Latest news with #Litani
The National
25-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Israeli strike kills alleged Hezbollah financier in south Lebanon
The Israeli army says it has killed the head of a currency exchange store who operated with Hezbollah to funnel funds to the group. The targeted strike on a vehicle in southern Lebanon came amid an intensified wave of Israeli attacks north of the Litani river in what appears to be a widening campaign against Hezbollah infrastructure. The militant group said Haytham Abdullah Bakr and his two sons, who were in the car struck when it was in the southern village of Kfardjal on Tuesday, were members. 'The IDF eliminated the head of the 'Al Sadiq' currency exchange,' the Israeli army statement said, describing the company as 'a funds storage and transfer mechanism' for Hezbollah from the Quds Force, a branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. It said the assassination was 'a severe blow to the Iranian financing routes to Hezbollah'. The attack was the latest in a series of near-daily breaches by Israel of a US-brokered ceasefire between it and Hezbollah that ended 14 months of fighting in November. Israeli air strikes on Monday targeted several towns north of the Litani, including Zrariyeh, Kfar Melki, Mahmoudiyah, Al Hatta, Ansar, Al Bisariya and Al Wardiya, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency. The attacks caused fires but no casualties. Hezbollah has largely withdrawn its forces from south of the Litani, in line with the US-brokered ceasefire, Lebanese authorities have told The National. The agreement requires the Lebanese state to disarm and dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and military positions 'starting with the southern Litani area' within 60 days – but it did not set a timeline for dismantling the group's positions north of the river, which runs roughly parallel to the southern border with Israel, about 30km away. Despite the truce, Israel continues to bomb south Lebanon daily and to occupy five points of Lebanese territory. Hezbollah, politically and militarily constrained after significant losses in its war with Israel, has shown no indication that it intends to retaliate.
The National
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Israeli drone strike kills three in south Lebanon
At least three people were killed in a drone strike in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, a day after the Israeli military carried out attacks across the area that it said were against Hezbollah targets. The deaths were confirmed by Lebanon's Health Ministry, which said an drone struck a car in Kfardjal in the Nabatieh district. Lebanese media reported the victims were a man who had run a money exchange in southern Beirut and was alleged to have financial ties to Hezbollah, and his two sons. The Israeli military did not issue a statement on the attack – the latest in near-daily breaches of a US-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel that took hold in November after 14 months of fighting. On Monday, Israel launched a wave of air strikes on towns and villages north of the Litani river, which runs about 30km from the Lebanon-Israel border. The outskirts of Zrariyeh, Kfrar Melki, Mahmoudiyah, Al Hatta, Ansar, Al Bisariya and Al Wardiya were hit, causing fires but no casualties, Lebanon's National News Agency said. The Israeli military said it had struck 'sites belonging to Hezbollah containing rocket and missile launchers, along with weapons storage facilities', and added it would 'continue to operate to remove any threat'. Hezbollah has largely withdrawn its forces from south of the Litani as part of the terms of the truce, Lebanese authorities have told The National. The agreement requires the Lebanese government to dismantle all Hezbollah facilities, infrastructure and military positions 'starting with the southern Litani area' within 60 days – but it did not set a timeline for dismantling the group's positions north of the river. Israel has continued its attacks on Hezbollah while also launching an aerial war against Iran, the group's patron. However, Hezbollah, now politically and militarily constrained after significant losses in its war with Israel, has not signalled any intent to support Tehran in the fight. 'Iran can defend itself,' a Hezbollah official told The National last week. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam addressed Israel's ceasefire violations at a press conference with his Qatar counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman in Doha. 'We're working on extending the [Lebanese] state's authority across its territory. There can be no stability in Lebanon without Israel's full withdrawal, especially from the five points it is still occupying," he said.
