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Lebanese FM Kicks off European Tour in Pursuit of Ceasefire

Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Lebanese FM Kicks off European Tour in Pursuit of Ceasefire

Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib kicked off on Sunday a European tour in pursuit of a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hezbollah and to garner support for the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701.

He will visit Italy, France, Spain and the Vatican.

Israel’s war on Hezbollah is in its fourth week and efforts have so far failed in reaching a ceasefire.

US envoy Amos Hochstein and Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit are meanwhile expected in Beirut on Monday.

In Italy, Bou Habib will take part in a G7 meeting at the invitation of his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani.

He will explain Lebanon’s position in calling for a ceasefire and ending the Israeli hostilities through the full implementation of resolution 1701 and bolstering the deployment of the army south of the Litani River.

He will also ask for immediate humanitarian aid for the 1.2 million people who have been displaced by the fighting.

In Paris, he will hold talks with senior UNESCO officials to discuss means to protect Lebanese heritage sites and the education sector.

On Thursday, he will join caretaker Prime Minister and the Lebanese delegation at the Paris conference on Lebanon.

Bou Habib will be in Barcelona on Sunday and Monday to attend the Union for the Mediterranean foreign ministers meeting before returning to Beirut.

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Arab World

Sudan: Burhan Pledges to Continue Fighting, Arm Civilians

Taqadum called on both parties involved in the Sudanese conflict to adhere to international laws and the agreements made in Jeddah. (Photo: AFP)
Taqadum called on both parties involved in the Sudanese conflict to adhere to international laws and the agreements made in Jeddah. (Photo: AFP)
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Sudan: Burhan Pledges to Continue Fighting, Arm Civilians

Taqadum called on both parties involved in the Sudanese conflict to adhere to international laws and the agreements made in Jeddah. (Photo: AFP)
Taqadum called on both parties involved in the Sudanese conflict to adhere to international laws and the agreements made in Jeddah. (Photo: AFP)

Sudanese Armed Forces Chief and Sovereign Council Chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan pledged to continue the fighting against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) until their complete defeat, rejecting any form of negotiations.
Addressing crowds on Thursday, Al-Burhan said that the army is ready to arm civilians wishing to participate in the combat.
Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department Thursday announced sanctions on Sudanese Armed Forces weapon procurement director Mirghani Idris Suleiman.
The man was sanctioned for efforts to acquire weapons for the Sudanese Armed Forces to use in the ongoing war with the Rapid Support Forces.
“Today's action underscores the essential role that key individuals like Mirghani Idris Suleiman have played in procuring weapons, perpetuating violence, and prolonging the fighting in Sudan,” said the Treasury Department's Bradley T. Smith in a statement.
He continued: “The United States is committed to disrupting the ability of both sides in this conflict to procure weapons and external financing that undermine the possibility of a peaceful resolution.”
The Treasury Department’s Thursday statement further said: “Idris has been at the center of weapons deals that have fueled the brutality and scale of the war, serving as Director General of Defense Industries System, the SAF's primary weapons production and procurement arm.”
Meanwhile, the Sudanese army regained control of the cities of Al-Dindar and Al-Suki last Wednesday and Thursday, along with several surrounding villages in Sennar State, located in the southeast of the country.
The Taqadum Civil Democratic Forces Coordination stated on Thursday that it is following with deep concern the developments in the eastern part of Al-Jazirah state and the widespread violations occurring in the cities of Rufaa, Tamboul, and Al-Hilaliya, along with several other villages that have been subjected to extensive terrorizing operations.
The statement mentioned widespread looting, some of which targeted major markets that are a lifeline for many areas in eastern and northern Al-Jazirah, exacerbating the humanitarian situation and resulting in large-scale displacement from the region.
Taqadum called on both parties involved in the Sudanese conflict to adhere to international laws and the agreements made in Jeddah, especially the principle of civilian protection and ensuring civilians’ safety.
It urged active local, regional, and international forces to continue exerting pressure on both warring sides in Sudan to end the conflict immediately, initiate serious ceasefire efforts, and work toward establishing a new era that moves the country away from cycles of war and coups and toward a path of civil democratic transition, ultimately achieving a state of freedom, justice, and peace.