World leaders discuss Iran’s nuclear program, IDF fires on Lebanon after ‘breaching ceasefire’
World leaders have met with Iran to probe their nuclear aspirations as the regime’s sponsored terror group Hezbollah is accused by Israel of already breaking their ceasefire.
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Representatives from Iran, Britain, France and Germany had a discreet meeting on Friday touching on Tehran’s nuclear program, amid surging tensions even before Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Following the talks in Geneva, shrouded in an unusual level of secrecy, the parties each took to social media to say the discussions had focused on Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions, and other regional issues.
The sides had “agreed to continue diplomatic dialogue in the near future”, the German foreign ministry and the high-level diplomats representing France, Britain and Iran said separately on X.
Providing a bit more detail, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, described Friday’s discussions as “candid”.
“Our preference is the path of dialogue and engagement,” he wrote. The stakes were laid bare in a warning from Britain’s foreign intelligence chief that Iran’s nuclear ambitions posed a major global security threat, despite its weakened position after setbacks dealt to its Islamist allies Hamas and Hezbollah in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
“Iran’s allied militias across the Middle East have suffered serious blows,” Secret Intelligence Service chief Richard Moore said in a speech in Paris. “But the regime’s nuclear ambitions continue to threaten all of us.”
Friday’s meeting took place in the context of extreme tension in the Middle East between Israel and Iran and its allies.
This week a fragile ceasefire took effect in Lebanon after a year of conflict with Israel that has dealt a heavy blow to Hezbollah - while Hamas is reeling amid the war still raging in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel -- the region’s sole, if undeclared, nuclear-armed state -- would do “everything” to stop Tehran acquiring a nuclear weapon.
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‘VIOLATION OF THE CEASEFIRE’
Israel defence struck a Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon hours after firing warning shots at suspects who approached off-limits border areas.
“The IDF is deployed in southern Lebanon, acting and thwarting any violation of the ceasefire agreement,” the Israel Defense Force said.
“A short while ago, terrorist activity was identified in a facility used by Hezbollah to store mid-range rockets in southern Lebanon,” the Israeli military added, saying “the threat was thwarted” by its air force.
Yesterday, Hezbollah had a precision-guided missile manufacturing site—today, they don’t.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 27, 2024
Hezbollah’s largest precision-guided missiles manufacturing site, 1.4km wide and 70m underground, was struck and dismantled by IAF fighter jets yesterday.
Precision-guided missiles and… pic.twitter.com/Tct7DiXwfq
Earlier the Israeli army said that “over the past hour, several suspects were identified arriving with vehicles to a number of areas in southern Lebanon, breaching the conditions of the ceasefire”.
The army “opened fire toward them”, the statement said, adding that the Israeli military “remains in southern Lebanon and will actively enforce violations of the ceasefire agreement”.
But a Lebanese military source said the armed forces were extending their deployment in the country’s south, without approaching Israeli-controlled areas, following the ceasefire that ended two months of all-out war and more than a year of hostilities.
In an interview with Channel 14, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened Hezbollah with an “intensive war” if it violated the two-day old ceasefire.
“If necessary, I gave a directive to the (Israeli army)” to wage “an intensive war” in the event of any breach, he said.
Lebanon’s official National News Agency said two people were wounded in the village of Markaba “due to the enemy targeting” of a square in the village.
Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee on X repeated a warning to Lebanese residents not to return to areas adjacent to the border, listing a series of villages and towns along the frontier.
The Israeli and Lebanese militaries have both called on residents of frontline villages to avoid returning home immediately, though people have been going back to the south in large numbers.
A Lebanese military source, requesting anonymity, said that “the army continues to gradually deploy in the south Litani region, conducting patrols and setting up checkpoints, without advancing into points where the Israeli (military) is still present”.
The NNA reported Israeli artillery shelling on a number of border villages, saying the Israeli army targeted “the Taybeh square and the town of Khiam and the Marjayoun plain with artillery shells”.
