UN Chief: UNIFIL Uncovered Over 100 Hezbollah Arms Caches in South Lebanon

This handout picture provided by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R), shaking hands with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (L), upon his arrival at the forces' headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Pascual Gorriz / UNIFIL / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R), shaking hands with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (L), upon his arrival at the forces' headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Pascual Gorriz / UNIFIL / AFP)
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UN Chief: UNIFIL Uncovered Over 100 Hezbollah Arms Caches in South Lebanon

This handout picture provided by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R), shaking hands with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (L), upon his arrival at the forces' headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Pascual Gorriz / UNIFIL / AFP)
This handout picture provided by the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL), shows UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R), shaking hands with UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (L), upon his arrival at the forces' headquarters in Naqoura in southern Lebanon near the Israeli border on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Pascual Gorriz / UNIFIL / AFP)

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday the UN peacekeeping force, known as UNIFIL, has uncovered over 100 weapons caches belonging to Hezbollah or other armed groups since the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect on Nov. 27.

He reiterated that Lebanese government forces as well as UN peacekeepers are the only sides who should have armed presence south of the Litani river near the border with Israel. He said the presence of other forces, an apparent reference to Hezbollah, “undermine Lebanon’s stability.”

Guterres made his comments Friday during a visit to the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura in south Lebanon near the border with Israel.

Speaking about military operations by Israeli troops inside Lebanon since the announcement of the 60-day truce, Guterres said: “They must stop.”

He said such operations were in violation of Security Council resolution 1701, adding Israel must withdraw from Lebanese territories.

Addressing the assembled leadership of the UN mission, he emphasized the critical role of peacekeepers, stating: “You are not just on the Blue Line of Lebanon but on the frontline of peace. The UNIFIL mission is the most challenging environment for peacekeepers anywhere.”

After returning to the capital Beirut in the afternoon, the Secretary-General held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was also visiting the Lebanese capital.

The Secretary-General's visit will continue on Saturday, with a full day of meetings in Beirut.

He is scheduled to meet President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri.



Yemen’s Houthis Move Weapons to Saada to Avoid More US Attacks

A protester carries a mock rocket during a rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people, at Sanaa University, in Sanaa, Yemen, 15 January 2025. (EPA)
A protester carries a mock rocket during a rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people, at Sanaa University, in Sanaa, Yemen, 15 January 2025. (EPA)
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Yemen’s Houthis Move Weapons to Saada to Avoid More US Attacks

A protester carries a mock rocket during a rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people, at Sanaa University, in Sanaa, Yemen, 15 January 2025. (EPA)
A protester carries a mock rocket during a rally in solidarity with the Palestinian people, at Sanaa University, in Sanaa, Yemen, 15 January 2025. (EPA)

The Iran-backed Houthi militias have moved large amounts of their weapons to their main stronghold of Saada in northern Yemen to protect them against US strikes that have intensified on the Amran province in a bid to destroy the militias’ underground arms caches.

Informed Yemeni sources said the Houthis have moved rockets and drones from Amran to Saada in the north, fearing they may be targeted by US strikes.

Western strikes have already destroyed several arms depots.

The US conducted its latest strikes against Houthi positions on Friday, targeting the Harf Sufyan district in northern Amran bordering Saada.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthi “weapons engineers and military maintenance” personnel moved sophisticated rockets and drones and other types of weapons to fortified caches throughout Saada.

The process was carried out in utmost secrecy and in stages to avoid detection, they added.

In Amran, the Houthis carried out a series of kidnappings against the local population, even its own supporters, on suspicion the people were collaborating with the US and Israel.

The US has carried out dozens of attacks on military positions in Harf Sufyan, destroying facilities that have been used to launch attacks against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Harf Sufyan is considered the Houthis’ second major stronghold after Saada given its large area that spans around 2,700 square kms. It also borders four other provinces: Hajjah, al-Jawf, Saada and Sanaa.

Moreover, sources in Amran told Asharq Al-Awsat that Harf Sufyan is a major recruitment center for the Houthis, including the forced recruitment of Yemenis.

They revealed that the US strikes in the area dealt the Houthis heavy blows because they directly targeted their military positions, including a drone factory.

The sources suspected that the Americans intensified their strikes on Harf Sufyan after receiving intelligence information that the Houthis had dug tunnels and underground facilities there to hold meetings and recruit new members.