UN Security Council

Post-May 25, 2000: A String of Blunders

A quarter-century is a brief chapter in the life of a nation. But for a population held hostage for decades by war and relentless existential crises – driven by the unchecked ambitions of regional powers and factions – it can feel like an era. On May 25, 2000, Hezbollah staged a major celebration to mark the withdrawal of the last Israeli ...

State Must Safeguard UNIFIL, as Attacks Violate Resolution 1701

Since the ceasefire took effect in Lebanon on November 27, UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) peacekeepers stationed south of the Litani River have come under multiple attacks, attributed to Hezbollah-affiliated groups. These incidents represent a direct violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 and undermine ...

UNIFIL Discovers Over 225 Weapons Caches in South Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) discovered more than 225 weapons caches in southern Lebanon and transferred the weapons to the Lebanese Army (LAF), the UN mission announced in a statement released Monday. According to the statement, the LAF, supported by UNIFIL, has redeployed to over 120 permanent positions south of the ...

Salam from Beqaa: Border Reform and Development

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam underscored the strategic importance of Lebanon’s official border crossings during a visit to the Beqaa Governorate on Thursday, describing them as “the mirror of Lebanese sovereignty” and the “first line of defense for internal stability.” Touring the Masnaa border crossing, Salam was briefed by General ...

Washington Draws the Line: Iran Must Comply

Washington and Tehran are moving on starkly opposing trajectories in the Middle East. Under President Donald Trump, the United States has prioritized dismantling any armed presence operating outside the framework of state legitimacy and eradicating terrorism from the region. This approach is part of a broader strategy to prepare the ground for a ...

Washington-Tehran Dialogue: A Question of Trust

Can the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran be trusted? Should they be? Are they truly serious, strategically speaking, in their talks with the Trump administration? Are they genuinely capable of pursuing a path toward reintegration into the international community — with all the implications this would entail — and of breaking ...

Lebanon Reclaims Sovereignty: Rajji Vows to Confine Arms to the State

In a firm assertion of Lebanon’s national sovereignty, Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji announced, on Wednesday, that the state will move decisively to ensure that all weapons are under its sole authority, reaffirming that decisions of war and peace rest exclusively with the Lebanese government. Speaking at the 163rd session of the Arab League ...

Iranian Foreign Minister to Visit China on Tuesday

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to visit China on Tuesday, the ministry said, ahead of a third round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States. The visit to China, which was a signatory to a since-abandoned 2015 nuclear agreement that reined in Tehran's nuclear programme, was announced by foreign ministry spokesman ...

Hezbollah: Caught Between Reality and Recklessness

Many in Lebanon and beyond are still grappling with what President Joseph Aoun meant when he spoke of integrating Hezbollah members into the army or security forces. Yet, his message was clear, “We do not want to replicate the Popular Mobilization Forces model in Iraq.” In other words, Lebanon’s leadership is not prepared to absorb ...

Aoun Highlights LAF Role and Reform Progress

President Joseph Aoun affirmed on Monday that the Lebanese Army (LAF) is “fully carrying out its responsibilities” in the areas vacated by Israeli forces, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, emphasizing the army’s capability to ensure the safety and protection of Lebanese citizens. Speaking during a meeting at Baabda ...

Al-Hajjar Praises Swift Arrest of Pharmacy and Shops' Robber

Interior Minister Ahmed al-Hajjar on Monday praised the Internal Security Forces (ISF) Information Branch for its rapid response and successful arrest of the thief who robbed pharmacies and shops in multiple areas over the past two days. Al-Hajjar's remarks came during a meeting of the Central Internal Security Council (CISC), which he chaired in ...

Is Hezbollah Open to Discussions on the Future of Its Weapons?

A senior Hezbollah official told Reuters on Tuesday that the group “would be willing to hold talks on the future of its weapons, in particular with the President of the Republic, Joseph Aoun, provided that the Israeli army withdraws from southern Lebanon and halts its continuous airstrikes against the country.” The aforementioned official ...