Iran Says it Never Attacked US Military Forces

Iranian drones (IRNA)
Iranian drones (IRNA)
TT

Iran Says it Never Attacked US Military Forces

Iranian drones (IRNA)
Iranian drones (IRNA)

Iran has denied what it called the baseless accusations that it participated in attacks against US forces.

Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeed Iravani asserted that Iran has never carried out any action or attack against the US military forces in Syria or other places.

Addressing the Security Council meeting regarding the situation in the Middle East on Wednesday, Iravani said "the baseless accusations of the US against my country will be categorically rejected in this meeting."

"These baseless accusations appear to be part of a deliberate attempt by the United States to divert attention from the serious violations of international law and the UN Charter in Syria," he said, according to the Iranian Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

The diplomat said: "I would like to emphasize that the Islamic Republic of Iran has never been involved in any acts or attacks against US military forces in Syria or elsewhere."

He added that Iran has consistently upheld its commitments to promoting peace and security in the region.

Iravani stated the US must stop its "unlawful actions in Syria, end its illegal occupation, and comply with its international legal obligations, including the pertinent resolutions of the Security Council, which require all Member States to uphold and respect Syria's national sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity."

He said Washington "claims to be fighting terrorism in Syria; in reality, its unlawful actions in Syria provide immunity and a protective shield for terrorist organizations to advance the US political agenda and the Israeli regime in the region."



South Korea, China Evacuate Citizens from Lebanon as Tensions Rise

 South Korean nationals and their family members arrive after being evacuated from Lebanon with a South Korea's military aircraft at the Seoul airport in Seongnam, South Korea, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Yonhap via AP)
South Korean nationals and their family members arrive after being evacuated from Lebanon with a South Korea's military aircraft at the Seoul airport in Seongnam, South Korea, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Yonhap via AP)
TT

South Korea, China Evacuate Citizens from Lebanon as Tensions Rise

 South Korean nationals and their family members arrive after being evacuated from Lebanon with a South Korea's military aircraft at the Seoul airport in Seongnam, South Korea, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Yonhap via AP)
South Korean nationals and their family members arrive after being evacuated from Lebanon with a South Korea's military aircraft at the Seoul airport in Seongnam, South Korea, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (Yonhap via AP)

A South Korean military transport aircraft returned 97 citizens and family members from Lebanon on Saturday as Middle East tensions rise, the foreign ministry said.

A KC-330 aircraft left Beirut on Friday afternoon with the evacuees, who include Lebanese family members, and arrived at a military airfield on the south of Seoul, the ministry said.

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday ordered military aircraft to be deployed to evacuate South Korean citizens from parts of the Middle East as conflict escalates between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as the armed group's backer, Iran.

South Korea's defense ministry said it flew a C130J transport plane as backup, which is capable of operating on shorter runways and under fire, as a precaution, and sent 39 military personnel, including mechanics and diplomats.

The government will take further actions to ensure the safety of its citizens, the foreign ministry said without elaborating.

South Korean diplomats stationed in Lebanon remained in the country, Yonhap news agency reported.

More than 200 Chinese citizens have been safely evacuated from Lebanon, China's foreign ministry said on Saturday.

"These people, who have been evacuated in two batches, include three Hong Kong residents and one Taiwan compatriot," the ministry said in a statement in response to a Reuters query on the situation.

"The Chinese Embassy in Lebanon remains firm in Lebanon and continues to assist Chinese citizens remaining there in taking security measures," it added.

On Wednesday, China's official Xinhua news agency said more than 200 Chinese citizens had been safely evacuated from Lebanon by the government.

Taiwan's foreign ministry said three Taiwanese in Lebanon were expected to return to the island this month and that two others had opted to stay for family reasons.

The ministry added that another Taiwanese decided late last month to take a boat out of the country arranged by China, and that the de facto Taiwan embassy in Jordan was aware of that process. It did not elaborate.