Egypt, US Hold Talks on Disarmament

A general view of buildings by the Nile River in Cairo. Reuters file photo
A general view of buildings by the Nile River in Cairo. Reuters file photo
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Egypt, US Hold Talks on Disarmament

A general view of buildings by the Nile River in Cairo. Reuters file photo
A general view of buildings by the Nile River in Cairo. Reuters file photo

Egypt’s Assistant Foreign Minister for multiparty and international security affairs Ehab Badawy discussed with US Assistant Secretary for Arms Control, Verification and Compliance Mallory Stewart international efforts on disarmament and arms control.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Friday the talks are part of the visit of Stewart and her accompanying delegation to Cairo.

The meeting focused on disarmament and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, as well as Egypt’s presidential efforts in the Conference on Disarmament.

Both sides discussed developments related to relevant treaties including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, US-Russian Nuclear Arms Control Agreements, and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

They also touched on efforts to prevent the arms race in outer space, AI applications, and information technology in this field.

Cairo expressed during the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva its keenness on cooperation with the member states in order to reach a “comprehensive” and “balanced” work program that permits the Conference to fulfill its duties.

Both sides stressed the urgency of intensifying joint work by all states, especially the five nuclear states, in order to reinforce the efficiency of the UN mechanisms and the credibility of the multilateral treaties in this regard on the regional and international levels.



Israeli Ground Troops in Lebanon Reach the Litani River

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
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Israeli Ground Troops in Lebanon Reach the Litani River

Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)
Smoke rises as a result of an Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Al-Khiam, as seen from northern Israel, 26 November 2024, amid cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel. (EPA)

The Israeli military says its ground troops have reached parts of Lebanon’s Litani River — a focal point of the emerging ceasefire.

In a statement Tuesday, the army said it had reached the Wadi Slouqi area in southern Lebanon and clashed with Hezbollah forces.

Under a proposed ceasefire, Hezbollah would be required to move its forces north of the Litani, which in some places is some 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of the Israeli border.

The military says the clashes with Hezbollah took place on the eastern end of the Litani, just a few kilometers (miles) from the border. It is one of the deepest places Israeli forces have reached in a nearly two-month ground operation.

The military says soldiers destroyed rocket launchers and missiles and engaged in “close-quarters combat” with Hezbollah forces.

The announcement came hours before Israel’s security Cabinet is expected to approve a ceasefire that would end nearly 14 months of fighting.