Latest news with #AndreaTenenti
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Israeli drone kills one in south Lebanon: ministry
BEIRUT: A man was killed in an Israeli drone strike on southern Lebanon on Thursday, the health ministry said, after Israel announced it was carrying out 'special, targeted operations' against Hezbollah. Despite a November ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel has kept up its strikes in Lebanon, hitting suspected Hezbollah targets and occasionally those of its Palestinian ally Hamas. 'One man was killed and two others wounded in an Israeli enemy drone strike that targeted a motorcycle in the village of Mansouri' near the coastal city of Tyre, the ministry said. The Israeli military identified its target as Muhammad Jamal Murad and said he was a Hezbollah artillery commander in the coastal sector. It accused him of being behind past rocket launches towards Israel and of attempting to rebuild Hezbollah's artillery capabilities. On Tuesday, a drone strike hit a car in a nearby village, killing another man the Israeli military said was involved in developing Hezbollah's artillery capabilities. Israeli strikes on south Lebanon kill three: ministry The November 27 ceasefire sought to end more than a year of hostilities with Hezbollah, including two months of all-out war that left the group severely weakened. Under its terms, Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of the Litani river, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border, leaving the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the region. Israel was required to fully withdraw its troops from the country but has kept them in five places it deems strategic. On Thursday, a patrol of the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon was blocked and pelted with stones by 'several individuals in civilian clothes' in the southern village of Wadi Jilu, UNIFIL said. 'The (Lebanese army) arrived at the scene and the situation was brought under control,' UNIFIL spokesman Andrea Tenenti said. In recent weeks, several incidents have seen civilians in Hezbollah strongholds confront UNIFIL patrols. The UN force sits on the ceasefire monitoring committee alongside Lebanon, Israel, France and the United States. Referencing the attacks, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told EU ambassadors 'these were limited and isolated incidents, which are being addressed and contained,' adding that the 'safety of UNIFIL personnel is essential to Lebanon, and that cooperation with the army is close'.
Arab News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Israeli drone strike kills one in southern Lebanon as tensions grow with UNIFIL
BEIRUT: UNIFIL forces were attacked on Thursday by residents in the town of Aitat, south of the Litani River. The assailants claimed that the patrol had entered the Wadi Jilou area without being accompanied by a Lebanese Army unit. According to footage captured by eyewitnesses, a group of individuals blocked the patrol's way, demanding that it return with a Lebanese Army escort. The patrol reportedly refused to turn back, leading to direct confrontations. In response, UNIFIL personnel threw smoke and tear gas grenades to disperse the crowd. No injuries were reported. The attack is merely the latest in a series of assaults targeting UNIFIL forces and carried out by civilians in strongholds. These incidents aim to prevent UN peacekeepers from entering private property to conduct inspections, a key component of their official mandate. The most recent renewal of UNIFIL's mission in southern Lebanon included an amendment granting the force greater freedom of movement within its area of operations, in coordination with the Lebanese Army. The tensions peaked on Thursday, when a resident of the town of Hallousiyeh–Deir Qanoun an-Naher hit a UNIFIL soldier during a patrol. The incident was widely condemned by political leaders, and a judicial investigation was launched. The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet at the end of August to consider the Lebanese government's request to extend UNIFIL's mandate in the south. In response to the attack, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said that a patrol of the UN Interim Forces in Lebanon was blocked and pelted with stones by 'a group of individuals in civilian clothes' in the southern village of Wadi Jilu. 'The group attempted to obstruct the patrol using aggressive means, including throwing stones at the peacekeepers,' he said. 'The LAF was promptly informed and arrived on the scene shortly thereafter. The situation was quickly brought under control,' Tenenti added, referring to the Lebanese Armed Forces. Tenenti confirmed that the activity of the patrol was coordinated in advance with the LAF, in support of Lebanon's implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701. The situation was initially calm, but individuals soon began throwing stones at the peacekeepers. 'In response, UNIFIL personnel employed non-lethal measures to ensure the safety of both the patrol members and those present,' he said. 