Saturday, February 8, 2025

Can Biden and Macron Broker Peace? Lebanon on the Brink of Ground Conflict

Yonhap News

On Wednesday, the United States and France took steps to establish a temporary ceasefire in the impending ground war in Lebanon.

As Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi instructed the military to prepare for a ground invasion of Lebanon, efforts to mediate ceasefire negotiations intensified.

According to the Financial Times (FT), citing sources, U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron used the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly in New York to engage in diplomatic mediation for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.

One source indicated that the U.S. and France are planning a 21-day ceasefire, aiming first to establish peace and then negotiate a more long-term agreement during this period.

The plan seeks to temporarily halt the escalating conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Islamic militant group Hezbollah and implement the United Nations resolution agreed upon in 2006.

Sources say that the 2006 UN agreement, aimed at resolving the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, includes demilitarizing southern Lebanon, which borders northern Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that although he is open to international mediation, he will not halt the offensive until residents of the north can return home. However, the exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah continue, with other regional Islamic forces joining the conflict.

The umbrella group of Iran-backed armed groups in the region Islamic Resistance (IR) claimed responsibility on Wednesday for a drone attack on Israel’s southern port city of Eilat.

IR stated that the attack was carried out in support of “our people in Palestine and Lebanon.”

Israel has not specified the perpetrators of the drone attack, only stating that the drones approached from the east.

As ground operations preparations are underway, Israel announced that since the airstrikes began in Lebanon on Monday, approximately 2,000 targets had been destroyed.

According to CNN, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari noted that particularly on this day, 70 buildings housing Hezbollah’s intelligence were destroyed in a massive airstrike aimed at disrupting Hezbollah’s intelligence capabilities.

Hot this week

After the Holidays, Beware: Intense Workouts Could Accelerate Aging

Excessive exercise can increase reactive oxygen species, accelerating aging, but hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help counteract this effect.

Nvidia Surges 5.4%, While Tesla Drops 3.6% in Latest Market Moves

Wall Street sees gains with Nvidia soaring while Tesla and Alphabet stocks tumble amid tariff concerns and disappointing earnings.

Michael Jordan’s Son Arrested for Drunk Driving and Drug Possession in Florida

Marcus Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, was arrested for DUI and cocaine possession after fleeing police in Florida.

Goldman Sachs Sees Little Disruption in Energy Prices from Tariffs on U.S. Goods

Goldman Sachs forecasts minimal impact on energy prices from China's tariffs on U.S. goods and Canadian crude oil this year.

Health Crisis Hits Former Chancellor Schröder as He Misses Key Nord Stream Testimony

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is hospitalized for burnout symptoms amid investigations into his role in the Nord Stream project.

Topics

After the Holidays, Beware: Intense Workouts Could Accelerate Aging

Excessive exercise can increase reactive oxygen species, accelerating aging, but hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help counteract this effect.

Nvidia Surges 5.4%, While Tesla Drops 3.6% in Latest Market Moves

Wall Street sees gains with Nvidia soaring while Tesla and Alphabet stocks tumble amid tariff concerns and disappointing earnings.

Michael Jordan’s Son Arrested for Drunk Driving and Drug Possession in Florida

Marcus Jordan, son of Michael Jordan, was arrested for DUI and cocaine possession after fleeing police in Florida.

Goldman Sachs Sees Little Disruption in Energy Prices from Tariffs on U.S. Goods

Goldman Sachs forecasts minimal impact on energy prices from China's tariffs on U.S. goods and Canadian crude oil this year.

Health Crisis Hits Former Chancellor Schröder as He Misses Key Nord Stream Testimony

Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder is hospitalized for burnout symptoms amid investigations into his role in the Nord Stream project.

Trade War Fears Subside as Wall Street Makes Strong Comeback

Wall Street bounced back after a three-day slump, driven by tech stocks and optimism over trade negotiations despite ongoing tariff concerns.

U.S. Keeps Close Watch on Korean Immigrants Amid Deportation Concerns

The U.S. State Department is providing consular assistance to Korean nationals arrested during Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration.

Anthropic’s New AI Tool Blocks Jailbreaks and Harmful Content

AI companies enhance censorship to prevent "jailbreaking," with Anthropic introducing a constitutional classifier to block harmful content.

Related Articles