LBCI
23-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Israeli army says targeted 'Hezbollah rocket sites' north of Litani River
The Israeli army announced that its air force carried out a series of airstrikes, allegedly targeting Hezbollah military sites north of the Litani River in Lebanon. According to army spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the raids hit rocket and missile launch platforms as well as weapons depots. The Israeli military said, "Hezbollah's military activity and weapons presence in this area represent a clear violation of understandings between Israel and Lebanon." The army confirmed it will continue operations to eliminate any threats posed to the State of Israel. #عاجل 🔸جيش الدفاع هاجم مواقع عسكرية ومنصات صاروخية لحزب الله شمال منطقة الليطاني في لبنان 🔸أغارت طائرات حربية لسلاح الجو على مواقع عسكرية لحزب الله الارهابي تحتوي على منصات قذائف صاروخية وصواريخ إلى جانب مستودعات وسائل قتالية في منطقة شمال الليطاني. 🔸يشكل وجود أسلحة وأنشطة… — افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) June 23, 2025
LBCI
19-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Tom Barrack meets Lebanese leaders as US-Lebanon talks stall on Hezbollah arms
Report by Bassam Abou Zeid, English adaptation by Mariella Succar There is no agreement between Lebanon and the United States regarding the approach to addressing Hezbollah's weapons. Washington, through its presidential envoy Tom Barrack, reiterated the urgent need to implement the state's commitment to disarmament, regardless of the developments in Lebanon and the region. Lebanon, which previously linked disarmament to Israel fulfilling its obligations—such as withdrawing from occupied areas, halting violations, and releasing detainees—tied the issue during Thursday's talks to the ongoing regional situation. According to a statement posted on the Presidency's official X account, President Joseph Aoun told Barrack that communications to achieve the principle of exclusive weapons control on both Lebanese and Palestinian levels are ongoing and will intensify once the regional situation stabilizes amid the escalating Israeli-Iranian conflict. Aoun also noted that the army's mission in southern Litani to implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement has been hindered by Israel's continued occupation of the Shebaa Farms and its surroundings. In this context, Aoun reportedly reiterated the 'step-for-step' approach, meaning Israel must take steps on issues such as withdrawal, violations, and detainees, which would be met by corresponding Lebanese steps related to Hezbollah's weapons. The U.S. envoy also heard from President Aoun that Lebanon does not wish to be drawn into the ongoing war between Israel and Iran. Barrack urged Lebanese authorities to intensify cooperation with the new Syrian regime, particularly regarding border control and demarcation between the two countries. From Ain al-Tineh, the headquarters of the Parliament Speaker, Barrack said in response to a question that Hezbollah's involvement in the current war would be a very bad decision. Reports indicate that the message Barrack received from Speaker Nabih Berri was similar to that conveyed by President Aoun in Baabda. Berri emphasized that Lebanon has fulfilled its responsibilities, while the problem lies with Israel, which continues to violate U.N. Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement, and maintains occupation, attacks, and assassinations. At the Grand Serail, Tom Barrack continued talks with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. They agreed on keeping Lebanon out of the war and on continuing state efforts to assert sovereignty, address Hezbollah's weapons, and resolve issues with Israel. They also agreed to pursue reforms and strengthen communication with Syria. Barrack, who has officially and temporarily taken charge of Lebanon affairs following his work on Syria, is expected to return to Beirut soon after briefing President Donald Trump on the results of his initial visit.
LBCI
11-06-2025
- Business
- LBCI
No aid without reforms: Lebanon faces donor ultimatum
Report by Yazbek Wehbe, English adaptation by Yasmine Jaroudi Following the ceasefire announced on November 28, Lebanon received promises, particularly from France, of an international donor conference in Paris to fund the reconstruction of damage caused by the Israeli aggression. The conference was initially scheduled for June but has been postponed. The delay is attributed to the demands from Western countries and Gulf states for Lebanon to demonstrate tangible actions rather than just verbal commitments. Donors are insisting on Lebanon's progress in disarming militias and centralizing arms under state control, clarifying the interpretation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 in the area between southern and northern Litani and accelerating the implementation of necessary reforms. In response, Lebanon invited representatives from donor countries, international organizations, funds, and the ambassadors of the Quintet to a conference aimed at gauging their willingness to contribute to reconstruction and understanding their conditions. Of the estimated $11 billion reconstruction cost, the Lebanese government requested $1 billion for urgent rebuilding and infrastructure rehabilitation, stressing a new approach centered on integrity. The World Bank representative repeatedly emphasized the importance of transparency but did not specify a timeline for the release of the first $250 million loan installment. Lebanon is aware of the political and reform conditions it must meet. The question remains whether the time to fulfill these requirements has come. Meanwhile, the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) pledged to focus on integrity and reduce bureaucracy. France committed $75 million at the conference, while Arab funds expressed interest and promised to study the project. Although Lebanon views the international conditions as relatively strict, it remains the party seeking Western support and must accelerate its efforts to meet those demands to avoid being left waiting on the sidelines. This comes at a time when aid flows are bypassing Lebanon and heading toward Syria, which has quickly met the conditions and secured assistance.
