Lebanon has appointed General Rudolph Haykal as the new commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), a crucial move as the country grapples with mounting security concerns.
Haykal takes command at a pivotal moment, with rising tensions along the southern border with Israel and ongoing challenges posed by armed groups and weapons smuggling from Syria.
One of Haykal’s top priorities will be strengthening the army’s capabilities. The LAF has announced plans to recruit 4,500 soldiers this year, a step aimed at reinforcing security in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah remains active. The military’s presence in the area is crucial for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which calls for the disarmament of non-state actors and the prevention of hostilities with Israel.
The new army chief is also expected to enhance cooperation with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), tasked with monitoring the ceasefire along the Blue Line. His leadership will be tested as the army works to assert control in a region where Hezbollah’s influence remains strong.
Another key challenge for Haykal will be addressing weapons smuggling from Syria, an issue that has long concerned both Lebanese authorities and neighboring Israel. The Israeli military has accused Hezbollah of using covert smuggling networks, backed by Iran, to transfer advanced weaponry into Lebanon.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a rare public rebuke of Israel's military tactics in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah militants, saying it wa...
French department store BHV and online fast-fashion retailer Shein have ended their partnership, seven months after the launch of a permanent Shein sh...
Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday convicted former lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro, a son of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro living in the U.S., of courting in...
Russian sailors aboard a naval frigate fired warning shots at a civilian yacht in the English Channel on Tuesday after the vessel reportedly came too ...
South Korea will shift a line running parallel to the military border with North Korea to narrow the area that restricts civilian access to reflect an...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a rare public rebuke of Israel's military tactics in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah militants, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to hunt militants.
U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to be made public and both countries said a permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.
Iran has said that reaching an agreement with the U.S. to end the war does not mean Tehran will overlook what it describes as war crimes committed against Iranians by Israel and the United States.
Fighting in southern Lebanon eased on Monday after a U.S.-Iran agreement aimed at ending months of regional conflict was announced, although uncertainty remained over how the deal would be implemented on the ground.
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island early Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring four, according to emergency authorities.
U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to be made public and both countries said a permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.
Ukraine has said it struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Moscow region, marking one of the deepest reported attacks into Russian territory in recent months.
More than 8,300 participants from 100 countries have gathered in Uzbekistan's capital for the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF-2026), bringing together investors, policymakers and business leaders from around the world.
Following Armenia’s parliamentary vote, AnewZ spoke to people in Yerevan about the mood in the capital, relations with Azerbaijan and the country’s future.
France has continued activities that undermine the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, including espionage and information campaigns targeting Baku, according to Azerbaijan’s State Commission Against Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats.
QatarEnergy is prepared to rapidly restore liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at its Ras Laffan complex once shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz return to normal, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Israel has formally assumed planning and construction powers at one of the most sensitive religious sites in the occupied West Bank, ending an arrangement that had been in place for nearly three decades.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment