As Hezbollah and Israel battle on the border, Lebanon's army watches from the sidelines
Since Israel launched its ground invasion of Lebanon, Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants have clashed along the border while the Lebanese army has largely stood on the sidelines.It's not the first time the national army has found itself watching war at home from the discomfiting position of bystander. Lebanon's widely beloved army is one of the few institutions that bridge the country's sectarian and political divides. Several army commanders have become president, and the current commander, Gen. Joseph Aoun, is widely regarded as one of the front-runners to step in when the deadlocked parliament fills a two-year vacuum...
France, U.S. push at UN for stronger Lebanese army
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) -Strengthening Lebanon's army will be crucial to implementing a key United Nations Security Council resolution that aims to keep peace on the country's border with Israel, the United States and France said on Thursday.
Lebanese premier reiterates call for ceasefire
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Friday urged the United Nations to pass a resolution calling for an "immediate" ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. "We asked the Foreign Ministry to submit a request to the Security Council calling on it to take a decision for a complete and immediate ceasefire with the implementation of Resolution 1701," the premier said after a cabinet meeting. He added that "a diplomatic solution is on the table, and Hezbollah is a partner in the government and agrees to implement 1701." The resolution prohibits the presence of the Lebanese Hezbollah militia in the border area with Israel. The...
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.