BEIRUT: Saudi’s Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bukhari said on Tuesday the Kingdom would provide $10 million to Lebanon through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.
KSrelief and Lebanon’s High Relief Commission signed a pact in Beirut to launch 28 projects across the country.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the strong fraternal relationship between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia had deepened and solidified over the years.
The Kingdom, he said, “has always been by Lebanon’s side and supported it in times of hardship, serving as a safety valve that has preserved the unity of the Lebanese, regardless of their sect, denomination, or political party.”
Mikati said the gesture represented Saudi Arabia’s keenness for stability in Lebanon.
“I am confident that the Kingdom has been and will remain the bigger brother of Lebanon,” he said.
Mikati added: “Saudi constants toward Lebanon are reflected by the Kingdom’s actions and deeds, through the Taif Agreement, which we adhere to fully, and which still serves as the appropriate framework for managing Lebanon’s affairs.
“In all the meetings I held with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he expressed his support for Lebanon to emerge from its crisis, but on the condition that the required structural reforms are implemented and that Lebanese institutions play their full role, especially concerning electing a new president.
“This responsibility falls on us, the Lebanese, and what is required of us first and foremost is to carry out our duties with the support of friendly countries, foremost among them Saudi Arabia.”
The prime minister continued: “The person who led Saudi Arabia and its youth to the leadership and pioneering positions … will not find it difficult to be a support for his brothers in Lebanon. We look forward to the Kingdom’s care and fraternal gesture toward my country Lebanon so that it can rise again.”
Ambassador Bukhari said the Saudi support was a continuation of the “commitment of the leadership in Saudi Arabia,” led by King Salman and the crown prince, “to help humanitarian efforts and promote stability and development in Lebanon with the highest standards of transparency and accountability.”
The Kingdom’s support “comes as a continuation of the solidarity approach adopted by the Kingdom toward the Lebanese people, based on the duty of true Arab brotherhood and teachings of Islam,” he added.
Saudi Arabia has already launched 129 relief, humanitarian and development projects for Lebanon, covering many sectors.
Bukhari said KSrelief was a leading international organization with the purpose of providing relief to communities hit by disasters and crises.
“Since its establishment, KSrelief launched more than 7,000 humanitarian projects with a total value of $129.68 billion in 169 countries,” Bukhari added.
Maj. Gen. Mohammed Khair, head of the Higher Relief Committee, signed a pact of joint cooperation with Abdulrahman Al-Quraishi, director of KSrelief in Lebanon.
The Kingdom’s support coincided with ongoing hostilities between the Israeli army and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
On Tuesday, an Israeli guided missile targeted farmers in Al-Zalutiyah, a town in the western sector, killing a Lebanese civilian. An Israeli drone also launched three missiles at Taybeh power plant, causing a fire and a power outage.
Saudi Arabia announces $10 million in aid for Lebanon
https://arab.news/2n7mk
Saudi Arabia announces $10 million in aid for Lebanon
- KSrelief and Lebanon’s High Relief Commission signed a pact in Beirut to launch 28 projects across the country
- Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the strong fraternal relationship between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia had deepened and solidified over the years
Iranians go to the polls again ... or will they?
- Authorities fear another record low turnout at presidential election run-off
JEDDAH: The last two candidates in Iran’s presidential election run-off have held their final rallies before voters go to the polls on Friday.
Ultraconservative Saeed Jalili addressed a mosque in Tehran while his “reformist” rival Masoud Pezeshkian spoke at a nearby sports stadium. Despite crowds of supporters, authorities fear a repeat of last week’s embarrassingly low turnout, when less than 40 percent of those eligible bothered to vote.
At his rally, Jalili promised “strength and progress” as posters of the late former President Ebrahim Raisi adorned the mosque walls, with the slogan: “A world of opportunities, Iran leaps forward.”
Chants from his supporters of “All Iran says Jalili” echoed round the room. Women dressed all in black sat in a designated section, separated from the men. One backer, Maryam Naroui, 40, said Jalili was “the best option for the country’s security.”
At Pezeshkian’s stadium rally, women in colorful hihabs mingled with the men. “We can manage our country with unity and cohesion,” Pezeshkian told them. “I will resolve internal disputes to the best of my ability.”
