. 'Israel's presence is politically counterproductive. It's undermining my government…we want Israel out yesterday, not tomorrow.' Despite agreeing to withdraw from Lebanese territory as part of the US-mediated agreement, Israel has said that the Lebanese army has yet to take control of a region with Hezbollah presence. Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, said in March that the Israeli military would remain in these five points 'indefinitely, to protect the residents of the north – regardless of any future negotiations.' Along with the United States, France and the United Nations are monitoring the ceasefire. 'I'm sure they can testify that Lebanon has been honoring its commitments while Israel has not honored its commitments,' Salam said on the mediating countries. Salam, who rose to prominence after presiding over the International Court of Justice during South Africa's genocide case against Israel, was designated Lebanon's prime minister in January in a surprise move that was seen as a blow to Hezbollah and its allies. Widely seen as a reformist, the prime minister declared specific priorities for his mandate, including ending institutional corruption and regaining sovereignty over his country by disarming Hezbollah and Palestinian factions. 'The goal… is that the state should have exclusive monopoly over arms, over all its territory,' he said in the interview. (CNN)
Egypt Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
‘We want Israel out yesterday, not tomorrow:' Lebanon's leader urges US to pressure Israel to withdraw troops
Dubai, UAE CNN — Israel's military occupation in parts of southern Lebanon is undermining Beirut's attempts to restore sovereignty over a nation reeling from decades of conflict, the country's prime minister has told CNN. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he would like to see the current United States administration put pressure on Israel to withdraw from five locations in southern Lebanon. A US-mediated agreement in November last year paused months of fighting between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed militant group that operates in Lebanon. Israel has significantly weakened Hezbollah over the past year, killing much of its top leadership and severely degrading its power through mass airstrikes. The prime minister said Lebanon has been honoring its commitments to the November agreement and that the Lebanese military is 'consolidating control' over the south of the country and its borders. Hezbollah is committed to an agreement that affirms that the Lebanese military is the only authority allowed to bear arms, Salam said Wednesday. However, 'Israel has not honored its commitments,' he added. The 'Israeli presence in Lebanon is a red line for everyone. This is not a red line for Hezbollah alone,' he told CNN's Becky Anderson in Dubai, where he's attending the Arab Media Forum and meeting Emirati leadership. 'Israel's argument is as follows… they need to be in these five points in order to have a better monitoring of the situation in southern Lebanon… but we are not in World War One…we are in the age of satellite imagery, of drones with cameras. They have balloons monitoring the region, let alone a network of spies operating on the ground,' Salam said. 'Israel's presence is politically counterproductive. It's undermining my government…we want Israel out yesterday, not tomorrow.' Despite agreeing to withdraw from Lebanese territory as part of the US-mediated agreement, Israel has said that the Lebanese army has yet to take control of a region with Hezbollah presence. Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, said in March that the Israeli military would remain in these five points 'indefinitely, to protect the residents of the north – regardless of any future negotiations.' Along with the United States, France and the United Nations are monitoring the ceasefire. 'I'm sure they can testify that Lebanon has been honoring its commitments while Israel has not honored its commitments,' Salam said on the mediating countries. Salam, who rose to prominence after presiding over the International Court of Justice during South Africa's genocide case against Israel, was designated Lebanon's prime minister in January in a surprise move that was seen as a blow to Hezbollah and its allies. Widely seen as a reformist, the prime minister declared specific priorities for his mandate, including ending institutional corruption and regaining sovereignty over his country by disarming Hezbollah and Palestinian factions. 'The goal… is that the state should have exclusive monopoly over arms, over all its territory,' he said in the interview.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘We want Israel out yesterday, not tomorrow:' Lebanon's leader urges US to pressure Israel to withdraw troops
Israel's military occupation in parts of southern Lebanon is undermining Beirut's attempts to restore sovereignty over a nation reeling from decades of conflict, the country's prime minister has told CNN. Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said he would like to see the current United States administration put pressure on Israel to withdraw from five locations in southern Lebanon. A US-mediated agreement in November last year paused months of fighting between the Israeli military and Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed militant group that operates in Lebanon. Israel has significantly weakened Hezbollah over the past year, killing much of its top leadership and severely degrading its power through mass airstrikes. The prime minister said Lebanon has been honoring its commitments to the November agreement and that the Lebanese military is 'consolidating control' over the south of the country and its borders. Hezbollah is committed to an agreement that affirms that the Lebanese military is the only authority allowed to bear arms, Salam said Wednesday. However, 'Israel has not honored its commitments,' he added. The 'Israeli presence in Lebanon is a red line for everyone. This is not a red line for Hezbollah alone,' he told CNN's Becky Anderson in Dubai, where he's attending the Arab Media Forum and meeting Emirati leadership. 'Israel's argument is as follows… they need to be in these five points in order to have a better monitoring of the situation in southern Lebanon… but we are not in World War One…we are in the age of satellite imagery, of drones with cameras. They have balloons monitoring the region, let alone a network of spies operating on the ground,' Salam said. 'Israel's presence is politically counterproductive. It's undermining my government…we want Israel out yesterday, not tomorrow.' Despite agreeing to withdraw from Lebanese territory as part of the US-mediated agreement, Israel has said that the Lebanese army has yet to take control of a region with Hezbollah presence. Israeli defense minister, Israel Katz, said in March that the Israeli military would remain in these five points 'indefinitely, to protect the residents of the north – regardless of any future negotiations.' Along with the United States, France and the United Nations are monitoring the ceasefire. 'I'm sure they can testify that Lebanon has been honoring its commitments while Israel has not honored its commitments,' Salam said on the mediating countries. Salam, who rose to prominence after presiding over the International Court of Justice during South Africa's genocide case against Israel, was designated Lebanon's prime minister in January in a surprise move that was seen as a blow to Hezbollah and its allies. Widely seen as a reformist, the prime minister declared specific priorities for his mandate, including ending institutional corruption and regaining sovereignty over his country by disarming Hezbollah and Palestinian factions. 'The goal… is that the state should have exclusive monopoly over arms, over all its territory,' he said in the interview.
