ROME: The World Food Programme on Sunday said it had launched an emergency operation to provide meals for one million people affected by the escalating conflict in Lebanon.
“A further acceleration of the conflict this weekend underscored the need for an immediate humanitarian response,” the Rome-based agency said in a statement, announcing that it was distributing ready-to-eat food rations, bread, hot meals and food parcels to shelters across the country.
Israel on Sunday said that it was carrying out new air strikes on dozens of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, two days after killing the Iran-backed group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in bombing raids outside Beirut.
His killing marked a sharp escalation in nearly a year of tit-for-tat cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah since the latter’s Palestinian ally Hamas staged its unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The bombing in Lebanon is “compounding the fragility of a population burdened by accumulated crises,” the WFP said.
“In just a few days, WFP assistance has reached thousands of newly displaced people,” the program’s country director for Lebanon, Matthew Hollingworth, said in the statement.
“As the crisis deepens, we are preparing to assist up to one million people through a mix of cash and food support,” he added, calling on the international community to mobilize $105 million to fund the operation through to the end of the year.
“Lebanon is at a breaking point and cannot endure another war,” said WFP regional director Corinne Fleischer.
UN sends emergency food aid for one million Lebanese
https://arab.news/8w6eb
UN sends emergency food aid for one million Lebanese
Iran vows response to Guards deputy commander killing in Lebanon
DUBAI: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that the killing by Israel of an Iranian Revolutionary Guards deputy commander in Beirut was a “horrible crime” that would not go unanswered.
Brig. Gen. Abbas Nilforoushan was killed in the Israeli strikes on Beirut on Friday in which Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah also died.
“There is no doubt that this horrible crime committed by the Zionist regime (Israel) will not go unanswered,” Araqchi said in a statement addressed to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Hossein Salami.
Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that Iran-alligned armed groups would carry on confronting Israel with Tehran’s help following the killing of Nasrallah, Iranian state media reported.
An alliance known as the Axis of Resistance, built up over decades with Iranian support, includes the Palestinian group Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Yemen’s Houthis, and various Shiite Muslim armed groups in Iraq and Syria.
“We will not hesitate to go to any level in order to help the resistance,” Qalibaf said.
He also issued a warning to the United States.
“The US is complicit in all of these crimes and...has to accept the repercussions,” he said.
Iran’s Vice President for Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, asked about Nasrallah’s assassination, told state media on Sunday Iran would react at an appropriate time of its choosing against Israel.
Lebanon may be seeing ‘largest displacement’ ever: PM
- Lebanon PM says up to 1 million may be displaced by Israel attacks
BEIRUT: Intense Israeli attacks may have forced up to a million people to flee parts of Lebanon in possibly the worst displacement crisis in the tiny country’s history, Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Sunday.
Mikati told reports that “the estimated number is very high and may reach one million” — which would amount to roughly a sixth of Lebanon’s population.
“It is the largest displacement movement that may have happened... in Lebanon,” he said.
On Friday, Israel killed Hezbollah’s powerful leader Hassan Nasrallah in a move many fear risks destabilising Lebanon and the wider region.
Since Monday, intense Israeli attacks across Lebanon’s east, south and on southern Beirut have killed hundreds of people and forced many to flee their homes.
Earlier this week, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said “well over 200,000 people are displaced inside Lebanon” and more than 50,000 had fled to neighboring Syria.
The intensive strikes come as Israel shifted the focus of its operation from Gaza to Lebanon, after nearly a year of cross-border fire with Hezbollah over the Gaza war, with the group saying it is acting in support of ally Hamas.
Lebanon army makes plea for ‘unity’ after Nasrallah’s killing
- Troops had been deployed since Saturday in Beirut
- Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged Lebanese “to come together” to preserve civil order
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s army on Sunday warned Lebanese against actions that would disturb public order in the crisis-hit country after Israel’s killing of Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the powerful Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
The army in statement said that it “calls on citizens to preserve national unity and not to be drawn into actions that may affect civil peace at this dangerous and delicate stage” following the massive Friday strike that killed Nasrallah and as Israeli attacks continue.
“The Israeli enemy is working to implement its destructive plans and sow division among Lebanese,” the army statement added.
Tiny Lebanon has long been divided along sectarian lines which had contributed to a devastating civil war in 1975-1990.
Hezbollah, the Shiite Muslim movement that wields great power in Lebanon’s south and whose military might is widely believed to dwarf Lebanon’s national armed forces, has drawn criticism from some Lebanese politicians over its decision to open a “support front” against Israel over the Gaza war nearly a year ago
A Lebanese army official told AFP troops had been deployed since Saturday in Beirut, where thousands have sought refuge from intense Israeli raids on Lebanon’s south, east and Hezbollah’s south Beirut bastion.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged Lebanese “to come together” to preserve civil order.
“Our national responsibility at this historic and exceptional moment requires setting aside political differences,” he said on Saturday, after cutting short a New York visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly.
United Nations special coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert also called for unity in a statement on X on Sunday.
“At this critical moment for Lebanon when uncertainty is rife, now is the time for the country to focus on the common interest that unites its people,” she said.
Hezbollah has been exchanging cross-border fire with Israel in support of ally Hamas after the Palestinian militant group’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel triggered war in Gaza.
But this week, Israel shifted the focus of its operation from Gaza to Lebanon, where heavy bombing since Monday has killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands.
Diplomatic efforts for ceasefire with Israel underway, Lebanese minister says
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Information Minister Ziad Makary said during a cabinet session on Sunday that diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire with Israel were underway.
“It is certain that the Lebanese government wants a ceasefire, and everyone knows that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu went to New York based on the premise of a ceasefire, but the decision was made to assassinate Nasrallah,” Makary said.
The death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was confirmed on Saturday, heightening tensions between Lebanon and Israel after months of conflict along their shared border.
“Diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire are ongoing. The Prime Minister is not falling short, but the matter is not that easy,” he added.
Omani FM calls for end to Israel’s ‘genocidal policies’ against Palestinians
- Addressing UN General Assembly, Badr Al-Busaidi calls for Palestinian state, full membership
- There should be ‘immediate’ ceasefires in Gaza, Lebanon, Red Sea region
WASHINGTON: Oman’s foreign minister called on Saturday for an immediate end to Israel’s wars in Gaza and Lebanon, and the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Badr Al-Busaidi told the UN General Assembly in New York that Oman is fully committed to the promotion of international peace as a core mission of the organization.
“Oman calls for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in Gaza, Lebanon and the Red Sea region,” he said.
“We emphasize the need to address the root causes of these conflicts by ending the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and achieving justice for the Palestinian people based on a two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, along the 1967 borders,” he added.
“Oman stresses the necessity of granting Palestine full membership in the UN and ending the genocidal policies carried out by Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people, alleviating the humanitarian suffering they endure.”
Since last October, Israel has killed over 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza, and in the last week it has killed hundreds of Lebanese.
Al-Busaidi said Oman’s foreign policy is founded on dialogue and tolerance as a means to address all challenges and issues, based on mutual respect, cooperation and harmony among nations.
Domestically, he said Oman is working on building a sustainable and diversified economy, and fostering social development, including the empowerment of women and youth.
Al-Busaidi added that the country’s Vision 2040 will bring empowerment and prosperity to the different segments of Omani society.
He expressed Oman’s commitment to promoting “peaceful coexistence” and “respect,” and urging nations worldwide to fight “against all forms of discrimination, racism, hatred and violence.”
