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Lebanese PM urges UK for ‘maximum pressure’ on Israel

Mikati warned that the “Israeli provocations in southern Lebanon could lead to deteriorating conditions…reports Asian Lite News

Lebanon’s Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has urged the UK to place “maximum pressure” on Israel to end its campaign on Gaza and the Lebanese border.

In a meeting with UK Foreign Minister David Cameron, Mikati warned that the “Israeli provocations in southern Lebanon could lead to deteriorating conditions and a full-scale war in the region as a whole.”

Cameron said that “an escalation of the conflict in Gaza to Lebanon, the Red Sea or across the wider region would add to the extremely high level of danger and insecurity in the world.”

In a phone call with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, Mikati expressed concern over “the escalation of the Israeli hostilities in southern Lebanon and the widespread targeting of civilians.”

He added that “the persisting attacks could drag Lebanon into a full-scale confrontation that could affect all countries in the region,” demanding pressure on Israel to “stop its persistent violations.”

Israel said on Thursday that several drones were launched from Lebanon toward north of Haifa in Israel. In southern Lebanon, confrontations took place between Hezbollah and UNIFIL in border villages, amid increased pressure on Lebanon to implement Resolution 1701.

A spokesperson of the Israeli army announced that “air defenses were activated against a drone that infiltrated from Lebanon over north of Haifa,” adding that “sirens sounded in the region.”

Social media activists published pictures of people hiding next to sidewalks following the blaring of sirens.

Sirens also sounded in other Israeli settlements, including Yiftah, Ramot Naftali, Malkia and Dishon in the Upper Galilee, amid “fears of Lebanese drone infiltration,” according to the Israeli spokesperson.

Israeli media reported that “air defenses had intercepted a drone launched by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon.”

The Israeli army said it was “on high alert in northern Israel amid increased attacks carried out by Hezbollah from Lebanon.”

During a field assessment conducted in the Northern Command in Safad, Israeli Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said on Wednesday: “We approved plans for a variety of emergencies, and we should be ready to launch an attack if necessary,” adding that “the preparedness of the Israeli army and the Northern Command is at a high level.”

On Wednesday, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen addressed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, arning him that “if he doesn’t want an escalation, he must immediately adhere to the UN Security Council’s resolution 1701,” adding that “Hezbollah must withdraw north of the Litani River.”

He said: “We will opt for the diplomatic option and if it doesn’t work, we will consider every conceivable option. We will not let the residents return to the settlements they fled without ensuring their safety and restoring their sense of security.”

The Israeli Army Radio announced on Thursday that “the Israeli Air Force carried out a preemptive attack on southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah’s infrastructure.”

An Israeli jet on Thursday bombed the outskirts of the Ayta Al-Shaab village. Israeli aircraft also hit the Al-Salhani region, located between Ramyah and Marwahin in the western part of southern Lebanon. Four Israeli artillery shells landed between Debel and Hanine.

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Lebanese Parliament Approves Historic Social Security Reforms

The Lebanese parliament has passed a law to establish a comprehensive pension system for private sector workers, a step that was “delayed for three decades” and considered a “milestone” for the country.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) said in a statement that it offered technical support to relevant Lebanese parliamentary committees and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to reach a consensus on the law, ensuring its alignment with world trade body’s standards for social security, reports Xinhua news agency.

ILO Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat said that “at a time of unprecedented social and economic crises … stronger public social protection mechanisms and better functioning national institutions are critical to ensure the needed advancement of social justice and economic recovery”.

“The new system will improve the well-being of Lebanese who reach retirement age and strengthen social solidarity, which is very important for Lebanon these days,” said Luca Pellerano, senior social protection specialist at the ILO regional office in Beirut.

Mohammed Karaki, director general of the NSSF, praised the program as “one of the most important socio-economic reforms Lebanon has achieved in the past 30 years”.

Older people in Lebanon have been struck by the financial crisis, which led to an increase in rates of poverty and unemployment across the country.

Also, the value of the end-of-service indemnity received by the Lebanese plummeted with the collapse of the Lebanese pound.

According to the ILO, “the new pension benefits will be calculated taking into account two guaranteed minimum amounts: the first is 80 per cent of the minimum wage after 30 years of contribution, and the second is 1.33 per cent for each year of the insured’s revalorised average wage”.

