UNITED NATIONS: Facing a Friday deadline that could halt the delivery of humanitarian aid to more than 1 million Syrians every month, the divided UN Security Council is set to vote on rival resolutions that would continue deliveries through border crossings to mainly rebel-held areas.
A draft resolution co-sponsored by Germany, Belgium and Kuwait and supported by the UN humanitarian office would continue the delivery of aid through two crossing points in Turkey and one in Iraq.
A rival resolution from Russia, Syria’s closest ally on the council, would extend deliveries only through the two Turkish crossings.
The current year-long mandate expires on Friday, and if it is not extended, the delivery of food, medicine and other essential items will stop. The Security Council is scheduled to vote on the rival resolutions Friday afternoon. Both drafts would extend the mandate for six months,
Diplomats said the five veto-wielding council members — the United States, Russia, China, United Kingdom and France — met four times since last week and were unable to reach a compromise on a draft resolution.
Since 2014, the Security Council has authorized the delivery of aid through four border crossings — Bab Al-Salam and Bab Al-Hawa in Turkey, Al Yarubiyah in Iraq, and Al-Ramtha in Jordan.
UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock told the Security Council in November that 4 million people across northern Syria are supported by UN cross-border humanitarian assistance.
He said the UN provided 1.1 million people with food through cross-border deliveries in October, double the number in January. Since 2014, he said, the United Nations has sent nearly 30,000 trucks of humanitarian assistance across the four border-crossings.
“There is no alternative to the cross-border operation,” Lowcock said. “There is no Plan B.”
“Without the cross-border operation, we would see an immediate end of aid supporting millions of civilians,“” he warned. “That would cause a rapid increase in hunger and disease. A lot more people would flood across the borders, making an existing crisis even worse in the region.”
The cross-border issue initially came to a head on Dec. 30 when Russia and China vetoed a resolution that would authorize deliveries through three crossings, which was supported by 13 of the 15 Security Council members.
A rival resolution sponsored by Russia and China would have only two crossing points in Turkey. It was defeated because it failed to get the required nine “yes” votes for adoption.
At the time, Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said cross-border aid was meant to be a temporary response to the eight-year Syrian conflict and the situation on the ground has changed.
He said the Jordan crossing point hasn’t been used “for a lengthy period of time” and the volume through the Iraqi crossing “is insignificant ... and could be done from Syria.” The Russian draft allows aid through the two Turkish crossings “where it remains necessary,” Nebenzia said.
Russia joined the war in 2015, when the Syrian military appeared close to collapse. Since then, and largely because of Russia’s blanket air support, the Syrian government has largely won the civil war militarily, and has retaken control of most of the country from rebel fighters.
But Germany, Belgium and Kuwait, backed by the US, Britain, France and other council nations, insist the Iraqi crossing point is also critical, especially for the delivery of medicine.
Their draft resolution, to be voted on Friday, is more streamlined than the defeated measure and addresses some concerns of Russia, including calling on UN humanitarian agencies “to improve monitoring of the delivery and distribution of United Nations relief consignments and their delivery inside Syria.”
It also asks Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to conduct an independent review of UN humanitarian operations across borders and conflict lines within six months, including on whether the Jordanian crossing should be re-authorized.
Secretary-General Guterres echoed Lowcock in a report to the council in late December saying “the United Nations does not have an alternative means of reaching people in need in the areas in which cross-border assistance is being provided.”
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said then that the humanitarian situation in northwest and northeast Syria is “horrific,” stressing that “it would be markedly worse without the cross-border operation.”
David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee which supplies aid to 1 million Syrians across the country, said in a letter to Security Council members Wednesday that with humanitarian needs intensifying in the last rebel-held stronghold in northwest Idlib and in the northeast, and with tensions escalating in the Middle East “the last thing the region needs is for the delivery of humanitarian aid to be compromised.”
“Humanitarian aid in Syria is not just a lifeline to millions in need, it shores up stability,” he stressed.
