Latest news with #LitaniRiver
Al Arabiya
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Lebanon's Hezbollah refuses to disarm causing furry within Lebanese state: Sources
Lebanese group Hezbollah has informed its ally Speaker Nabih Berri that it will not give up its weapons, according to Al Arabiya sources. The sources added that the Iran-backed group informed Berri that it stands with its decision even if Israel withdraws from contested areas, adding that it is ready for confrontation if this is what the Lebanese state wants. Berri, the sources added, told US Special Envoy Tom Barrack that he cannot promise that Hezbollah will disarm north of the Litani River. The sources told Al Arabiya that this has not been well received within the Lebanese state where officials have described Hezbollah's insistence to maintain its arms as a 'missed opportunity' to resolve this issue. The government, however, remains keen on moving forward with its pledge to keep weapons within state control, the sources said. The US has been pressing the new Lebanese authorities for action with regards to Hezbollah's weapons after the group was weakened by war with Israel. Barrack has made several visits to Lebanon with the latest being this week to discuss a roadmap for the country centering on the issue of disarmament. During a meeting with Barrack earlier this week, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun handed the US envoy a 'draft comprehensive memorandum for implementing Lebanon's pledges' since the ceasefire, a presidency statement said. The draft emphasized the need to extend state authority to the entire country, restrict the bearing of weapons to the army and ensure 'decisions of war and peace' rest with Lebanese constitutional authorities, according to the presidency statement. Hezbollah was engaged in war last year with Israel which led to it being significantly weakened. The conflict ended in a ceasefire agreement under which Hezbollah was to pull its fighters back north of the Litani river, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, leaving the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the region. Israel was to fully withdraw its troops from the country but has kept them in five areas it deems strategic. Israel, however, has repeatedly bombed Lebanon, mainly saying it is targeting Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure, and has warned it will continue to strike until the group has been disarmed.
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Hezbollah Orders Members to Stay Away from South Lebanon Amid Renewed Israeli Strikes
In the wake of renewed Israeli strikes in south Lebanon, Hezbollah has reportedly instructed its members and affiliates to avoid traveling to their hometowns in the south, including areas north and south of the Litani River. The internal directive, aimed at minimizing Israeli targeting, prohibits movement to the region even for family visits or personal reasons, according to local sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. The move comes as Israel resumed its targeted operations against Hezbollah after a week-long pause. The renewed strikes coincide with growing Lebanese calls to reactivate the ceasefire monitoring committee, following escalating tensions and violations. On Thursday, two individuals were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes in south Lebanon, despite the ceasefire agreement brokered last November. Lebanon's Ministry of Health confirmed the fatalities. According to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency, an Israeli drone strike hit a vehicle on the Toul-Kfour highway in the Nabatieh district, killing one person and injuring two others. A second airstrike targeted a truck in the southern coastal town of Naqoura, leaving one person dead. Israeli authorities have reiterated that they will continue to act against Hezbollah to 'eliminate any threat' and prevent the group from reestablishing its military infrastructure. They have warned that strikes will continue unless Hezbollah is disarmed by the Lebanese state. The latest attacks follow a series of five assassinations carried out last week, which Israel claimed targeted operatives involved in restoring Hezbollah's combat and artillery capabilities in the south. Since the November ceasefire, Israel has reportedly carried out nearly 3,600 violations, by land, sea, and air, resulting in 253 deaths and 559 injuries, according to official Lebanese data. Ongoing Israeli operations have severely limited Hezbollah's activity in both southern Lebanon and north of the Litani River. Local sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hezbollah issued a directive months ago prohibiting members, including fighters, from visiting southern areas, even for personal or family reasons, to avoid Israeli surveillance and targeting.
LBCI
16-07-2025
- Business
- LBCI
'No turning back:' PM Salam vows to restore state sovereignty and defend Lebanon's rights
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam addressed Lebanon's parliament Wednesday with a firm pledge to pursue reform, restore state sovereignty, and rally international pressure on Israel to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory and halt its ongoing violations. 'We reaffirm our commitment and determination to reform and recovery,' Salam said. 'We will spare no effort in mobilizing Arab and international support to pressure Israel to withdraw from Lebanese land and end its aggression.' In his remarks, Salam acknowledged the weight of the task ahead. 'There is no doubt our responsibility is great, and we are determined to carry it. Our government's program is reform-driven, but we face inherited obstacles,' he stated. Salam praised the army for 'restoring state authority south of the Litani River,' and affirmed the government's commitment to extending full sovereignty to areas north of it as well. 'What we declared in the government's policy statement and the president's oath of office is not just a statement of intent—it is a firm and irreversible commitment,' he added. He announced a comprehensive strategy for the return of Syrian refugees, dubbed a 'safe and sustainable' plan. He also reaffirmed that depositors' rights remain a top priority and that restoring trust in the financial system requires transparency and regulatory discipline. Responding to criticism over the lack of a clear electricity plan, Salam pushed back: 'Some have claimed we have no plan for electricity, but I am confident that what we'll present will prove otherwise.' He also revealed that negotiations over the proposed 'Starlink' satellite internet project are still ongoing, signaling the government's continued effort to improve digital infrastructure.
Arab News
15-07-2025
- Climate
- Arab News
Lebanon's worst drought on record drains largest reservoir
QARAOUN, Lebanon: Water levels at Lebanon's largest reservoir on the Litani River have fallen to historic lows amid what experts describe as the country's worst drought on record, threatening agriculture, electricity production, and domestic water supplies. The Litani River National Authority said inflows to Lake Qaraoun during this year's wet season did not exceed 45 million cubic meters, a fraction of the 350 million cubic meters annual average. Last year, the figure stood at 230 million. The water currently available in Lake Qaraoun — around 61 million cubic meters — was unusable due to severe pollution, the authority said. 'There were dry years in 1989, 1990 and 1991, but this year is the driest,' said Sami Alawieh, head of the river authority. 'We are facing a water scarcity problem across all Lebanese territories and water basins.' Drone footage of Lake Qaraoun shows a dramatically receded shoreline, exposing cracked earth and dead vegetation. Lebanon's hydroelectric plants tied to the Litani basin have been shut down, Alawieh said, causing financial losses and intensifying electricity rationing by Electricite du Liban. 'We have two factors: the decline in rainfall and the pressure on groundwater,' he said. A study by the authority found climate warming and shifting weather patterns have contributed to more frequent dry seasons and higher temperatures, exacerbating soil moisture loss and reducing the recharging of groundwater reservoirs. The state utility has slashed supply in some areas from 20 hours a day to as little as 10. In the fertile area around Qaraoun village, in the Bekaa Valley, farmers were already feeling the impact. 'I have never seen such drought or scarcity of rain as this year,' said Safa Issa. 'We used to get snow up to a meter high. Now, it's been 10 years since we've seen any.' The strain has been compounded by erratic supply of electricity needed to run irrigation systems. 'You irrigate for three hours, then stop for three,' said Fayez Omais, another local farmer. Suzy Hoayek, an adviser to the Ministry of Energy and Water in Beirut, said a nationwide awareness campaign to reduce consumption would be launched within 10 days. 'The most important thing is to manage demand,' she said.
Arab News
10-07-2025
- 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.
