UN Defies Israeli Demands, Keeps Peacekeepers in Southern Lebanon Amid Rising Tensions
The United Nations has stated that its peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, will remain in place despite mounting pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for them to withdraw due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. This comes as tensions continue to escalate between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters in the region.
Iraq moves to revoke Saudi broadcaster's license after report angered militia supporters
BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s commission governing media announced Saturday that it would take steps to revoke the license of a Saudi television station to operate in the country. That came hours after dozens of supporters of Iraqi militias stormed and looted the office of the broadcaster, MBC, in Baghdad in protest over a report that described a number of Iranian-linked militant figures — including a prominent Iraqi militia leader — as “terrorists.” The report on “terrorists” who had been killed this century mentioned former al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden alongside a roster of Iran-backed figures. They included Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a veteran Iraqi militant who was the deputy commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mostly Shiite paramilitaries and founder of the Kataeb Hezbollah, or Hezbollah Brigades.
Envoy Hochstein says US working with Lebanon and Israel to end conflict for good
BEIRUT (Reuters) -U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein said on Monday in Beirut that the United States was working on a formula to end the conflict between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah for good, and that merely committing to a previous U.N. resolution would not be enough.