Lebanon: Deputy Speaker Says Assault on Gaza Delayed Demarcation Talks with Israel

A base for peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured in Naqoura, near the Lebanese-Israeli border, southern Lebanon November 11, 2020. (Reuters)
A base for peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured in Naqoura, near the Lebanese-Israeli border, southern Lebanon November 11, 2020. (Reuters)
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Lebanon: Deputy Speaker Says Assault on Gaza Delayed Demarcation Talks with Israel

A base for peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured in Naqoura, near the Lebanese-Israeli border, southern Lebanon November 11, 2020. (Reuters)
A base for peacekeepers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is pictured in Naqoura, near the Lebanese-Israeli border, southern Lebanon November 11, 2020. (Reuters)

Lebanon’s Deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab stated on Thursday that the latest Israeli aggression against the Gaza strip has delayed the country’s demarcation border talks with Israel.

Bou Saab stressed, after his meeting with President Michel Aoun, that the US mediator Amos Hochstein continues negotiations over the demarcation of Lebanon’s southern maritime border with Israel.

He said Israel’s latest assault on the Gaza Strip has delayed the talks.

“The time for negotiations is not open to infinity. The closer we get to the month of September, the more critical time becomes in this file. To preserve stability, things must end before September” the Deputy Speaker said.

"The US envoy had only visited Israel the day he left Beirut," he noted, adding that "we are following up with him on the matter."

“Hochstein’s efforts continue based on his latest meeting in Baabda (with the President),” Bou Saab said noting that Lebanon is following up with him on the matter.

On the talks with the IMF to provide Lebanon with aid, he said the parliament must first approve a 2022 budget and a new bank secrecy law to fight corruption.



Jordan Army Says It Thwarts Border Infiltration across Syria, One Killed

In this May 23, 2021, file photo, the Syria national flag is displayed at a gathering at Omayyid Square in the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria. (AP)
In this May 23, 2021, file photo, the Syria national flag is displayed at a gathering at Omayyid Square in the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria. (AP)
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Jordan Army Says It Thwarts Border Infiltration across Syria, One Killed

In this May 23, 2021, file photo, the Syria national flag is displayed at a gathering at Omayyid Square in the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria. (AP)
In this May 23, 2021, file photo, the Syria national flag is displayed at a gathering at Omayyid Square in the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria. (AP)

The Jordanian army said on Sunday it had killed one person and arrested six others who tried to cross the border from Syria.

Officials say there has been a spike in such attempts in recent weeks by drug and arms smugglers linked to pro-Iranian militias who hold sway in southern Syria.

The army says they have also used drones in their operations.

Damascus denies any complicity and says it tries to curb rampant drug and arms smuggling across the border with Jordan.