UN Security Council Discusses Bathily's Mediation Efforts in Libya

UN Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily (UNSMIL)
UN Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily (UNSMIL)
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UN Security Council Discusses Bathily's Mediation Efforts in Libya

UN Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily (UNSMIL)
UN Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily (UNSMIL)

The UN Security Council will hold its bi-monthly briefing on the situation in Libya, during which UN Envoy Abdoulaye Bathily will brief the Security Council on the recent political, security, and humanitarian developments.

The session will also address the Secretary-General's latest report on the UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

The Security Council Report website, which follows UN news, stated that the goal of the Security Council is to support the political momentum and UN-led mediation efforts towards national elections and forming a unified government.

The Council's objectives related to Libya also focus on helping foster common political ground between the country's rival legislatures to agree on electoral law, a goal that Bathily has repeatedly urged Council members to support by wielding their influence on national stakeholders.

At December's meeting, members may reiterate their call on Libyan actors to engage in good-faith negotiations to achieve consensus on outstanding political issues.

The rival governments had initially expressed their intent to finalize legislation to hold elections by the end of the year.

Furthermore, some members may welcome Bathily's proposed meeting of institutional stakeholders and urge them to participate in these discussions productively.



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
TT

US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.