Israel attacks south Lebanon amid diplomatic push to calm tensions


Jamie Prentis
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Israel's military struck villages in south Lebanon overnight as western and regional officials worked to prevent cross-border exchanges of fire with Hezbollah developing into a full-scale regional war.

The villages of Kfarkela, Aita Ash Shab and Markaba were among those hit, with a civilian injured in a strike on the latter.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty arrived in Beirut on Friday, one day after a visit to the Lebanese capital by French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne and two days after US envoy Amos Hochstein.

Both had stressed the seriousness of the current situation while underlining that a ceasefire in Gaza was necessary to ensure peace in Lebanon and the wider region.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, left, meets Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut on Friday. EPA
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, left, meets Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut on Friday. EPA

Mr Sejourne arrived on the same day that Air France and its subsidiary Transavia resumed services to Beirut. Most airlines cancelled flights to Lebanon, which has only one international airport, as regional tensions spiralled in late July.

Israel assassinated top Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr in a strike on a densely populated area of Beirut on July 30 that also killed civilians. Hours later, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a blast in Tehran in an assassination blamed on Israel. Both Iran and Hezbollah vowed retaliation, raising fears of a regional war.

Hezbollah has been engaged in daily exchanges of cross-border fire with Israel since October 8. The Iran-backed group says its attacks are in support of its ally Hamas, which has faced an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip after carrying out raids in Israel on October 7 in which nearly 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

Hezbollah has said its attacks will not end until there is a ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began its assault.

There are hopes that the resumption of Gaza ceasefire talks in Doha on Thursday could dampen the response from Iran-backed groups to Israel's assassinations.

However Hezbollah deputy secretary general Naim Qassem warned on Thursday that the group's response to the killing of Mr Shukr was “completely separate” to the ceasefire talks. “The response will happen,” he said, adding that “how and when” was still being decided by the group's leaders and commanders.

“The Americans want to say they are doing something but there is a vacuum,” he said after Mr Hochstein's visit.

He said the US envoy offered “no substantial suggestions”.

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A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur  Sheikh Zayed

Updated: August 16, 2024, 10:27 AM`