Lebanese army takes control of western sector in country’s south

A Lebanese army soldier stands guard in the southern Lebanese coastal town of Naqura, on the border with Israel on January 7, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 07 January 2025
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Lebanese army takes control of western sector in country’s south

  • US and French envoys follow up on presidential dossier ahead of Thursday’s session

BEIRUT: On Tuesday, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed that Thursday is the scheduled date for the parliamentary session to elect a president, a position that has been vacant for two years, two months, and one week.

Berri’s confirmation coincided with the continued deployment of the Lebanese army in the western sector of southern Lebanon following the withdrawal of Israeli forces that had been there since last October.

It also coincided with US envoy Amos Hochstein, who is in Beirut for the second day, stating that “Israeli forces will withdraw from Lebanon within 60 days,” reflecting, according to a political observer, “an international desire to defuse the tensions of war feared by the Lebanese between the Israeli army and Hezbollah after the 60-day deadline.”

The US Embassy in Lebanon announced on Tuesday that “US Major General Jasper Jeffers, the Chairman of the Cessation of Hostilities Implementation Mechanism, was joined by French Brigadier General Guillaume Ponchin on a visit to the Lebanese Armed Forces headquarters in southwest Lebanon this morning. The headquarters is five kilometers northeast of Naqoura, a town under the control of the Lebanese Armed Forces after the first phase of withdrawal by Israeli forces on January 6th.”

The embassy said that “Generals Jeffers and Ponchin viewed stockpiles of weapons to be destroyed in the coming days, which the LAF seized from unauthorized armed groups.”

On Tuesday, Lebanese army vehicles prepared to continue repositioning in locations previously vacated during the Israeli forces’ incursion, including in Labouneh and Alma Al-Shaab. The army also redeployed at the entrance to the town of Tayr Harfa.

For the first time since the war, fishermen entered the port of Naqoura, accompanied by the Lebanese army, to inspect their boats, some of which had been sunk.

While the Lebanese army prohibited citizens from returning to areas where the army is still conducting surveys, Naqoura Mayor Abbas Awada revealed the extent of systematic destruction in the border area. He stated: “The town of Naqoura is almost completely destroyed. I urge the town’s residents to wait before returning until field inspections are completed due to the fear of unexploded ordnance.”

Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun informed Hochstein on Monday during a meeting that “the Lebanese military deployment on the borders requires the full withdrawal of Israeli forces.”

He emphasized: “The inability to fully implement the agreement is due to the continued Israeli presence in southern villages.”

After meeting with Lebanese officials, Hochstein stressed that “the US supports the Lebanese army, and southern Lebanon will return to stability and security.”

Hochstein, in the context of addressing the presidential file in Lebanon, emphasized during a meeting with a range of MPs affiliated with various blocs or acting independently that “the United States is a friendly nation to Lebanon and will continue to support it and its army.”

As French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian joins the ongoing efforts to address the presidential file with his arrival in Beirut on Tuesday, Hochstein emphasized during the parliamentary meeting “the necessity for Lebanon, and implicitly any incoming president, to adhere to the Taif Agreement and the essential agreements and reforms.”

MPs are divided regarding the election of the army commander. Hezbollah MPs insist on supporting their candidate, former Minister Sleiman Frangieh, while the Free Patriotic Movement categorically rejects the candidacy of Aoun.

Discussions and meetings regarding a consensus candidate among the Lebanese political parties are taking place away from the public eye. However, the names currently being circulated do not yet command the majority needed for victory.

MP Bilal Hashimi stated that “the presidency dynamic remains characterized by ambiguity and complexity, despite the notable external activity represented by the arrival of American and French envoys to Lebanon.”

The leader of the Lebanese Forces Party, Samir Geagea, affirmed that his party maintains “a positive relationship with General Joseph Aoun. When Aoun’s name was proposed as a presidential candidate, the Lebanese Forces were the first to regard him as one of the serious contenders and did not impose any veto against his name at any point in time.”

The Grand Mufti of Lebanon, Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian, cautioned against “any obstruction that may prevent the election of a president on Thursday.”

He emphasized that “the ongoing presidential vacancy provides the Israeli enemy with an opportunity to exploit political divisions to undermine the unity and solidarity of the Lebanese people and put the country at risk of collapse.”

The President of Economic Organizations Mohammad Choucair urged lawmakers to complete the presidential election process, emphasizing that “we have no option but the state, as it is the only solution to rescue Lebanon and guide it back to a path of recovery.”

