UN says delay in Israel’s Lebanon withdrawal ‘violation’ of resolution on ending war
UN says delay in Israel’s Lebanon withdrawal ‘violation’ of resolution on ending war/node/2590645/middle-east
UN says delay in Israel’s Lebanon withdrawal ‘violation’ of resolution on ending war
An Israeli military vehicle deploys on the Israel-Lebanon border on Feb. 17, 2025. Israeli troops are still present in a handful of villages and towns in southeast Lebanon. (AFP)
UN says delay in Israel’s Lebanon withdrawal ‘violation’ of resolution on ending war
UN: ‘Another delay in this process is not what we hoped would happen, not least because it continues a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006)’
Updated 21 February 2025
AFP
BEIRUT: The UN’s Lebanon envoy and peacekeeping force on Tuesday warned Israel’s delayed withdrawal from the country violated the UN resolution that ended the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war and formed the basis for a recent truce.
“Today marks the end of the period set for the withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces... and the parallel Lebanese Armed Forces deployment to positions in southern Lebanon,” the joint statement said, adding: “Another delay in this process is not what we hoped would happen, not least because it continues a violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006).”
Israeli troops withdrew from all but five points in south Lebanon on Tuesday, allowing displaced residents to return to border villages largely destroyed in more than a year of hostilities.
“The entire village has been reduced to rubble. It’s a disaster zone,” said Alaa Al-Zein, back in Kfar Kila after the delayed withdrawal deadline expired Tuesday morning under an Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal.
Unable to reach Kfar Kila by car because of the rubble and army restrictions, residents had parked at the entrance of the village and returned on foot.
Many were returning to destroyed or heavily damaged homes, farmland and businesses, after more than a year of clashes that included two months of all-out war an ended with a November 27 ceasefire.
Israel had announced just before the pullout deadline that it would keep troops in “five strategic points” near the border, and on Tuesday its defense minister, Israel Katz, confirmed the deployment and vowed action against any “violation” by militant group Hezbollah.
On Tuesday, Lebanon said any Israeli presence on its soil constituted “occupation,” warning it would refer to the UN Security Council to push Israel to withdraw and that its armed forces were ready to assume duties at the border.
Lebanon’s army announced it had deployed in 11 southern border villages and other areas from which Israeli troops have pulled, starting Monday evening.
In a joint statement, UN envoy Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and the UNIFIL peacekeeping force said that at “the end of the period set” for Israel’s withdrawal and the Lebanese army’s deployment, any further “delay in this process is not what we hoped would happen” and a violation of a 2006 Security Council resolution that ended a past Israel-Hezbollah war.
Jonathan Conricus, a senior fellow at US think tank the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former Israeli army spokesman, said that once Lebanon’s army was “fully deployed” in the south, the Israeli army “will likely complete its withdrawal... as long as Hezbollah continues to adhere to the agreement.”
In Lebanon, the cost of reconstruction is expected to reach more than $10 billion, while more than 100,000 people remain displaced, according to the United Nations.
But despite the devastation, Zein said villagers were adamant on returning.
“The whole village is returning, we will set up tents and sit on the ground” if needed, he said, striking a defiant tone.
Others were going south to look for the bodies of their relatives under the rubble.
Among them was Samira Jumaa, who arrived in the early hours of the morning to look for her brother, a Hezbollah fighter killed in Kfar Kila with others five months ago.
“We have not heard of them until now. We are certain they were martyred,” she said.
“I’ve come to see my brother and embrace the land where my brother and his comrades fought,” she added.
Further south, dozens of cars were waiting at a Lebanese army checkpoint to be allowed into the southern villages of Taybeh and Odaisseh, an AFP photographer saw.
Nearby, women were carrying pictures of relatives who died fighting for Hezbollah in the war, while others raised the Iran-backed group’s yellow flag.
Hezbollah strongholds in south and east Lebanon as well as Beirut suffered heavy destruction during the hostilities, initiated by Hezbollah in support of ally Hamas in the wake of the Gaza war.