UN to vote Friday on new Syria cross-border aid resolution
https://arab.news/z79pf
UN to vote Friday on new Syria cross-border aid resolution
- Diplomats said the five veto-wielding council members met four times since last week and were unable to reach a compromise on a draft resolution
- Since 2014, the Security Council has authorized the delivery of aid through four border crossings
Who is Joseph Aoun, Lebanon’s army chief elected to the presidency?
- After 12 failed attempts, Lebanon finally has a new president, ending two-year power vacuum in crisis-wracked nation
- World and regional leaders, including Saudi Arabia, US, and EU, applaud election of “stabilizing” Aoun
DUBAI: A turning point was reached in Lebanon on Thursday when General Joseph Aoun was elected the country’s 14th president, ending a more than two-year power vacuum and restoring a glimmer of hope in the crisis-wracked nation.
Aoun’s election comes at a critical time as Lebanon grapples with its long political deadlock, economic crisis, and the devastating aftermath of Hezbollah’s 14-month war with Israel, which left vast areas of Lebanon in ruins and killed more than 4,000.
Since late November, Aoun, 61, has been a key player in implementing the fragile ceasefire by overseeing the gradual mobilization of the armed forces in south Lebanon.
Under the terms of the truce, the Lebanese Army has been gradually deployed alongside UN peacekeepers in the south as Israeli forces withdraw — a process they must complete by January 26.
In a decisive second parliamentary session, Aoun secured 99 votes — enough to secure him the presidency. He became the fifth army commander to serve as Lebanon’s president — a post he will hold for the next six years.
His election reflects a critical compromise among Lebanon’s political blocs, which made notable concessions to ensure a resolution to the deadlock, after a failed first session brought Aoun 71 votes.
Over the past 26 months, 12 previous attempts to choose a president failed amid tensions between Hezbollah and its allies on one side and opposition parties on the other, which accused the Iran-backed Shiite militia of seeking to impose its preferred candidate.
Aoun, who like all of his predecessors comes from the Maronite Christian community, as required by Lebanon’s National Pact, replaced Michel Aoun, whose term formally ended in October 2022.
In his inaugural address before the parliament, Aoun vowed to strengthen the position of the armed forces to secure Lebanon’s borders, particularly in the south, fight terrorism, and end Hezbollah’s war with Israel.
He also pledged to lead postwar reconstruction efforts, reaffirming Lebanon’s unity.
Aoun arrives at the presidency having built an impressive military career. He steered the military through one of Lebanon’s most tumultuous periods since taking office as Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces in 2017, a tenure that was later extended.
Fluent in Arabic, French, and English, Aoun began his military career in 1983 when he volunteered for the army as an officer cadet before enrolling in the Military College.
His leadership was lauded during the army’s “Dawn of the Outskirts” operation that successfully expelled Syrian militants affiliated with Daesh and Jabhat Al-Nusra in Arsal from Lebanon’s borders.
By shielding the army from political conflicts, including Hezbollah’s war with Israel, Aoun maintained his forces’ neutrality and ensured its role as a unifying force in a country of political and sectarian divides.
Additionally, he has worked to rid the military of corruption and has collaborated with other states to secure aid for army personnel after their monthly salaries dropped to less than $50.
Even before entering the Lebanese parliament’s main chamber and securing the necessary votes, Aoun was floated as an ideal candidate, garnering broad support on domestic, regional, and international fronts.
Washington is the main financial backer of the Lebanese Army, which also receives support from other countries including Qatar.
Underlining Arab and international backing for Aoun, Thursday’s parliamentary session saw notable attendees, including the Saudi Ambassador Walid Bukhari, US Ambassador Lisa Johnson, and French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian.
The push for consensus, marked by successive high-level visits to Lebanon by Saudi, Qatari, French, and US officials before the election, was mirrored domestically, where Lebanese opposition forces and other parliamentary blocs lined up behind Aoun’s candidacy.
Lebanon’s Forces of Change was among the factions that supported Aoun, praising his record of restoring order when thousands of Lebanese protesters took to the streets following the country’s economic collapse in 2019.
Notably, the Shiite duo — Hezbollah and the Amal Movement — backed his candidacy, solidifying the support needed to elect Aoun in the second round of voting.
However, the Free Patriotic Movement and other independent MPs opposed Aoun’s nomination, arguing that his election was the result of international and regional dictates over a sovereign Lebanese decision.
