From Lebanon to the Strait of Hormuz, a Middle East hanging on fragile peace talks
Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, UN humanitarian operations are continuing despite growing shortages, worsened by Israeli restrictions on imports of materials needed for emergency shelters.Further east, in the Strait of Hormuz, some 11,000 seafarers are still waiting to be evacuated from the Persian Gulf after disruptions caused by the war launched in late February by the United States and Israel against Iran.The evacuation operation initiated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was suspended on Thursday following a new attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman.Three separate crises, now linked by the same uncertainty: the outcome of peace negotiations between Washington and Tehran.The signing last week of a Memorandum of Understanding providing for an end to hostilities between the two countries and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz led to an initial round of talks, which concluded on Monday in Switzerland.Since then, conflicting statements from the two capitals about the state of the discussions have fuelled uncertainty.
© UNIFIL
UNIFIL peacekeepers on patrol (file)
In Lebanon, a ceasefire under close watchAccording to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the ceasefire that took effect on 19 June continues to be respected “overall”. UN observers have reported neither new missile launches nor airstrikes since the two projectiles detected on Tuesday.The calm remains relative. UNIFIL continues to observe violations of Lebanese airspace by Israeli drones, as well as armoured movements, military engineering works and logistical operations by the Israeli army within its area of operations.On Wednesday, UN peacekeepers also observed three Israeli tanks opening heavy machine-gun fire and firing six 40mm grenades near the coastal road at Al Bayyadah. Two Israeli patrol boats were also spotted in Lebanese territorial waters off Naqoura, where the mission’s headquarters are located.The strikes appear to have stopped. The military posture, however, remains largely in place.
