Kazakhstan vows to fast-track AZAL crash investigation amid rising diplomatic tensions
Kazakhstan has vowed to speed up its investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crash near Aktau, as mounti...
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Lebanon in its reconstruction efforts once a new government is formed.
The southern regions, which suffered the most extensive destruction, are expected to be the primary beneficiaries of international assistance and investment. Following a press conference with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the visiting Qatari Prime Minister reiterated Doha’s unwavering support for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
“We are looking forward to the formation of the government, and after that, we will explore a strategic partnership based on mutual interests,” Al Thani stated. As part of the ceasefire agreement implemented on November 27, 2024, the Lebanese army must be deployed in the south, while the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah is required to withdraw from border areas near Israel.
President Aoun, who was elected Lebanon’s head of state by Parliament on January 9, had previously served as commander-in-chief of the Lebanese military.
During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed also met with key Lebanese officials, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who secured his mandate with a landslide vote of confidence from Parliament. Lebanon’s lawmakers elected President Joseph Aoun with 99 out of 128 votes, ending more than two years of political deadlock.
Shortly after his election, Aoun tasked Nawaf Salam—former president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)—with forming a new government, following his endorsement by 84 lawmakers.
During the press conference, Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Qatar’s support for the Lebanese army and emphasized the urgent need to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701. “Israel must withdraw from southern Lebanon, and Resolution 1701 must be fully enforced,” he declared. Meanwhile, President Aoun praised Qatar’s efforts in assisting Lebanon across various sectors.
Prime Minister Salam also welcomed Qatar’s commitment to assisting Lebanon during this critical period, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in rebuilding the country’s war-torn infrastructure and stabilizing its economy.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on the compound of the Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei on Saturday that killed him, other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
Türkiye raised its security level for Turkish-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to Level 3 on Sunday (2 March). The development follows Iranian restrictions on shipping after U.S. and Israeli strikes and confirmation of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death.
Seven opposition parties in Georgia have formed a coordinated alliance ahead of upcoming elections, saying it aims to challenge the dominance of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The government has dismissed the move as a rebranding of familiar political figures.
Türkiye’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has described the ongoing U.S.–Israeli military campaign against Iran as a “clear violation of international law”, in his strongest remarks yet on the escalating regional crisis.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. military has enough stockpiled weapons to fight wars "forever"; in a social media post late on Monday. The remarks came hours before conflict in Iran and the Middle East entered its fourth day.
Kazakhstan has vowed to speed up its investigation into the Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) crash near Aktau, as mounting diplomatic pressure and geopolitical tensions push the disaster further into the international spotlight.
Entrances to Iran's underground and previously bombed uranium-enrichment plant at Natanz have been struck as part of the U.S.-Israeli military attacks on the country, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEZ) confirmed on Tuesday (3 March).
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