Lebanon

Armed Palestinian groups based in Lebanon’s refugee camps are set to begin handing over their weapons to Lebanese authorities on Thursday, marking the start of a process agreed upon earlier this year. … The issue of weapons in Palestinian refugee camps has been a sensitive matter in Lebanon for decades. Many camps operate outside the full control of the Lebanese state, with armed factions maintaining their own security structures. 

France and its European partners are resisting Washington’s push to end the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon – UNIFIL – arguing its presence remains essential for stability along Israel’s northern border.

Lebanon's government has tasked the army with developing a plan in which only state institutions will have weapons by the end of the year. Such a move would effectively disarm Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Shiite political party and militant group in Lebanon. Tuesday's Cabinet decision follows heavy pressure from the United States to disarm the group.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has reiterated calls for Hezbollah to hand over its weapons to the army, a move rejected by the group despite growing pressure from Israel’s main ally, the United States.

Hezbollah has begun a major strategic review in the wake of its devastating war with Israel, including considering scaling back its role as an armed movement without disarming completely, three sources familiar with the deliberations say.  

The US and Israel have reportedly agreed to ending the mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon, Israel Hayom reported yesterday. … The report stated that the United States is seeking to reduce the costs associated with running the UN peacekeeping mission, while Israel believes that its coordination with the Lebanese army is sufficient and effective enough to make UNIFIL’s continued presence unnecessary.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Major General Diodato Abagnara of Italy as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

[…] Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meanwhile said in an interview with Sky News Arabia that the army was now in control of over 85 percent of the country’s south.

Israel struck south Beirut on Sunday for the third time since a fragile November 27 ceasefire, prompting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to call on its guarantors, France and the US, to force a halt.

Israeli military operations in Lebanon have continued to claim civilian lives and destroy vital infrastructure, the UN human rights office warned on Tuesday, raising alarm over mounting violations since a ceasefire agreement took effect last November.