Hezbollah must not be in Lebanon’s government, says US envoy


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Hezbollah's "reign of terror" is over and the militant group and political party should not be allowed to participate in Lebanon's government, a new US envoy said on Friday.

Morgan Ortagus, deputy special presidential envoy for the Middle East, arrived in Beirut on Friday. She is the most senior American official to visit Lebanon since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House and the new Lebanese leadership was chosen.

Her meeting with Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun at the Baabda Palace came as Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam held negotiations to finalise his cabinet.

“We have set clear red lines in the United States that they [Hezbollah] won’t be able to terrorise the Lebanese people, and that includes by being a part of the government,” Ms Ortagus said after her meeting with Mr Aoun.

"Hezbollah was defeated by Israel and we are grateful to our ally Israel for defeating Hezbollah," she added.

Mr Aoun's office later released a statement on X saying: “Some of what was issued by the US Deputy Envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, from Baabda expresses her point of view, and the Presidency is not concerned with it.”

The Lebanese President told Ms Ortegus that Israel must stop bombing southern Lebanon, destroying homes and killing civilians.

Despite a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Lebanon. Both sides have accused the other of breaching the truce.

Last month, the Israeli military opened fire on people trying to return to their homes in southern Lebanon, killing at least 22, including a Lebanese soldier, and injured more than 120.

Damage and debris in the southern Lebanese village of Al Taybeh, near the border with Israel. AFP
Damage and debris in the southern Lebanese village of Al Taybeh, near the border with Israel. AFP

Washington has insisted that the influence of Hezbollah in the cabinet must be diminished, despite the group and its political ally, the Amal Movement, controlling all 27 Shiite seats in Lebanon's 128-seat parliament.

Mr Aoun was the preferred presidential candidate of the US, but not Hezbollah.

Under the terms of the ceasefire deal, the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers are to increase their presence in southern Lebanon as Hezbollah and Israeli forces withdraw from the area. The Lebanese army has done so in many areas, but not all.

The withdrawal deadline has been extended to February 18, after both sides accused each other of breaching conditions of the agreement.

Mia Man’s tips for fermentation

- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut

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- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.

 

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- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

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What it means to be a conservationist

Who is Enric Sala?

Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.

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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Brief scores:

Toss: Northern Warriors, elected to field first

Bengal Tigers 130-1 (10 ov)

Roy 60 not out, Rutherford 47 not out

Northern Warriors 94-7 (10 ov)

Simmons 44; Yamin 4-4

Why seagrass matters
  • Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
  • Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
  • Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
  • Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Updated: February 08, 2025, 4:16 AM`