Erdogan Says Turkish Companies Ready to Rebuild Beirut Port

Erdogan and Mikati in Ankara on Tuesday (AFP)
Erdogan and Mikati in Ankara on Tuesday (AFP)
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Erdogan Says Turkish Companies Ready to Rebuild Beirut Port

Erdogan and Mikati in Ankara on Tuesday (AFP)
Erdogan and Mikati in Ankara on Tuesday (AFP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Ankara on Tuesday, that Turkish companies were ready to implement infrastructure projects, including the reconstruction of the Port of Beirut.

“I expressed that our companies are ready to undertake important infrastructure projects, including the reconstruction of the Port of Beirut,” Erdogan said during a joint press conference with Mikati.

He added that the two sides discussed bilateral relations, “in particular, developing communication and enhancing opportunities for cooperation.”

“We continue to stand by Lebanon and are ready to support the reform efforts of the Lebanese government,” Erdogan told the reporters.

“During our meetings, we discussed Turkey-Lebanon relations. We focused on the development of cooperation opportunities. We discussed together with my dear friend how we can contribute to Lebanon and what additional steps we can take,” he added.

Erdogan said Turkey intends to strengthen cooperation and solidarity with Lebanon in a wide range of fields.

For his part, Mikati said that discussions with the Turkish president highlighted the bilateral relations, which “recently gained a strong and effective impetus in all fields, on the basis of cooperation and mutual understanding.”

The issue of displaced persons was also discussed, where Mikati stressed the need for combined efforts “to secure their return to their homeland.”



Israeli Tank Fires on UNIFIL Base in Lebanon’s Naqoura

This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and taken on October 8, 2024 shows a view of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIIL) base in the costal area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon close to the border with northern Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and taken on October 8, 2024 shows a view of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIIL) base in the costal area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon close to the border with northern Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
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Israeli Tank Fires on UNIFIL Base in Lebanon’s Naqoura

This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and taken on October 8, 2024 shows a view of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIIL) base in the costal area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon close to the border with northern Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)
This handout satellite picture provided by Planet Labs PBC and taken on October 8, 2024 shows a view of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIIL) base in the costal area of Naqoura in southern Lebanon close to the border with northern Israel. (Photo by Planet Labs PBC / AFP)

The UN peacekeeping force said Friday that an Israeli tank fired on its headquarters in the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura, hitting an observation tower and wounding two peacekeepers, who were hospitalized.

Israeli forces had fired on positions used by the UN peacekeepers on Wednesday and Thursday, the UN force said.

The UNIFIL force said two of its peacekeepers were injured in one of the incidents.

The Israeli military acknowledged opening fire at a UN base in southern Lebanon on Thursday and said it had ordered the peacekeepers to “remain in protected spaces.”

Israel is now at war with Hamas in Gaza and its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, which began firing rockets at Israel on Oct. 8, 2023.

Israel recently escalated bombardment in Lebanon and invaded a strip inside the Lebanese border, vowing to push out Hezbollah fighters.

Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon on Thursday recommended "UNIFIL relocate 5 km (3 miles) north to avoid danger as fighting intensifies.”