United Nations

Aoun Reaffirms Lebanon’s Support for UNIFIL to UN’s Lacroix

President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the continued presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south, during a meeting with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Wednesday. During the meeting, Aoun underscored Lebanon’s dedication to implementing UN Security ...

Nuclear Flashpoint: Understanding the NPT in Today’s Geopolitical Climate

As Israeli strikes on Iranian targets intensify, Tehran is now threatening to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) – a cornerstone of the global nuclear order signed over half a century ago, yet still at the heart of today’s regional tensions. A Treaty Born in the Shadow of the Bomb The NPT was signed in ...

Syrian Refugees: Voluntary Return or Geopolitical Pressure?

The Lebanese government has renewed its focus on the issue of displaced Syrians, designating it a top national priority amid the mounting pressure the crisis places on the country’s economy and social systems. In recent weeks, it has collaborated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and humanitarian partners to develop ...

UN Scales Back Global Aid Plan due to 'Deepest Funding Cuts Ever'

The United Nations on Monday said it was drastically scaling back its global humanitarian aid plans due to the "deepest funding cuts ever". The UN's humanitarian agency said in a statement that it was seeking $29 billion in funding compared to $44 billion requested in December, in a "hyper-prioritized" appeal. Under President Donald Trump, who ...

Israel-Iran Conflict: What We Know More than 24 Hours After it Started

Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military facilities with a barrage of missiles on Friday, killing several top officials and prompting a counter-attack by Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's attack on its arch-rival would last "as many days" as needed, and cited Israeli intelligence that Tehran was approaching the "point of no ...

Rights Group Says Israel Deporting Six Gaza Aid Boat Activists

An Israeli NGO representing activists detained aboard a boat attempting to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza said Thursday that six were being deported, including two who were already on planes. "After more than 72 hours in Israeli custody following the unlawful interception of the Madleen Freedom Flotilla in international waters... six volunteers ...

Global Forced Displacement Dips Slightly but Remains at Record Levels

The number of people forcibly displaced from their homes worldwide has dropped slightly from a record high but remains "untenably high," the United Nations said Thursday. A record 123.2 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced from their homes at the end of 2024, said UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. But that figure dropped to 122.1 million ...

Salam Engages with UN Officials, Eyes Airport Revival

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam led a series of high-level meetings on Wednesday at the Grand Serail, addressing regional tensions, bilateral ties and infrastructure proposals. In a closed-door meeting with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, discussions focused on rising security tensions in southern Lebanon. While no ...

UNIFIL and the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Condemn Attacks on Peacekeepers

The Lebanese government expressed strong concern on Tuesday following two separate incidents in southern Lebanon, where civilians believed to be affiliated with Hezbollah targeted patrols from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The attacks have reignited debate over the freedom of movement granted to UN forces under UN Security ...

Don't Let Deep sea Become 'Wild West', Guterres tells World Leaders

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Monday the world could not let the deepest oceans "become the wild west", at the start in France of a global summit on the seas. World leaders are attending the UN Ocean Conference in Nice as nations tussle over contentious rules on mining the seabed for critical minerals and the terms of ...

UN Welcomes New Libya Safety and Rights Committees

The United Nations mission in Libya on Saturday welcomed the formation of two committees by the Libyan presidential council to address safety and human rights after recent deadly clashes in Tripoli. UNSMIL said the committees were "composed of key parties", with one aimed at "strengthening security arrangements to prevent the outbreak of fighting ...