Ici Beyrouth - United Nations

Middle East at 'Most Dangerous Juncture' in Decades

This is Beirut, 29/10 17:15 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Nations UN Security Council Gaza Lebanon Middle East

The UN's special coordinator for Middle East peace, Tor Wennesland; warned Tuesday that the region was at its "most dangerous juncture" in decades, as the war between Israel and Iran-backed groups risked spiraling into a broader conflict. "We have now entered the second year of this horrific conflict, and the region is on the verge of yet ...

Hezbollah Rocket Injures Austrian UNIFIL Peacekeepers

This is Beirut, 29/10 17:05 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Nations

United Nations peacekeepers said on Tuesday that a rocket, likely fired by Hezbollah or an affiliated group, hit its headquarters in Naqoura, in southern Lebanon, leaving some peacekeepers with minor injuries. “A rocket hit UNIFIL’s headquarters in Naqoura, setting a vehicle workshop on fire,” the force said in a statement, adding that it ...

Iran Moves to Triple Military Budget Amid Israel Tensions

This is Beirut, 29/10 12:35 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hamas Middle East Tehran United Nations

Iran's government has proposed to triple its military budget, its spokeswoman said Tuesday, as tensions with arch-rival Israel rise following recent tit-for-tat missile strikes. Government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani outlined the move that would see "a significant increase of more than 200 percent in the country's military budget" at a news ...

International Outcry as Israel Bans UNRWA

This is Beirut, 29/10 09:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Banks Hamas Benjamin Netanyahu Palestine UN Security Council United Kingdom United Nations United States USA West Bank

Israel's parliament on Monday approved a bill banning the main UN aid agency for the war-devastated Gaza Strip, sparking international outcry. Despite objections from the United States and warnings from the UN Security Council, Israeli lawmakers overwhelmingly passed the bill banning the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, ...

Mikati-Starmer: Full Implementation of 1701

This is Beirut, 28/10 21:55 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United Nations United States

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer underlined the need to “fully implement UN Resolution 1701” and halt fire in Lebanon. In a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday, Starmer praised the positive connection between the Lebanese and British armies and affirmed that “Britain is ready to support Lebanon at this ...

Middle East Aid Workers Say Rules of War Being Flouted

This is Beirut, 28/10 14:45 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Lebanese Red Cross Middle East United Nations Hamas

Flagrant violations of the laws of war in the escalating conflict in the Middle East are setting a dangerous precedent, aid workers in the region warn. Since Hamas's deadly October 7 attack on Israel from Gaza last year, humanitarians say the warring parties are flouting international humanitarian law (IHL). "The rules of war are being broken in ...

UN Says Greenhouse Gases Hit New Record Highs in 2023

This is Beirut, 28/10 12:20 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United Nations Global Warming

Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere reached new record highs in 2023, the UN warned on Monday, with countries falling "miles short" of what is needed to curb devastating global warming. Levels of the three main greenhouse gases -- heat-trapping carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide -- all increased yet again last year, said the ...

Iraq Lodges UN Complaint Over Israel Using Its Airspace to Attack Iran

This is Beirut, 28/10 10:55 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Tehran UN Security Council United Nations USA Iraq

Iraq has condemned Israel's use of its airspace to attack neighbouring Iran in a protest letter sent to United Nations chief Antonio Guterres and the UN Security Council, Baghdad said Monday. A statement from government spokesman Bassim Alawadi said the letter condemns "the Zionist entity's blatant violation of Iraq's airspace and sovereignty by ...

UN Security Council Emergency to Meet on Monday After Iran Request

This is Beirut, 27/10 16:25 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

UN Security Council United Nations Iran Abbas Araghchi

The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Monday at Iran's request following Israel's deadly missile strikes in retaliation for an October 1 attack by Tehran. The Swiss presidency of the UNSC said Sunday that the meeting would take place following the request by Iran, supported by Algeria, China and Russia. Earlier on ...

Blinken Vows to Work With "Urgency" on Diplomatic Solution in Lebanon

This is Beirut, 25/10 19:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Antony Blinken Palestine United Nations USA

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed Friday to work with "real urgency" for a diplomatic resolution to end Israel's offensive in Lebanon but said it was first critical to reach understandings on disarmament of Hezbollah. Shortly after meeting Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati in London, Blinken also pleaded for protection of civilians ...

Hochstein: Ending the War Is Possible Under 1701

This is Beirut, 25/10 19:25 - Reading : less than a minute

Amos Hochstein Lebanese Army United Nations USA

US envoy Amos Hochstein emphasized that “ending the war between Israel and Lebanon is possible, in accordance with UN Resolution 1701.” “The Lebanese Armed Forces must be permitted to deploy successfully in southern Lebanon and carry out their duties,” he stressed in a statement released on Friday. Hochstein further confirmed that Israel ...

Hennis-Plasschaert: 'Lebanon’s Deadly Cycle of Violence Is Expanding'

This is Beirut, 25/10 18:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Firas Abiad United Nations

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert warned that the deadly cycle of violence in Lebanon is expanding, “leaving more devastation and suffering.” In a statement issued on Friday, she said that Lebanon is facing “a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic proportions,” focusing on the increase in civilian ...