Uniform Civil Code to be implemented today in Uttarakhand, know what it means
Uttarakhand will be the first state in independent India to implement Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
Multi-agency operation targeted immigrants in Austin and San Antonio
Immigration authorities did not say whether anyone was detained or what kinds of offenses the people sought Sunday were suspected of doing.
After raucous first week in office, Donald Trump to keep his foot on the gas
Following a torrid first week in office, President Donald Trump does not have a very busy public schedule on Monday. That does not mean there won’t be plenty of action. The 47th president is known to spring major actions and announcements without much notice. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NEEDS MORE PLANES TO CARRY OUT DEPORTATIONS: REPORT The president starts off the week by attending a House GOP Conference meeting at Trump National Doral Miami at a time to be determined. The GOP January retreat is an opportunity for Republicans to game-plan their approach to implementing their shared agenda with President Trump. Major policy initiatives that are likely to be addressed are the president’s sweeping border security and ongoing deportation initiatives, increasing domestic energy production and advancing a new tax plan. House Speaker Mike Johnson told Politico that he expects to have a “blueprint” for a massive reconciliation package in place after the retreat. The House Budget Committee, which is tasked with writing the instructions on the bill, is set to meet next week. Johnson sent a letter to the president to address a joint session of Congress on March 4, 2025. In the letter, Johnson wrote, “Your administration and the 119th Congress working together have the chance to make these next four years some of the most consequential in our nation’s history.” He went on to write, “To that end, it is my distinct honor and great privilege to invite you to address a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives, to share your America First vision for our legislative future. I eagerly await your response.” SPEAKER JOHNSON INVITES TRUMP TO ADDRESS CONGRESS AMID BUSY FIRST 100-DAY SPRINT Another event that is key to an early Trump priority will be a hearing at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation titled “Fees and Foreign Influence: Examining the Panama Canal and Its Impact on U.S. Trade and National Security.” The committee is headed by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. In his inaugural address, Trump said, “China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.” Newly confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Panama this week. According to the State Department, the trip will include visits to the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador. Confirmation hearings continue in the Senate this week with Tulsi Gabbard, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kelly Loeffler and Kash Patel all appearing. Continued immigration and deportation activities are expected to continue with border czar Tom Homan and the acting deputy attorney general, Emil Bove, traveling to Chicago on Sunday to witness the stepped-up enforcement actions. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says ‘no more DEI at Department of Defense’: ‘No exceptions’
The Department of Defense (DoD) is the latest agency that is disbanding all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs following President Donald Trump’s executive order terminating all federal DEI programs. “The President’s guidance (lawful orders) is clear: No more DEI at Dept. of Defense,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote in a post on X. In a handwritten note shared along with the post on X, Hegseth wrote: “The Pentagon will comply, immediately. No exceptions, name-changes, or delays.” Hegseth added that “those who do not comply will no longer work here.” WHITE HOUSE OPM ORDERS ALL DEI OFFICES TO BEGIN CLOSING BY END OF DAY WEDNESDAY Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., echoed Hegseth, writing: “The best way to stop discriminating against people on the basis of race or gender is to stop discriminating against people on the basis of race or gender,” Kennedy wrote in a post on X. “Let DEI die.” Hegseth, 44, was sworn in on Saturday morning after he secured his confirmation to lead the Pentagon on Friday after weeks of intense political drama surrounding his nomination and public scrutiny into his personal life. “All praise and glory to God. His will be done and we’re grateful to be here,” Hegseth said after taking the oath of office, surrounded by his wife and children. Hegseth is a former Minnesota National Guard officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and a former Fox News host. Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed up by Elon Musk, reported that approximately $420 million in current/impending contracts, mainly focused on DEI initiatives, had also been canceled. On Inauguration Day, Trump signed an executive order that forced all DEI offices to close and placed all government workers in those offices on paid leave. TRUMP’S FEDERAL DEI PURGE PUTS HUNDREDS ON LEAVE, NIXES $420M IN CONTRACTS Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Charles Ezell sent a memo to heads and acting heads of departments and agencies directing them that by the end of business on Jan. 22, they were to inform all agency employees of the DEI shutdown. In addition, they were instructed to tell workers directly involved in DEI to take down all DEI-related websites and social media accounts, cancel any related contracts or training, and ask employees to report any efforts to disguise DEI programs by using coded or imprecise language. The memo also directed the heads of agencies and departments that by noon on Jan. 23, they were to provide OPM with lists of all DEI offices, employees, and related contracts in effect as of Nov. 5, 2024. By Friday, Jan. 24, at 5 p.m., agency heads were required to submit to OPM a written plan for executing a reduction-in-force action regarding DEI employees and a list of all contract descriptions or personnel position descriptions that were changed since Nov. 5, 2024, to obscure their connection to DEI programs. The president also signed an order making it “the official policy of the U.S. government to only recognize two genders: male and female.” 3 IN 10 VOTERS THINK ENDING DEI PROGRAMS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, POLL SHOWS, AS FEDERAL DEADLINE LOOMS Trump issued two other executive actions targeting DEI — an executive order to end discrimination in the workplace and higher education through race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of DEI and a memo to eliminate a Biden administration policy that prioritized DEI hiring at the Federal Aviation Administration. In his executive order, Trump wrote that he sought to protect Americans from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. He said these civil-rights protections “serve as a bedrock supporting equality of opportunity for all Americans” and that he “has a solemn duty to ensure that these laws are enforced for the benefit of all Americans.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Yet today, roughly 60 years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, critical and influential institutions of American society, including the Federal Government, major corporations, financial institutions, the medical industry, large commercial airlines, law enforcement agencies, and institutions of higher education have adopted and actively use dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences under the guise of so-called ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ (DEI) or ‘diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility’ (DEIA) that can violate the civil-rights laws of this Nation,” the order reads. It adds that these “illegal DEI and DEIA policies also threaten the safety of American men, women, and children across the Nation by diminishing the importance of individual merit, aptitude, hard work, and determination when selecting people for jobs and services in key sectors of American society, including all levels of government, and the medical, aviation, and law-enforcement communities. Prior to Trump’s order, the FBI closed its DEI office in December. Fox News’ Brooke Singman, Brie Stimson, Michael Dorgan and Landon Mion contributed to this report.
Colombian leader quickly caves after Trump threats, offers presidential plane for deportation flights
Colombian President Gustavo Petro offered his presidential plane to repatriate migrants coming back from the U.S. on Sunday in response to stern warnings made by President Donald Trump. In a statement translated from Spanish, the Colombian government said that the plane will help facilitate a “dignified return.” “The Government of Colombia, under the direction of President Gustavo Petro, has arranged the presidential plane to facilitate the dignified return of the compatriots who were going to arrive in the country today in the morning, coming from deportation flights,” the translated statement read. “This measure responds to the Government’s commitment to guarantee decent conditions.” The move came after Trump hit the South American country with retaliatory measures in response to Petro’s refusal to accept deportation flights. This weekend, American officials sent two flights of Colombian illegal aliens as part of Trump’s ongoing deportation program. Petro rejected the flights, writing that the U.S. cannot “treat Colombian migrants as criminals.” “I deny the entry of American planes carrying Colombian migrants into our territory,” Petro said. “The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them.” BILLIONAIRES COZY UP TO TRUMP WITH SEVEN FIGURE INAUGURAL DONATIONS AFTER PAST FEUDS WITH PRESIDENT In response, Trump unleashed a slew of punishments, including ordering a 25% tariff on all goods coming into the U.S. from Colombia. The tariff would rise to 50% after one week, Trump said. The president also ordered a travel ban and visa revocations for all Colombian government officials, plus “allies and supporters.” “These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!” Trump warned. Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.