Pezeshkian has promised to oppose “morality police” patrols enforcing the mandatory headscarf and to ease long-standing internet restrictions. One of his supporters, Sadegh Azari, 45, said: “I believe if Pezeshkian wins ... the people will have hope for the future.”
US sees major breakthrough in Israel-Hamas talks — senior official
- The official added there were still outstanding issues related to implementation of the agreement
WASHINGTON: Hamas made a pretty significant adjustment in its position over a potential hostage release deal with Israel, a senior US administration official said on Thursday, expressing hope that it would lead to a pact that would be a step to a permanent ceasefire.
“We’ve had a breakthrough,” the official told reporters on a conference call, adding there were still outstanding issues related to implementation of the agreement and that a deal was not expected to be closed in a period of days.
Israel sends delegation to negotiate hostage release deal with Hamas
- Netanyahu told Biden he had decided to send delegation to resume stalled negotiations
- White House said two leaders discussed recent response received from Hamas
CAIRO/JERUSALEM/GAZA: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Joe Biden on Thursday he has decided to send a delegation to resume stalled negotiations on a hostage release deal with Hamas, their administrations said.
In a phone call between the two leaders, Netanyahu repeated his position that Israel would only end its nearly nine-month war in Gaza when all its objectives had been achieved, his office said in a statement.
Israel’s Channel 12 said the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency would lead the Israeli delegation for the talks, though this was not immediately confirmed.
Netanyahu is scheduled later on Thursday to have consultations with his negotiating team, then discuss the hostage release talks with his security cabinet.
The White House said the two leaders discussed the recent response received from Hamas.
“The president welcomed the prime minister’s decision to authorize his negotiators to engage with US, Qatari, and Egyptian mediators in an effort to close out the deal,” it said in a statement.
It was not clear where the Israeli delegation would go to resume the talks. Prior efforts to end the Gaza conflict were mediated by Egypt and Qatar, with talks held in both locations.
Israel received Hamas’ response on Wednesday to a proposal made public at the end of May by Biden that would include the release of about 120 hostages held in Gaza and a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.
A Palestinian official close to the mediation effort told Reuters that Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza, has shown flexibility over some clauses that would allow a framework agreement to be reached should Israel approve.
Two Hamas officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hamas has said any deal must end the war and bring a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel maintains it will accept only temporary pauses in the fighting until Hamas is eradicated.
The plan entails the gradual release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza and the pullback of Israeli forces over the first two phases, and the freeing of Palestinian prisoners. The third phase involves the reconstruction of the war-shattered territory and return of the remains of deceased hostages.
Hezbollah launches major attack after commander killed in Israeli strike
- Southern front ‘will remain active and strong,’ head of Executive Council says
- Israeli army reports one soldier killed, others severely injured
BEIRUT: Hezbollah launched a major rocket and drone attack on Israel on Thursday and threatened to target new sites in retaliation for the killing of one its top commanders.
The party fired advanced Burkan and Falaq rocket attacks at various sites in northern Israel, including five army barracks, a shopping mall in Acre and the Golan Heights.
The Israeli army said one soldier died in the attack and several others were seriously injured. Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth reported that 25 firefighting teams had been deployed to tackle 10 fires in Golan and the Upper Galilee sparked by the incident.
The head of Hezbollah’s Aziz Unit, Mohammed Nimah Nasser, and his companion were killed during an attack by an Israeli aircraft on the Tyre road. Nasser is the most prominent field commander to have been killed since the start of the conflict.
Last month, the commander of Hezbollah’s Al-Nasr Unit, Talib Sami Abdullah, was killed in a bombing raid on a house in Juwaya.
A source close to Hezbollah said Nasser had “a great symbolism in the party.” He first engaged in resisting the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon in 1984 and had been involved in the current conflict since Oct. 8.
“When Israel established the border strip, he was involved in all incursions until the liberation of the south in 2000. He played his role in the July 2006 war and the wars in Syria and Iraq between 2011 and 2016,” the source said.
Hashem Safieddine, head of Hezbollah’s Executive Council, said the southern front “will remain active and strong” and that the Israeli army was about to face a “resounding defeat amid the steadfastness of the people of Gaza and the resistance that will remain in Gaza.”
