Lebanon Says Israeli Gunboat Violated Its Waters, Israel Denies It

A boat in the Mediterranean Sea on the Israeli border with Lebanon near Rosh Hanikra, Israel, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (AP)
A boat in the Mediterranean Sea on the Israeli border with Lebanon near Rosh Hanikra, Israel, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (AP)
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Lebanon Says Israeli Gunboat Violated Its Waters, Israel Denies It

A boat in the Mediterranean Sea on the Israeli border with Lebanon near Rosh Hanikra, Israel, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (AP)
A boat in the Mediterranean Sea on the Israeli border with Lebanon near Rosh Hanikra, Israel, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (AP)

The Lebanese army said on Tuesday that an Israeli gunboat had violated Lebanese territorial waters on Monday morning, an allegation denied by Israel in the second such dispute this week as the countries work toward a maritime border demarcation.

The alleged naval incursion took place in an area of the Mediterranean sea opposite Ras Naqura, the Lebanese army said.

In response, an Israeli military spokesperson said "there was no crossing" into Lebanese territorial waters on Monday.

The countries are technically at war but this month clinched a US-brokered agreement to demarcate a maritime border. The deal awaits formal announcement by Washington.

On Sunday, the Lebanese army said Israeli gunboats had violated Lebanese territorial waters several times on Saturday opposite Ras Naqura. That was also denied by Israel's military.



Sudan, Iran Exchange Ambassadors after 8-Year Rupture

Al-Burhan received the credentials of the Iranian ambassador (Sovereignty Council website)
Al-Burhan received the credentials of the Iranian ambassador (Sovereignty Council website)
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Sudan, Iran Exchange Ambassadors after 8-Year Rupture

Al-Burhan received the credentials of the Iranian ambassador (Sovereignty Council website)
Al-Burhan received the credentials of the Iranian ambassador (Sovereignty Council website)

The head of the Sovereignty Council, Commander of the Sudanese Army, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, received, on Sunday, the credentials of Hassan Shah, the new Iranian Ambassador in Sudan, after more than 8 years of complete estrangement between the two countries.
In press statements, the Undersecretary of the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hussein Al-Amin, pointed to the “beginning of a new phase of bilateral relations,” and stressed strong ties between Sudan and Iran.
He added: “The President of the Sovereignty Council welcomed the new ambassador of Iran.”
In turn, the Iranian ambassador said that submitting his credentials “comes within the framework of the common consensus between the two countries regarding the exchange of ambassadors and the promotion of bilateral relations.” He added that he would do his “utmost to strengthen cooperation relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Sudan.”
He also noted that his country “supports national sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Sudan.”
In October, Sudan announced the resumption of diplomatic relations with Iran following meetings between officials in the two countries, which lasted for months.
The new rapprochement began during talks between their foreign ministers in Azerbaijan, in July 2023, on the sidelines of the meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement.
In June 2016, the government of deposed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir announced that it was severing its relations with Iran and expelling its ambassador from Khartoum.