Lebanon
Latest stories
Report: Aoun, Berri, Salam to hold consultations, new ceasefire MoU to be issued

Extensive consultations will begin in Beirut among President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam, and also with the political forces, to "pave the way for decisions described as pivotal that Lebanon must make regarding the negotiation process between Lebanon and Israel," a media report said on Monday.

"While awaiting the crystallization of the next steps, the broad outlines of which were established during the second round of talks between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors at the White House, culminating in a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, it was reported that a new U.S. memorandum will be issued by the State Department outlining renewed instructions for the ceasefire," An-Nahar newspaper reported.

W140 Full Story
Israel begins reducing forces in south Lebanon

The Israeli army has begun reducing its forces in Lebanon and the remaining forces continue their operations on the border within the framework of the ceasefire restrictions, Israel's Maariv newspaper reported.

W140 Full Story
Israel says striking 'Hezbollah sites' in south and Bekaa

The Israeli military on Monday said it had begun hitting Hezbollah positions in the Bekaa region, amid a ceasefire that began earlier this month.

"The IDF has begun to strike Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the Bekaa valley and in additional areas across southern Lebanon," it said in a brief statement on social media.

W140 Full Story
Aoun: Talks not treason, treason is dragging country into war for foreign interests

President Joseph Aoun said Monday that negotiations with Israel are not treason and that "treason is dragging your country into war to serve foreign interests."

"Some criticize us for choosing to negotiate, claiming there is no national consensus," he said, clearly pointing at Hezbollah. "When you dragged the country into war, did you have national consensus then?" Aoun asked.

W140 Full Story
Geagea says Aoun, Salam doing 'what must be done' to end war

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Hezbollah is incapable of reaching a deal to end the war, urging the group to let the government do its job.

Geagea told al-Jadeed on Sunday evening that President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are doing "what must be done" to get Lebanon out of the predicament into which it was dragged.

W140 Full Story
Hezbollah leader vows to confront Israel, liberate 'every inch' of occupied land

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem on Monday rejected Lebanon's planned direct talks with Israel, calling them a "grave sin" that will destabilize Lebanon, as he vowed to end the Israeli occupation of south Lebanon.

Qassem said Hezbollah will not give up its arms and people will return to their lands, vowing that Israeli troops will not remain on "a single inch of our occupied land".

W140 Full Story
UNIFIL holds memorial in Beirut for Indonesian peacekeeper killed in south Lebanon

The United Nations' UNIFIL peacekeeping force said it held a memorial in Beirut for an Indonesian peacekeeper who died on Friday after being wounded in a blast in south Lebanon last month.

A preliminary U.N. investigation found that an Israeli tank shell caused the explosion.

W140 Full Story
Hezbollah says will keep responding to Israel's violations

Hezbollah has rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusation that it was jeopardizing a ceasefire and said it would keep responding to Israel's own violations and occupation of south Lebanon.

In a statement Sunday, Hezbollah said its attacks on Israeli targets in southern Lebanon and northern Israel were "a legitimate response to the enemy's persistent violations of the ceasefire since the first day of the announcement of the temporary truce".

W140 Full Story
UN Special Coordinator Plasschaert visits Israel to discuss Lebanon truce

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert began Sunday an official visit to Israel where she is scheduled to meet with senior Israeli officials.

Discussions will focus on opportunities to consolidate the cessation of hostilities and pave the way to lasting stability for communities in Lebanon and northern Israel.

W140 Full Story
Israel army says soldier killed in south Lebanon

The Israeli military said on Sunday that a soldier was killed in southern Lebanon, where a ceasefire has been in place since mid-April.

Sergeant Idan Fooks, 19, died "during combat" in south Lebanon, while "an officer and three additional soldiers were severely injured, along with a soldier who was moderately injured and a soldier who was lightly injured", the military said.

W140 Full Story