According to security sources, Hezbollah launched 25 drones from Lebanese territory toward northern Israel Upper Galilee and Golan “after it had emptied the Iron Dome of interceptor missiles.”
Israeli media said there had been reports of several drone explosions and that sirens had sounded in Kidmat Zvi in southern Golan. Other reports said a soldier had been killed and that others had been injured.
A Hezbollah statement said it “targeted a newly established position of Israeli soldiers in the Kfar Blum settlement with a salvo of Katyusha rockets.”
It said it also fired more than 200 rockets of various types at the 91st Brigade headquarters at Ayelet Barracks, the command headquarters of the 7th Armored Brigade at Katsavia Barracks, the command headquarters of the Armored Battalion of the 7th Brigade at Gamla Barracks, the command headquarters of Brigade 210 (Golan Brigade) at Nafah Base and the artillery battalion headquarters of Brigade 210 at Yarden Barracks.
Hezbollah said it targeted the Al-Baghdadi site with a Burkan rocket.
On Wednesday night, in response to Nasser’s death, Hezbollah said it shelled “the Zarit Barracks with Burkan rockets, headquarters of the land force battalion in the Kila’a barracks with dozens of Katyusha rockets and the command headquarters of brigade 769 in Kiryat Shmona barracks with Falaq rockets.”
The group also targeted the Birkat Risha and Al-Raheb sites.
A military source told Israeli Army Radio that the scale of the attack was “fully consistent with Hezbollah’s announcement.”
The Israeli army said it “observed the firing of about 160 shells and 15 suicide drones from Lebanon, and air defenses intercepted most of them.”
Israeli media said that “train traffic from Haifa to Nahariya was halted due to the security situation.”
The military escalation in southern Lebanon coincided with the arrival of a delegation from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lebanese Parliament to the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura amid the sound of sirens.
The delegation was met by UNIFIL mission commander, Lt. Gen. Aroldo Lazaro, and senior officials. The meeting included a review of the UNIFIL’s role and missions ahead of next month’s renewal of the mandate of the international forces for another year.
Hezbollah’s attack was met with a violent Israeli response, which echoed in Beirut as warplanes broke the sound barrier over the south, reaching Beirut and its southern suburbs and Metn in Mount Lebanon.
Hezbollah said party member Hady Ahmed Shreym, aged 28, was killed in an Israeli drone attack on a house in Houla.
Israeli warplanes also launched strikes on Aitaroun, Aita Al-Shaab and Ramia, while Israeli artillery targeted the towns of Khiam, Udaysah, Kafr Kila, Rab El-Thalathine, Qantara, Deir Seryan, Qabrikha and Naqoura.
Several civilians were injured in the shelling of Kfar Shouba, including Ahmad Ghanem, a member of the municipal council, and Ali Al-Hajj who was inside the same house.
Arab League chief, Libyan prime minister discuss ways to boost peace
- Ahmed Aboul Gheit met with Abdul Hamid Al-Dabaiba
- Meeting involved exchange of views on latest developments in Libya
CAIRO: The Arab League will continue its efforts to promote peace and reconciliation in Libya, said Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the organization’s secretary-general.
He said the league would continue its efforts to encourage all Libyan leaders to take measures toward “adopting a constitution and holding presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya, in response to the aspirations of the Libyan people and to establish stability and security in the country.”
The secretary-general received Abdul Hamid Al-Dabaiba, prime minister of the National Unity Government of Libya. Their meeting involved an exchange of views on the latest developments in Libya.
The prime minister discussed the current situation and the government’s efforts to restore security and advance development in the country.
Gamal Roshdy, spokesman for the secretary-general, relayed Aboul Gheit’s review of a dialogue session hosted by the league for several Libyan parties in March.
The secretary-general also listened to the prime minister’s perspective on the matter.
In March, the secretary-general at the league’s headquarters in Cairo hosted Mohammed Menfi, president of Libya’s Presidential Council; Aguila Saleh, speaker of the House of Representatives; and Mohammed Takala, president of the High State Council.
The talks were intended to facilitate intra-Libyan dialogue as part of the Arab League’s efforts to foster mutual understanding among Libyan parties.
A league statement referred to efforts to streamline viewpoints and resolve differences regarding presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya.
The three Libyan officials agreed to promote the country’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and reject any hostile external interference in its political processes.