It added that “benefits will be paid in case of disability and will be transferred to survivors in case of the death of the insured member or the pensioner”.

“Pension values will also be indexed to inflation through a yearly adjustment process.”

ALSO READ: Macron Pledges Support for Lebanon’s Stability

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Macron Pledges Support for Lebanon’s Stability

The President also underscored the urgent need to elect a new president for Lebanon to help the country emerge from its current crisis and avoid security deterioration associated with the ongoing conflict in Gaza…reports Asian Lite News

French President Emmanuel Macron has ssured that his country is keen to support and enhance Lebanon’s stability, security and independence.

“We have constantly supported these goals,” Macron was quoted as saying in a phone call with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Tuesday.

The President added that he informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on several occasions that France is concerned about the danger of escalation and the spread of the Gaza conflict into Lebanon, referring to the Hamas militant group.

Macron warned that the spread of the conflict into Lebanon “will have serious consequences” for the country and its people, adding that “no party should use the Lebanese territory in a way that contradicts the country’s sovereign interests”.

The President also underscored the urgent need to elect a new president for Lebanon to help the country emerge from its current crisis and avoid security deterioration associated with the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The Lebanese southern border has witnessed cautious calm over the past two days after seven weeks of confrontations between the Hezbollah and Israeli forces after the Iran-backed militant group fired dozens of rockets toward the Jewish nation on October 8 in support of the Hamas surprise attack the previous day.

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Israeli Airstrikes Hit Southern Lebanon: Two Killed, Five Injured

Israeli artillery fired more than 600 shells at many villages across southern Lebanon…reports Asian Lite News

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and military sources have reportedly said that two people were killed and five others were injured in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon.

A civilian was killed, and five others were injured in an Israeli air raid on a house on Thursday in Lebanon’s southern village of Aita al-Shaab, while Hezbollah announced that one of its fighters was killed, Xinhua news agency reported.

Lebanese military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the news agency that Israeli drones and warplanes on Thursday carried out 13 airstrikes targeting several areas in southern Lebanon, including Iqlim al-Tuffah, 20 km from the Lebanon-Israel border.

Israeli artillery fired more than 600 shells at many villages across southern Lebanon, the sources added, stressing that the strikes were the most severe since the latest round of escalation along the borderline.

Hezbollah announced that its fighters attacked an Israeli infantry force hiding inside a house in the Al-Manara settlement, killing four soldiers, in addition to attacking several Israeli positions and the Birkat Risha site on the border.

Also on Thursday, specialized medical teams at the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health trained around 1,100 health personnel in 63 hospitals to prepare for a possible expansion of Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon.

The Lebanon-Israel border has been witnessing increased tensions for over six weeks after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel on October 8 in support of the Hamas attack on Israel the previous day. Israeli forces responded by firing heavy artillery at several areas in southeastern Lebanon.

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Israel Orders Town Evacuation Near Lebanon Border

The residents will be relocated to state-subsidized guesthouses…reports Asian Lite News

The Israeli Defence Ministry on Friday ordered the mandatory evacuation of the northern Kiryat Shmona town near the Lebanon border.

Kiryat Shmona is home to 23,000 residents, Ministry spokesperson Mayan Lazarovich told CNN, adding that the this was a “mandatory evacuation”.

The residents will be relocated to state-subsidized guesthouses and the evacuation will be led by the local municipality alongside the Ministries of Tourism and Defence, according to the Ministry. 

The order was approved by Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and was communicated to the town’s mayor a “short time ago”, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on X.

On Monday, the IDF announced that it was implementing an emergency plan to evacuate all civilians living up to 2 km from the Lebanese border and would put them up in state-funded guest houses, the BBC reported.

Kiryat Shmona was not on the list at the time but falls within the radius.

The town has been hit by rocket fire in recent days amid clashes between armed fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah group and the Israeli military.

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Dubai’s IHC Sends Aid To Egypt, Lebanon

The airbridge operation also comes in response to an immediate request for aid from the World Health Organisation ..reports Asian Lite News

Dubai’s International Humanitarian City (IHC) has initiated an immediate humanitarian airbridge operation for delivering critical medical supplies and food aid to Egypt and Lebanon.

