Arab, Muslim States Support Morocco’s Latest Move in Sahara

Photo published on the Moroccan armed forces Facebook page shows the deployment of soldiers to reopen the Guerguerat crossing
Photo published on the Moroccan armed forces Facebook page shows the deployment of soldiers to reopen the Guerguerat crossing
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Arab, Muslim States Support Morocco’s Latest Move in Sahara

Photo published on the Moroccan armed forces Facebook page shows the deployment of soldiers to reopen the Guerguerat crossing
Photo published on the Moroccan armed forces Facebook page shows the deployment of soldiers to reopen the Guerguerat crossing

Gulf, Arab and Islamic countries have extended support to the Moroccan measures at Guerguerat, and deplored practices that jeopardize travel in the vital road crossing.

Saudi Arabia expressed on Saturday its support to Morocco’s move to cement freedom of civilian and commercial travel in the buffer zone in the Sahara.

The Foreign Ministry condemned all practices that threaten safe travel in the vital road that connects Morocco to neighboring Mauritania. It called for restraint and avoiding escalation in line with relevant international resolutions.

In a statement, the UAE Foreign Ministry reiterated support to a "decision by Moroccan King Mohammed VI to end the illegal incursions in the buffer zone of Guerguerat and secure the commercial and individual movement on the crossing."

Since Oct. 21, members of the Polisario Front have obstructed the passage of Moroccan trucks through the crossing into Mauritania.

Qatar and Bahrain had earlier announced their support to the Moroccan move at the crossing, while Oman reiterated its support for the UN’s efforts to reach a political solution to the Western Sahara conflict.

As for Jordan, it affirmed “support for the measures that King Mohammed VI ordered to restore safety and security in the buffer zone of Guerguerat.”

In the meantime, Spain called on "the parties to resume the negotiation process and move towards a political, fair, lasting and mutually acceptable solution."

Chairman of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed his "deep concern following the deterioration of the situation in the Western Sahara, especially in the buffer zone of Guerguerat, and the serious threats of breaching the ceasefire in force since 1991."



Israel Issues Evacuation Warning for Five Southern Lebanese Towns

A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
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Israel Issues Evacuation Warning for Five Southern Lebanese Towns

A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
A civil defense member walks among the debris at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut's Basta neighborhood, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 23, 2024. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

The Israeli army issued a statement on Sunday requesting the residents of five towns in southern Lebanon to evacuate in anticipation of airstrikes, while warning residents not to head south.
The military told the residents of Zawtar al-Sharqiya, Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Arnoun, Yuhmor, and al-Qusayba, to evacuate their homes immediately and move north of the Awwali River.
“You must evacuate immediately to the north of Awwali River to ensure your safety, you must evacuate without delay. Anyone near Hezbollah fighters, facilities or weapons is putting their life at risk”, added the statement.
In a separate statement, the army said that sirens sounded in central Israel due to Hezbollah rockets fired from Lebanon.
It added that six projectiles were detected crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory, and that its air forces intercepted five of the rockets, while the last one landed in an open area.