Middle East Politics.Net » security http://middleeastpolitics.net Facts, News, Trends, Analysis Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:32 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Lebanon and Germany to Fight Border Security Together http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/04/lebanon-and-germany-to-fight-border-security-together/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/04/lebanon-and-germany-to-fight-border-security-together/#comments Thu, 04 Dec 2008 15:14:36 +0000 vvahedi http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=3484 German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced pilot plans to improve security along the Lebanese-Syrian border on Wednesday. The announcement was made following Lebanese President Michel Suleiman’s visit to Berlin this week. The objective of the plan is to improve economic prosperity for the Lebanese in the border region.

Also during their meeting, Merkel and Suleiman discussed the current political situation in Lebanon following last May’s Doha agreement, which ended a week of bitter fighting between followers of the anti-Syrian ruling majority and the opposition led by the fundamentalist Hezbollah. Suleiman expressed hopes of Lebanon exchanging ambassadors with Syria by the end of 2008.

Suleiman also stated that Lebanon would be aiding the international tribunal investigation into the killing of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri. He added that the tribunal should focus on legal issues and not current political agendas. Suleiman has visited 11 nations in the five months since he has been in office. The two-day trip to Berlin is his third visit to a European country participating in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Venus Vahedi

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/12/04/lebanon-and-germany-to-fight-border-security-together/feed/ 0 Syria and Lebanon Reach Security Agreement http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/10/syria-and-lebanon-reach-security-agreement/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/10/syria-and-lebanon-reach-security-agreement/#comments Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:15:41 +0000 Joshua Bark http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=2211 Though the conditions between the two countries have been cool of late, the two countries’ interior ministers met and agreed on a shared-security agreement.  The last few weeks have been tense, as bombs have gone off in both countries, with each blaming the other.

Syria’s release of terrorist confession tapes has not helped, as Lebanon has publicly suggested they were faked to improve Syria’s image.

The agreement is not final–it calls for a committee to discuss security.  The viability of this agreement will depend on the performance of the committee.

Joshua Bark

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/11/10/syria-and-lebanon-reach-security-agreement/feed/ 0 Syria to Increase Border Troops near Lebanon, Pull Back Near Iraq http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/syria-to-increase-border-troops-near-lebanon-pull-back-near-iraq/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/syria-to-increase-border-troops-near-lebanon-pull-back-near-iraq/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 03:14:26 +0000 Joshua Bark http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1897 Witnesses in Lebanon are already confirming a troop build-up on the border with Syria, in a move that the two countries say they hope will reduce illegal border-crossing.  At the same time, initial reports seem to confirm that Syria is removing some of the additional troops it had put on the border with Iraq towards the same end (and in cooperation with the Iraqis and the U.S.).

Anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon are suspicious of the build-up, which they say may be preparation for another incursion.  However, recent attacks on Lebanese soldiers in the fragile country has others happy for the increased security the troops are supposed to bring.

Meanwhile, the troops leaving the Iraqi border is a response to the recent alleged U.S. invasion of Lebanese airspace (and subsequent bombing inside the borders).  Interestingly, the Iraqi government condemned the U.S. action, but Syria’s recent moves have hurt Iraqi as well as U.S. security interests through its pull-back.

The timing of the two moves is coincidental, but not necessarily related.  Perhaps some statements in the following days will shed some light on whether the two border movements are related, but clearly the move to Lebanon’s border would seem to bolster the fact that Syria agrees (officially) border troops do increase security against smuggling and transnational terrorist movements.

Joshua Bark

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/30/syria-to-increase-border-troops-near-lebanon-pull-back-near-iraq/feed/ 0 Security Concerns Closes US Embassy in Syria http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/29/security-concerns-closes-us-embassy-in-syria/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/29/security-concerns-closes-us-embassy-in-syria/#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2008 04:39:09 +0000 Joshua Bark http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1858 The alleged (but as yet unconfirmed) U.S. invasion of Syrian airspace is causing security concerns around the United States embassy in Syria.  Because of this, the U.S. has announced that it will temporarily be closing the embassy.

The situation between the two countries has been getting worse, as Syria has shut down U.S.-run schools and other centers in Syria.  The U.S has demanded that security be provided for the duration of closure and wants the closures to last as short as possible.

These alternating closures are symbolic of what sort of political ramifications the U.S. will face with its policy of crossing borders in order to pursue alleged terrorists.  Of course, the United States has yet to confirm the invasion of Syrian airspace, but if it becomes clear that it did, its reluctance to admit it will only worsen relations between the two countries–and possibly tarnish its relations with other countries as well.

Joshua Bark

]]> http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/29/security-concerns-closes-us-embassy-in-syria/feed/ 0 Lebanon and U.S. Establish Joint Military Commission http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/06/lebanon-and-us-establish-joint-military-commission/ http://middleeastpolitics.net/2008/10/06/lebanon-and-us-establish-joint-military-commission/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:01:35 +0000 sdemetri http://middleeastpolitics.net/?p=1239 With concerns about Lebanon’s security situation building, an announcement was made on Monday of a new joint military commission with the United States, aiming to deepen cooperation between the two states and strengthen Lebanon’s military against security threats. The United States has become increasingly alarmed at the growing Syrian presence along the border of Lebanon, as well as the enclave of mounting militant Islamic activity in the northern part of the nation. U.S. deputy spokesman Robert Wood said of the issue, “Any intervention by Syrian troops into Lebanon would be unacceptable…The recent terrorist attacks that took place in Tripoli and Damascus should not serve as a pretext for further Syrian military engagement.” The agreement, following the first official visit of Lebanese president Suleiman to Washington, provides $400 million of U.S. military assistance to Lebanon (with an additional $60 million awaiting congressional approval) and arranges for annual meetings between the nations to discuss further military cooperation.

Stefanie Demetriades

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