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SvennoJ 5 days ago
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UNIFIL says Israeli army fired on peacekeepers in Lebanon

The UN’s peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon (UNIFIL) says the Israeli military fired at peacekeepers yesterday who were patrolling the Blue Line – an unofficial “border” between Lebanon and Israel – near the Lebanese village of Sarda.

“One ten-round burst of machine-gun fire was fired above the convoy, and four further ten-round bursts were fired nearby,” UNIFIL said in a statement, noting that Israeli troops fired from a Merkava tank.

“Both the peacekeepers and the [Israeli army] tank were in Lebanese territory at the time. Fortunately, no one was injured,” it said, adding that Israel had been informed in advance of the location and timing of the patrol.

“In this very sensitive situation, we call on the [Israeli army] to cease aggressive behaviour and attacks on or near peacekeepers working to rebuild stability along the Blue Line,” UNIFIL said.

Israeli forces have routinely carried out attacks across southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement reached last year with Lebanese group Hezbollah.

US ambassador to Lebanon says Israel will continue to ‘operate’ against Hezbollah

Michel Issa says that negotiations between Lebanon and Israel over economic ties and other matters are separate from Israel’s continued bombing campaign of what it says are Hezbollah targets in the country.

“Just because Lebanese-Israeli talks have begun does not mean that Israel will stop its operations”, the US ambassador said, according to local outlet L’Orient Today. His comments came following a meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the influential Shia politician and sometimes ally of Hezbollah.

Last week, civilian representatives from Lebanon and Israel joined a session of the US-chaired ceasefire monitoring committee in Naqoura, south Lebanon, marking the first direct talks between the two countries in more than four decades.

Yesterday, Israel’s military carried out waves of air attacks in southern Lebanon, causing damage to several homes, according to Lebanese state media. Tensions remain high in Lebanon, as its people brace for a fresh Israeli assault, perceived on the ground as likely in the coming weeks.

US needs to look up the definition of ceasefire in the dictionary.

Israeli foreign minister holds talks with Rubio in US capital

Gideon Saar has hailed a meeting with his American counterpart, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Washington, DC.

“I thanked the Secretary for his support for Israel and longstanding friendship,” the Israeli foreign minister wrote on social media.

Saar said the pair discussed “mutual opportunities and challenges” in the Middle East and other parts of the world, adding that he welcomed the Trump administration’s steps against the International Criminal Court.

The US government has repeatedly attacked the ICC over its decision to investigate and issue arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over allegations of war crimes in Gaza. Washington has imposed sanctions against ICC judges, accusing them of taking “baseless actions” against the US and its allies, namely Israel.