US approves more military equipment to Israel
The Pentagon announces that the US State Department has approved the sale of engines used on military vehicles to Israel in a deal worth $180m.
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to US national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.
“This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.”
Israel receives billions of dollars in US weapons and military aid despite accusations by UN experts and rights groups that the Israeli military is carrying out a genocide in Gaza.
Last year, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza, including using starvation as a weapon of war.
Lebanon’s president says army ready to secure border if Israel withdraws
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has told Al Jazeera that the army is ready to fulfil its duties and secure the southern border if Israel complies with UN Resolution 1701 and withdraws from southern Lebanon.
“The military and the state are ready to shoulder their responsibilities in controlling the borders,” Aoun said.
The president added that the army has already “achieved a lot” in terms of taking over Hezbollah positions such as tunnels and an army depot both south and north of the Litani River.
He said pressure must be put on Israel to comply with the UN resolution, which in 2006 called for a full cessation of hostilities, the pull-back of Hezbollah forces from areas south of the Litani and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.
The Israeli military continues to occupy parts of south Lebanon in violation of the November 2024 ceasefire agreement that emphasised the 1701 resolution.
