Israel said chemicals ‘non-toxic,’ but warned UNIFIL to ‘take cover’
Adding to Israel’s ongoing hostility to the UN peacekeeping operation in southern Lebanon, the UNIFIL reported Sunday’s operations near the Blue Line were disrupted when the IDF began dropping an unidentified chemical on the area near the peacekeepers.
The UNIFIL said that the actions violated UN Security Council resolution 1701, and while Israel maintained that the chemicals were “non-toxic” they also advised UNIFIL personnel in the area to “clear the area and take cover.”
With the warning, UNIFIL personnel withdrew from the Blue Line area and weren’t able to return for some nine hours. While no one appears to have been injured, there is still no clarification of what those chemicals actually are, nor the consequences to the land, which is largely farmland in the area where it was dropped.
WRH The UNIFIL team needs to get those chemicals analyzed ASAP
#1: Horse To: Horse (#0)
by Dave De Camp, antiwar.com
News of the meeting comes as the US continues building up its assets in the region to prepare for a potential attack on Iran
US envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul, Turkey, on Monday, according to media reports, as the US continues building up its forces in the Middle East to prepare for a potential attack on Iran.
According to Axios, representatives from several Arab and Muslim countries will also be attending the talks, and the meeting is the result of diplomatic efforts by Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar. But one source told the outlet that nothing was finalized until it happened.
Witkoff will travel to Istanbul after visiting Israel and meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials.
Araghchi said on Monday that Iran was “ready for diplomacy” and hoped for results. “Iran’s enemies, who failed to achieve their goals, have now turned to diplomacy. These same parties are talking about diplomacy today, even though Iran has always been ready for this option, provided there is mutual respect and consideration of interests.”
If the meeting happens, it will mark the first talks between the US and Iran since the 12-day US-Israeli war against the Islamic Republic. Israel launched the war in June 2025, a few days before the US and Iran were scheduled to hold another round of nuclear talks. Hours before the first Israeli airstrikes hit, President Trump said he was committed to diplomacy with Iran, meaning the current US push for diplomacy could also be a deception aimed at keeping Tehran offguard before an attack.
https://news.antiwar.com/2026/02/02/witkoff-expected-to-meet-with-irans-foreign-minister-in-istanbul-on-friday/
Horse posted on 2026-02-03 07:09:53 Reply Private Reply