Latest news with #TomBarrack
Roya News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Roya News
'Very bad decision': US envoy warns Hezbollah of involvement in Iran-'Israel' war
The US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack warned Lebanese group Hezbollah on Thursday against getting involved in the war between its main backer Iran and 'Israel'. Barrack, who is also the US ambassador to Turkey, is on his first visit to Beirut, where he met top Lebanese officials including parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah. "I can say on behalf of President (Donald) Trump... that would be a very, very, very bad decision," Barrack said after his meeting with Berri, responding to a question on what the US position would be on any involvement by Hezbollah in the war. In a statement, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group will "act as we see fit". "Tyrannical America and criminal Israel will not be able to subjugate the Iranian people and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," Qassem said. Hezbollah, he added, still had "the responsibility to stand by Iran and provide it with all forms of support that contribute to putting an end to this tyranny and oppression". Hezbollah suffered devastating losses in its war against 'Israel' last year, which ended with a ceasefire agreement in November. When 'Israel' struck Iran last week, the Lebanese foreign ministry said that it was "continuing its contacts" to spare the country from being dragged into any conflict. In a statement shared by the Lebanese presidency after his meeting with Barrack, President Joseph Aoun said that "communications are ongoing to achieve the goal of weapons monopoly at both the Lebanese and Palestinian levels, and will intensify after stability returns... to the region". According to the November ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah must pull its fighters back north of the Litani river, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the 'Israeli' border, leaving the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the area. 'Israel' is required to fully withdraw its troops but has kept them in five locations in Lebanon it deems "strategic". Lebanon has also recently ramped up efforts to disarm Palestinian armed groups, which for decades had been in charge of Palestinian refugee camps in the country. After his meeting with Barrack, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed Lebanon's "commitment to the choice of security and stability and rejection of being dragged into the ongoing war in the region". He also asked the US envoy "to assist Lebanon in pressuring Israel for its complete withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories". Despite the ongoing ceasefire, 'Israel' has carried out repeated strikes in Lebanon, which it has said will continue until Hezbollah has been disarmed.
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
US warns Hizbollah: Stay out of Iran-Israel war
BEIRUT: The US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack warned Lebanese group Hizbollah on Thursday against getting involved in the war between its main backer Iran and Israel. Barrack, who is also the US ambassador to Turkiye, is on his first visit to Beirut, where he met top Lebanese officials including parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hizbollah. "I can say on behalf of President (Donald) Trump... that would be a very, very, very bad decision," Barrack said after his meeting with Berri, responding to a question on what the US position would be on any involvement by Hizbollah in the war. In a statement, Hizbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group will "act as we see fit." "Tyrannical America and criminal Israel will not be able to subjugate the Iranian people and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," Qassem said. Hizbollah, he added, still had "the responsibility to stand by Iran and provide it with all forms of support that contribute to putting an end to this tyranny and oppression." Hizbollah suffered devastating losses in its war against Israel last year, which ended with a ceasefire agreement in November. When Israel struck Iran last week, the Lebanese foreign ministry said that it was "continuing its contacts" to spare the country from being dragged into any conflict. In a statement shared by the Lebanese presidency after his meeting with Barrack, President Joseph Aoun said that "communications are ongoing to achieve the goal of weapons monopoly at both the Lebanese and Palestinian levels, and will intensify after stability returns... to the region." According to the November ceasefire agreement, Hizbollah must pull its fighters back north of the Litani river, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border, leaving the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the area. Israel is required to fully withdraw its troops but has kept them in five locations in Lebanon it deems "strategic." Lebanon has also recently ramped up efforts to disarm Palestinian groups, which for decades had been in charge of Palestinian refugee camps in the country. After his meeting with Barrack, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed Lebanon's "commitment to the choice of security and stability and rejection of being dragged into the ongoing war in the region." He also asked the US envoy "to assist Lebanon in pressuring Israel for its complete withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories." Despite the ongoing ceasefire, Israel has carried out repeated strikes in Lebanon, which it has said will continue until Hizbollah has been disarmed. - AFP
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
US envoy says Hezbollah involvement in Iran-Israel war would be ‘very bad decision'
BEIRUT, LEBANON: The US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack warned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Thursday against getting involved in the war between its main backer Iran and Israel. Barrack, who is also the US ambassador to Turkey, is on his first visit to Beirut, where he met top Lebanese officials including parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah. 'I can say on behalf of President (Donald) Trump... that would be a very, very, very bad decision,' Barrack said after his meeting with Berri, responding to a question on what the US position would be on any involvement by Hezbollah in the war. In a statement, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group will 'act as we see fit'. 'Tyrannical America and criminal Israel will not be able to subjugate the Iranian people and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,' Qassem said. Hezbollah, he added, still had 'the responsibility to stand by Iran and provide it with all forms of support that contribute to putting an end to this tyranny and oppression'. Hezbollah suffered devastating losses in its war against Israel last year, which ended with a ceasefire agreement in November. When Israel struck Iran last week, the Lebanese foreign ministry said that it was 'continuing its contacts' to spare the country from being dragged into any conflict. In a statement shared by the Lebanese presidency after his meeting with Barrack, President Joseph Aoun said that 'communications are ongoing to achieve the goal of weapons monopoly at both the Lebanese and Palestinian levels, and will intensify after stability returns... to the region'. According to the November ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah must pull its fighters back north of the Litani river, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border, leaving the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the area. Israel is required to fully withdraw its troops but has kept them in five locations in Lebanon it deems 'strategic'. Lebanon has also recently ramped up efforts to disarm Palestinian militant groups, which for decades had been in charge of Palestinian refugee camps in the country. After his meeting with Barrack, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed Lebanon's 'commitment to the choice of security and stability and rejection of being dragged into the ongoing war in the region'. He also asked the US envoy 'to assist Lebanon in pressuring Israel for its complete withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories'. Despite the ongoing ceasefire, Israel has carried out repeated strikes in Lebanon, which it has said will continue until Hezbollah has been disarmed. An Israeli strike killed one person in the southern village of Hula on Thursday, the Lebanese health ministry said.