The operation is in preparation for and in response to the growing challenges brought about by the ongoing crisis in the region.

The airbridge operation also comes in response to an immediate request for aid from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Giuseppe Saba, CEO of Dubai’s International Humanitarian City, stated: “The humanitarian airbridge has been swiftly established to transport urgently needed relief supplies to populations affected by the escalating crisis in the region. This mobilisation is a testament to the spirit of cooperation in times of conflict and dire need, as IHC leverages its vast network and resources to bolster humanitarian efforts, supporting rapid responses to humanitarian crises, improving readiness for emergencies, and ultimately, saving innocent lives.”

The initial shipment, consisting of more than 11 metric tonnes of essential supplies from WFP and UNICEF’s stockpile, including water, sanitation, hygiene, dignity kits, crucial aid materials, and essential food provisions, departed from Dubai today to El Arish in the North Sinai Governorate of Egypt.

This delivery significantly boosts healthcare response capacity through the Egyptian Red Crescent, ensuring that communities are well-equipped to address the urgent requirements resulting from the ongoing crisis. Moreover, the substantial quantity of food items will aid in alleviating the impact of food shortages on the most vulnerable. (ANI/WAM)

ALSO READ: Israeli missiles hit Lebanon

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Israeli missiles hit Lebanon

The three missiles exploded in Marjeyoun and Khiam, while the fourth fell in Al-Mari town in south Lebanon…reports Asian Lite News

Four Patriot missiles were reportedly launched from Israeli territory, with three of them exploding in the airspace of southern Lebanon and the fourth falling in one of the plains in the area.

The three missiles exploded in Marjeyoun and Khiam, while the fourth fell in Al-Mari town in south Lebanon, Lebanese military sources on Thursday told Xinhua news agency on condition of anonymity.

No injuries were reported.

The sources said they monitored the launching of these missiles from an Iron Dome platform on the southwestern side of the occupied Syrian Golan, noting that no rockets were launched from Lebanon toward Israel.

Sirens sounded in all the Israeli settlements adjacent to the Lebanese border for several minutes, followed by an intense flight of Israeli warplanes along the borderline and over the Lebanese areas of Arqoub and Marjeyoun for about two hours.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the launching of the Patriot missiles in northern Israel was a false alarm.

“An investigation shows that there was no hostile aircraft, and it is a false interception,” the IDF was quoted by the Times of Israel as saying.

The situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border escalated after the firing by Lebanon-based armed group Hezbollah on Sunday morning of tens of missiles toward Israeli military sites in support of the Hamas’ attack on Saturday, prompting heavy artillery from the Israeli forces, which targeted several areas in southeast Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Chief of the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon (UNIFIL) Aroldo Lazaro Saenz said UNIFIL is working on preventing escalation between Lebanon and Israel.

“Our main goal is to help avoid confrontations between Lebanon and Israel, and any event that brings conflict closer is a concern,” he said. 

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Germany Steps Up for Lebanon in Crisis

Breuer said the fuel aid provided to the Lebanese Army is valued at 1 million euros…reports Asian Lite News

Head of the German military, Carsten Breuer, has announced fuel and medical supplies aid for the Lebanese Army, media reported.

His remarks came during a meeting with Lebanon’s Army Commander Joseph Aoun in Beirut on Wednesday.

Breuer said the fuel aid provided to the Lebanese Army is valued at 1 million euros, and another million euros was allocated to medical supplies, Xinhua news agency reported.

The two Army commanders discussed ways of cooperation between the German and Lebanese armies.

After performing the ceremonies, a wreath was placed on the memorial in the Ministry of National Defence courtyard.

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EU committed to helping Lebanon overcome crisis: Envoy

The statement came after De Waele’s meeting on Wednesday with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati…reports Asian Lite News

The newly-appointed EU Ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, has vowed to work closely with Lebanese authorities and the international community to help Lebanon overcome its crisis.

“I look forward to working closely with Lebanese authorities, civil society organisations, and the international community to put Lebanon on the path to recovery,” she said on Wednesday in a statement.

