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Lebanon Seeks to Distance State from Hezbollah After Cyprus Drone Incident

                                                         File photo: Youssef Ragg Lebanon has urged Cypriot authorities and the public not to conflate the Lebanese state with Hezbollah following a drone strike that originated from Lebanese territory and hit Cyprus six days earlier. Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi emphasized that the attack was carried out independently by Hezbollah and does not reflect the policies, values, or intentions of the Lebanese government.  Raggi stressed that Lebanon rejects any attempt to use its territory for external agendas and reiterated that Hezbollah’s actions fall outside the state’s legal authority. He called on Cyprus to distinguish between the official Lebanese government and groups operating autonomously, noting that Lebanon has consistently affirmed its sovereignty ...
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U.S. Racing to Prepare Gaza Jetty by May 1: Facilitating Aid Amid Crisis

 

In a race against time, the United States is diligently working to construct a landing jetty that will enable crucial aid to reach Gaza by sea. A senior U.S. official revealed that this vital infrastructure could be operational even before the target date of May 1.

The backdrop for this urgent effort is dire. Five months of conflict have plunged Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians into a critical food shortage, surpassing even famine levels in some areas, as reported by the United Nations. With land-based aid facing bottlenecks, airdrops and assistance via a newly opened maritime corridor from Cyprus have supplemented the supply.

Amidst this crisis, the U.S. military is pulling out all the stops to accelerate the deployment of the jetty. Curtis Ried, Chief of Staff of the National Security Council, emphasized their commitment: “We are working very hard to advance that and hopefully we can see it operational a bit earlier than that.” However, American personnel won’t be going ashore. Instead, Israel will play a crucial role in securing the broader area, while discussions are underway with other countries to serve as security partners within the perimeter compound.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) remains pivotal in distributing aid within Gaza. Despite the U.S. pausing funding to UNRWA in January due to allegations against some of its employees, the agency’s distribution network remains indispensable. Security inspections in Cyprus, involving Israel, ensure smooth cargo transfers without delays.

As the Gaza jetty takes shape, hope flickers on the horizon. The urgency of this humanitarian lifeline cannot be overstated.

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