- Hong Kong top court affirms housing, inheritance rights for same-sex couples
- Philippines, China clashes trigger money-making disinformation
- Most Asian markets drop, dollar gains as Trump fires tariff warning
- England 'not quivering' ahead of New Zealand Test challenge
- Bethell to bat at three on England Test debut against New Zealand
- Trump vows big tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China
- New Zealand and England to play for Crowe-Thorpe Trophy
- Scheffler, Schauffele and McIlroy up for PGA Player of the Year
- Trump to face less internal pushback in new term: ex-commerce chief
- Extreme weather threatens Canada's hydropower future
- More than 34,000 register as candidates for Mexico judges' election
- Australia ban cycling's Richardson for life after UK defection
- Internal displacement in Africa triples in 15 years: monitor
- 'Remarkable global progress': HIV cases and deaths declining
- Social media firms raise 'serious concerns' over Australian U-16 ban
- Tiger to skip Hero World Challenge after back surgery
- MLB shifts six 2025 Rays games to avoid weather issues
- US women's keeper Naeher retiring after Europe matches
- West Ham stun Newcastle to ease pressure on Lopetegui
- Arteta calls on Arsenal to show 'ruthless' streak on Champions League travels
- Israel bids emotional farewell to rabbi killed in UAE
- Sonar image was rock formation, not Amelia Earhart plane: explorer
- Tottenham goalkeeper Vicario has ankle surgery
- Green light for Cadillac to join Formula One grid in 2026
- Israel to decide on ceasefire as US says deal 'close'
- California vows to step in if Trump kills US EV tax credit
- Special counsel asks judge to dismiss subversion case against Trump
- Ronaldo double takes Al Nassr to brink of Asian Champions League quarters
- Brazil minister says supports meat supplier 'boycott' of Carrefour
- Steelmaker ArcelorMittal to close two plants in France: unions
- Macy's says employee hid up to $154 mn in costs over 3 years
- EU grocery shoppers 'fooled' by 'maze' of food labels: audit
- Awaiting Commerzbank, Italy's UniCredit bids for Italian rival
- Alonso jokes about playing return amid Leverkusen injury woes
- G7 ministers discuss ceasefire efforts in Mideast
- Bayern need to win all remaining Champions League games, says Kane
- Indian cricketer, 13, youngest to be sold in IPL history
- Beating Man City eases pressure for Arsenal game: new Sporting coach
- Argentine court hears bid to end rape case against French rugby players
- Egypt says 17 missing after Red Sea tourist boat capsizes
- Dortmund boss calls for member vote on club's arms sponsorship deal
- Chanel family matriarch dies aged 99: company
- US boss Hayes says Chelsea stress made her 'unwell'
- China's Ding beats 'nervous' Gukesh in world chess opener
- Man City can still do 'very good things' despite slump, says Guardiola
- 'After Mazan': France unveils new measures to combat violence against women
- Scholz named party's top candidate for German elections
- Flick says Barca must eliminate mistakes after stumble
- British business group hits out at Labour's tax hikes
- German Social Democrats name Scholz as top candidate for snap polls
Lebanon army redeployment in south crucial to war solution: UN peacekeeping chief
The UN peacekeeping chief whose force monitors Lebanon's south said redeploying Lebanese troops there is crucial for any solution to more than a year of Hezbollah-Israel clashes that escalated into war in September.
"The redeployment of the Lebanese armed forces is an absolutely central element to any durable settlement," Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix told reporters during a briefing in the Beirut area, at the end of a three-day visit.
In an interview last month, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati told AFP his country was ready to bolster the army's presence in the south from about 4,500 to at least 11,500 troops following a ceasefire.
Lacroix said the UN appreciates the Lebanese authorities' "commitment to proceed with more recruitment and more training and elevated the level of preparedness of the Lebanese armed forces."
Tasked since 1978 with monitoring the "Blue Line" separating Lebanon from Israel, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has more than 9,300 troops who have come under attack during the Israel-Hezbollah war.
UNIFIL is proceeding "under the assumption that the post-cessation of hostilities and hopefully a return to the negotiating table... will be based on the implementation of Resolution 1701," Lacroix said.
Adopted in 2006, UN Security Council Resolution 1701 led to a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war that year and said the Lebanese army and peacekeepers should be the only armed forces deployed in the country's south.
"Any meaningful role for UNIFIL in terms of supporting the implementation by the parties would have to have, as a prerequisite, a full compliance from all to fully implement Resolution 1701," Lacroix added.
Lacroix met top Lebanese officials including Mikati, speaker of parliament Nabih Berri -- a Hezbollah ally at the forefront of ceasefire negotiations -- as well as army chief Joseph Aoun.
He also visited UNIFIL's south Lebanon headquarters in Naqura, near the Israeli border.
Earlier this month, Lacroix said UNIFIL will hold its line despite attacks as well as Israeli demands for it to leave, adding its positions would be "occupied" if it left.
Last month, a UNIFIL spokesman said the force had recorded more than 30 incidents in October resulting in property damage or injury to peacekeepers, about 20 of them from Israeli fire or action.
Since September 23, Israel has escalated its bombing of targets in Lebanon, later sending in ground troops following almost a year of limited, cross-border exchanges of fire initiated by Hezbollah over the Gaza war.
More than 3,380 people have been killed in Lebanon since clashes began last year, according to the health ministry, most of them since late September.
A.Santos--PC