Aoun’s presidency was welcomed regionally and internationally.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Aoun’s success, wishing the Lebanese people further progress and prosperity.
Qatar likewise praised Aoun’s election, calling for “stability,” while Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi wished him luck in achieving prosperity for Lebanon and stronger ties with the Gulf bloc.
Al-Budaiwi reiterated the GCC’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and stability, as well as its armed forces.
The leaders of Jordan and the UAE pledged to work with the new president to boost ties and support reforms, while Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Lebanon would overcome the “repercussions of Israeli aggression” under the new leadership.
French President Emmanuel Macron was among the first Western leaders to congratulate Aoun on Thursday.
“(The election) paves the way for reform and the restoration of Lebanon’s sovereignty and prosperity,” Macron posted on X. In a phone call with Aoun later, he said France “will continue to be at the side of Lebanon and its people,” vowing to visit the country soon.
In a statement, US President Joe Biden said Aoun “has my confidence. I strongly believe he is the right leader for this time.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the swift formation of a new government, to preserve the country’s security and stability, strengthen state authority, and advance much-needed reforms.
The UN Security Council also congratulated Aoun and affirmed “strong support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of Lebanon,” while calling for a full implementation of Resolution 1701.
UNSC members also emphasized the importance of the election in ensuring fully functional state institutions to address the “pressing economic political and security challenges” of the country.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the election of Aoun as a “moment of hope” for the country. “The way is now open to stability and reforms. Europe supports this path,” she posted on X.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Lebanon’s new president was a chance for “reforms and change.”
“After many years of crisis and stagnation, this is a moment of opportunity to bring about reforms and change,” Baerbock posted on X. “Germany stands by the side of the people of Lebanon on the way forward.”
Russia also welcomed the election of a new president of Lebanon, which it hopes will bring political stability to the country.
Aoun’s election “opened up the prospect of strengthening internal political stability in Lebanon and righting the country’s complex social and economic position,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The UK welcomed Aoun’s election, saying it was looking forward to working with him to support stability.
“I congratulate General Joseph Aoun on his election as president of Lebanon,” Foreign Secretary David Lammy wrote on X. “I look forward to working with his government to support Lebanon’s stability and prosperity.”
Aoun faces the daunting task of restoring stability and naming a prime minister able to lead reforms demanded by international creditors to save the country from its economic crisis, described by the World Bank as one of the worst in modern history.
The challenge lies in whether Lebanon’s diverse political forces can unite around Aoun’s leadership and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to form a consensus government.
Even if shaped by the traditional “quota-sharing,” such a government must demonstrate the capacity to address Lebanon’s pressing challenges with a comprehensive and shared national vision.
The success of Aoun’s cabinet hinges on prioritizing the Lebanese people’s interests and leveraging parliamentary cooperation to ensure the nation’s recovery, navigating the nation out of the turmoil that has long overshadowed its potential.
Israeli military says four soldiers killed in north Gaza
- The deaths brought to 403 the total number of soldiers killed in the Palestinian territory
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said on Saturday that four soldiers had died in combat in the north of the Gaza Strip, more than 15 months into its war with Hamas militants.
The deaths brought to 403 the total number of soldiers killed in the Palestinian territory since Israel launched its ground offensive in retaliation for Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
An officer and a reservist soldier were “seriously wounded” during the same incident and were taken to hospital, the military said in a statement.
Israel has been waging an intense offensive in northern Gaza since early October, saying it aims to prevent Hamas from regrouping.
The military said on Saturday it had killed three militants in a ground operation near Jabalia in northern Gaza.
The war was sparked by Hamas’s surprise October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
Israel’s retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has killed 46,537 people, the majority civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory considered reliable by the United Nations.
Displaced Gazan digs shelter against winter weather and war
- Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million inhabitants have been displaced by the war that has ravaged the Palestinian territory for over 14 months
- For civilians fleeing the fighting, the lack of safe buildings means many have had to gather in makeshift camps
GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories: Faced with plunging temperatures and heavy rain in war-battered central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah, displaced Palestinian father Tayseer Obaid resorted to digging for a modicum of domestic comfort.
