Latest news with #Lebanon
LBCI
6 hours ago
- Business
- LBCI
Lebanon next? Elon Musk calls Lebanese president as Starlink eyes new market
Report by Ghida Fayad, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian This is not a rumor: "Tech king" Elon Musk has called Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. So why did he call? The call came two weeks after a delegation from Starlink visited Lebanon and presented the president with a proposal outlining Starlink's services. Negotiations, which had already begun between Lebanon's telecom ministry and the company, have since advanced. Talks now focus on the Lebanese state's potential revenue from Starlink services, which is reportedly confirmed and on its way. So why Lebanon? Elon Musk, who leads Tesla, Starlink, and SpaceX, is expanding his companies' global footprint. After investing in 136 countries, he has now set his sights on Lebanon. Musk is interested in Lebanon's telecom and internet sectors and believes the upcoming phase could be full of opportunity. Sources familiar with the discussions say Starlink's interest was sparked by Lebanon's human capital and young talent. Lebanon, in turn, needs what Starlink offers. Many remote areas still lack strong landline networks or any telecom infrastructure — especially those hit by the recent war, from the South to the Bekaa. That makes Lebanon a market in need and one with strong revenue potential for the company. It seems Elon Musk is excited — and President Aoun did not let that energy go to waste. He gave Musk a warm welcome and said Lebanon is ready to facilitate everything his companies need within legal and regulatory frameworks. Aoun also invited Musk to visit Beirut, and Musk reportedly promised to take up the offer at the first suitable opportunity. Could this meeting mark the start of a new tech chapter for Lebanon?
LBCI
6 hours ago
- Business
- LBCI
Names released, fear spreads: Israel escalates 'financial war' on Hezbollah with latest targeting
Report by Edmond Sassine, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian This was not just another isolated Israeli strike. The targeting of Haytham Bakri and two of his sons in the southern town of Kfar Dajjal on Tuesday was more than that. According to Israeli claims, Bakri is a money changer who heads the "Al-Sadiq" Currency Exchange, which the Israeli military alleges serves as financial infrastructure for storing and transferring funds to Hezbollah. More alarming is that Israel did not stop at naming Bakri. It publicly released the names of five additional currency exchange companies and their owners, accusing them of channeling money to Hezbollah. Israeli reports claim the existence of networks moving funds from Iran to Lebanon via Iraq, Turkey, or the United Arab Emirates. Through these routes, the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps allegedly transfers millions of dollars to the six listed exchange firms. Alongside these accusations and the strike on Bakri and his sons, the Israeli military also claimed to have killed Behnam Shahriyari in Iran — a Quds Force commander said to be responsible for transferring money to Hezbollah. The publication of the names of the money changers and their companies operating in Lebanon has sparked fear among those listed, who now worry they may be targeted next. Sources familiar with the matter note that the U.S. administration typically imposes sanctions on individuals and companies through formal procedures and communication with Lebanese authorities. But in this case, the naming and accusing of companies and individuals is being carried out unilaterally by Israel, with no oversight. Some of the accused money changers, the sources said, have been advised to contact Lebanon's central bank and the Banking Control Commission to request an investigation to verify their legal and financial standing, as well as to communicate with security agencies to demonstrate their compliance and to seek protection through the channels and contacts they rely on. Israel's strikes on what it describes as Hezbollah's financial networks are not new, even if they now come in more public and escalatory forms. In April of last year, money changer Mohammad Srour was assassinated after being lured to Beit Meri. Investigations pointed to Mossad involvement amid reports he had been transferring funds from Iran to Palestinian factions.
LBCI
6 hours ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Lebanon scrambles to finalize response to US plan on Hezbollah arms and border deal — here's what we know
Report by Yazbek Wehbe, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian A committee of advisers appointed by Lebanon's president, parliament speaker, and prime minister is drafting a comprehensive response to U.S. proposals. These include the disarmament of Hezbollah and Palestinian factions, the demarcation of the Lebanese-Syrian border—particularly regarding the Shebaa Farms—and advancing economic and political reforms. The presidency is represented by a senior military officer, the parliament by a political adviser, and the government by a diplomat, with support from technical experts. The secrecy surrounding the process stems from the belief that this response represents Lebanon's last critical opportunity, having previously squandered multiple chances. Lebanese officials are racing to finalize the response before July 7, the tentative date for U.S. envoy Tom Barrack's return to Beirut. They understand that Washington expects a clear, detailed plan with a timeline to be met by gradual reciprocal Israeli measures—such as phased weapons handovers in exchange for withdrawals from specific areas and the release of detainees. LBCI has learned that a significant portion of the response has already been drafted. Lebanon has agreed to some points, while others require clarification—chief among them the 'step-for-step' principle. Beirut maintains that because Israel occupies part of its territory, Israel must take the first step before Lebanon reciprocates. Regarding the Shebaa Farms, Lebanon plans to submit documents to relevant parties, including the United States and the United Nations, to prove its claim to the area. It is also willing to accept a U.N.-supervised demarcation process. The U.S. envoy has made Lebanese-Syrian cooperation on border issues a condition for moving forward to avoid future disputes. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is eager to finalize a comprehensive proposal and initiate implementation in July. Hezbollah has adopted a relatively flexible position but insists that Israel must begin its withdrawal, halt attacks, and release detainees to reassure its support base before any decision is made. Once the response is complete, the committee will present a proposed timeline to the Americans, who are seeking swift progress. On-the-ground coordination will reportedly involve the ceasefire monitoring committee, which will convey Israeli requests to the Lebanese army regarding the disarmament of specific sites. LBCI also learned that Washington has pledged to persuade Israel to adopt the 'step-for-step' approach once Lebanon finalizes its response and issues a cabinet declaration affirming that all arms will be under state authority. In return, Lebanon is seeking U.S. guarantees that Israel will fulfill its commitments and help resolve any outstanding issues in the event of Israeli obstruction. The structure and substance of Lebanon's response will be central to any potential agreement. Beirut recognizes that the time for political maneuvering has come to an end.
