UN Rights Council Orders 'Urgent Inquiry' in Sudan's El-Obeid

Lebanon is poised for the initial phase of Israel's withdrawal from two designated pilot areas in the south, though a specific launch date remains unconfirmed. The implementation of this withdrawal is fraught with uncertainty, stemming from ongoing Israeli military incursions and explicit threats, coupled with Hezbollah's firm stance against the US-brokered framework agreement, which the group deems "nonexistent" and refuses to support.

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packed with terrorist infrastructure

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir issued a stern warning from Beaufort Castle, describing the area as heavily fortified with "terrorist infrastructure." He accused Hezbollah, with Iranian backing, of decades of building underground tunnels and military networks to threaten northern Israeli communities. Zamir asserted that the Lebanese army must uphold its commitments under the agreement by removing Hezbollah operatives, while the Israeli military stands ready to act decisively against any threats emanating from Lebanese territory.

Despite these tensions, Lebanese ministerial sources indicate that both Israel and Hezbollah are presenting obstacles to the pilot zone implementation. The proposed solution involves a US-chaired trilateral committee including the United States, Lebanon, and Israel to oversee the Lebanese army's deployment in the pilot zones. Washington is expected to exert pressure on Israel to proceed, but Hezbollah's non-cooperation presents a significant hurdle.

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must fulfill its commitments under the historic agreement

US mediation efforts are reportedly underway, involving discussions with both Iran and Israel to establish a mechanism for simultaneous Israeli withdrawal and Hezbollah redeployment. Israel's condition is contingent on Hezbollah vacating the areas, whereas Hezbollah demands an Israeli pullout prior to any such redeployment. Recent diplomatic contacts have slowed due to Iran's preoccupation with funeral ceremonies following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Nevertheless, Israel's public broadcaster reported progress in preparations for the next withdrawal phase, coordinated directly by the US, which includes a joint mechanism to monitor the ceasefire and transfer security responsibilities to the Lebanese army.

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with Iranian funding and direction