'Freedom of movement is a core requirement for the implementation of UNIFIL's mandate. This includes the ability to operate independently and impartially, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 1701. Any restriction on this freedom — while conducting operational activities with or without LAF — constitutes a violation of that resolution.' Tenenti urged Lebanese authorities to 'take all necessary measures to ensure that its peacekeepers can carry out their duties without obstruction or threat.' The UNIFIL spokesperson confirmed that the international forces will continue to monitor and report breaches of Resolution 1701 impartially, in accordance with the Security Council's mandate and the request of the Lebanese government. UNIFIL's mandate shall 'confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, restore international peace and security, and assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring its effective authority in the area.' US Envoy Thomas Barrack concluded his two-day visit to Lebanon, which began on Monday, to discuss a mechanism for disarming Hezbollah and withdrawing illegal weapons south and north of the Litani River. He inspected the area south of the Litani River by air after meeting with Army Commander Gen. Rodolphe Haikal. At a press conference in Beirut, he praised the Lebanese Army and the key role it plays. The attack on the UNIFIL patrol drew widespread condemnation from Lebanese political figures. MP Bilal Abdallah underlined the importance of the peacekeeping mission, stating that 'there is a major national interest in preserving its role.' MP Ashraf Rifi condemned the attack, saying: 'Hezbollah is once again attacking UNIFIL. How can this be reconciled while pretending to accept the Resolution 1701 and evacuating south of the Litani River?' He urged the state to hold 'the aggressors accountable' and move to a new phase where there is 'zero tolerance' for those who violate international legitimacy and expose Lebanon to grave dangers. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued targeting Hezbollah operatives. On Thursday, an Israeli drone struck a motorcycle on Mansouri Road in the Tyre district, killing one person and injuring two, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. At dawn, an Israeli drone launched an airstrike on a cafe and an aluminum workshop in the town of Yohmor al-Shaqif, in the Nabatieh District. The site had previously been targeted in a similar strike. Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee said that 'the strike targeted a Hezbollah military command center allegedly operating within a civilian building,' accusing the group of using the local population as 'human shields' to facilitate attacks against Israel. Sky News quoted an Israeli security source saying that as long as Hezbollah maintains a military wing, operations in Lebanon will persist. 'Every Hezbollah operative is a legitimate target. The Radwan Forces — Hezbollah's elite unit — will be dismantled, whether by Hezbollah or by us. Their infrastructure, weaponry, and fighters remain targets throughout Lebanese territory,' the source told Sky News. The Israeli security source noted that 'Hezbollah's efforts to return south of the Litani River appear limited' and praised what he described as 'significant efforts by the Lebanese army to dismantle the group's weapons infrastructure.' On Tuesday night, the Israeli army claimed that a drone strike killed Hussein Ali Mezher in the town of Babliyeh, north of the Litani River. In an official statement, the army claimed that Mezher was overseeing rocket fire in the Zahrani sector as part of Hezbollah's Badr unit. He was reportedly responsible for launching attacks on Israeli territory and was involved in efforts to rebuild the group's artillery capabilities in southern Lebanon. Media reports on Thursday in Lebanese outlets suggested that Hezbollah has begun implementing a new organizational strategy aimed at consolidating several of its jihadi and executive units, along with institutions that share similar functions. This internal restructuring effort, according to reports, is intended to adapt to current realities, with the group reportedly seeking to streamline its operations, rationalize expenditures, and optimize its structure in response to evolving circumstances. The Israeli army announced on Wednesday the launch of 'special, targeted' ground operations in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Jabal al-Blat and al-Labbouneh. Forces from the 300th and 9th brigades reportedly dismantled weapons depots and missile launch sites belonging to the group, aiming to prevent Hezbollah from 'reestablishing itself in the area,' the army said. A Lebanese security source told Arab News that 'the operations took place over the past two weeks, targeting sites in valleys and hills under Hezbollah's security control, areas that remain inaccessible to the Lebanese army.' Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam confirmed last month that the Lebanese army had dismantled more than 500 weapons sites and depots in the area south of the Litani River.
