Beirut port blast investigator Judge Tarek Bitar is set to appear Tuesday before Judge Habib Rizkallah, head of the Ninth Chamber of the Court of Cassation and a member of Lebanon’s Higher Judicial Council, in a hearing that could determine the future of the long-stalled probe.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
The Lebanese judiciary received on Monday a legal request from France demanding assistance in tracking down officials from the ousted Syrian regime and their arrest should they be found in Lebanon.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Lebanon today stands at a turning point in its history. After years of economic collapse, political paralysis and the corrosive dominance of the Iranian-backed party and armed paramilitary group Hezbollah, the country faces a stark choice: Seize the chance to reclaim its sovereignty and democratic promise or remain hostage to Hezbollah’s weapons and Iran’s influence.
Thursday, October 30, 2025
One of the more amusing bon mots in circulation comes from the late left-wing British journalist Claud Cockburn, who once said, “Believe nothing until it’s officially denied.” We might add a variation on that remark, that goes something like this: “Believe everything until everyone confirms it.”
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says the club expects to learn the outcome of the hearing into its 115 charges of alleged Premier League financial rule breaches "in one month".
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Former Brazil and Real Madrid defender Marcelo has announced his retirement from football, bringing the curtain down on a trophy-laden career that included five UEFA Champions League triumphs.
Friday, February 7, 2025
Thursday 6 November 2025 09:55:50
Amid rising security tensions and fears of a potential Israeli military escalation against Hezbollah’s weapons stockpiles, the Lebanese Army is expected to complete its disarmament operations south of the Litani River by year’s end, before moving on to four additional phases in other regions of the country, Al-Modon reported.
Army Commander General Joseph Rodolph Haykal is set to present his second monthly report to the government on Friday, detailing the progress of the disarmament operation, coordination with the ceasefire monitoring committee, also known as “the Mechanism”, and the remaining challenges.
A senior military official told Al-Modon that the Lebanese Army has divided the area south of the Litani River into three operational sectors: an eastern sector extending to Marjayoun, a central sector covering Bint Jbeil and its surrounding villages, and a western sector reaching Naqoura. All units operate under a single command structure known as “South of the Litani.”
The army has established 118 operational points across the region. Some sites remain inaccessible due to ongoing Israeli attacks, while others are expected to be completed by the end of the year. To support the operation, the army has requested explosives, detonators, and mine-clearing equipment, with assistance expected from UNIFIL units, notably the Chinese contingent.
The report will detail the army’s activities since the disarmament plan began, including the number of weapons depots dismantled and tunnels discovered and secured.
Officials said the Lebanese Army has dismantled four major facilities, including a large site in Wadi Jilo in the Tyre district, which contained substantial stockpiles of weapons and military equipment. Another site, resembling Hezbollah’s wartime “Imad 4” complex, was also secured and brought under army control.
Smaller weapons depots, scattered across dozens of border villages, have all been neutralized. In some villages, as many as five depots were destroyed.
According to the source, the army has completed roughly 90% of its mission in the southern sector. The remainder depends primarily on Israeli withdrawal and cessation of attacks, and secondarily on the availability of necessary equipment. General Haykal's report will also address tunnel closures, reinforced border deployments, and ongoing threats to both Lebanese troops and UN personnel.
The army has requested increased support from the Mechanism to prevent Israeli violations and ongoing drone overflights. Technical assistance is also sought for mine clearance and mapping cluster munitions.
Future plans for the southern sector include the construction of observation towers in each of the three operational sectors, outfitted with cameras, sensors, and radar systems to monitor Israeli movements and prevent any armed activity by groups within the border area.
General Haykal confirmed that Hezbollah has largely cooperated in the southern sector, with only minor incidents reported. Operations north of the Litani have not yet begun, as the army seeks to avoid internal conflict until Israeli intentions regarding withdrawal become clear.
