Israel's defense minister tells Pete Hegseth that Israel is determined to keep its troops in "security zones" in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip. U.S. President Donald Trump asked Benjamin Netanyahu to pull Israeli forces out of Syria and Lebanon, according to Axios.
Trump wants Israel to withdraw its troops from Syria and southern Lebanon. The U.S. wants to reduce regional tensions and push for new security arrangements in the Levant. Israel has expanded its military presence in southern Syria since the ouster of Bashar Assad. Syria TV reports that Washington is trying to redefine the rules of engagement between Israel and Syria.
Hezbollah was instructed to be prepared for any escalation in the regional conflict between Iran and the United States. Iran considers Hezbollah its most important regional asset. Iran launched new missile attacks against US-allied nations in the Middle East and warned that its attacks would escalate. Jordan says it intercepted three Iranian missiles.
Last year, the UNSC extended the mandate of UNIFIL in Lebanon until the end of December 2026. The force was first deployed in 1978 and was reinforced in 2006. It was tasked with monitoring violations of a deal that ended the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that year. It's leaving at a time when the Lebanese Armed Forces are undertaking the mammoth task of disarming Hezbollah and need external support from better-trained and better-equipped armies. Israel wants to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory based on verification of Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Hezbollah denies reports that it is operating inside Syrian territory. Syria's Interior Ministry says its security forces intercepted an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of weapons across the Syrian-Iraqi border. The shipment included long-range missiles, anti-tank guided missiles, and drones.
Berlin wants EU to send a force to replace UNIFIL, which is due to withdraw from Lebanon at the end of the year. The mission is needed to prevent a security vacuum in Lebanon’s south and prevent Hezbollah from returning with its terror, according to German foreign minister Johann Wadephul. The UN Security Council agreed last year to end UNIFil's 48-year-old mission.
Israel's defense minister tells Pete Hegseth that Israel is determined to keep its troops in "security zones" in Lebanon, Syria and the Gaza Strip. U.S. President Donald Trump asked Benjamin Netanyahu to pull Israeli forces out of Syria and Lebanon, according to Axios.
Trump wants Israel to withdraw its troops from Syria and southern Lebanon. The U.S. wants to reduce regional tensions and push for new security arrangements in the Levant. Israel has expanded its military presence in southern Syria since the ouster of Bashar Assad. Syria TV reports that Washington is trying to redefine the rules of engagement between Israel and Syria.
Hezbollah was instructed to be prepared for any escalation in the regional conflict between Iran and the United States. Iran considers Hezbollah its most important regional asset. Iran launched new missile attacks against US-allied nations in the Middle East and warned that its attacks would escalate. Jordan says it intercepted three Iranian missiles.
Last year, the UNSC extended the mandate of UNIFIL in Lebanon until the end of December 2026. The force was first deployed in 1978 and was reinforced in 2006. It was tasked with monitoring violations of a deal that ended the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah that year. It's leaving at a time when the Lebanese Armed Forces are undertaking the mammoth task of disarming Hezbollah and need external support from better-trained and better-equipped armies. Israel wants to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory based on verification of Hezbollah’s disarmament.
Hezbollah denies reports that it is operating inside Syrian territory. Syria's Interior Ministry says its security forces intercepted an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of weapons across the Syrian-Iraqi border. The shipment included long-range missiles, anti-tank guided missiles, and drones.
Berlin wants EU to send a force to replace UNIFIL, which is due to withdraw from Lebanon at the end of the year. The mission is needed to prevent a security vacuum in Lebanon’s south and prevent Hezbollah from returning with its terror, according to German foreign minister Johann Wadephul. The UN Security Council agreed last year to end UNIFil's 48-year-old mission.