Lebanon
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Hezbollah again calls for illuminating Raouche Rock, defying Salam

After Prime Minister Nawaf Salam issued a memo asking authorities to prohibit the unauthorized use of touristic and archaeological sites, Hezbollah released a new statement about its intention to illuminate the iconic Raouche Rock with images of its slain leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.

In its statement, Hezbollah called on supporters to take part in the event at 6:00 pm Thursday, saying the rock will be illuminated with the Lebanese flag at 6:50 pm and with the two pictures from 6:55 pm to 7:00 pm.

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Berri urges response to Barrack's remarks, says 'all hopes' pinned on army

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Tuesday urged an “official Lebanese stance” on the latest alarming remarks by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, saying what he said about “the Lebanese government, army and resistance” is rejected and “contradicts with what he had previously said.”

Paying homage to those who were killed in Israel’s 2024 war on Lebanon, in a statement marking its first anniversary, Berri reiterated “adherence to the ceasefire agreement to which Lebanon through its president, government and resistance have committed since the first moments it went into effect on November 27.”

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Are Barrack's remarks a 'cover' for an Israeli attack?

The U.S. has given Israel a “green light” that allows it to wage military strikes on various regions of Lebanon to “terminate Hezbollah’s capabilities and block its attempt to rebuild its assets,” informed sources said.

In remarks to the Progressive Socialist Party’s al-Anbaa news portal, the sources considered U.S. envoy Tom Barrack’s latest alarming remarks as a “political cover for an expected Israeli aggression.”

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Aoun asks Rubio to press Israel on ceasefire, pullout, captives

President Joseph Aoun met overnight in New York with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly meetings.

A Presidency statement said Aoun asked Rubio for U.S. assistance in “asserting Israel’s commitment to the clauses of the November 27, 2024 declaration for the cessation of hostilities in south Lebanon, its withdrawal from the points it is occupying, the return of the Lebanese captives held by it, and the implementation of Resolution 1701 with all its stipulations, especially that the Lebanese side has not carried out any violation of this agreement.”

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Salam orders ban of unauthorized use of touristic sites after Raouche Rock uproar

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced Monday that he ordered the relevant authorities to prohibit the unauthorized use of the country’s touristic sites, after Hezbollah sparked controversy by announcing that it would briefly illuminate Lebanon’s iconic Raouche Rock with the images of slain leaders Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.

“Today, I issued a circular to all public administrations and institutions, municipalities, their unions, and all relevant agencies, regarding commitment to enforcing the laws governing the use of public land and sea properties, archaeological and touristic sites, official buildings, and landmarks that carry a unifying national symbolism,” Salam said in a post on X.

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Saudi Arabia shows willingness to support Lebanon, report says

Saudi Arabia is willing to help Lebanon and support the Lebanese army, sources said, as Lebanon plans to disarm Hezbollah.

A Saudi-French conference will be held in Riyadh to secure financial and logistic support for the army to enable it to deploy in the area south of the Litani river, the PSP's news portal al-Anbaa said Monday.

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Report: Ortagus lauds army's efforts, says insufficient till Hezbollah disarmed

U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus took part in the meeting of the ceasefire monitoring committee on Sunday and listened to a detailed explanation about the army’s weapons monopoly plan from the Lebanese representative in the committee.

“Lebanon’s envoy to the committee called on Ortagus to put an end to Israel’s continued attacks against Lebanon and to press Israel to withdraw from the points it is occupying, because its continued occupation and security violations will lead to obstructing the army’s deployment in the South Litani region,” security sources told the PSP’s al-Anbaa news portal.

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Marking Peace Day, UNIFIL head highlights efforts with army in building peace

 

As peace along the Blue Line remains a “shared aspiration,” Lebanese officials and local leaders joined UNIFIL peacekeepers today, Monday in marking the International Day of Peace, which fell on Sunday, September 21, at the U.N. mission’s headquarters in Naqoura, UNIFIL said.

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Report: Israeli official says 2026 'decisive' for Hezbollah's full disarmament

Next year will be “decisive” and Israel will “intervene in Lebanon” if no “practical measures” are taken against Hezbollah’s arms, an Israeli security source said on Monday.

“If Hezbollah is not disarmed, Israel will expand its activities inside Lebanon,” the source told Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya television.

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Barrack says Lebanon 'only talks' about Hezbollah disarmament

U.S. envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, has said that everything Lebanon is doing is talk without real action.

He told Sky News Arabia in an interview Sunday, that Israel will not withdraw from the five occupied points and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't care about borders or red lines if he feels Israel is threatened.

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