Under the ceasefire, brokered by Washington and Paris, Lebanon’s military was to deploy alongside United Nations peacekeepers as the Israeli army withdrew over a 60-day period that was extended to February 18.
Hezbollah was to pull back north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border, and dismantle remaining military infrastructure there.
Since the cross-border hostilities began in October 2023, more than 4,000 people have been killed in Lebanon, according to the health ministry.
On the Israeli side of the border, 78 people including soldiers have been killed, according to an AFP tally based on official figures, with an additional 56 troops dead in southern Lebanon during the ground offensive.
Around 60 people have reportedly been killed since the truce began, two dozen of them on January 26 as residents tried to return to border towns on the initial withdrawal deadline.
On Monday, Lebanon’s government said the state should be the sole bearer of arms, in a thinly veiled message on Hezbollah’s arsenal.
Calls for the group’s disarmament have multiplied since the end of the war that has weakened the group.
UN raises alarm over wave of ‘arbitrary’ arrests in Libya
UNSMIL expressed concern about the use of filmed confessions, “where individuals are detained and coerced into ‘confessing’ to alleged crimes with videos published online.”
Updated 7 sec ago
AFP
TRIPLI: The UN Support Mission in Libya expressed concern over what it said were arbitrary arrests, including of lawyers and members of the judiciary, calling for their immediate release.
“UNSMIL is alarmed by the wave of arbitrary arrest and detentions across Libya by law enforcement and security actors,” it said in a statement.
“These actors are using their powers of arrest and detention to target individuals for their alleged political affiliations, to silence perceived dissent, and to undermine judicial independence.”
Libya has struggled to recover from the chaos that followed the 2011 uprising.
It remains split between a UN-recognized government in Tripoli and a rival authority in the east.
UNSMIL also expressed concern about the use of filmed confessions, “where individuals are detained and coerced into ‘confessing’ to alleged crimes with videos published online.”
It said the practice was used to “intimidate and humiliate” the individuals and must be deemed inadmissible.
Among those arrested was Judge Ali Al-Sharif, who was subjected to violence during his arrest in Tripoli on March 10, as well as lawyer Mounir Al-Orfi, detained in Benghazi since March 12.
UNSMIL said that two military prosecutors, Mansour Daoub and Mohammed Al-Mabrouk Al-Kar, have also been held in Tripoli since 2022.
The situation “undermines the environment necessary for Libya’s democratic transition and weakens Libyans’ trust in law enforcement and security entities that must work to protect and promote the rights of all people in Libya, not undermine them,” UNSMIL said.
Frankly Speaking: An American view on Middle East conflicts
Former US intelligence official Norman Roule explains how President Trump’s actions may impact Middle East and whether US can be convinced to back Arab plan to rebuild Gaza
Suggests regional actors like Saudi Arabia should take on greater responsibility in fostering stability and resolving conflicts from Syria to Ukraine, Yemen to Lebanon
Updated 23 March 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Norman Roule, a former senior US intelligence official and Middle East expert, says pundits ought to take the “glass-half-full” view of President Donald Trump’s efforts to resolve regional conflicts since taking office in January.
Appearing on Arab News’ current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” he spoke on a wide range of issues, including what Trump’s actions mean for US foreign policy, how they may impact the changes underway in the Middle East, whether Washington can be convinced to back the Arab world’s plan to rebuild Gaza, and whether a Trump-Putin summit in Saudi Arabia is on the horizon.
Acknowledging both the Trump administration’s achievements so far and the challenges ahead, Roule said: “We have a president of the United States in the earliest days of his administration who is showing that he is interested in the Middle East, interested in the Palestinian issue, and has devoted his senior most advisers to working that issue. I’m going to take that as a good start.
“The second issue is, he is consulting routinely with regional partners to include Saudi Arabia, and that’s always a wise move. He is also speaking with the Jordanians, the Egyptians, and that’s also a smart step.”