It also reported the sound of automatic weapons in Khiam and said an Israeli “Merkava tank shot a shell at the village of Wazzani”.
The Lebanese army accused Israel of violating a ceasefire “several times” since it went into effect the previous day after more than 13 months of hostilities with Hezbollah militants.
“The Israeli enemy violated the deal several times,” the army said, citing air strikes and attacks on Lebanese territory with “various weapons”.
Under the US and French brokered ceasefire, the Israeli army has 60 days to gradually withdraw from south Lebanon.
The IDF has not yet announced any pull-out from the region, which Hezbollah also has to evacuate.
Also Wednesday, two journalists were injured by Israeli fire, the NNA said, while reporting from a border town.
Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said “we control positions in the south of Lebanon, our planes continue to fly in Lebanese airspace”, adding that Israel “arrested suspects and killed terrorists”.
ISRAEL’S PM VOWS TO STOP IRAN BECOMING NUKE POWER
Benjamin Netanyahu vowed he was prepared to do “everything” to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons in an interview broadcast on Thursday Tel Aviv time.
The renewed war of words between the Middle East foes came as Iran prepares to hold key nuclear talks with European governments on Friday which have been overshadowed by their joining with Washington to have Tehran censured by the UN atomic watchdog.
“I will do everything to prevent it from becoming a nuclear (power), I will use all the resources that can be used,” the prime Minister told Israeli broadcaster Channel 14.
Mr Netanyahu said on Tuesday that the ceasefire that went into effect in Lebanon the following day would allow Israel to focus on Iran. He did not elaborate on what action he envisaged.
‘WE ONLY WANT THE LEBANESE ARMY’
Lebanon’s military deployed troops and tanks across the country’s south as a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war largely held for a second day.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers were to become the only armed presence in south Lebanon.
A Lebanese army source said its forces were “conducting patrols and setting up checkpoints” south of the Litani River without advancing into areas where Israeli forces were still present.
In the border village of Qlayaa, residents threw rice and flowers to celebrate the arrival of Lebanese soldiers.
“We only want the Lebanese army,” chanted the residents of the Christian-majority village, as they clapped and cheered for the troops and waved the Lebanese red, white and green flag.
Hezbollah proclaimed on Wednesday that it had achieved “victory” in the war against Israel, after the truce took effect, adding its fighters would “remain in total readiness to deal with the Israeli enemy’s ambitions and its attacks”.
NETANYAHU ‘IMMUNE FROM ARREST’
Provisions for immunity from prosecution at the International Criminal Court apply to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the French foreign ministry said.
It said the Israeli leader was covered by immunity rules that apply to states which are not a party to the ICC. Israel is not an ICC member.
“A state cannot be held to act in a way that is incompatible with its obligations in terms of international law with regards to immunities granted to states which are not party to the ICC,” the French statement said.
“Such immunities apply to Prime Minister Netanyahu and other ministers in question, and must be taken into consideration should the ICC ask us to arrest them and hand them over,” it said.
The ICC this month issued warrants for Mr Netanyahu, former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif. Mr Netanyahu has slammed the move.
Asked if France would arrest Mr Netanyahu if he stepped on French territory, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot did not give a specific answer in an interview with Franceinfo radio.
He said France “is very committed to international justice and will apply international law based on its obligations to co-operate with the ICC.”
But he added that the court’s statute “deals with questions of immunity for certain leaders”.
“It is ultimately up to the judicial authorities to decide,” he added.
The EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said the arrest warrants are “binding” and should be implemented.
BIDEN IN RENEWED PUSH FOR GAZA CEASEFIRE
US President Joe Biden will launch a renewed drive for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal after Israel and Hezbollah began a truce in Lebanon, his national security adviser said.
Jake Sullivan said Hamas faces increased pressure to cut a deal now that Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah movement is no longer fighting in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group.
