Hezbollah says Lebanon move on army plan is ‘opportunity,’ urges Israel to commit to ceasefire

BEIRUT: Hezbollah official Mahmoud Qmati told Reuters on Saturday that the group considered Friday’s cabinet session on an army plan to establish a state monopoly on arms “an opportunity to return to wisdom and reason, preventing the country from slipping into the unknown.” Lebanon’s cabinet on Friday welcomed a plan by the army that would […]

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Lebanon president tells Iran security chief he ‘rejects all interference’

BEIRUT: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told Iran’s visiting security chief on Wednesday that he rejected any interference in the country’s internal affairs, branding as “unconstructive” Iran’s statements on plans to disarm Hezbollah. “We reject any interference in our internal affairs,” Aoun said, adding that “it is forbidden for anyone… to bear arms and to use […]

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Hezbollah does not accept reasons for time extension for Israeli troop withdrawal, chief says

Israel said on Friday that its army’s withdrawal would last beyond the 60-day period stipulated in the ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese group, saying the terms of the deal had not been fully enforced by the Lebanese state. Lebanese Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on Monday that the group would not accept any justifications to […]

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15 killed in Israeli attack, Lebanese president issues stern warning

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has warned that “there will be no compromise on Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The warning came after Israeli occupation forces opened fire on residents returning to their homes in southern Lebanon on Sunday. President Aoun said that there will be no compromise on Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and that […]

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Hezbollah vows to resist Israel if withdrawal is delayed

Israel has asked the United States for an additional 30 days to fully withdraw its troops from Lebanon. However, Hezbollah has demanded that Israel withdraw completely from southern Lebanon as part of the agreement. In November, a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, brokered by France and the United States, ending […]

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UN calls for immediate withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon

The ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel is “fragile” and “risky,” UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix has called for the Israeli military to withdraw from Lebanon quickly. In a speech to the UN Security Council on Saturday, Lacroix said, “A ceasefire agreement has been reached to end the conflict between Lebanon and Israel. However, […]

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Hezbollah chief warns Israel not to ‘test its patience’

The Secretary General of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has warned Israel not to test Hezbollah’s patience. He said, “We warn the Israeli enemy, do not try to test our patience.” The Hezbollah chief made these remarks in a video message on Saturday. He called on the Lebanese government to take a […]

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New Lebanese president to visit Saudi Arabia on first state visit

Lebanon’s new President Joseph Aoun will pay his first state visit to Saudi Arabia. Aoun made the announcement in a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Al-Arabiya News reported this information in a report citing the presidential office. The report said that on Saturday (January 11), Lebanon’s new President Joseph Aoun told […]

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