Reinforcing the “glass-half-full” argument, Roule said: “We have multiple Arab countries who are showing wise and consistent leadership and are focusing resources and political attention on the political and humanitarian future of the Palestinian people. That should be applauded and it should be endorsed and it deserves international applause and resources.”
Norman Roule, a former senior US intelligence official, spoke to “Frankly Speaking” host Katie Jensen on the possible impact of President Trump’s actions in the Middle East among a number of other topics. (AN Photo)
Earlier this month, the Trump administration broke with longstanding US policy by engaging Hamas, designated a terrorist organization since 1997, to secure the release of American hostages in Gaza.
The US president issued stern warnings to Hamas, demanding immediate hostage release and return of bodies. He threatened severe consequences, stating he was “sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job.”
Roule lauded Trump’s willingness to engage with the various parties in the Israel-Hamas conflict to reach a solution. “I think that it’s a sign that there is a consistency to the Trump administration’s statements,” he told Katie Jensen, the host of “Frankly Speaking.”
“The administration stated as follows: We will speak with anybody for a diplomatic arrangement. We won’t speak endlessly. We will look for alternatives such as moving people to other countries, offering an extension of a ceasefire, doing what’s necessary. We want hostages back. We want peace. We will see where this leads, but we’re not going to tolerate endless, endless violence and endless militancy.”
On March 18, Israel broke the fragile ceasefire, which had been in effect since Jan. 19, and launched a bombardment of the Palestinian enclave, killing at least 400 people within hours, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hamas of repeatedly refusing to release the remaining 59 hostages — 24 of whom are believed to be alive — taken on Oct. 7, 2023, during a deadly attack in southern Israel that prompted Israel's widescale bombing campaign in Gaza.
Hamas denied rejecting a proposal from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and accused Netanyahu of resuming attacks on Gaza to sabotage a ceasefire agreement.
“The challenges that the president and Steve Witkoff have looked at the scale of the devastation in Gaza, and it is extraordinary,” Roule said. “And truth be told, there has never been a reconstruction in the history of the world where 1.5 million people, which include thousands of militant armed gunmen, have stayed in place while reconstruction has occurred.
“It’s just never happened. And their position is these people need to be moved to a place where they can have normal lives while that reconstruction takes place.”
When asked if Netanyahu would dare defy the US president the way he did when Joe Biden and Barack Obama were in office, Roule pointed out that over more than four decades, Israeli politics and Israeli relations with the US “have been complicated.” “We’ve had periods where Israeli leaders who have had very close relations with Washington have had very difficult relations and periods of defiance with Washington,” he said.
“And we’ve also had periods where American presidents who have vowed the strongest support of Israel have cut off financial support and weapons support for Israel out of anger over Israeli actions. … There is turbulence almost inevitably as part of our US-Israeli relationship.”
Smoke rises from a burning building in North Gaza, as seen from the Israel-Gaza border, March 23, 2025. (Reuters)
Turning to Yemen, Roule described the Red Sea crisis as a global concern that requires international cooperation. He argued that the US is effectively waging a war on behalf of the world to protect maritime security and ensure the stability of vital trade routes.
Beginning March 15, the US launched a series of large-scale air and naval attacks against Houthi militant targets in Yemen, marking the most significant American military action in the Middle East since Trump began his second term.
Trump cited the Houthis’ “relentless campaign of piracy, violence, and terrorism” in the Red Sea as the rationale for the strikes, which are part of a broader strategy to restore security in the region and pressure Iran, the Houthis’ main backer.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, claiming they were aimed at supporting Palestinians in Gaza. Targets have included commercial vessels, warships, and Israel-linked ships.
“There are now more than 14 Iranian missile systems being operated in Yemen and more than a dozen, approximately a dozen, drone systems operating from Yemen as well,” Roule said.
He added: “Now that logistics system has been cut because of the naval presence in the area, but Iran can restore this at any time and interdict global trade and indeed provide capabilities that extend that introduction into the Indian Ocean and have greater impact on the world's economy.
