UN Chief Urges Iran to Give up Nuclear Arms, Warns against Israeli Annexation of West Bankhttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5104066-un-chief-urges-iran-give-nuclear-arms-warns-against-israeli-annexation-west-bank
UN Chief Urges Iran to Give up Nuclear Arms, Warns against Israeli Annexation of West Bank
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the audience during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2025. (AFP)
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UN Chief Urges Iran to Give up Nuclear Arms, Warns against Israeli Annexation of West Bank
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the audience during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2025. (AFP)
Iran must make a first step towards improving relations with countries in the region and the United States by making it clear it does not aim to develop nuclear weapons, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday.
He also said he hoped all parties in Gaza would realize they would benefit from a permanent truce that could open the path to negotiations over a two-state solution and urged countries to ease sanctions on Syria.
"The most relevant question is Iran and relations between Iran, Israel and the United States," Guterres said as he discussed the situation in the Middle East at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"Here my hope is that the Iranians understand that it is important to once and for all make it clear that they will renounce to have nuclear weapons, at the same time that they engage constructively with the other countries of the region."
The UN nuclear watchdog chief, Rafael Grossi, touched on the same theme in Davos, saying Iran is "pressing the gas pedal" on its enrichment of uranium to near weapons grade.
Iran has always said its program is entirely peaceful and it has the right to enrich uranium to any level it wants.
Reflecting on the situation in Gaza, Guterres said the ceasefire there had so far been successful in allowing in aid to the enclave, but had a warning over any further future action.
"There is a possibility of Israel feeling emboldened by the military successes to think that this is the moment to do the annexation of the West Bank and to keep Gaza in a kind of a limbo situation," he said.
"That would be a total violation of international law ... and would mean there will never be peace in the Middle East."
SYRIA SANCTIONS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not articulated a vision for Gaza's postwar future beyond insisting the Islamist group Hamas can play no role and stating that the Palestinian Authority – which partially administers the occupied West Bank - also cannot be trusted under its current leadership.
Israeli security forces raided the volatile West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday in what Netanyahu called a "large-scale and significant military operation". Hamas called on Palestinians in the territory to escalate fighting against Israel.
The UN chief said he was more optimistic about Lebanon, where he believed the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel was holding.
Guterres called on countries to ease their sanctions on Syria, to help the country transform after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, while saying the new government still has to prove it will represent all minorities.
"We still have a strong risk of fragmentation and of extremism in at least parts of the Syrian territory," he said.
"It is in the interest of us all to engage to make things move in the direction of an inclusive form of governance and I think some gesture must be made in relation to the sanctions."
Israel Intensifies Ceasefire Violations, Destroying and Burning Occupied Lebanese Villageshttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5263940-israel-intensifies-ceasefire-violations-destroying-and-burning-occupied-lebanese
Residents walk on the rubble of destroyed houses on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Jibchit village, south Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Israel Intensifies Ceasefire Violations, Destroying and Burning Occupied Lebanese Villages
Residents walk on the rubble of destroyed houses on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Jibchit village, south Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Israeli violations of the US-brokered ceasefire on the Lebanon front continue, as military operations and airstrikes persist against targets Israel claims are affiliated with Hezbollah. This has forced residents who had returned to some southern villages to leave again immediately, fearing a rapid return to fighting.
The yellow line
These violations coincide with the Israeli army’s announcement of the creation of a “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, similar to the one in Gaza, effectively preventing residents from returning to 55 Lebanese towns located within this line.
On Saturday, the Israeli army said it had established a separating “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, similar to the line dividing its forces from areas controlled by Hamas in Gaza. It stated that it had targeted suspected militants who approached its forces along this line.
The army said that over the past 24 hours, its forces operating south of the yellow line had identified individuals it described as militants who violated the ceasefire and approached from the north of the line in what it called a direct threat. This marked the first reference to the line since the ceasefire took effect.
It added that its forces struck those individuals in several areas of southern Lebanon immediately after detecting them, in order to eliminate the threat, stressing that it is authorized to act against threats despite the ceasefire.
In this context, military and security expert Brig. Gen. Fadi Daoud told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Israeli security line is unofficial but effectively constitutes a dangerous point of friction. He said it is known in the field as the Israeli technical line along the Lebanon-Israel border. It is not an internationally recognized boundary but a security measure imposed by Israel that extends beyond the Blue Line and is used to impose facts on the ground, and could quickly trigger clashes.
An unstable situation
Amid the developments imposed by the recent war, it has become difficult to quantify Israeli violations, as UNIFIL forces are unable to enter towns under full Israeli control. A security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that violations are not limited to artillery shelling, drone strikes, or clashes with Hezbollah fighters, but also include the deliberate booby-trapping and complete demolition of homes under the pretext of destroying the group’s infrastructure.
The source described the situation in the south as unstable, warning of concerns about a return to a cycle of fighting. The source added that the Lebanese side had been monitoring developments through the mechanism committee, but the committee is currently not in place, leaving no mechanism to address new Israeli attacks.
On the ground, one person was killed in the town of Kounine and others were wounded by a suspicious object believed to be a cluster munition left over from Israeli bombardment, just hours after the ceasefire came into effect. Artillery shelling continues to be heard in several villages in the central sector, while Israeli forces fired bursts of gunfire toward the town of Aitaroun.
Field reports indicate that the town of Khiam continues to come under artillery fire. Israeli forces have also carried out demolitions in Khiam, Qantara, Shamaa, Bint Jbeil, and Bayyada. Explosions and sweeping fire were also reported in the vicinity of Bint Jbeil.
Lebanese citizens remove rubble from their destroyed shops on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Nabatiyeh town, south Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Two tracks of operations in the south
The ceasefire terms, which took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday, have imposed a new and more difficult reality compared with the cessation of hostilities agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel on November 27, 2024.
Daoud said Israeli operations south of the Litani River are proceeding along two parallel tracks aimed at establishing a new reality on the ground. The first track involves efforts by the Israeli army to entrench its presence in villages it has taken control of, alongside continuing a policy of widespread destruction similar to what it previously carried out in Gaza.
He said the Israeli army is focusing on demolishing buildings in villages it controls in the first and second defensive lines, uprooting trees including olive trees, and setting forests on fire to turn them into completely scorched areas. He added that Israel is also clearing the rubble of destroyed homes and transporting it for recycling, indicating an intention to fundamentally alter the nature of the area.
The battle for Bint Jbeil
The second track centers, according to Daoud, on the battle for Bint Jbeil. He said the battle has two main dimensions: a symbolic one, as Hezbollah has called the city the “capital of the resistance,” and a strategic one due to its geographic location near the border, allowing whoever controls it to influence both northern Israel and southern Lebanon.
The importance of Bint Jbeil is not limited to symbolism but extends to its surroundings. Daoud said controlling the city effectively means controlling surrounding roads and towns, as it provides a tactical advantage that allows fire control over the northeastern and western sectors of the area. He added that operations inside Bint Jbeil will continue regardless of the ceasefire.
He also suggested that if a US green light is given, Israel may continue operations under what is described as “low-intensity warfare” or guerrilla-style operations, aimed at completing control over remaining Hezbollah positions in the city.
Daoud stressed that Israel’s less visible operations reflect a scorched-earth policy, turning occupied towns south of the Litani into fully devastated areas, mirroring the operational pattern seen in Gaza.
Israel Intensifies Ceasefire Violations, Destroying and Burning Occupied Lebanese Villageshttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5263882-israel-intensifies-ceasefire-violations-destroying-and-burning-occupied-lebanese
Residents walk on the rubble of destroyed houses on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Jibchit village, south Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Israel Intensifies Ceasefire Violations, Destroying and Burning Occupied Lebanese Villages
Residents walk on the rubble of destroyed houses on the second day of a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel in Jibchit village, south Lebanon, Saturday, April 18, 2026.(AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)
Israeli violations of the US-brokered ceasefire on the Lebanon front continue, as military operations and airstrikes persist against targets Israel claims are affiliated with Hezbollah. This has forced residents who had returned to some southern villages to leave again immediately, fearing a rapid return to fighting.
The yellow line
These violations coincide with the Israeli army’s announcement of the creation of a “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, similar to the one in Gaza, effectively preventing residents from returning to 55 Lebanese towns located within this line.
On Saturday, the Israeli army said it had established a separating “yellow line” in southern Lebanon, similar to the line dividing its forces from areas controlled by Hamas in Gaza. It stated that it had targeted suspected militants who approached its forces along this line.
The army said that over the past 24 hours, its forces operating south of the yellow line had identified individuals it described as militants who violated the ceasefire and approached from the north of the line in what it called a direct threat. This marked the first reference to the line since the ceasefire took effect.
It added that its forces struck those individuals in several areas of southern Lebanon immediately after detecting them, in order to eliminate the threat, stressing that it is authorized to act against threats despite the ceasefire.
In this context, military and security expert Brig. Gen. Fadi Daoud told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Israeli security line is unofficial but effectively constitutes a dangerous point of friction. He said it is known in the field as the Israeli technical line along the Lebanon-Israel border. It is not an internationally recognized boundary but a security measure imposed by Israel that extends beyond the Blue Line and is used to impose facts on the ground, and could quickly trigger clashes.
An unstable situation
Amid the developments imposed by the recent war, it has become difficult to quantify Israeli violations, as UNIFIL forces are unable to enter towns under full Israeli control. A security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that violations are not limited to artillery shelling, drone strikes, or clashes with Hezbollah fighters, but also include the deliberate booby-trapping and complete demolition of homes under the pretext of destroying the group’s infrastructure.
The source described the situation in the south as unstable, warning of concerns about a return to a cycle of fighting. The source added that the Lebanese side had been monitoring developments through the mechanism committee, but the committee is currently not in place, leaving no mechanism to address new Israeli attacks.
