UN Security Council

UN Security Council Urges Rapid Formation of Lebanon Government

The UN Security Council called Thursday for Lebanese leaders to rapidly form a new government, describing it as a "critical" step for stability in the war-battered country and region. In a statement adopted unanimously, the Council welcomed the January 9 election of President Joseph Aoun, who filled a role that was vacant for over two years, and ...

Tensions Persist as Israeli Forces Remain Along Lebanon's Southern Border

With less than two weeks to go before the end of the ceasefire introduced on November 27, Israeli forces are still present in the areas along Lebanon's southern border. For the second consecutive day, the Israeli army continued its incursion into the villages of Mfaylha and Ras al-Dahr, west of Mays al-Jabal. Sweep operations are underway, ...

What About the Ceasefire?

The future of the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel remains uncertain. Despite a flurry of diplomatic negotiations and recent statements by US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein calling for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon, progress toward lasting calm remains minimal. Both sides continue to accuse each other of repeated ...

The National Moderation Bloc Endorses General Joseph Aoun's Presidential Candidacy

The National Moderation Bloc has officially thrown its support behind General Joseph Aoun, the Army's Commander-in-Chief, for the upcoming presidential election set for Thursday. During a meeting at the bloc's headquarters in Saifi, MPs Walid Baarini, Mohammad Sleiman, Abdelaziz Samad, Sagih Atieh, Ahmad Rustom and Ahmad Kheir issued a statement ...

Lebanese-French Group: The Outcome of Presidential Vote to Shape Lebanon's Future

The Lebanese-French Coordination Committee and the World Lebanese Cultural Union-France expressed grave concerns about Lebanon's presidential election on January 9, 2025, stressing that the outcome will shape the nation’s future. They emphasized the critical role of the new president and the subsequent government in establishing long-term peace ...

Magro Hopes January 9 Will Be the Start of a New Era for Lebanon

Hervé Magro, the French Ambassador to Lebanon, reiterated that France would “not relax its efforts to work together (with the Lebanese) so that Lebanon and its people regain the future they deserve” during his New Year’s greetings for 2025. After two years and two months of presidential vacancy, Magro said in a press release from the ...

Israeli Violations Spark Concerns Over Ceasefire Agreement’s Fate

Israeli Merkava tanks crossed Wadi Hujair near Marjeyoun on Thursday morning, conducting a large-scale sweep of nearby forests with heavy machine guns. In response, the Lebanese army blocked the road leading into the valley. The municipality of Majdel Selm issued a statement urging residents to avoid the Slouqi-Wadi Hujair to Nabatiye road and ...

New UN Complaint Regarding Israeli Ceasefire Violations

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a complaint with the UN Security Council, expressing strong protest at Israel's repeated violations of “the announcement of cessation of hostilities” as well as “the commitments relating to enhanced security measures concerning the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 (known ...

Can Bashar al-Assad Be Judged for His Crimes?

War crimes, crimes against humanity, the use of chemical weapons against civilians… The accusations directed at former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad raise pressing questions, particularly following the fall of his regime on December 8: can he be brought to justice? If so, through what legal mechanisms? And what about the status he enjoys in ...

Turkey, Iran Leaders at Muslim Summit in Cairo

The leaders of Turkey and Iran called on Thursday for unity in Syria at a summit of eight Muslim-majority countries after the ouster of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad. Turkey historically backed Assad's opponents, while Iran supported his rule. The gathering of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, also known as the ...

UN Warns Syria’s War Isn’t Over

A UN envoy has warned that Syria's protracted conflict "has not ended yet", even as victorious Islamist-led rebels stepped up contacts with governments that deemed ousted president Bashar al-Assad a pariah. The United Nations' special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said on Tuesday "there have been significant hostilities in the last two weeks, ...

Iran Confirms Increase in IAEA Nuclear Inspections

Iran confirmed Saturday that it has allowed watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to increase the number of inspections it carries out into Tehran's nuclear programme, state media reported. "We have increased capacity -- it is natural that the number of inspections should also increase," the official IRNA news agency quoted the ...