“The US is saying that is over. And that means that Iranian Quds Force personnel in Yemen … are now at risk if they are standing near Houthi ballistic missiles, explosive boats or offensive drone systems.”
Roule said that the economic toll of instability in Yemen extends beyond its borders, affecting Sudanese workers, Palestinian laborers in Jordan, and Egypt’s Suez Canal operations.
“We have some significant regional impact,” he said. “Egypt has lost $7 billion in 2024. Palestinian workers in Jordan who take care of thousands of containers of shipping have been unemployed. Sudanese humanitarian aid has been severely diminished because of Red Sea activity.”
When asked about the cost-effectiveness of using advanced fighter jets flying from Qatar and Bahrain against primitive weapons deployed by Yemeni forces, Roule emphasized the need to balance financial considerations with strategic objectives. “This is a serious freedom of navigation issue that does have economic and political consequences and the US playing its role in part because we’re the only world actor with naval capabilities that can do this,” he said.
Beginning March 15, the US launched a series of large-scale air and naval attacks against Houthi militant targets in Yemen. (X/@CENTCOM/Reuters)
“Europe doesn’t have the same level of ships with anti-missile capabilities as the United States. We’ve got to do what we are capable of doing.”
Offering his cost-benefit analysis of the decision to counter Houthi attacks, Roule said: “Sometimes people say it’s a $4 million missile bringing down a $100,000 drone, that’s true. But the actual way of looking at that is, it’s a $4 million missile preventing a $100,000 drone from hitting a $1 billion ship.”
Roule also suggested that Arab powers should take on greater responsibility in resolving Yemen’s conflict. “There is very little likelihood there will be negotiations with the Houthis. The Trump administration will, and should, leave the Yemen issue to regional partners to work,” he said, stressing that it is “a regional issue, not an American issue.”
Moving on to Syria, Roule noted with satisfaction the new government’s “strong actions against Iranian proxies” and the fact that “Hezbollah’s relationship with Syria has indeed been cut.” “Likewise, we’ve got Syria not allowing massive Russian bases in the region. And this isn’t a world where we should have massive Russian bases in that part of the world from the American standpoint,” he said.
“We have seen some very promising developments between the Syrian Democratic Forces, how Kurds are handled between the new Syrian government and the Kurds. And in some ways, this is again where Saudi diplomats, where Arab diplomats, where Syrian diplomats, need to push this case with Congress, with the American media. … The challenge remains.”
Does Roule think that the sanctions, which were imposed essentially on the Bashar Assad regime, should be lifted?
“The answer is yes, but at the same time, the new regime, which is led by people with dark backgrounds, needs to prove itself,” he said. “It is attempting to do so. It is not a monolith in terms of its organization or its structure.”
Asked how a local solution, even if it is from Arab governments, can be found if US sanctions remain in place, he said: “Sanctions waivers should be provided, should be watched carefully across the board.
“Syrians should be encouraged to come home and provide it with financial relief so that they can return with resources to start businesses, to enable their families to thrive and build communities. And the West can be part of that. And your show and other voices should be encouraging that.”
Roule reiterated his point that regional actors ought to play a more prominent role in Syria’s conflict resolution. “This is an Arab issue,” he said. “This is an example where we’ve watched Saudi Arabia and others, but Saudi Arabia, since we’re speaking about the Kingdom, play an important and profound role in shaping regional events.”
He emphasized that the US and the West “need not to lead what happens with Syria, but to partner and to follow behind the leadership of the Kingdom so that we are enabling the region to, in essence, build itself.”
“Now, we can help, the United States can help in making sure Israel doesn't complicate things,” he said. “We can help and make sure that Western banks help Syria as needed.”
Despite widespread instability in the region, Roule expressed optimism about Lebanon’s future, describing the country as a potential “bright spot” for 2025. According to him, President Joseph Aoun has been saying and doing “all of the right things,” including how his government has been handling security, pushing back on Hezbollah, and “preventing Iran from bringing in cash.”