On the ground, one person was killed in the town of Kounine and others were wounded by a suspicious object believed to be a cluster munition left over from Israeli bombardment, just hours after the ceasefire came into effect. Artillery shelling continues to be heard in several villages in the central sector, while Israeli forces fired bursts of gunfire toward the town of Aitaroun.
Field reports indicate that the town of Khiam continues to come under artillery fire. Israeli forces have also carried out demolitions in Khiam, Qantara, Shamaa, Bint Jbeil, and Bayyada. Explosions and sweeping fire were also reported in the vicinity of Bint Jbeil.
Two tracks of operations in the south
The ceasefire terms, which took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday, have imposed a new and more difficult reality compared with the cessation of hostilities agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel on November 27, 2024.
Daoud said Israeli operations south of the Litani River are proceeding along two parallel tracks aimed at establishing a new reality on the ground. The first track involves efforts by the Israeli army to entrench its presence in villages it has taken control of, alongside continuing a policy of widespread destruction similar to what it previously carried out in Gaza.
He said the Israeli army is focusing on demolishing buildings in villages it controls in the first and second defensive lines, uprooting trees including olive trees, and setting forests on fire to turn them into completely scorched areas. He added that Israel is also clearing the rubble of destroyed homes and transporting it for recycling, indicating an intention to fundamentally alter the nature of the area.
The battle for Bint Jbeil
The second track centers, according to Daoud, on the battle for Bint Jbeil. He said the battle has two main dimensions: a symbolic one, as Hezbollah has called the city the “capital of the resistance,” and a strategic one due to its geographic location near the border, allowing whoever controls it to influence both northern Israel and southern Lebanon.
The importance of Bint Jbeil is not limited to symbolism but extends to its surroundings. Daoud said controlling the city effectively means controlling surrounding roads and towns, as it provides a tactical advantage that allows fire control over the northeastern and western sectors of the area. He added that operations inside Bint Jbeil will continue regardless of the ceasefire.
He also suggested that if a US green light is given, Israel may continue operations under what is described as “low-intensity warfare” or guerrilla-style operations, aimed at completing control over remaining Hezbollah positions in the city.
Daoud stressed that Israel’s less visible operations reflect a scorched-earth policy, turning occupied towns south of the Litani into fully devastated areas, mirroring the operational pattern seen in Gaza.
Lebanon President, PM Discuss Readiness for Israel Talkshttps://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5263855-lebanon-president-pm-discuss-readiness-israel-talks
Vehicles line up as displaced people make their way to return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Sidon, Lebanon, April 18, 2026. REUTERS/Aziz Taher
Lebanon President, PM Discuss Readiness for Israel Talks
Vehicles line up as displaced people make their way to return to their homes after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect, in Sidon, Lebanon, April 18, 2026. REUTERS/Aziz Taher
Lebanon's president and prime minister discussed on Saturday preparations for the first direct negotiations with Israel in decades, as southerners headed home after the ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war.
In a statement, the office of President Joseph Aoun said he and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam conducted "an assessment of the post-ceasefire phase and the ongoing efforts to consolidate it", and discussed "Lebanese readiness for the anticipated negotiations" with Israel.
Their meeting came a day after a strongly-worded speech to the nation from Aoun stating that the country was entering a new phase to work on "permanent agreements" with Israel and insisting that direct talks were not a "concession" -- an apparent rebuttal of Hezbollah criticism.
The 10-day ceasefire seeking to end more than six weeks of war between Hezbollah and Israel has been in place since midnight on Thursday (2100 GMT) after being announced by US President Donald Trump.
More than 2,300 people have been killed in Israeli attacks and more than a million displaced since Hezbollah dragged Lebanon into the Middle East conflict last month.
Iran-backed Hezbollah and its supporters strongly oppose the negotiations, and have rejected several government decisions over the past year, including Beirut's commitment to disarming the group in 2025.
As the truce entered its second day, displaced people were still flocking to the south, which saw the brunt of the fighting, with roads packed with cars.
Lebanon's military and other local bodies are working to open roads that were blocked due to Israeli strikes.
In the heavily bombed southern suburbs of Beirut, families came to inspect their homes and grab belongings, though neighborhoods in the area remained largely empty, according to an AFP correspondent, with people hesitant to return.
Among the residents briefly visiting was Samah Hajoul, who is currently staying in a tent on Beirut's seafront.
"We do not feel safe to return, for fear that something might happen at night and I would not be able to carry my children and flee with them," she told AFP.
She only visited her home, which sustained minor damage, to "bathe the children and get summer clothes" as temperatures started to rise.
"We will wait and see what happens during the days of the truce. If the ceasefire is consolidated, we will return to our homes," she added, saying that dozens of families staying in nearby tents were doing the same.
During his meeting with Aoun, Salam expressed hope that "the displaced will be able to return safely to their homes as soon as possible after the ceasefire holds".
He stressed that the government was working to "facilitate this return, especially by repairing the destroyed bridges, opening roads, and providing supplies in the areas where the return will be safe and possible".
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