Latest news with #weapons depot
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Blast at weapons depot in southern Lebanon kills six soldiers
The Lebanese army said a blast at a weapons depot near the Israeli border killed six soldiers as troops were posted to the south to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure in the area as part of a disarmament plan. The deaths come after the Lebanese government made the historic decision this week to disarm Hezbollah and charged the army with drawing up a plan to complete the process by the end of the year. A military statement gave a preliminary toll of six soldiers killed 'while an army unit was inspecting a weapons depot and dismantling its contents in Wadi Zibqin', in Tyre district near the Israeli border. But a military source told AFP the blast had occurred 'inside a Hezbollah military facility'. Troops were 'removing munitions and unexploded ordnance left over from the recent war' when the blast occurred, the source added. Under a fragile truce that ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah last year, Lebanese troops have been in charge of removing the Iran-backed group's infrastructure in the south. Condolences poured in shortly after Saturday's incident. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam paid tribute to the troops who were killed 'while performing their national duty', calling the army the protector of Lebanon's 'unity and its legitimate institutions'. Saudi Arabia also expressed its 'sincere condolences' to Lebanon, repeating its solidarity with the country. The kingdom has in recent months moved closer towards Lebanon. US envoy Tom Barrack, who has led Washington's efforts to disarm Hezbollah, extended the administration's 'deepest condolences'. The blast came days after he UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (Unifil) said troops had discovered a 'vast network of fortified tunnels' in the same area. UN spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters that the troops uncovered a cache of artillery, rockets, mines and improvised explosive devices. In April, the Lebanese army said three soldiers were killed in a munitions blast, just days after another was killed in an explosion as troops dismantled mines in a tunnel. The blast comes amid a growing push to disarm the group, sparking opposition from its supporters. The cabinet earlier this week gave the Lebanese Armed Forces until the end of August to prepare a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year. The group rejected that decision and said it would treat it as if it did not exist. A senior adviser to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that Tehran 'is certainly opposed to the disarmament of Hezbollah'. 'Iran has always supported the people and the resistance of Lebanon and continues to do so,' international affairs adviser Ali Akbar Velayati told Iran's Tasnim news agency. Lebanon's Foreign Ministry slammed the comments as 'flagrant and unacceptable interference', reminding 'the leadership in Tehran that Iran would be better served by focusing on the issues of its own people'. The US plan lists 11 'objectives' including 'ensuring the sustainability' of the ceasefire with Israel announced in November and 'the gradual end of the armed presence of all non-governmental entities, including Hezbollah, in all Lebanese territory'. It also calls for the posting of Lebanese troops in border areas and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the five places in the south they have occupied since last year's war with Hezbollah ended with November's ceasefire. Lebanon says Israel's continued presence and its air strikes inside Lebanese territory are a breach of the truce.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Blast at Hezbollah site in Lebanon kills six soldiers
Lebanon's army said a blast at a weapons depot near the Israeli border on Saturday killed six soldiers as a military source said troops were removing munitions from a Hezbollah facility. Under a truce that ended a recent war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, the army has been deploying in south Lebanon and dismantling the militant group's infrastructure there. The deaths come as Lebanon tackles the thorny issue of disarming Hezbollah, with the cabinet this week tasking the army with developing a plan to do so by year end and the Iran-backed group pushing back. Iran said Saturday it opposed the Lebanese government's decision. An army statement gave a preliminary toll of six soldiers killed and others wounded 'while an army unit was inspecting a weapons depot and dismantling its contents in Wadi Zibqin,' in the Tyre district near the Israeli border. Investigations were underway to determine the cause of the blast, it added. A military source, requesting anonymity as they were not authorized to brief the media, told AFP the blast took place 'inside a Hezbollah military facility.' Troops were 'removing munitions and unexploded ordnance left over from the recent war' between Israel and Hezbollah when the blast occurred, the source added. President Joseph Aoun said he was informed by army commander Rodolphe Haykal of the 'painful incident' that led to troop casualties. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam paid tribute on X to the troops who were killed 'while performing their national duty,' calling the army the protector of Lebanon's 'unity and its legitimate institutions.' Disarmament push The blast came days after Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, said that troops had 'discovered a vast network of fortified tunnels' in the same area. Under the November ceasefire which sought to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, weapons in Lebanon should be restricted to state institutions. The government has tasked the army with presenting a plan for restricting weapons to government forces by the end of August. Lebanon's cabinet met twice this week on the issue, while Hezbollah has rejected the government's decision to take away its weapons. A senior adviser to supreme leader Ali Khamenei said Saturday that Iran 'is certainly opposed to the disarmament of Hezbollah... Iran has always supported the people and the resistance of Lebanon and continues to do so.' Lebanon's cabinet on Thursday discussed a US proposal that includes a timetable for Hezbollah's disarmament, with Washington pressing Beirut to take action. The government endorsed the introduction of the US text without discussing specific timelines, and called for the deployment of Lebanese troops in border areas. It also called for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from five south Lebanon areas they have occupied since the recent war. In April, Lebanon's military said three troops were killed in a munitions blast in the south, just days after a soldier was killed and three others wounded in another explosion as authorities said they had been dismantling mines in a tunnel.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Saudi Arabia offers Lebanon condolences over death of army soldiers
Saudi Arabia on Saturday offered Lebanon its condolences over the death of Lebanese army soldiers who were killed in a blast at a weapons depot near the Israeli border. The Kingdom 'expressed its condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and its solidarity with the Lebanese government and people,' The Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement on X. 'The Kingdom commends the army's efforts to uphold the government's sovereignty over all its territory, ensure its security and stability, and contribute to the prosperity of Lebanon and its people.' Six soldiers were killed and other wounded on Saturday 'while an army unit was inspecting a weapons depot and dismantling its contents in Wadi Zibqin,' in the Tyre district near the Israeli border. A military source told AFP that the blast took place 'inside a Hezbollah military facility.' Troops were 'removing munitions and unexploded ordnance left over from the recent war' between Israel and Hezbollah when the blast occurred, the source added. Under a truce that ended a recent war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, the army has been deploying in south Lebanon and dismantling the militant group's infrastructure there.
