United Nations

Guterres Advocates for Amplifying Women’s Voices in Lebanon's Recovery

UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need to amplify women's voices in the process of reconstruction and political transformation in Lebanon. As part of his visit to Beirut on Saturday, he met with 20 women's rights activists, feminist organizations and young women peace builders, at a dialogue session organized by UN ...

Syria: Nearly 200,000 Refugees Returned Since Assad's Fall

Nearly 200,000 Syrian refugees have returned home since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in early December, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said Saturday ahead of a visit to the region. Between December 8 and January 16, some 195,200 Syrians returned home, according to figures published by Grandi on X. "Soon I will visit Syria — and its ...

Guterres Urges Reforms, Reaffirms International Support for Lebanon

During his visit to Baabda Palace on Saturday morning, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated, "We can establish a general framework to guarantee the protection of Lebanese territory and the peace process," emphasizing the importance of "the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the full deployment of the Lebanese ...

UN Peacekeepers, Border Issues and Security Concerns: Guterres' Visit in Focus

UN Secretary-General António Guterres visited the headquarters of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Naqoura on Friday. The visit came amid regional tensions and a fragile calm in the South. During the visit, Guterres voiced his support for UN peacekeepers and reaffirmed the terms of Resolution 1701, the cornerstone of the ...

Israeli Security Cabinet Approves Gaza Ceasefire Deal

Israel's security cabinet approved in a vote on Friday a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal that should take effect this weekend, the prime minister's office said. The agreement, which must now go to the full cabinet for a final green light, would halt fighting and bombardment in Gaza's deadliest-ever war. It would also launch ...

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 ...

UN Chief Antonio Guterres in Lebanon on 'Solidarity Visit'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Lebanon Thursday on a "solidarity visit". He was greeted at the airport by caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. "The Secretary-General has just arrived in Beirut for a solidarity visit to Lebanon," after a long-stalled presidential election and a devastating war between Hezbollah and ...

UN Rights Chief Says Transitional Justice 'Crucial' in Syria

United Nations rights chief Volker Turk on Wednesday said transitional justice was "crucial" for Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, during the first-ever visit by someone in his post to the country. "Transitional justice is crucial as Syria moves forward," the UN high commissioner for human rights said. "Revenge ...

Blinken Proposes a Post-War Plan For Gaza, With a Role For The UN And The Palestinian Authority

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken proposed sending an international security force to Gaza and placing the Palestinian territory under the responsibility of the UN, following the war with Hamas. As a ceasefire looks set to be signed after 15 months of war between Israel and the Palestinian movement that has left tens of thousands ...

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, ...

Iran, European Powers to Hold Nuclear Talks ahead of Trump Return

Iran is set to hold nuclear talks with France, Britain and Germany on Monday, just a week before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office. They are the second round of talks over Iran's nuclear programme in less than two months, following a discreet meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, in November between Tehran and the three European powers, ...