De Waele stressed the European Union’s long-standing partnership with Lebanon and reiterated its commitment to assisting Lebanon in addressing its worsening socio-economic crisis.

“The EU continues to support the implementation of structural reforms, which would help Lebanon build strong state institutions accountable to their citizens,” she said, adding fully operational institutions would also benefit relations between the EU and Lebanon.

The statement came after De Waele’s meeting on Wednesday with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Lebanon has been suffering from the worst financial crisis in its history, with more than 80 per cent of the population struggling with poverty.

Meanwhile, the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon, Walid Bukhari, has held a series of meetings with Lebanese politicians over recent days. He said: “Saudi Arabia is keen on maintaining Lebanese stability and adhering to the Taif Agreement (reached in 1989 to provide the basis for the ending of the civil war and return to political normalcy in Lebanon) and the Lebanese constitution.”

He held talks with the head of the Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblatt and on Tuesday met the leader of the Lebanese Forces party Samir Geagea as part of a political tour ahead of the presidential elections.

Jumblatt said: “We discussed many issues; but Bukhari stressed the Kingdom’s historic keenness on Lebanese stability, the Taif Agreement, and the constitution, and that we, the Lebanese, respect constitutional deadlines and elect a president.”

Geagea said: “We discussed local and regional issues but focused on the Lebanese crisis and talked about the upcoming elections.

“I learned that Saudi Arabia has prepared large aid packages for Lebanon, which require us to have a president, a prime minister, and a government that can be trustworthy, since the Kingdom is unwilling to deal with any Lebanese official involved in financial or political corruption,” he added.

A source in Dar Al-Fatwa said that the spiritual authority for the Sunni community in Lebanon would be holding a meeting for Sunni MPs on Saturday. Of the 27 in parliament, two had so far declined the invitation, reformist Halime Kaakour and independent Osama Saad.

“This will be the first meeting that brings together Sunni MPs of various political orientations since their victory in the parliamentary elections in May,” the source said.

On Tuesday, the Lebanese pound reached a record low. Banks closed for the second day in a row while the price of goods, especially fuel.

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Gulf countries ban travel to Lebanon

Saudi Arabia warned its citizens not to visit areas where armed clashes were taking place…reports Asian Lite News

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible and to avoid approaching areas where there have been armed clashes.

Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Lebanon in a statement posted late on Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter, warned its citizens not to visit areas where armed clashes were taking place.

The kingdom did not specify which areas in Lebanon it was advising its citizens to avoid.

The embassy stressed “the importance of adhering to the Saudi travel ban to Lebanon”, as per Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged that all Bahraini citizens abide by the statements issued previously by the Ministry advising against all travel to Lebanon.

The Ministry called for citizens to leave Lebanese territory to ensure their safety, as per a release issued by the ministry.

Bahraini citizens in case of emergency, can contact the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in Damascus.

Kuwait also issued an advisory early on Saturday calling on Kuwaitis in Lebanon to stay vigilant and avoid “areas of security disturbances” but stopped short of asking them to leave the country, according to a statement by the Kuwaiti foreign ministry posted on X, as per Al Jazeera.

Smoke rises after an exchange of fire between Palestinian militants and Israeli soldiers in Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank city of Jenin, May 13, 2022. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua/IANS)

The United Kingdom on August 1 updated its travel advice for Lebanon, advising against “all but essential travel” to parts of Lebanon’s south near the Palestinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hilweh.

As per Al Jazeera, since July 29, at least 13 people have been killed and more than 60 injured in clashes between the mainstream faction Fatah and a hard-line group in the camp, the largest of 12 Palestinian camps established in Lebanon in 1948 after Israel was created.

Fatah has accused the armed groups Jund al-Sham and al-Shabab al-Muslim of gunning down a Fatah military general, Abu Ashraf al-Armoushi, in the camp.

As per the head of Fatah in the Sidon region, Maher Shabaita, Palestinian factions in the camp have formed an investigative committee to find out who was responsible for al-Armoushi’s killing and will hand them over to the Lebanese judiciary for trial.

A ceasefire between the Palestinian groups in the camp was announced on July 31 under the mediation of Lebanese parties. Armed clashes, however, continue to take place between the factions from time to time.​​​​​​​ (ANI)

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