LBCI
3 days ago
- Politics
- LBCI
UNIFIL spokesperson says peacekeepers can operate independently under Resolution 1701
UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said in a statement that several individuals in civilian clothing confronted peacekeepers near the Wadi Jilou area on Thursday morning during a planned patrol. Tenenti noted that the activity had been coordinated in advance with the Lebanese Armed Forces as part of support for Lebanon's implementation of Resolution 1701. He added that while the situation was initially calm, it quickly escalated when civilians began throwing stones at the peacekeepers, prompting the use of smoke canisters to disperse the crowd and ensure the safety of U.N. personnel. Lebanese army units later arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. Tenenti reaffirmed that, as stated by both the Lebanese government and army, U.N. peacekeepers are permitted to move independently in southern Lebanon to carry out their duties under Resolution 1701 and do not require a Lebanese escort. He stressed that any attack on U.N. peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law and Resolution 1701 and urged Lebanese authorities to hold those responsible accountable. He added that UNIFIL will continue to monitor and report all violations of the resolution impartially, in line with its Security Council mandate and at the request of the Lebanese government.
Nahar Net
3 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
UNIFIL patrol fires tear gas after clash with Aytit residents
A patrol from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on Thursday attempted to enter the southern town of Aytit, but was met with resistance from a group of local youths, the state-run National News Agency reported. According to NNA, the patrol fired tear gas in the direction of the protesters before retreating from the area. UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said 'this morning, several individuals in civilian clothes blocked UNIFIL peacekeepers on a planned patrol near Wadi Jilu' and that 'the activity had been previously coordinated with the Lebanese Armed Forces, in support of Lebanon's implementation of Resolution 1701.' 'While the situation was initially calm, the individuals soon began throwing stones at the peacekeepers, who were forced to disperse the crowd with smoke to protect themselves from harm,' Tenenti added, noting that 'the LAF arrived at the scene and the situation was brought under control.' 'As the Lebanese government and army have made clear, peacekeepers can move independently in south Lebanon in performance of their duties to restore security and stability under Resolution 1701. They do not need to be accompanied by Lebanese soldiers,' Tenenti said. Warning that 'any attack on peacekeepers is a serious violation of international law and Resolution 1701,' the spokesman said UNIFIL has requested that the Lebanese authorities bring the perpetrators to justice. 'We will continue impartially monitoring and reporting on violations of 1701, as mandated by the Security Council and requested by the Lebanese government,' Tenenti vowed. Hezbollah supporters in Lebanon frequently accuse the U.N. mission — which was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after Israel's 1978 invasion -- of collusion with Israel. Israel meanwhile accuses the peacekeepers of turning a blind eye to Hezbollah's military activities in southern Lebanon.
MTV Lebanon
3 days ago
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
Tenenti Issues Statement Following Aaitit Clashes
The following is a statement by UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti: 'This morning, several individuals in civilian clothes blocked UNIFIL peacekeepers on a planned patrol near Wadi Jilou. The activity had been previously coordinated with the Lebanese Armed Forces, in support of Lebanon's implementation of resolution 1701. While the situation was initially calm, the individuals soon began throwing stones at the peacekeepers, who were forced to disperse the crowd with smoke to protect themselves from harm. The LAF arrived at the scene and the situation was brought under control. As the Lebanese government and army have made clear, peacekeepers can move independently in south Lebanon in performance of their duties to restore security and stability under resolution 1701. They do not need to be accompanied by Lebanese soldiers. Any attack on peacekeepers is a serious violation of international law and resolution 1701. We have requested that the Lebanese authorities bring the perpetrators to justice. We will continue impartially monitoring and reporting on violations of 1701, as mandated by the Security Council and requested by the Lebanese government.'
