Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon made his first public appearance in Beirut since he was wounded in an attack involving exploding pagers in mid-September.
Mojtaba Amani, who returned to Lebanon over the weekend after undergoing treatment in Iran, visited on Tuesday the scene south of Beirut where Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sept. 27.
Full StoryFree Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday called on the Lebanese to agree on a new president and "distance Lebanon from wars and conflicts."
"We have started political efforts from Dar al-Fatwa and we're concerned with talking to everyone," Bassil said after meeting with Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan.
Full StoryThe Lebanese army is looking for more recruits as it beefs up its presence in southern Lebanon after the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire.
Lebanon’s army is a respected national institution that kept to the sidelines during the nearly 14-month conflict.
Full StoryDefense Minister Israel Katz warned Tuesday that if a ceasefire reached last week collapses, Israel will target the Lebanese state itself and will no longer differentiate between Lebanon and Hezbollah.
"If we return to war, we will act with greater force and penetrate deeper and... there will be no immunity for the state of Lebanon," he said during a tour of Israel’s northern border, adding that "until now, we made a distinction between Lebanon and Hezbollah... it will no longer be the case".
Full StoryLebanese and Israeli officials have reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire agreement despite Monday's flare-up and Israel's numerous violations, informed U.S. sources said.
"The ceasefire monitoring team has arrived in Lebanon to begin its work," the sources told Al-Jazeera, adding that Washington is working with France, Lebanon and Israel to resolve any issue through the ceasefire mechanism.
Full StoryPresident Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a strategic partnership on Monday aimed at deepening bilateral ties and de-escalating conflict in the Middle East, including Lebanon, where the two leaders called for presidential elections.
The French leader arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for a three-day state visit just as a political crisis threatens to topple the French government.
Full StoryAn Israeli airstrike on the southern village of Hariss killed five people and wounded two while another airstrike on the village of Tallousa killed four and also wounded two.
Israel's military carried out a string of airstrikes late Monday against what it said were Hezbollah fighters, infrastructure and rocket launchers across Lebanon, in response to Hezbollah firing two projectiles toward Mount Dov — a disputed Israeli-occupied territory known as Shebaa Farms in Lebanon where the borders of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel meet. Israel said the projectiles fell in open areas and no injuries were reported.
Full StoryIsrael and Lebanon both told the White House on Monday that despite the recent flare-ups on the border they are committed to the ceasefire agreement and want it to continue, sources with knowledge of the issue told U.S. news portal Axios.
The Biden administration has been concerned the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon could unravel after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire in recent days, U.S. officials said.
Full StoryThe Biden administration is concerned the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon could unravel after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged fire in recent days, U.S. officials told U.S. news portal Axios on Monday.
White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Monday that the "sporadic strikes" in recent days were expected.
Full StoryThe United States said Monday it believed that a ceasefire was still holding in Lebanon and that it was looking at potential violations.
"The ceasefire is holding," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters after Lebanon accused Israel of violating the truce, and Israel in turn accused Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of a "serious" breach.
Full Story