The President of the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council Charles Arbid called upon the members of parliament to “complete the presidential election as it is essential for a functioning state,” emphasizing the need for “a reformist leader to guide the nation and restore Lebanon to a stable country.”


In Tunisia, snails inch toward replacing red meat as people turn to cheaper protein

Updated 13 sec ago
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In Tunisia, snails inch toward replacing red meat as people turn to cheaper protein

Snails have been consumed in Tunisia for more than seven millenia
Low in fat and high in iron, calcium and magnesium, snails offer both nutritional value and economic relief

AKOUDA, Tunisia: In fields outside their hometown in central Tunisia, an increasing number of unemployed young men are seeking a new way to make a living, picking snails off of rocks and leaves and collecting them in large plastic bags to take to the local market to be sold.
More and more people, they say, are buying the shelled wanderers as the price of market staples remains high and out of reach for many families.
“They’re profitable, beneficial and quite in demand,” said Karim, a 29-year-old snail seller from the village of Akouda said.
Snails have been consumed in Tunisia for more than seven millenia, according to research published last year in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. In today’s world considered mostly a bistro delicacy, they’re again gaining traction in Tunisia as a practical alternative to red meat — a protein-rich substitute that pairs perfectly with salt, spices, and bold seasonings.
The snails are a lifeline for some in Tunisia, where youth unemployment now hovers above 40 percent and inflation remains high, three years after spiking to its highest levels in decades. A lack of opportunity has fueled social discontent throughout the country and, increasingly, migration to Europe.
Low in fat and high in iron, calcium and magnesium, snails offer both nutritional value and economic relief. In a country where unemployment runs high and median wages remain low, they cost about half as much as beef per kilogram and often less when sold by the bowl.
“Snails are better for cooking than lamb. If lamb meat costs 60 dinars ($19.30), a bowl of snails is five dinars ($1.60),” a man named Mohammed said at the Akouda market.
As the price of meat and poultry continues to rise, more Tunisians are turning to affordable, alternative sources of protein. Beyond their economic appeal, these substitutes are also drawing interest for their environmental benefits. Scientists say they offer a more sustainable solution, producing far fewer carbon emissions and avoiding the deforestation linked to traditional livestock farming.
Wahiba Dridi, who serves snails at her restaurant in Tunis, cooks them in a traditional fashion with peppers and spices. She said they were popular throughout this year’s Ramadan, which ended last week. Though Tunisian Muslims traditionally eat red meat at the meals during which they break their daily fasts, a kilogram of snails costs less than 28 Tunisian dinars ($9) compared to beef, which costs 55 dinars per kilogram ($18).
“If people knew the value of snails they would eat them all year long,” Dridi said.

US sending Israel 20,000 assault rifles that Biden had delayed, say sources

Updated 04 April 2025
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US sending Israel 20,000 assault rifles that Biden had delayed, say sources

  • The rifle sale is a small transaction next to the billions of dollars worth of weapons that Washington supplies to Israel
  • The March 6 congressional notification said the US government had taken into account “political, military, economic, human rights, and arms control considerations“

WASHINGTON: The Trump administration moved forward with the sale of more than 20,000 US-made assault rifles to Israel last month, according to a document seen by Reuters and a source familiar with the matter, pushing ahead with a sale that the administration of former president Joe Biden had delayed over concerns they could be used by extremist Israeli settlers.
The State Department sent a notification to Congress on March 6 for the $24 million sale, saying the end user would be the Israeli National Police, according to the document.
The rifle sale is a small transaction next to the billions of dollars worth of weapons that Washington supplies to Israel. But it drew attention when the Biden administration delayed the sale over concerns that the weapons could end up in the hands of Israeli settlers, some of whom have carried out attacks on Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on individuals and entities accused of committing violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which has seen a rise in settler attacks on Palestinians.
On his first day in office on January 20, Trump issued an executive order rescinding US sanctions on Israeli settlers in a reversal of US policy. Since then, his administration has approved the sale of billions of dollars worth of weapons to Israel.
The March 6 congressional notification said the US government had taken into account “political, military, economic, human rights, and arms control considerations.”
The State Department did not respond to a request for comment when asked if the administration sought assurances from Israel on the use of the weapons.

