The Islamic Resistance issued the following statement: “With utmost pride and honor, the Islamic Resistance announces the martyrdom of Khodor Ali Mahanna, known as “Abu Ali Rida” from the town of Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon, who attained martyrdom on the path to liberate Al-Quds.”
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Our correspondent reported that the Israeli enemy is targeting the Ras al-Dhahr area in the Western District and the Wadi al-Bir area in the town of Mays al-Jabal with artillery shelling.
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
Lebanese Forces (LF) leader Samir Geagea stressed that ‘it is normal for Lebanon to be affected by what is happening in Gaza. Yet, the extent of impact (on our territory), whether direct or indirect, depends on Hezbollah’s actions’ along the country’s southern border.
In an interview with Houna Loubnan, the LF leader stressed the importance of implementing Resolution 1701.
Geagea expressed his dismay at ‘the inability of the non-existent government to assume its responsibilities, and which itself admits this inability by entrusting this task to Hezbollah.’
Concerning the presidential elections, the Meerab leader stated that ‘it is out of the question for the Moumanaa camp (Hezbollah and its allies) to elect a President of the Republic who would work to implement the 1701 and draw the land borders with Israel’ after the delimitation of the maritime borders with the Hebrew state in October 2022. Geagea reiterated ‘his party’s total refusal to accept the arrival in power of a Head of State under the tutelage
of, or even close to, the obstructionist axis’, because ‘we have already seen the results of such an experiment’, alluding to Michel Aoun’s disastrous presidential term. Moreover, Geagea pointed out that ‘all international efforts concerning the presidency of the republic are currently on hold, pending developments in the war in Gaza.’
Commenting on the assassination of Hamas’s number two, Saleh al-Arouri, Geagea recalled that ‘Israel had clearly announced that it would hunt down and kill all the leaders of the Palestinian militia wherever they might be,’ stressing that ‘it is normal that by staying in the southern suburbs of Beirut, he risked his life.’
Regarding Hezbollah’s potential retaliation, as emphasized by its Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, Geagea dismissed the assurances, stating, ‘these are empty words repeated 100 times,’ recalling Iran’s modest response to the assassination of Qassem Soleimani on January 3, 2020.
The leader of the LF declared that ‘Iran does not want war on its territory,
but uses the satellite countries (Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen) to consolidate its regional and internal power financially.’ Furthermore, he stressed that ‘the actions of the militia group in southern Lebanon do nothing to advance the Palestinian cause, which we have long defended, but are aimed at consolidating its (Hezb’s) power’.
He added: ‘Everyone should cooperate so that the Palestinian people can obtain their rights. It is in our national and regional interest for them to have a state and be able to return to their land.’ — This is Beirut
Source: National News Agency – Lebanon
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, will travel to Lebanon on 5-7 January.
HR/VP Borrell will meet with Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Abdallah Bou Habib and Lebanese Armed Forces Commander General Joseph Aoun.
During his stay, the HR/VP will also have an exchange with Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) General Aroldo Lazaro.
The mission will be an occasion to discuss all aspects of the situation in and around Gaza, including its impact on the region, especially the situation at the Israeli-Lebanese border, as well as the importance of avoiding regional escalation and of sustaining the flow of humanitarian assistance to civilians, which the European Union has quadrupled to pound 100 million.
The High Representative will re-emphasise the need to advance diplomatic efforts with regiona
l leaders with a view to creating the conditions to reach a just and lasting peace between Israel, Palestine and in the region.
Bilateral cooperation and domestic and regional issues of concern will also be part of the discussions.
Source: National News Agency-Lebanon
Caretaker Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib, on Friday instructed Lebanon’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations to file a formal complaint before the UN Security Council on January 4, 2024. This directive followed Israel’s assault on a residential area in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The submitted complaint emphasized the severity of the incident, labeling it ‘the most dangerous escalation since 2006.’The attack specifically targeted a densely populated residential zone, constituting a clear violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its civilian population and aviation.
Lebanon’s appeal urged the UN Security Council to condemn the attack, exert pressure on Israel to cease its escalations, and take decisive action to halt further Israeli aggressions against Lebanon.
This plea aims to prevent further deterioration and the potential entanglement of the region in an extensive and devastating conflict.
Source: National News Agency-Lebanon