MOSCOW, July 2. /TASS/. The United Nations is considering three options for its future mission in Lebanon; US-Cuba relations have reached a new deadlock as Washington tightens sanctions and increases pressure on Havana; and the European Union is stepping up engagement with Armenia and Azerbaijan to broaden energy, trade, and transport cooperation. These stories topped Thursday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Izvestia: UN weighs future Lebanon mission as Hezbollah-Israel tensions threaten diplomacy
The escalating situation in Lebanon between Hezbollah and Israel threatens to derail negotiations between the United States and Iran. The renewed conflict is undermining diplomatic efforts by both sides and further fueling instability across the Middle East. Against this backdrop, the UN Security Council is considering options for a new format of the organization's presence in Lebanon following the expiration of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, told Izvestia that three deployment options are currently under review. Each envisions a contingent consisting of unarmed observers and UN military units responsible for safeguarding them.