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Hezbollah involvement in Iran-Israel war would be ‘very bad decision'
BEIRUT, LEBANON: The US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack warned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on Thursday against getting involved in the war between its main backer Iran and Israel. Barrack, who is also the US ambassador to Turkey, is on his first visit to Beirut, where he met top Lebanese officials including parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah. 'I can say on behalf of President (Donald) Trump... that would be a very, very, very bad decision,' Barrack said after his meeting with Berri, responding to a question on what the US position would be on any involvement by Hezbollah in the war. In a statement, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group will 'act as we see fit'. 'Tyrannical America and criminal Israel will not be able to subjugate the Iranian people and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,' Qassem said. Hezbollah, he added, still had 'the responsibility to stand by Iran and provide it with all forms of support that contribute to putting an end to this tyranny and oppression'. Hezbollah suffered devastating losses in its war against Israel last year, which ended with a ceasefire agreement in November. When Israel struck Iran last week, the Lebanese foreign ministry said that it was 'continuing its contacts' to spare the country from being dragged into any conflict. In a statement shared by the Lebanese presidency after his meeting with Barrack, President Joseph Aoun said that 'communications are ongoing to achieve the goal of weapons monopoly at both the Lebanese and Palestinian levels, and will intensify after stability returns... to the region'. According to the November ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah must pull its fighters back north of the Litani river, some 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the Israeli border, leaving the Lebanese army and United Nations peacekeepers as the only armed parties in the area. Israel is required to fully withdraw its troops but has kept them in five locations in Lebanon it deems 'strategic'. Lebanon has also recently ramped up efforts to disarm Palestinian militant groups, which for decades had been in charge of Palestinian refugee camps in the country. After his meeting with Barrack, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam expressed Lebanon's 'commitment to the choice of security and stability and rejection of being dragged into the ongoing war in the region'. He also asked the US envoy 'to assist Lebanon in pressuring Israel for its complete withdrawal from the occupied Lebanese territories'. Despite the ongoing ceasefire, Israel has carried out repeated strikes in Lebanon, which it has said will continue until Hezbollah has been disarmed. An Israeli strike killed one person in the southern village of Hula on Thursday, the Lebanese health ministry said.
LBCI
17 hours ago
- Politics
- LBCI
Tom Barrack meets Lebanese leaders as US-Lebanon talks stall on Hezbollah arms
Report by Bassam Abou Zeid, English adaptation by Mariella Succar There is no agreement between Lebanon and the United States regarding the approach to addressing Hezbollah's weapons. Washington, through its presidential envoy Tom Barrack, reiterated the urgent need to implement the state's commitment to disarmament, regardless of the developments in Lebanon and the region. Lebanon, which previously linked disarmament to Israel fulfilling its obligations—such as withdrawing from occupied areas, halting violations, and releasing detainees—tied the issue during Thursday's talks to the ongoing regional situation. According to a statement posted on the Presidency's official X account, President Joseph Aoun told Barrack that communications to achieve the principle of exclusive weapons control on both Lebanese and Palestinian levels are ongoing and will intensify once the regional situation stabilizes amid the escalating Israeli-Iranian conflict. Aoun also noted that the army's mission in southern Litani to implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement has been hindered by Israel's continued occupation of the Shebaa Farms and its surroundings. In this context, Aoun reportedly reiterated the 'step-for-step' approach, meaning Israel must take steps on issues such as withdrawal, violations, and detainees, which would be met by corresponding Lebanese steps related to Hezbollah's weapons. The U.S. envoy also heard from President Aoun that Lebanon does not wish to be drawn into the ongoing war between Israel and Iran. Barrack urged Lebanese authorities to intensify cooperation with the new Syrian regime, particularly regarding border control and demarcation between the two countries. From Ain al-Tineh, the headquarters of the Parliament Speaker, Barrack said in response to a question that Hezbollah's involvement in the current war would be a very bad decision. Reports indicate that the message Barrack received from Speaker Nabih Berri was similar to that conveyed by President Aoun in Baabda. Berri emphasized that Lebanon has fulfilled its responsibilities, while the problem lies with Israel, which continues to violate U.N. Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement, and maintains occupation, attacks, and assassinations. At the Grand Serail, Tom Barrack continued talks with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. They agreed on keeping Lebanon out of the war and on continuing state efforts to assert sovereignty, address Hezbollah's weapons, and resolve issues with Israel. They also agreed to pursue reforms and strengthen communication with Syria. Barrack, who has officially and temporarily taken charge of Lebanon affairs following his work on Syria, is expected to return to Beirut soon after briefing President Donald Trump on the results of his initial visit.
