Lebanese News and Updates
⋯ Hezbullah Liaison Chief Wafiq Safa: "We offer our condolences after the unintentional incident that led to death of a UNIFIL soldier in Lebanon." He added: "We were not involved, it was between the locals and the UN."
The deceased soldier has been identified as Private Seán Rooney, a member of the 27 Infantry Battalion and a native of Newtwoncunningham, Co Donegal.
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🇱🇧🇪🇺 Free speech in Lebanon?
Karin Kneissl, the former minister of foreign affairs of Austria (2017-2019), declared today to Sputnik:
“I experience now, as somebody living in Lebanon, we have more freedom of speech in the Middle East (...) than in the European Union.”
Ms. Kneissl lives in exile in Lebanon, after she received death threats over her Russia ties. The EU Parliament passed a resolution in May 2022 for sanctions against Kneissl and former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder if they didn't resign from the board of Russian companies. She was forced to resign from Rosneft.
Why move to Lebanon? “I couldn't move to Russia. Although I speak a little Russian. But I speak Arabic better. And I know Lebanon. I have friends who know me as Karin. And this is very important”, Kneissl said in September.
Karin Kneissl, the former minister of foreign affairs of Austria (2017-2019), declared today to Sputnik:
“I experience now, as somebody living in Lebanon, we have more freedom of speech in the Middle East (...) than in the European Union.”
Ms. Kneissl lives in exile in Lebanon, after she received death threats over her Russia ties. The EU Parliament passed a resolution in May 2022 for sanctions against Kneissl and former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder if they didn't resign from the board of Russian companies. She was forced to resign from Rosneft.
Why move to Lebanon? “I couldn't move to Russia. Although I speak a little Russian. But I speak Arabic better. And I know Lebanon. I have friends who know me as Karin. And this is very important”, Kneissl said in September.
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Earlier this morning, a gas canister exploded in Al-Matn, causing several injuries.
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Lebanese News and Updates
⋯ Earlier this month, the IDF’s 99th Division wrapped up a drill simulating sudden fighting on the northern frontier, and the Israeli Air Force conducted a series of joint aerial exercises with the US military simulating strikes against Iran Hezbullah.
During the exercise, an advanced Namir Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) overturned.
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Lebanese News and Updates
Earlier this morning, a gas canister exploded in Al-Matn, causing several injuries.
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Six foreign workers have been injured in the gas explosion.
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Initial reports of an aggression on Al-Boukamal, Syria.
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Lebanese News and Updates
The deceased soldier has been identified as Private Seán Rooney, a member of the 27 Infantry Battalion and a native of Newtwoncunningham, Co Donegal.
Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Army Commander Joseph Aoun visited the UN headquarters in Naqoura to offer their sincere condolences.
They vowed to severely punish the perpetrators.
They vowed to severely punish the perpetrators.
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US donation of 60-year-old helicopters
The US military donated 3 Huey II helicopters from 1956 to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). On this occasion, female LAF pilots were presented to US Ambassador Dorothy Shea for the sake of “representation”.
Huey II is an upgraded version of the medium-lift helicopter Bell UH-1H, designed and manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is operated by the LAF since the early 1990s. A donation of 3 items was already received in February 2021. In 2012, the Lebanese government requested the purchase of six Huey II helicopters and associated equipment for $63m. Then, in 2014, there was a bigger purchase.
The US military donated 3 Huey II helicopters from 1956 to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). On this occasion, female LAF pilots were presented to US Ambassador Dorothy Shea for the sake of “representation”.
Huey II is an upgraded version of the medium-lift helicopter Bell UH-1H, designed and manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is operated by the LAF since the early 1990s. A donation of 3 items was already received in February 2021. In 2012, the Lebanese government requested the purchase of six Huey II helicopters and associated equipment for $63m. Then, in 2014, there was a bigger purchase.
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An explosion was heard in the border town of Al-Qasr, caused by a fire that broke out in a fuel tank inside a gas station.
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Forwarded from The Cradle
UN Vote for the right of the Palestinian people to self determination.
The United States, Israel, Chad, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Nauru voted against.
The United States, Israel, Chad, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Nauru voted against.
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🔴 US Senate cries ‘sanctions!’ in Lebanese presidential election
The US Senate Foreign Committee, in a letter by chairman Menendez on 16 Dec, urges the Biden admin to sanction Lebanese politicians allied with Hezbullah in the presidential election, i.e. politicians from Amal and FPM.
Deeply unsatisfied with Lebanon's domestic process, it calls out Speaker Nabih Berri for gathering sessions “where a supermajority is needed for the first vote, only to see pro-Hezbollah members leave parliament before a simple majority vote could take place”.
The US pick, Michel Moawad, has not reached either majority so far. The letter also calls out lawmakers preventing “national capital controls or IMF reforms” that many observers said would peg Lebanon to the West.
The US Senate Foreign Committee, in a letter by chairman Menendez on 16 Dec, urges the Biden admin to sanction Lebanese politicians allied with Hezbullah in the presidential election, i.e. politicians from Amal and FPM.
Deeply unsatisfied with Lebanon's domestic process, it calls out Speaker Nabih Berri for gathering sessions “where a supermajority is needed for the first vote, only to see pro-Hezbollah members leave parliament before a simple majority vote could take place”.
The US pick, Michel Moawad, has not reached either majority so far. The letter also calls out lawmakers preventing “national capital controls or IMF reforms” that many observers said would peg Lebanon to the West.
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Lebanese News and Updates
The Lebanese parliament fails to elect a president for the 9th time. Blank papers: 39 Michel Moawad: 39 The drop in blank papers is due to FPM's dispute with Hezbullah. Some members likely voted “Michel” or “Moawad” as a stance of defiance, although such…
On Thursday, the Lebanese parliament failed to elect Lebanon's new president for the 10th time.
Moawad: 38
Blank votes: 37
109 lawmakers attended the vote, among 128 members. Speaker Nabih Berri ended the session without setting a date for another voting session, which was usually held on a weekly basis so far.
Moawad: 38
Blank votes: 37
109 lawmakers attended the vote, among 128 members. Speaker Nabih Berri ended the session without setting a date for another voting session, which was usually held on a weekly basis so far.
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Admin's comment on the death of the Irish soldier in Lebanon
As much as Hezbullah is annoyed by the presence of UN and their role in South Lebanon that is hindering its freedom of movement, Hezbullah's leadership is very keen in avoiding all sorts of disagreements and hostilities with them.
This is the first violent death of a UNIFIL member since 2015, when a Spanish soldier was killed by Israeli fire. At that time, Israel purposely fired on his UN vehicle. (No repercussions happened for this murder)
That is why the shooting on Wednesday was certainly not ordered by Hezbullah.
As much as Hezbullah is annoyed by the presence of UN and their role in South Lebanon that is hindering its freedom of movement, Hezbullah's leadership is very keen in avoiding all sorts of disagreements and hostilities with them.
This is the first violent death of a UNIFIL member since 2015, when a Spanish soldier was killed by Israeli fire. At that time, Israel purposely fired on his UN vehicle. (No repercussions happened for this murder)
That is why the shooting on Wednesday was certainly not ordered by Hezbullah.
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