UNIFIL Spokesman: Our Priority Is to Provide Support to Lebanon's Army

UNIFIL Spokesman: Our Priority Is to Provide Support to Lebanon's Army
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UNIFIL Spokesman: Our Priority Is to Provide Support to Lebanon's Army

UNIFIL Spokesman: Our Priority Is to Provide Support to Lebanon's Army

The spokesperson for the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Andrea Tenenti, assured Wednesday that UNIFIL's priority is to offer maritime and land support to the Lebanese Armed Forces, denying possibility to reduce any operational support.

Tenenti noted to the National News Agency on whether the United Nations plans to downsize its UNIFIL force, saying that "the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said - earlier this week - that it is important for the Lebanese government to strengthen its naval capabilities, but he did not address the issue of downsizing operational activities and our assistance to the Lebanese armed forces."

"The UNIFIL's priority is to provide support to the Lebanese Army at land and sea, while working with the international community to provide all the necessary support to the Lebanese armed forces," Tenenti said.



White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
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White House Urges Hamas to Sign on to New Deal to Ensure Hostage Release

Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinian boys examine a car targeted in an Israeli army strike that killed several of its occupants in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The Biden administration is urging Hamas to sign on to a new ceasefire deal that would ensure the release of hostages, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Friday.

Kirby said the White House welcomed Israel's decision to send another team to Doha to continue negotiations.

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been trying to mediate a deal for a ceasefire and hostage release for a year with no success and are making another push this month before Donald Trump's inauguration.
Ceasefire efforts have continually stumbled on a fundamental disagreement over how to end the conflict. Hamas says it will accept an agreement and release the hostages only if Israel commits to ending the war. Israel says it will agree to stop fighting only once Hamas is destroyed.

On Friday, Hamas said it wanted "a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip" and the return of displaced people to their homes in all areas of the enclave.

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly called for a ceasefire agreement. Trump has said that if there is not a deal to release the hostages before his inauguration, "all hell is going to break out.”