Mr Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu right before the US- and French-brokered truce with Hezbollah was announced and they agreed to try again for an elusive Gaza truce, Mr Sullivan said.
“President Biden intends to begin that work today by having his envoys engage with Turkey, Qatar, Egypt and other actors in the region,” Mr Sullivan told MSNBC on Wednesday US time.
“We believe that this is the beginning of an opportunity for a more stable Middle East in which Israel’s security is assured and US interests are secured,” he added.
The day the Hezbollah ceasefire went into effect, hostage families descended on Israeli parliament where they succeeded in temporarily preventing Mr Netanyahu from entering his office.
משפחות ×—×˜×•×¤×™× ×ž×ª×‘×¦×¨×•×ª במדרגות ×”×›× ×¡×ª ×חרי שהזיזו ×ותן ×ž×”×›× ×™×¡×” ללשכת רה"מ
— Noa Shpigel (@NoaShpigel) November 27, 2024
מלמעלה ×¦×•×¤×™× ×¢×œ×™×”× ×—×› סוכות והיועץ המורשע של השר לבטחון ל×ומי גופשטיין pic.twitter.com/bnDoeNu4ne
Eli Albag, whose 19-year-old daughter Liri is a hostage, told the Times of Israel Mr Netanyahu must make a deal in Gaza just like he did in Lebanon.
Security soon moved the group on but, undeterred, they instead chose to block various stairwells leading up to the faction rooms of the Knesset – the Israeli name for its parliament.
Their desperate plea was echoed by the families of the seven dual American-Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.
“While we are encouraged by this ceasefire deal in Lebanon, we ask ourselves: When will our children, parents, sisters and brothers come home?” a joint statement from the families reads.
“We cannot allow their chairs at our tables to sit forever empty.
“We urge President-elect Trump and his transition team to work together with President Biden and his administration officials to bring seven Americans – Omer Neutra, Edan Alexander, Judi Weinstein, Gad Haggai, Keith Siegel, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Itay Chen – and the additional 94 hostages home now.”
WORLD RALLIES AROUND PUSH FOR PEACE IN GAZA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a speech to parliament about his intentions.
“To stop the massacre in Gaza and to establish a permanent ceasefire, we as Turkey are ready to contribute in any way possible,” Mr Erdogan said.
A 60-day ceasefire came into effect hours after Mr Biden announced the agreement.
The President said the deal, which paved the way for ending a conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 3800 Lebanese people and displaced 1.3 million civilians, is intended to be a “permanent cessation of hostilities”.
Mr Netanyahu endorsed the US-backed proposal in a televised address, while warning he would respond forcefully to any violations by Hezbollah.
“The length of the ceasefire will depend on what happens in Lebanon,” he said.
“With the full understanding of the United States, we are preserving full military freedom of action. If Hezbollah breaks the agreement and seeks to arm itself, we will attack.”
Under the agreement, Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon, while the Lebanese army is expected to be deployed in the region and Hezbollah will cease its armed presence south of the Litani River.
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said that the army would be prepared to deploy at least 5000 troops to southern Lebanon as Israeli forces pull out, and that the US could assist in rebuilding infrastructure damaged by Israeli air strikes.
The Lebanese government does not control Hezbollah, which has long wielded power in the country as a political party, military force and proxy for its regional backer Iran.
“Just as the Lebanese people deserve a future of security and prosperity, so do the people of Gaza,” Mr Biden said. “Now Hamas has a choice to make. Their only way out is to release hostages including American citizens which they hold, and in the process bring an end to the fighting, which would make possible a surge of humanitarian relief.”
AUSTRALIA WELCOMES HEZBOLLAH CEASEFIRE
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia welcomed the deal to bring an end to the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
“This is a critical step for alleviating immense human suffering and ensuring displaced communities on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border can return home,” she said.
“An end to the violence in Lebanon will also assist in de-escalating heightened tensions in the region. Australia reiterates calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the unimpeded flow of aid, the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers, and for the immediate release of all hostages.”
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