Israel on Thursday released a Lebanese soldier who was detained on Sunday, Lebanon's army said in a post on X.
“The soldier was transferred to Lebanon by the Red Cross and was taken to a hospital for treatment,” the army said.
Israel said it would release five Lebanese troops held by its military in a “gesture to the Lebanese president”, amid talks between the two sides. Lebanon received four of them on Tuesday.
The releases were the result of a military-to-military meeting between Lebanese, US, French and Israeli representatives, which took place on Tuesday in the UN peacekeeping headquarters in Naqoura.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to establish working groups to settle disputes over five points where the Israeli military remains stationed in Lebanon, other border disputes and the release of more Lebanese detainees, according to a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
While Israel largely withdrew from southern Lebanon under a ceasefire deal reached in November, its troops continue to hold five strategic hilltop positions in the area, quoting Hezbollah activity. Israel has also conducted sporadic air strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon.
The ceasefire deal ended more than a year of conflict between Israel's military and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah that played out in parallel with the Gaza war.
Shortly after the announcement, US Deputy Presidential Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus said talks to resolve “outstanding issues” would be organised soon.
Lebanese and US sources have told The National that Israel’s continued presence in Lebanon and its low-intensity conflict with Hezbollah could serve a broader strategic objective: nudging Lebanon towards a peace agreement with Israel.
“There’s a long-term strategic reasoning to keep the Lebanese government in check and, eventually, push Lebanon towards a long-term peace agreement with Israel. It’s a long-game, steady-state approach,” said the US official.
The Lebanese government does not officially recognise Israel.
Ain Dubai in numbers
126: The length in metres of the legs supporting the structure
1 football pitch: The length of each permanent spoke is longer than a professional soccer pitch
16 A380 Airbuses: The equivalent weight of the wheel rim.
9,000 tonnes: The amount of steel used to construct the project.
5 tonnes: The weight of each permanent spoke that is holding the wheel rim in place
192: The amount of cable wires used to create the wheel. They measure a distance of 2,4000km in total, the equivalent of the distance between Dubai and Cairo.
PROFILE
Name: Enhance Fitness
Year started: 2018
Based: UAE
Employees: 200
Amount raised: $3m
Investors: Global Ventures and angel investors
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Europe’s rearming plan
Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
The specs: 2018 Maserati Levante S
Price, base / as tested: Dh409,000 / Dh467,000
Engine: 3.0-litre V6
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 430hp @ 5,750rpm
Torque: 580Nm @ 4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.9L / 100km
While you're here
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
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