CLOSE TIES
Since a 1967 Middle East war, Israel has occupied the West Bank, which Palestinians want as the core of an independent state, and has built settlements that most countries deem illegal. Israel disputes this, citing historical and biblical ties to the land.
Settler violence had been on the rise prior to the eruption of the Gaza war, and has worsened since the conflict began over a year ago.
Trump has forged close ties to Netanyahu, pledging to back Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. His administration has in some cases pushed ahead with Israel arms sales despite requests from Democratic lawmakers that the sales be paused until they received more information.
The US Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly rejected a bid to block $8.8 billion in arms sales to Israel over human rights concerns, voting 82-15 and 83-15 to reject two resolutions of disapproval over sales of massive bombs and other offensive military equipment.
The resolutions were offered by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.
The rifle sale had been put on hold after Democratic lawmakers objected and sought information on how Israel was going to use them. The congressional committees eventually cleared the sale but the Biden administration kept the hold in place.
The latest episode in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict began with a Hamas attack on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023 with gunmen killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Israel’s campaign has so far killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, Gaza health authorities say.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, oversees the Israeli police force. The Times of Israel newspaper in November 2023 reported that his ministry has put “a heavy emphasis on arming civilian security squads” in the aftermath of October 7 attacks.


Medecins Sans Frontieres ‘appalled’ by second staff member killed in Gaza within weeks

Updated 04 April 2025
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Medecins Sans Frontieres ‘appalled’ by second staff member killed in Gaza within weeks

  • Hussam Al Loulou died in the strike on Apr. 1 in central Gaza

GENEVA: Global medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres said on Friday it was appalled and saddened by the killing of one of its staff by an air strike in Gaza, the second within two weeks.


Hussam Al Loulou died in the strike on Apr. 1 in central Gaza, alongside his wife and 28-year-old daughter, the organization said.


Uganda president holds talks with South Sudanese leaders to try to avoid civil war

Updated 04 April 2025
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Uganda president holds talks with South Sudanese leaders to try to avoid civil war

  • Goc said that the country’s leadership had assured Museveni of its commitment to implement the peace agreement
  • Uganda last month deployed troops to South Sudan to support the government

NAIROBI: Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni was expected to meet South Sudanese officials on the second day of his trip to the capital, Juba, as the UN has expressed concern of a renewed civil war after the main opposition leader was put under house arrest.
Museveni, who is among the guarantors of a 2018 peace agreement that ended a five-year civil war, held closed-door discussions with President Salva Kiir on Thursday.
South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Mohammed Abdallah Goc said that the country’s leadership had assured Museveni of its commitment to implement the peace agreement.
South Sudan’s political landscape remains fragile and recent violence between government troops and armed groups allied to the opposition have escalated tension.
Uganda last month deployed troops to South Sudan to support the government, but it was criticized by South Sudan’s main opposition party SPLM-IO, whose leader Riek Machar is under house arrest on charges of incitement.
In early March, the armed group loyal to Machar attacked a UN helicopter that was on a mission to evacuate government troops from the restive northern Upper Nile State.
Western countries including Germany and Norway have temporarily closed their embassies in Juba while the USand the UK have reduced embassy staff.


Turkiye wants no confrontation with Israel in Syria, foreign minister says

Updated 04 April 2025
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Turkiye wants no confrontation with Israel in Syria, foreign minister says

  • Fidan said Israel’s actions in Syria were paving the way for future regional instability
  • If the new administration in Damascus wants to have “certain understandings” with Israel, then that is their own business, he added

BRUSSELS: Turkiye wants no confrontation with Israel in Syria after repeated Israeli attacks on military sites there undermined the new government’s ability to deter threats, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Reuters on Friday.
In an interview on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Fidan said Israel’s actions in Syria — where the administration of President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is a close Turkish ally — were paving the way for future regional instability.
If the new administration in Damascus wants to have “certain understandings” with Israel, which like Turkiye is a neighbor of Syria, then that is their own business, he added.
NATO member Turkiye has fiercely criticized Israel over its attacks on Gaza since 2023, saying they amount to a genocide against the Palestinians, and has applied to join a case at the World Court against Israel while also halting all trade.
Israel denies the genocide accusations.
The animosity between the regional powers has spilled over into Syria, with Israeli forces striking Syria for weeks since a new administration took control in Damascus. Turkiye has called the Israeli strikes an encroachment on Syrian territories, while Israel has said it would not allow any hostile forces in Syria.
Asked about US President Donald Trump’s threats of military strikes against Iran, Fidan said diplomacy was needed to resolve the dispute and that Ankara did not want to see any attack taking place against its neighbor Iran.