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UNIFIL Spokesman: Our Priority Is to Provide Support to Lebanon's Army

UNIFIL Spokesman: Our Priority Is to Provide Support to Lebanon's Army
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UNIFIL Spokesman: Our Priority Is to Provide Support to Lebanon's Army

UNIFIL Spokesman: Our Priority Is to Provide Support to Lebanon's Army

The spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Andrea Tenenti, assured Wednesday that UNIFIL's priority is to offer maritime and land support to the Lebanese Armed Forces, denying possibility to reduce any operational support.

Tenenti noted to the National News Agency on whether the United Nations plans to downsize its UNIFIL force, saying that "the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said - earlier this week - that it is important for the Lebanese government to strengthen its naval capabilities, but he did not address the issue of downsizing operational activities and our assistance to the Lebanese armed forces."

"The UNIFIL's priority is to provide support to the Lebanese Army at land and sea, while working with the international community to provide all the necessary support to the Lebanese armed forces," Tenenti said.

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Syria Sets up Committee to Probe Attacks on Civilians in Sweida Violence 

A view shows remains of destroyed vehicles, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. (Reuters)
A view shows remains of destroyed vehicles, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. (Reuters)
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Syria Sets up Committee to Probe Attacks on Civilians in Sweida Violence 

A view shows remains of destroyed vehicles, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. (Reuters)
A view shows remains of destroyed vehicles, following deadly clashes between Druze fighters, Bedouin tribes and government forces, in Syria's predominantly Druze city of Sweida, Syria July 25, 2025. (Reuters)

Syria's new authorities have set up a committee tasked with investigating attacks on civilians during recent violence in the country's south, officials said Thursday.

The fighting in Sweida province earlier in July killed hundreds of people, displaced tens of thousands, and threatened to unravel Syria’s fragile postwar transition.

It was sparked by tit-for-tat kidnappings between armed Bedouin clans and fighters with the Druze minority. Syrian government forces intervened to end the fighting.

Syria's Justice Ministry said the committee would work to uncover the “circumstances that led to the events in Sweida," investigate attacks and refer those implicated in them to the judiciary, state-run news agency SANA reported. The committee is to submit a final report within three months.

A similar committee was formed in March, when sectarian violence on Syria’s coast killed hundreds of civilians from the Alawite minority.

Attacks by armed groups affiliated with former President Bashar al-Assad, a member of the Alawite minority, prompted Damascus to send security forces, which descended on the coast from other areas of the country, joined by thousands of armed civilians.

That committee found there had been “widespread, serious violations against civilians,” including by members of Syria's new security forces and that more than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, were killed.

Its four-month investigation identified 300 people suspected of crimes, including murder, robbery, torture and looting and burning of homes and businesses. The suspects were referred for prosecution, the committee said but did not disclose how many were members of the security forces.