Tunisian FM Discusses With US Counterpart Strategic Partnership

Jhinaoui during talks with his US counterpart Pompeo in Washington on Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Jhinaoui during talks with his US counterpart Pompeo in Washington on Wednesday, July 17, 2019
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Tunisian FM Discusses With US Counterpart Strategic Partnership

Jhinaoui during talks with his US counterpart Pompeo in Washington on Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Jhinaoui during talks with his US counterpart Pompeo in Washington on Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Tunisian Foreign Minister Khemaies Jhinaoui’s media office revealed Wednesday that a high-level Tunisian delegation has traveled to Washington to discuss the strategic partnership between Tunisia, the US and Libya's neighboring countries along with UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salameh.

These meetings aim to increase security coordination and end the war in Libya and areas adjacent to the Tunisian-Libyan border since forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar have stormed Tripoli in early April.

Jhinaoui said his talks with his US counterpart Mike Pompeo and his aides included war on terrorism, the latest developments in Libya's issue and the ceasefire efforts in the framework of the third session of the three-day “strategic dialogue” between Tunisia and US, which started on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Tunisian and Algerian authorities have increased their security and political coordination on combating terrorism and the Libyan issue.

Tunisian authorities played down the credibility of a new video attributed to ISIS-affiliated Tunisian elements, who threatened on Tuesday evening the country and its tourist season and vowed to carry out new terrorist attacks.

The Tunisian Interior Ministry had earlier announced the elimination of a terrorist belonging to the Libyan group, which launched on June 27 two terrorist attacks on security targets in central Tunis, killing two people, including a security personnel.

The attacks coincided with a third attack on a TV station on the Algerian-Tunisian borders and with the announcement of a serious deterioration of the Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi’s health condition.

News said Essebsi was taken to the military hospital, which increased fears of the political class of the impact and repercussions of these successive developments on the economic situation as well as on the political and electoral stages the country is heading to.

The video, shared on ISIS social media channels on Tuesday night, showed armed men in balaclavas who pledge allegiance to ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.



US Says Committed to 'Diplomatic Resolution' in Lebanon

FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
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US Says Committed to 'Diplomatic Resolution' in Lebanon

FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)
FILE - Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks in Greenwich, London, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed that the United States was dedicated to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon and urged Israel to improve "dire" conditions in Gaza, in a call Saturday with his Israeli counterpart.

Austin "reiterated US commitment to a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon that allows Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the border" in his call with Israel Katz, according to a Pentagon spokesperson.

Austin also "urged the Government of Israel to continue to take steps to improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza and emphasized the US commitment to securing the release of all hostages, including US citizens."

Lebanon said Saturday that an Israeli air strike in the heart of Beirut that brought down a residential building and jolted residents across the city killed at least 11 people.

Israel stepped up its campaign against the Hezbollah militant group in late September, targeting its strongholds in Lebanon.

Lebanon's health ministry says at least 3,645 people have been killed since October 2023, when Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas.

The United Nations and others have repeatedly decried humanitarian conditions, particularly in northern Gaza, where Israel said Friday it had killed two commanders involved in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack.

In the call with Katz, Austin also discussed ongoing Israeli operations and reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad commitment to Israel's security," the Pentagon said.