Guterres Warns Against Dangers of Escalation on Disengagement Agreement

A member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) looks through binoculars at Mount Bental, an observation post in the Golan Heights that overlooks the Syrian side of the Qunietra crossing August 31, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
A member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) looks through binoculars at Mount Bental, an observation post in the Golan Heights that overlooks the Syrian side of the Qunietra crossing August 31, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
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Guterres Warns Against Dangers of Escalation on Disengagement Agreement

A member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) looks through binoculars at Mount Bental, an observation post in the Golan Heights that overlooks the Syrian side of the Qunietra crossing August 31, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner
A member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) looks through binoculars at Mount Bental, an observation post in the Golan Heights that overlooks the Syrian side of the Qunietra crossing August 31, 2014. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the Security Council to warn Israel, Syria and regional powers, on what he called the “threats of escalation” on the long-standing cease-fire between the two countries.

Asharq Al-Awsat received a copy of Guterres’ latest report to the members of the Security Council on the work of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan Heights, in which he expressed “deep concern” over military activities in the area of UNDOF operations during the reporting period.

He pointed out that heavy artillery and aerial bombardment, which has sharply increased in July on the Bravo (Syrian) side, as well as the firing of missiles and rockets from the Alpha (Israeli) side towards the buffer zone on July 3, 13 and 24, have put the Disengagement Agreement at risk.

Guterres urged the two sides to “exercise maximum restraint at all times” and called on the members of the Security Council to support efforts to sensitize both parties and regional sponsors to the risks of escalation and the need to maintain the long-standing cease-fire between Israel and Syria.

The UN secretary-general emphasized the importance that the two sides “remain in contact with the UNDOF to prevent any escalation of the situation across the ceasefire line.”

He added that all violations of the ceasefire line would increase tensions between the signatories of the disengagement agreement and undermine the progress towards stability in the region.

While he pointed to the cessation of military activity by the Syrian armed forces and the various armed groups, including terrorist groups, he underlined “the continued presence of the Syrian armed forces” in the buffer zone, stressing that only the members of UNDOF should be present in that area.

Guterres urged all parties to the Syrian conflict to stop military actions throughout the country, and to remove all military equipment from the area of separation.

The Israeli forces should refrain from firing across the ceasefire line, he said, expressing his concern about the continued presence of unauthorized weapons and equipment in the area of arms control on the Alpha side.



Lebanon Bans Dealing with Hezbollah Financial Entity

A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
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Lebanon Bans Dealing with Hezbollah Financial Entity

A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo
A view shows Lebanon's Central Bank building in Beirut, Lebanon April 4, 2025. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir/File Photo

Lebanon's central bank has banned banks and brokerages from dealing with a Hezbollah-affiliated financial institution, according to a circular, a sign of the group's diminished sway over state affairs since its devastating war with Israel.

Keeping up military pressure on the Iran-backed group, Israel on Tuesday launched some of its heaviest airstrikes since a ceasefire in November, saying it hit training camps and weapons depots in east Lebanon. A security source in Lebanon said 12 people were killed, five of them Hezbollah fighters, Reuters reported.

Hezbollah has faced mounting pressures since the war, including financial ones.

In the circular, dated July 14 and reviewed by Reuters, Banque du Liban prohibited all licensed financial institutions in Lebanon from dealing directly or indirectly with unlicensed entities and listed Hezbollah's Al-Qard Al-Hassan as an example.

The US Department of Treasury imposed sanctions on Al-Qard Al-Hassan in 2007, saying Hezbollah used it as a cover to manage "financial activities and gain access to the international financial system".

Bolstered by its powerful arsenal, Hezbollah had long exercised decisive influence over Lebanese state affairs, but it was unable to impose its will in the formation of a post-war government in February.

Al-Qard Al-Hassan, founded in 1983, describes itself as a charitable organisation which provides loans to people according to Islamic principles that forbid interest. Israel struck some of its branches during its war with Hezbollah last year.

Operating as a not-for-profit organisation under a licence granted by the Lebanese government, it has more than 30 branches, mostly in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

SHADOW ECONOMY

A Lebanese official said the central bank move had been in the works for months, and reflected US pressure on Lebanon to take action against Hezbollah's financial wing.

Nassib Ghobril, chief economist at Byblos Bank, said Lebanese banks were already careful to avoid dealing with Al-Qard Al-Hassan because it is under US sanctions.

"The important point is that finally the authorities are addressing the shadow economy in Lebanon, which is the real problem," he said, adding that authorities had long failed to address its "toxic effects".

In June, the European Commission included Lebanon in an updated list of high-risk jurisdictions presenting strategic deficiencies in their national anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.

Last year, global financial crime watchdog FATF placed Lebanon on its "grey list" of countries under special scrutiny.