India Gazette
24-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"They spared neither Gurudwara, Church, Madrasa nor Temple": Congress' Naseer Hussain slams Pakistan over Poonch shelling
Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 24 (ANI): Congress MP and AICC in charge of Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Naseer Hussain, on Saturday condemned Pakistan's recent cross-border shelling in Poonch, which targeted places of worship, including Gurudwaras, Churches, Madrasas, and Temples, resulting in 13 deaths and significant damage. 'They neither left the Gurudwara nor left the Church nor left the Madrasa nor left the Temple. Thirteen people lost their lives here. Apart from this, many people were injured, and many people lost their property. Therefore, a lot of damage has been done,' Hussain said. Hussain announced that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi will visit the affected areas to show solidarity with the victims. 'Rahul Gandhi will go to the homes of people killed in the shelling. He will go to the schools of two children killed in the shelling and meet their classmates. There was an attack on a Gurudwara; he will visit there. He will go to the Madrasa, which was attacked and where one person was killed. We want to give confidence to these people who are in the farthest-flung areas of the country'. Hussain raised questions about the India-Pakistan understanding, suggesting it was reached with US mediation, and expressed disappointment over the ceasefire's implications. 'When the ceasefire happened, the whole country was disappointed because of the way our soldiers were fighting, our army was fighting, the way our armed forces were fighting, and we had the upper hand. However, with the US-mediated arbitration, we accepted this ceasefire. The whole country is asking for answers,' he said. Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch and Rajouri districts have been affected during the recent conflict with Pakistan. The Pakistani side had indulged in unprovoked firing across the border due to which locals suffered damage to their homes and lost their sources of livelihood. The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the next of kin of those killed. (ANI)
India Gazette
24-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Poonch has been worst affected by Pakistani shelling": JKPCC President Tariq Hamid Karra
Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 24 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hamid Karra on Saturday said that Poonch district in the Union Territory was the worst affected by Pakistan's recent cross-border shelling. Karra also said that Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is visiting there to show solidarity with the affected people. 'Poonch has been the worst affected by Pakistani shelling... Rahul Gandhi is the first national leader to come here, and he is coming to show solidarity with the people. He will visit all the institutions that have been affected by the shelling... He will meet the civil society and talk to them, and then he will come to the Dak Bungalow,' Karra told ANI. He also asked why a 'third country' announced the cessation of military action by India and Pakistan. 'We expect Pakistan to remain committed to the ceasefire, though questions have been raised - why did a third country announce it despite the government's policy of no third-party intervention... We don't know what they (Pakistan) might do next, so the security forces have to be alert,' he said. Meanwhile, Congress MP and AICC in charge of Jammu and Kashmir, Syed Naseer Hussain, on Saturday, condemned Pakistan's recent cross-border shelling in Poonch, which targeted places of worship, including Gurudwaras, Churches, Madrasas, and Temples, resulting in 13 deaths and significant damage. 'They neither left the Gurudwara nor left the Church nor left the Madrasa nor left the Temple. Thirteen people lost their lives here. Apart from this, many people were injured, and many people lost their property. Therefore, a lot of damage has been done,' Hussain said. 'Rahul Gandhi will go to the homes of people killed in the shelling. He will go to the schools of two children killed in the shelling and meet their classmates. There was an attack on a Gurudwara; he will visit there. He will go to the Madrasa, which was attacked and where one person was killed. We want to give confidence to these people who are in the farthest-flung areas of the country,' he added. Hussain raised questions about the India-Pakistan understanding, suggesting it was reached with US mediation, and expressed disappointment over the ceasefire's implications. 'When the ceasefire happened, the whole country was disappointed because of the way our soldiers were fighting, our army was fighting, the way our armed forces were fighting, and we had the upper hand. However, with the US-mediated arbitration, we accepted this ceasefire. The whole country is asking for answers,' he said. Earlier, a five-member Trinamool Congress delegation on Thursday met with the families affected by Pakistani shelling in Poonch district, expressing solidarity with the families and reaffirming their commitment to humanity and peace. After meeting the families and seeing the damage, TMC MP Derek O' Brien underlined how he has been 'deeply moved' by meeting the affected families. (ANI)