In the clay soil of the encampment area that his family has been displaced to by the war, Obaid dug a square hole nearly two meters deep and capped it with a tarpaulin stretched over an improvised wooden A-frame to keep out the rain.
“I had an idea to dig into the ground to expand the space as it was very limited,” Obaid said.
“So I dug 90 centimeters, it was okay and I felt the space get a little bigger,” he said from the shelter while his children played in a small swing he attached to the plank that serves as a beam for the tarpaulin.
In time, Obaid managed to dig 180 centimeters deep (about six feet) and then lined the bottom with mattresses, at which point, he said, “it felt comfortable, sort of.”
With old flour sacks that he filled with sand, he paved the entry to the shelter to keep it from getting muddy, while he carved steps into the side of the pit.
The clay soil is both soft enough to be dug without power tools and strong enough to stand on its own.
The pit provides some protection from Israeli air strikes, but Obaid said he feared the clay soil could collapse should a strike land close enough.
“If an explosion happened around us and the soil collapsed, this shelter would become our grave.”
Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million inhabitants have been displaced by the war that has ravaged the Palestinian territory for over 14 months.
The UN’s satellite center (UNOSAT) determined in September 2024 that 66 percent of Gaza’s buildings had been damaged or completely destroyed by the war, in which Israel has made extensive use of air strikes as it fights the militant group Hamas.
For Palestinian civilians fleeing the fighting, the lack of safe buildings means many have had to gather in makeshift camps, mostly in central and southern Gaza.
Shortages caused by the complete blockade of the coastal territory mean that construction materials are scarce, and the displaced must make do with what is at hand.
On top of the hygiene problems created by the lack of proper water and sanitation for the thousands of people crammed into the camps, winter weather has brought its own set of hardships.
On Thursday, the UN’s Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, warned that eight newborns died of hypothermia and 74 children died “amid the brutal conditions of winter” in 2025.
“We enter this New Year carrying the same horrors as the last — there’s been no progress and no solace. Children are now freezing to death,” UNRWA’s spokeswoman Louise Wateridge said.
At least 46,537 Palestinians, a majority of them civilians, have been killed in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza since the war began, according to data provided by the health ministry. The United Nations has acknowledged these figures as reliable.
The October 7 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people on the Israeli side, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, which includes hostages killed in captivity.
Obaid’s sunken shelter provides some protection from the cold winter nights, but not enough.
For warmth, he dug a chimney-like structure and fireplace in which he burns discarded paper and cardboard.
Though Obaid improved his lot, his situation remains bleak. “If I had a better option, I wouldn’t be living in a hole that looks like a grave,” he says.
Emirati, Lebanese leaders agree to reopen UAE embassy in Beirut
- Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Aoun on his recent election
ABU DHABI: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Lebanon’s newly elected President Joseph Aoun agreed on Saturday to reopen the UAE embassy in Beirut, the Emirates News Agency reported.
The two leaders said during a phone call they would take required steps to ensure this would happen.
On Thursday, Sheikh Mohamed congratulated Aoun on his recent election, and reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to supporting all efforts that ensure Lebanon’s security and stability and realise the aspirations of its people.
Sheikh Mohamed shared “his hope to work together for the mutual benefit and prosperity of both nations and their peoples,” a statement added.
In return, Aoun also affirmed his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
Israel’s Netanyahu sends Mossad director to Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar
- Netanyahu’s office announced the decision Saturday
- It was not immediately clear when David Barnea would travel to Doha
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has approved sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire negotiations in Qatar in a sign of progress in talks on the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s office announced the decision Saturday. It was not immediately clear when David Barnea would travel to Qatar’s capital, Doha, site of the latest round of indirect talks between Israel and the Hamas militant group. His presence means high-level Israeli officials who would need to sign off on any agreement are now involved.
Just one brief ceasefire has been achieved in 15 months of war, and that occurred in the earliest weeks of fighting. The talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar have repeatedly stalled since then.
Netanyahu has insisted on destroying Hamas’ ability to fight in Gaza. Hamas has insisted on a full Israeli troop withdrawal from the largely devastated territory. On Thursday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war.
