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Lebanon to File UN Complaint over Israeli Aggression

Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib (Dalati and Nohra)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib (Dalati and Nohra)
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Lebanon to File UN Complaint over Israeli Aggression

Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib (Dalati and Nohra)
Prime Minister Najib Mikati meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib (Dalati and Nohra)

Lebanon said on Sunday that it intends to file a complaint with the UN Security Council against Israel's aggression on Lebanon, following a rocket barrage fired at Israel from southern Lebanon on Thursday.

Lebanon’s caretaker Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Bou Habib, said the complaint is to be presented by the Permanent Representative of Lebanon to the UN, Jean Murad, to both the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Security Council.

The complaint was decided to be filed at the request of Abdullah and after consultations with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

Lebanon renewed refusals that its territories be exploited as a platform to destabilize stability but also stressed its legitimate right to self-defense.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to keeping the lines of communication open with the United Nations and UNIFIL forces as the best means to solve problems and maintain calm and stability.

On Friday, Israel unleashed rare airstrikes on southern Lebanon and bombarded the Gaza Strip.

The early morning strikes followed a large rocket barrage fired at Israel from southern Lebanon.

The violence erupted after Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem earlier in the week, sparking unrest in the contested capital and outrage across the Arab world.

Voicing alarm over the latest developments in the region, mainly the escalation on its southern border, Lebanon said the Israeli airstrikes on its territory are a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Lebanon, endangering the life of people and the safety of the land.

Cautious calm prevails in southern Lebanon after the Israeli response to the missiles. Only material damages were reported in the Lebanese areas hit by the missiles, according to the National News Agency.

The Lebanese army found on Friday a deserted rocket launcher in the Al-Qolayle plains in the south. The launcher, which contained 12 rocket compartments, contained several unlaunched rockets.

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Lavrov: Moscow Maintains Communication with Damascus, Will Not Withdraw from the Region

Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
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Lavrov: Moscow Maintains Communication with Damascus, Will Not Withdraw from the Region

Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)
Syrian forces stop a car at a checkpoint after taking control of the port of Tartus earlier this month. (AFP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to the Middle East, stating that Moscow “has not and will not withdraw from the region.” He emphasized ongoing communication with Syria’s new leadership and expressed readiness to support the political process in the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Lavrov attributed Syria’s deteriorating situation to the previous regime, blaming its unwillingness to implement reforms and share power with the opposition.

“The refusal of the former Syrian regime to make any changes or share power with the opposition was one of the primary reasons for its collapse,” he said.

Lavrov noted that over the past decade, since President Bashar al-Assad requested Russian intervention in the Syrian war and the launch of the Astana peace process, Damascus had delayed advancing the political path.

“Despite support from Arab nations, Syrian authorities showed reluctance to move forward politically and sought to maintain the status quo,” he explained.

He highlighted Russia’s repeated calls for the Syrian government to engage with the Constitutional Committee, established during the 2018 Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi, and to actively work on drafting a new constitution.

Lavrov also pointed to economic challenges exacerbated by sanctions, which have stifled Syria’s economy, and US control over oil-rich eastern regions. Resources were exploited to fuel separatist ambitions in northeastern Syria, he remarked.

Moreover, the FM revealed details of Moscow’s earlier discussions with Kurdish groups, reiterating his country’s position that Kurdish rights should be guaranteed within the constitutional frameworks of Syria, Iraq, Iran and Türkiye.

He argued that the previous Syrian regime’s reluctance to engage in political dialogue resulted in stalled reforms proposed by the United Nations, Moscow and Cairo platforms, and Istanbul-based opposition groups. This inaction, he said, created a vacuum that ultimately led to the collapse.

Furthermore, he dismissed claims that his country’s withdrawal from Syria would signal its departure from the Middle East.

“Russia has not and will not leave the region,” he declared. Without directly addressing the status of Russian military bases in Syria, Lavrov emphasized: “Our embassy never left Damascus, and we maintain ongoing communication with the authorities.”

He also stressed Russia’s willingness to facilitate inclusive dialogue involving all national, political and sectarian factions, as well as relevant international stakeholders. Lavrov underscored that recent discussions with Türkiye, Gulf nations, and other parties demonstrated widespread agreement that Russia and Iran must be involved in the Syrian peace process if sustainable results are to be achieved.

For his part, Mikhail Bogdanov, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East and Africa, reaffirmed Russia’s focus on developments in Syria, describing relations with Damascus as a “priority of Russian foreign policy.”

Reports on Tuesday suggested that Bogdanov might soon lead a Russian delegation to Damascus. However, a Russian diplomatic source informed Asharq Al-Awsat that no date for the visit has been confirmed. The visit, which was reportedly postponed, would mark the first by a senior Russian official to Damascus since the fall of Assad’s regime in December.

Meanwhile, media reports indicated that Moscow is facing logistical challenges in withdrawing military equipment from Syria, due to restrictions imposed by Syrian authorities on the movement of Russian ships in territorial waters.

According to the English-language edition of RT, the Russian ship Sparta 2, designated to transport military equipment and weapons, was denied entry to the Port of Tartus, where Russia maintains its only overseas naval base.