The administration of US President Joe Biden plans to announce today that it will ease restrictions on humanitarian aid to Syria by speeding up deliveries of essential goods, without lifting sanctions that limit other types of aid to the new government in Damascus, Reuters reported, citing the "Wall Street Journal" newspaper, quoted by BTA.
The move, approved by the administration over the weekend, authorizes the Treasury Department to issue waivers for aid groups and companies that provide essential goods such as water, electricity and other humanitarian supplies, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials.
Israel, with US support, is working to extend a 60-day ceasefire agreement it reached with the Lebanese armed movement “Hezbollah“ in late November. The move is aimed at preventing the ceasefire from expiring - the deadline is January 26 - or the resumption of hostilities immediately after it expires, DPA reported, citing c. "Jerusalem Post".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his security advisers yesterday afternoon to assess the situation, the publication said.
US special envoy Amos Hochstein is expected to arrive in Lebanon today to try to preserve the ceasefire agreement, the text states. An adviser to Hochstein said the US special envoy is traveling to chair the first full meeting of the committee set up to monitor, verify and implement commitments to the ceasefire agreement.
Although there have been a few isolated violations, the ceasefire has largely held since its introduction, DPA notes.
Yesterday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that the ceasefire was in danger, the newspaper reported. "Times of Israel". Israel will be "forced to act" if "Hezbollah" fighters do not withdraw from southern Lebanon as stipulated in the agreement, Katz told the newspaper.
According to sources, Katz stressed that Israel is interested in preserving the ceasefire. However, he said that this depends on the withdrawal of "Hezbollah" fighters north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, and on the Lebanese army dismantling all weapons and terrorist infrastructure in the border area, which Katz stressed that this has not yet happened, DPA notes.
The ceasefire has been in effect since November 27. During this time, in addition to the withdrawal of “Hezbollah“, the Israeli army must leave Lebanon and the Lebanese army must strengthen its presence in the border area.