“It’s all positive,” he said. “I think Lebanon is going to be one of the bright spots of 2025.”
Roule praised Morgan Ortagus, the deputy US special envoy to the Middle East, for her contribution, describing her as “a very smart, capable, sober person” who has been achieving “considerable progress.”
Ortagus’ involvement in Lebanon has centered on addressing the aftermath of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict — which started on Oct. 8, 2023, and escalated since September 2024 — and on fostering regional stability.
“She’s tireless in her focus on bringing Lebanon to the attention of policymakers and making sure that they get what they need from Congress and elsewhere,” he said.
Appearing on Arab News’ current affairs program “Frankly Speaking,” Roule spoke on a wide range of issues, including what Trump’s actions mean for US foreign policy, how they may impact the changes underway in the Middle East. (AN Photo)
Roule also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a mediator in international diplomacy. The Kingdom has successfully brokered deals between Russia and Ukraine and facilitated prisoner exchanges — roles traditionally played by Switzerland or European nations. This shift has earned Saudi Arabia significant respect on the global stage.
According to him, Saudi Arabia’s stature in the international community “has dramatically changed in recent years.”
“It is impossible not to recognize that Saudi Arabia is a meeting place for every globally important issue,” Roule said. “Caribbean leaders, Central Asian leaders, meetings that at one time would take place in Geneva, Paris, Berlin, Washington, now take place in Riyadh or Jeddah.”
He pointed to the upcoming March 24 meeting between Ukrainian and Russian technical teams in Jeddah as an example of this transformation. “That’s the sort of thing you used to see in Europe,” he remarked, emphasizing how Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a mediator in high-stakes international conflicts.
Roule said Saudi Arabia’s “global stature is significantly greater” owing to the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Once viewed, both regionally and globally, primarily through the lens of Islam or energy, Saudi Arabia now plays a bigger role in shaping international events, he said.
Turning to broader geopolitical dynamics, Roule addressed speculation about an imminent Trump-Putin summit. Differing views on ceasefire terms among the US, Ukraine and Russia highlight the complexities of reaching a lasting resolution. Led by top officials from the US, Russia and Ukraine, negotiations to end the conflict in Europe reflect broader efforts to de-escalate tensions.
Despite recent agreements, including Russia’s temporary halt on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, challenges remain. While acknowledging the momentum toward such a meeting, Roule cautioned that unresolved issues must be addressed first.
“I think President Trump and President Putin will each want some sort of broader agreement, some sort of progress to take place,” he said, referring to recent discussions aimed at halting energy-related attacks between Russia and Ukraine.
He explained that while initial agreements have led to some steps — such as Russia halting attacks on Ukrainian energy sites — implementation remains uneven. Pointing to reports of Russian drone strikes during negotiations, he noted that Russia claimed to have recalled or intercepted its own drones to prevent further escalation.
Lauding the mediation of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, he said: “We’re watching again the region play a bigger role in bringing together not only Ukraine and Russia but also freeing prisoners between the countries. Saudi Arabia has brought home prisoners to the US from Russia, but also Ukrainian and Russian prisoners.
“Riyadh has done a number of remarkable things. We need we need a broader set of agreements to take place. Steve Witkoff and a number of Russian advisers, I believe, are in quiet communications behind the scenes. This is going to need to percolate for a while.”
Alluding to Ukraine-Russia talks set for the week of March 24 in Saudi Arabia, expected to focus on securing safe shipping in the Black Sea and a potential interim ceasefire, Roule said: “We’ll see where this goes. I’d watch the technical discussions that take place in Jeddah. There is a momentum that’s building here. That is clear.”
Chief of Bahraini National Guard participates in Pakistan Day celebrations
Sheikh Mohammed conveyed greetings from the Bahraini king and crown prince to Pakistani officials
Saudi leadership sent separate cables of congratulations to President Zardari on his country’s National Day
Updated 23 March 2025
Arab News
LONDON: Sheikh Mohammed bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the commander of Bahrain’s National Guard, participated in the Pakistan Day celebrations held on Sunday in Islamabad.
