Lebanon Struggles to Leverage International Efforts for Resolution 1701

People ride a motorcycle near the site of an Israeli strike that destroyed an office used by Al-Mayadeen broadcaster, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Beirut suburbs, Lebanon October 24, 2024. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
People ride a motorcycle near the site of an Israeli strike that destroyed an office used by Al-Mayadeen broadcaster, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Beirut suburbs, Lebanon October 24, 2024. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
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Lebanon Struggles to Leverage International Efforts for Resolution 1701

People ride a motorcycle near the site of an Israeli strike that destroyed an office used by Al-Mayadeen broadcaster, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Beirut suburbs, Lebanon October 24, 2024. REUTERS/Yara Nardi
People ride a motorcycle near the site of an Israeli strike that destroyed an office used by Al-Mayadeen broadcaster, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Beirut suburbs, Lebanon October 24, 2024. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

The Paris Conference, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron to support Lebanon, has failed to resonate with local factions, especially Hezbollah and its allies.

They oppose calls for a presidential election and the implementation of UN resolution 1701 before achieving a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

An official told Asharq Al-Awsat that the only thing the Lebanese can do now is to immediately elect a president to outline a political roadmap, but this crucial step isn’t a priority for some.

The source, speaking under the conditions of anonymity, emphasized that the constitution gives the president sole authority to negotiate and sign international treaties, including resolution 1701.

This responsibility cannot be handed to anyone else.

The source also pointed out that Lebanon’s fate is currently in Iranian hands, which insists on a ceasefire before anything else. Iran has made it clear that it alone will negotiate the implementation of resolution 1701.

As political efforts for Lebanon have stalled, the French capital hosted a support conference attended by Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Macron stressed the importance of electing a new president, stating that France is committed to preserving Lebanon’s sovereignty and helping it navigate current challenges.

He called for peacekeeping measures along the Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel, saying that there is a need for a ceasefire, and it is in Lebanon’s interest to remain neutral.

Former lawmaker Fares Soaid remarked that “Lebanon’s political forces cannot engage positively with international initiatives as long as the decision-making power lies with Hezbollah and Iran.”

“We will not emerge from this war unless Hezbollah adopts a national vision that leads to handing over its weapons to the Lebanese state. This would be the most honorable move instead of waiting for international solutions to be imposed,” he added.

Soaid urged the party to accept state conditions and the National Accord Document, which protects everyone’s rights, rather than continuing a destructive war.

Mikati reiterated that a ceasefire in Lebanon “would open the door for a diplomatic process fully supported by the government.”

“This process aims to address security concerns along the southern border and disputes along the Blue Line,” added Mikati.

He stressed that “the current form of UN Security Council resolution 1701 must remain the foundation for stability and security in southern Lebanon, and its full implementation by Lebanon and Israel is essential for preserving Lebanon's sovereignty.”

Lebanese views on the post-war phase differ from global perspectives on the region’s future.

Soaid believes that Lebanese will struggle with the consequences of displacement just as regional post-war arrangements begin.



Yemen: Al-Alimi Says Military Ready for Decisive Battle

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) chief Rashad al-Alimi (Saba News Agency)
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) chief Rashad al-Alimi (Saba News Agency)
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Yemen: Al-Alimi Says Military Ready for Decisive Battle

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) chief Rashad al-Alimi (Saba News Agency)
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) chief Rashad al-Alimi (Saba News Agency)

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) chief Rashad al-Alimi said there are promising signs of a shift in the balance of power in the country’s long-running conflict, citing growing unity among anti-Houthi factions.

Al-Alimi praised what he described as “broad national alignment,” highlighting the readiness of the armed forces, security units, and all military formations to wage what he called “a battle for salvation” against the Iran-aligned Houthi group.

He said the emerging consensus among Yemen’s diverse political and military components to confront a common enemy was a key development on the ground.

Al-Alimi met late Tuesday with the head of the Consultation and Reconciliation Commission, his deputies, and senior figures from political parties and factions represented in the body, as efforts to unify anti-Houthi forces continue.

The meeting came amid ongoing US airstrikes targeting Houthi positions across several provinces, including the capital Sanaa, as well as Saada, Hajjah, and Hodeidah.

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has acknowledged that the group has been hit by over 1,000 air and naval strikes since the campaign began.

US President Donald Trump launched the military campaign against the Houthis on March 15, vowing to use “deadly force” to eliminate the group, which Washington accuses of threatening maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and launching attacks against Israel.

The meeting attended by al-Alimi focused on the necessary actions to transform the trajectory of Yemen’s pivotal battle, aiming to end the humanitarian suffering exacerbated by Houthi militia attacks on oil facilities and commercial shipping vessels.

Al-Alimi highlighted a significant positive shift in the international community’s stance, which he attributed to a united effort in countering misleading narratives about Yemen's crisis. He emphasized the government’s role as a close partner to the international community, while exposing the Houthis not as a peace project, but as a constant threat to global security, according to the official Saba News Agency.

“We have presented the Yemeni people’s vision and aspirations in the best possible light, promoting a discourse focused on security, peace, development, equality, and active partnership with the international community,” al-Alimi said.

“Today, we see promising elements that could shift the balance of power on the ground, with the key being the unity of all national components in their shared goal and common enemy,” he added.

The PLC chief expressed his gratitude for the critical support provided by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting their economic, developmental, and humanitarian contributions as vital to the Yemeni state’s continued fulfillment of its obligations.

Al-Alimi also commended the efforts of Yemen’s security forces in countering Houthi militia attempts to destabilize the internal front, accusing the group of colluding with terrorist organizations in its reckless plans.