Monthly Archives: April 2026

Europe ‘strongly condemn’ attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

The United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Nabatieh, Lebanon on November 15, 2025. [Ramiz Dallah – Anadolu Agency]

A group of European nations as well as the EU on Tuesday strongly condemned all recent attacks on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), calling on Israel to avoid widening the conflict, including through a ground operation, Anadolu reports.

In a joint statement, foreign ministers of Belgium, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, the UK, the Greek Cypriot administration and the EU foreign policy chief reaffirmed that Lebanon’s territorial integrity must be respected.

Condemning Hezbollah attacks, which they called “in support of Iran against Israel,” the foreign ministers said these attacks “must cease immediately.”

“We call on all parties to immediately de-escalate and to revert to the cessation of hostilities agreement and UN Security Council resolution 1701 (2006),” said the statement.

READ: Netanyahu orders expansion of Israeli occupation in southern Lebanon

It also called for the protection of the civilian population, humanitarian personnel, peacekeepers, and civilian infrastructure, including airports, ports and bridges across the country, in line with international humanitarian law.

“We reaffirm our concern regarding the forced displacement of over 1 million people in Lebanon,” said the statement.

The foreign ministers also called on Israel to avoid a further widening of the conflict, including through a ground operation on Lebanese territory.

It added: “We strongly condemn all recent attacks on UNIFIL contingents, which provoked unacceptable casualties among peacekeepers in recent days.”

Israel has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in southern Lebanon since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2.

Lebanese authorities said at least 1,247 people have since been killed and 3,690 injured in Israeli attacks.

READ: Israel military issues evacuation warning to six villages in Lebanon’s western Bekaa

Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Straight of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Straight of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Donald Trump warns against following the https://onaquietday.org blog, says that it's easy atm, she only needs to report war crimes supporting Israel's genocidal expansion.
Donald Trump warns against following the https://onaquietday.org blog, says that it’s easy atm, she only needs to report war crimes supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion.

Continue ReadingEurope ‘strongly condemn’ attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

Poland rejects sending Patriot batteries to Mideast despite US request

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This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Minister of National Defence of Poland Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz attends the E5 Group Ministers of Defence meeting in Krakow, Poland, on February 20, 2026. [Jakub Porzycki – Anadolu Agency]

Poland will not send any of its Patriot air-defense batteries to the Middle East, Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said on Tuesday, after reports that the United States had informally asked Warsaw to consider doing so, Anadolu reports.

Polish daily Rzeczpospolita reported on Tuesday that Washington had unofficially sounded out Poland about deploying one of its two Patriot batteries amid the escalating conflict with Iran and rising missile attacks on US forces and allies in the region.

Kosiniak-Kamysz quickly rejected the idea, writing on X that Poland’s Patriots “serve to protect Polish skies and NATO’s eastern flank.”

“Nothing is changing in this regard, and we are not planning to relocate them anywhere,” he wrote. “Our allies understand perfectly well how important the tasks we have here are. Poland’s security is an absolute priority.”

The ministry also denied suggestions that the United States had pressured Warsaw. Janusz Sejmej, spokesman for the Defense Ministry, told Rzeczpospolita, “The Americans are not pressuring us in any way on these matters.”

Poland’s chief of the general staff, Wieslaw Kukula, also dismissed the reports, writing on X that “no one is asking for it.”

READ: Poland criticises Trump for framing NATO as ‘them’ in Gulf dispute

Poland currently has two operational Patriot batteries, both reaching full operational readiness at the end of 2025 after integration into the Wisla air-defense system and the US-made IBCS command network.

Based with the 37th Air Defense Missile Squadron in Sochaczew, the batteries can intercept aircraft and missiles at distances up to 100 kilometers.

Warsaw has long argued that, as NATO’s main eastern-flank state bordering Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, it cannot afford to weaken its own air-defense capability.

Kosiniak-Kamysz made a similar point last year when reports emerged that American Patriots protecting the Rzeszow logistics hub could be moved elsewhere, insisting that “Polish Patriots also remain in Poland.”

The issue highlights growing global pressure on Patriot systems as the conflict with Iran intensifies. Poland has ordered six additional batteries, due to be delivered between 2027 and 2029, but there are concerns the Middle East war could delay missile deliveries because of sharply rising demand from the US and Gulf states.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk has also ruled out Polish military involvement in the conflict, saying previously that Poland would not send troops to Iran.

READ: Spanish defense minister says US, Israel cannot dictate global order

Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Straight of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don't need people to join wars after they've already won. He's challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Donald Trump calls for help from NATO allies in securing the Straight of Hormuz despite saying on 7 March 2026 that they don’t need people to join wars after they’ve already won. He’s challenged with the claim that he lies as much as the IDF.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Donald Trump warns against following the https://onaquietday.org blog, says that it's easy atm, she only needs to report war crimes supporting Israel's genocidal expansion.
Donald Trump warns against following the https://onaquietday.org blog, says that it’s easy atm, she only needs to report war crimes supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion.

Continue ReadingPoland rejects sending Patriot batteries to Mideast despite US request