Latest news with #peacekeeping
Arab News
19 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 He told Arab News he would be 'very, very worried' about the future of the resolution if UNIFIL was withdrawn.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.
Zawya
a day ago
- Politics
- Zawya
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Strongly Condemns Attack on United Nations (UN) Mission in Central African Republic
The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the attack targeting the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), near the town of Birao, which resulted in the death of a Zambian peacekeeper and the injury of another. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) underscored the UAE's strong condemnation of these criminal and terrorist acts, and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability. The Ministry reaffirmed that targeting UN and humanitarian missions constitutes a blatant violation of the principles of international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, stressing the UAE's full support for the vital role of MINUSCA in promoting security and stability in the Central African Republic. The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the family of the victim, and to the government and people of Zambia, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured peacekeeper. The Ministry further expressed its solidarity with the United Nations and its humanitarian missions, and the countries contributing to international efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region and worldwide. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
UN warns of Sudanese conflict ‘spill over' in C.Africa
United Nations, US: The UN peacekeeping chief warned Thursday about potential spill over from Sudan's war to undermine nascent stability in the Central African Republic, including paramilitary operations. Last week, an armed group attacked a patrol by the UN mission in the CAR, killing a Zambian peacekeeper. Among the world's poorest countries, the CAR shares a border with Sudan, which has been plunged into devastating conflict between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix highlighted the armed group attacking the CAR mission during a Security Council meeting Thursday, and a report released by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres's office noted attacks in the region as well. 'The security situation remains fragile in border areas,' Lacroix told the UN Security Council, referring to the CAR. 'In the northeast, on the border with Sudan, instability is characterized by the overflow of Sudanese conflict, including incursions by armed groups,' he added. The Central African Republic is also reckoning with rising numbers of Sudanese refugees fleeing the conflict, with the UN report estimating 36,642 living in the country as of June 1. 'The Sudanese conflict is a real threat. Armed groups are crossing our borders, recruiting young people and compromising our sovereignty,' said CAR UN ambassador Marius Aristide Hoja Nzessioue. Lacroix said the Central African Republic was at a 'delicate juncture,' adding that support for the progress made toward upcoming elections from the international community 'remains essential.' 'If these efforts are Central African Republic has the potential to become a true success story — not only for Central Africans, but also for Peacekeeping and for this Security Council,' Lacroix said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
AI-generated video falsely claims Nigeria announced it would send troops to Israel
A text overlay on the TikTok video reads: 'Breaking: Nigeria announces peace support deployment to Israel.' Part of the caption under the video reads: 'Breaking: Nigeria deploys troops in support of Israel's peace operations.' 'Footage obtained by TBC News shows Nigerian troops being mobilised and briefed for a non-combative, cooperating training mission overseas,' it adds. The post, published on June 17, 2025, has been shared more than 6,100 times. The video contains different clips edited together in the style of a news report. It opens with what appears to be a news segment from a channel called TBC News, with a presenter in a studio speaking to the camera. The second clip shows a military official giving a press conference, calling the purported move to deploy Nigerian troops 'a friendship mission'. A third clip shows soldiers marching and climbing into a vehicle, and two more videos show military aircraft overhead, including a helicopter flying the Nigerian flag. The video then cuts back to the presenter. The post was published after Israel and Iran exchanged airstrikes for 12 days before US President Donald Trump announced on June 23 that Iran and Israel had agreed to a staggered ceasefire (archived here). However, the claim that Nigeria announced the deployment of troops to Israel is false. Firstly, a Google search revealed that there is no TV station called TBC News. While the Tanzanian Broadcasting Corporation is known as TBC, its logo is different than the one shown in the TikTok video. The name is possibly a play on Nigeria's 24-hour news channel TVC News. Secondly, a closer look at the various video clips reveals several flaws commonly found in AI-generated content. For example, the news presenter's clothes change between the first and last clip, though they are supposed to be part of a continuous news segment. There are also noticeable changes to the shape of his face and hair. Moreover, his voice sounds distorted and robotic throughout. Although we did not find any exact matches for this clip online, the footage resembles content created by an X account known for sharing AI-generated news clips with the same TBC News logo. The second segment of the TikTok video, showing a military official giving a conference, also features a robotic voice. The voice says: 'Nigeria is proud to extend its strategic defence training to key global allies.' However, the coat of arms with a crown that can be seen behind him is not that of Nigeria. Nigeria's coat of arms does not contain a crown. The crest seen in the video does not match any Nigerian national military symbols, either. During military briefings in Nigeria, both the national flag and the defence flag are usually present in the background which is not the case in the TikTok video (archived here). When it is viewed full screen, it also becomes apparent that there is something unusual with the cameraman seen on the right. The display screen on his camera does not quite show the scene he is supposed to be filming: there is no coat of arms behind the military official and the movements do not match. These factors suggest this clip is also AI-generated. The next video clip, which shows soldiers marching, appears overly smooth and fluid, which can be another sign of AI use. In addition, the video glitches as the soldiers step into thin air while climbing into the vehicle. However, the two clips showing military aircraft flying overhead are real footage of a recent airshow that took place over Lagos in May 2025. According to the local press, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) warned locals of the presence of these aircraft in advance (archived here). A video showing the same helicopters carrying the Nigerian flag was posted on Instagram on May 12, 2025 (archived here). The caption specifies that it was filmed in Lagos. The Nigerian government has not announced sending any troops to Israel or in support of Israel. It condemned Israel's initial strikes on Iran in a written statement. 'The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria condemns Israel's preemptive strike on Iran that has led to an escalation of hostilities between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel, marked by sustained missile and aerial exchanges across both territories,' reads the statement published on June 14, 2025. AFP Fact Check has previously debunked other videos around the Israel-Iran conflict here and here.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
UN peacekeeper killed in attack by armed men in Central African Republic
DAKAR, Senegal — A United Nations peacekeeper was killed during an attack by armed men in Central African Republic , the UN said on Tuesday as the Security Council expressed concerns over growing attacks against peacekeepers in the country. A Zambian peacekeeper was killed Friday when suspected Sudanese armed groups attacked a U.N. peacekeeping patrol team close to the country's northern border with Sudan in the village of Am-Sissia 1, according to a statement from the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
