Rocket Launched near Peacekeeper Post in Lebanon on Sunday, UN Says

 Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the Lebanon-Israel border, at Marjeyoun area in southern Lebanon, 27 August 2024. (EPA)
Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the Lebanon-Israel border, at Marjeyoun area in southern Lebanon, 27 August 2024. (EPA)
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Rocket Launched near Peacekeeper Post in Lebanon on Sunday, UN Says

 Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the Lebanon-Israel border, at Marjeyoun area in southern Lebanon, 27 August 2024. (EPA)
Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol near the Lebanon-Israel border, at Marjeyoun area in southern Lebanon, 27 August 2024. (EPA)

One of the rockets launched from Lebanon in the heavy exchange between armed group Hezbollah and the Israeli military on Sunday was fired from near a position operated by international peacekeepers, the United Nations force told Reuters on Tuesday.

The UN peacekeeping force for Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, said it had detected a "high number of air strikes and rocket launches in its area of operations" starting on Sunday morning.

"One such launch was detected from near one of our positions in Hanniyeh," UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel said, referring to a town in southern Lebanon approximately 10 km (6 miles) north of the border with Israel.

The spokesperson said another explosion occurred later in the day near a UNIFIL position in Mays al-Jabal, along the border, but said there was no damage and no casualties.

"We continually stress to everyone that using areas near our positions to launch attacks across the Blue Line or targeting that puts peacekeepers in danger is unacceptable and a violation of Resolution 1701," the spokesperson said.

The Blue Line is the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, where parts of the international border are disputed.

UN resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah, tasks UNIFIL with ensuring that its area of operations "is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind".

A spokesperson for the Israeli military said on Monday that it had identified Hezbollah rocket launch sites approximately 150 meters (490 feet) away from a UN position in Hanniyeh, without specifically naming UNIFIL.

There was no immediate response from Hezbollah to a Reuters request for comment.

Hezbollah on Sunday fired rockets and drones at Israeli military sites in retaliation for the killing of a top commander by Israel last month, and Israeli jets targeted approximately 40 launch sites in Lebanon.

It was one of the most intense exchanges of fire between the armed foes in more than 10 months of hostilities playing out in parallel with the Gaza war.



Former Arab League Chief Nabil El-Arabi Dies at 89

Nabil El-Arabi, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Nabil El-Arabi, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Former Arab League Chief Nabil El-Arabi Dies at 89

Nabil El-Arabi, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Nabil El-Arabi, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Nabil El-Arabi, the former Secretary-General of the Arab League, died in Cairo on Monday at the age of 89. His distinguished diplomatic career spanned over 50 years, marking him as one of Egypt’s top diplomats.
El-Arabi graduated from Cairo University in 1955 with a law degree, then earned a master's in international law and a doctorate from New York University School of Law. He was a legal advisor to President Anwar Sadat during the peace talks with Israel.
He led the Egyptian team in negotiations to resolve the Taba dispute with Israel from 1985 to 1989, resulting in Egypt regaining the territory. El-Arabi also advised the Sudanese government on a border dispute with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
From 2001 to 2006, El-Arabi was a judge at the International Court of Justice after serving on the UN International Law Commission. He was involved in various legal committees, including the UN Compensation Commission in Geneva and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
El-Arabi served as Egypt’s ambassador to India and as Egypt’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva and New York.
His most notable role came after the January 25, 2011 events when he became Egypt’s foreign minister for a few months before being appointed Secretary-General of the Arab League.
He served a single term before stepping away from politics.
During his time at the Arab League, he focused on resolving Arab conflicts and strengthening the League’s role in regional politics.