Asharq Al-Awsat
7 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israel Carries Out Intense Airstrikes in Southern Lebanon, 1 Dead
Israel's air force carried out intense airstrikes on mountains overlooking a southern Lebanon city on Friday in an attack that the Israeli military said targeted Hezbollah underground assets. The airstrikes came in two waves on the mountains overlooking Nabatiyeh and bunker buster bombs were used, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported. There was no immediate information about casualties. Since the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war ended with a US-brokered ceasefire in November, Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes on southern Lebanon. Friday's strikes were more intense than usual. The Israeli military said in a statement that its fighter jets struck a site used by Hezbollah to manage its fire and defense array in the area and is part of a significant underground project that was completely taken out of use. The Israeli army said it identified rehabilitation attempts by Hezbollah beforehand and struck infrastructure sites in the area. There was no comment from Hezbollah. An Israeli drone also targeted on Friday an apartment in a two-story building in Nabatiyeh. Lebanon's health ministry said a woman was killed and 11 other people were wounded in the strike. "The Israeli enemy strike on an apartment in Nabatiyeh led to a preliminary toll of one woman killed and 11 people wounded," the ministry said in a statement carried by the official National News Agency.
Arab News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
UN peacekeeping chief ‘very, very worried' about future of Lebanon-Israel peace framework if UNIFIL withdraws
NEW YORK CITY: The future of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which governs the ceasefire and peacekeeping framework between Lebanon and Israel, would be at risk without the continuing presence of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon, the UN's top peacekeeper warned on Thursday. Jean Pierre Lacroix, the organization's head of peacekeeping operations, expressed his deep concern during a press conference following visits to Lebanon and Syria. He told Arab News he would be 'very, very worried' about the future of the resolution if UNIFIL was withdrawn. 'UNIFIL is not an end in itself, and UNIFIL is not something standalone,' he said. 'It's a tool for supporting implementation of Resolution 1701, so the two are inextricably linked. 'I would be very, very worried about the future of Resolution 1701 if there is no UNIFIL on the ground to support the implementation of that resolution.' UNIFIL, established in 2006 to monitor the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel and prevent hostilities in Lebanon's volatile southern border region, continues to play a crucial role in providing support for the Lebanese army presence in areas south of the Litani River. The peacekeepers assist in tasks such as mine clearance and rehabilitation efforts, serve as liaisons between Lebanese and Israeli forces, and help with deconfliction efforts. Despite progress in enforcing the provisions of the resolution, Lacroix said that violations persist and more work is needed to ensure it is fully implemented. During his trip, Lacroix met senior Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun, the prime minister, the speaker of the parliament, and the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces. All of them, he said, reiterated the critical need for UNIFIL to maintain its presence in the country, and Lebanese authorities have formally asked the Security Council to extend the mission's mandate. However, UNIFIL faces severe financial constraints. Lacroix said contingency planning is underway amid liquidity shortfalls and uncertainties about the funding commitments of UN member states, particularly in light of potential US opposition to extension of the mandate. 'To the best of my knowledge, there is no final position expressed by Israel or the United States,' he said in response to reports of possible opposition to the continued deployment of UNIFIL. 'But we expect consistency from member states; they give mandates and then are expected to pay on time and in full.' Lacroix stressed that in the absence of UNIFIL, practical and symbolic support for Resolution 1701 would erode, potentially escalating tensions in a region where stability remains fragile. 'The interlocutors in Lebanon were concerned and expressed the need for UNIFIL's presence to help mitigate and reduce tensions that remain quite high in the region,' he said. The Security Council is scheduled to review UNIFIL's mandate in August. The mission currently comprises about 10,000 troops from more than 40 countries.