The public holiday celebrated on March 23 each year commemorates the day in 1956 when Pakistan adopted its first constitution and became the world’s first Islamic republic.
Sheikh Mohammed conveyed greetings from King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa to the Pakistani leadership, the Bahrain News Agency reported.
Senior Pakistani political and military officials attended the Pakistan Day celebrations at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad on Sunday, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and various foreign delegations.
Sheikh Mohammed expressed his wishes for Pakistan’s continued progress, prosperity, and stability, according to BNA.
He has been on an official visit to Pakistan since last week, where he met senior military and political officials, including Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber, the country’s air force chief, and Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the chairperson of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.
On Sunday, the Saudi leadership sent separate cables of congratulations to President Zardari on his country’s National Day, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman wished Zardari continued good health and happiness and the people of Pakistan steady progress and prosperity.
Hamas says Israeli strike kills political bureau official Salah Al-Bardawil
Bardawil, 65, was killed along with his wife in a camp in Al-Mawasi, near Khan Yunis
He is the third member of the political bureau to be killed since Israel resumed air strikes on Tuesday
Updated 23 March 2025
AFP
GAZA CITY: Palestinian group Hamas confirmed on Sunday that Salah Al-Bardawil, a senior member of its political bureau, was killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Gaza the previous day.
Bardawil, 65, was killed along with his wife in a camp in Al-Mawasi, near Khan Yunis, according to the Palestinian Islamist movement.
He is the third member of the political bureau to be killed since Israel resumed air strikes on Tuesday, after Yasser Harb and Essam Al-Dalis, the head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military confirmed Sunday that it had targeted Bardawil, saying that “as part of his role, (he) directed the strategic and military planning” of Hamas in Gaza.
His “elimination further degrades Hamas’ military and government capabilities,” it added.
Bardawil, born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp, joined Hamas when it was founded in 1987, serving as a spokesman before rising through the ranks and being elected to the political bureau in 2021.
He spoke against security cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, and supported armed struggle against Israel.
Detained by Israel in 1993 and interrogated for 70 days, according to Hamas, Bardawil was also arrested several times by the security forces of the Palestinian Authority.
In the flare-up since last week, Hamas has also announced the deaths of interior ministry head Mahmud Abu Watfa, and Bahjat Abu Sultan, the director general of the Internal Security Services.
Hamas sources said on Sunday that Mohammed Hassan Al-Amur, the bodyguard of slain leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an overnight strike on his home in Khan Yunis.
Hamas has been considerably weakened by the deaths of many of its leaders, both inside and outside the Gaza Strip, since the start of the war triggered by its deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The head of Hamas’s political wing, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran on July 31, 2024, in an explosion claimed by Israel. His successor Sinwar died on October 16 in Gaza.
First Jordanian flight lands in Syria’s Aleppo International Airport after relaunch
Maintenance and restoration work allows air traffic to and from Aleppo to resume
Jordanian delegation on flight aims to enhance cooperation between Syria and Jordan
Updated 23 March 2025
Arab News
LONDON: The first Jordanian flight landed at Aleppo International Airport in northern Syria on Sunday after the airport’s relaunch last week.
The Jordanian flight carried an official delegation whose aim is to enhance cooperation between Syria and Jordan, reaffirming the revival of civilian activity at the airport, the SANA agency reported.
Last week, Aleppo airport reopened for flights after nearly three months of closure caused by the offensive by rebel groups against Bashar Assad’s regime in early December. Aleppo is the country’s second-largest city after the capital and an important industrial and trade center.
Maintenance and restoration work by Syrian authorities allowed air traffic to and from Aleppo to resume. Authorities announced that Aleppo will begin receiving international flights, facilitating the return of nearly 10 million Syrian refugees currently living in Turkey and Europe. It will also enable local and foreign investors to visit the city, SANA added.
In January, international flights to and from Damascus resumed for the first time since the fall of Assad with a direct flight from Doha — the first in 13 years.
