United Nations

UN Peacekeeping Missions: An Endless Odyssey?

From the dusty streets of Bangui to the mountains of Lebanon, over 70,000 United Nations peacekeepers put their lives on the line every day to uphold a fragile peace. Drawn from 125 countries, these missions represent one of the UN’s most dangerous undertakings. But how much do we really know about these operations that, for more than 70 ...

UN Warns of 'Massive Trauma' for Gaza's Children Amid Renewed Fighting

The UN warned Friday that all of Gaza's approximately one million children were facing "massive trauma" as fighting in the war-ravaged territory resumed and amid dire aid shortages. Humanitarians described an alarming situation in Gaza amid a growing civilian death toll since Israel resumed aerial bombardment and ground operations this week after ...

UNIFIL Celebrates 47th Anniversary Amid Fragile Ceasefire in Southern Lebanon

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) marked on Wednesday the 47th anniversary of its establishment, amidst a fragile truce in southern Lebanon. Since its inception in 1978, UNIFIL's mandate has included overseeing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the South and aiding the Lebanese government in restoring its authority in the ...

Lebanon Prepares to Hand Over 700 Syrian Detainees as Part of Bilateral Agreement

Lebanon is set to hand over over 700 Syrian detainees to Syria out of the more than 2,000 currently held in its overcrowded prisons, a Lebanese judicial official told AFP on Thursday. “There are more than 700 Syrian detainees and convicts whose files have been finalized and who meet the conditions for extradition,” the official, speaking on ...

Resolution 1680: A Turning Point for Lebanese Sovereignty

On May 17, 2006, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1680, a decisive text aimed at strengthening Lebanon's independence and normalizing its relations with Syria. This resolution, lesser-known than the spotlight-stealing Resolutions 1701 and 1559, deserves our attention if we are to understand the current dynamics between these ...

Mandolesi: UNIFIL's Cooperation with Lebanese Army Key to Maintaining Peace

In a statement during a university workshop in Tyre on Wednesday, the commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) West Sector, Nicola Mandolesi, emphasized the critical role of UNIFIL's presence “in maintaining peace and stability” in Lebanon. He noted that “cooperation with local communities and the Lebanese Armed ...

Lebanese Parliamentary Committee Pushes for Direct Security Coordination with Syria Amid Border Clashes

The Lebanese Parliament’s National Defense, Interior and Municipalities Committee has proposed sending a high-level delegation to Syria on Tuesday, to enhance direct coordination and prevent further border escalation. The delegation would include Minister of Foreign Affairs Youssef Rajji, Defense Minister Michel Menassa and top security ...

UN Envoy Calls for Urgent Diplomacy as ‘Cautious Optimism’ Surrounds Lebanon’s Stability

The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, expressed “cautious optimism” regarding Lebanon’s political and security situation during her briefing to the UN Security Council on Monday. Hennis-Plasschaert welcomed the formation of Lebanon’s new government and its ministerial program. She also ...

Syrians Commemorate Uprising Anniversary for First time since Assad's Fall

Syrians gathered on Saturday to commemorate the 14th anniversary of their uprising in public demonstrations in Damascus for the first time since president Bashar al-Assad was toppled. The demonstration in Damascus's Umayyad Square is the first in the capital after years of repression under Assad, during which the square was the sole preserve of ...

Armistice, Normalization, Peace: What Are the Differences?

Whenever an agreement—whether purely technical or otherwise—between Lebanon and Israel is discussed, confusion arises, often followed by accusations and excessive speculation. Many Lebanese tend to mix up and confuse the terms "armistice," "normalization," and "peace." This makes it necessary to clarify the differences between these three ...

UN Security Council Urges Syria to Protect All People Regardless of Religion or Ethnicity

The UN Security Council on Friday condemned recent massacres of civilians in Syria and urged its transitional authorities to respect all people regardless of religion or ethnicity. In a statement, the council said it condemned widespread violence in western Syria since March 6 that has included "mass killings of civilians," particularly among the ...