Trump admin touts purging ‘worst’ illegal immigrant criminals from US streets: ‘Working tirelessly’
The Trump administration rolled out a social media thread on Sunday highlighting the “worst criminals” arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since President Donald Trump was sworn in as the nation’s 47th president last week. “Under President Trump’s leadership, ICE agents are working tirelessly to protect our communities. From illegal alien child rapists to gang members and individuals with suspected ties to ISIS, here are some of the worst criminals arrested,” the White House X thread reads. The post shows nine different illegal immigrants who have already been convicted of vicious crimes, such as child rape, or have alleged links to gangs and terrorist organizations and other serious crimes. The nine illegal immigrants highlighted in the thread include their photos, as well as short biographies explaining their crimes. “MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN: Edgar De La Cruz-Manzo, a convicted child rapist and Mexican national, was arrested by ICE Seattle on January 25, 2025,” one post reads. ICE ARRESTS 3 TREN DE ARAGUA GANG MEMBERS IN MASS DEPORTATION PUSH Another explains: “MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN: A Mexican national wanted for murder with an active INTERPOL Red Notice was arrested by ICE Los Angeles on January 24, 2025.” “MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN: A Jordanian national with suspected ties to ISIS was arrested by ICE Buffalo/Rouses Point on January 24, 2025,” another post reads. TRUMP’S ICE NABS CHILD SEX OFFENDERS AMONG 530+ ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAUGHT IN SINGLE DAY Trump’s 2024 campaign prominently focused on the immigration crisis under the Biden administration, vowing to deport illegal immigrants, including those with long rap sheets in other nations, cartel members and others with alleged ties to terrorism. Less than a week back in the Oval Office, Trump touted that he is keeping his campaign promises with a series of directives and policies to secure the border. BORDER ENCOUNTERS DROP SHARPLY AS TRUMP LAUNCHES CRACKDOWN ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION “Within hours of taking the oath of office, I declared a national emergency at our southern border. I sent active duty troops on the border to help repel the invasion. Tom Homan is leading the charge. You know that. We like Tom Homan. Doing a great job. We immediately halted all illegal entry and began sending every border trespasser and violator back to the places from which they came. I signed an order that will designate the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. It’s a big deal, it’s a big deal. Biden didn’t want to do that,” he said from Las Vegas during a rally on Saturday. “Biden didn’t know he was alive. He didn’t want to do it.” A senior GOP strategist, who spoke to Fox Digital about efforts to secure the border and remove dangerous illegal immigrants, remarked that the Biden administration could have done the same, but “did nothing about it.” INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST SHERIFF FOR DEFYING FEDS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION “The most absurd part of all of this is that it’s clear the Biden administration knew EXACTLY where these pedophiles, murderers, and rapists were and did nothing about it,” the strategist said. “President Trump was given a mandate to execute his America First agenda and that starts with restoring the rule of law, securing our borders, and punishing known criminals.” Other illegal immigrants arrested by ICE include a convicted sex offender from Ethiopia who was arrested in New Orleans on Friday; a Brazilian national convicted of vehicular manslaughter who was arrested by ICE Boston; and a Honduran national arrested by ICE Seattle who was found with cocaine, fentanyl and a gun. Law enforcement agencies stretching from ICE, to the DEA and U.S. Marshals, have been on an arresting blitz since Trump’s first day in office on Jan. 20. The Trump administration deputized thousands of federal agents on Thursday evening to aid agencies such as ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection in efforts to arrest illegal immigrants. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reported that on Thursday alone, law enforcement nationwide arrested more than 500 illegal immigrants, and deported hundreds of others. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors,” she posted to X last week. “The Trump Administration also deported hundreds of illegal immigrant criminals via military aircraft. The largest massive deportation operation in history is well underway. Promises made. Promises kept,” Leavitt added.
Trump strikes back with retaliatory measures against Colombia for rejecting deportation flights
President Donald Trump pushed back on Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Sunday after Petro’s regime refused to allow U.S. deportation flights to land in his country. The U.S. had sent two flights of Colombian illegal aliens from the U.S. this weekend as part of Trump’s burgeoning deportation program. Petro argued on X that the U.S. cannot “treat Colombian migrants as criminals,” leading to backlash from Trump. “I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia’s Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people,” Trump wrote on social media. “Petro’s denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures,” Trump continued. TRUMP DHS REPEALS KEY MAYORKAS MEMO LIMITING ICE AGENTS, ORDERS PAROLE REVIEW Trump’s says he has ordered a 25% tariff on all goods coming into the U.S. from Colombia, a tariff that will rise to 50% after one week. He also ordered a travel ban and Visa revocations for all Colombian government officials, including their “allies and supporters.” He also ordered enhanced Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspections of “all Colombian nationals and cargo.” BILLIONAIRES COZY UP TO TRUMP WITH SEVEN FIGURE INAUGURAL DONATIONS AFTER PAST FEUDS WITH PRESIDENT “These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the Criminals they forced into the United States!” Trump warned. A senior Trump administration official told Fox News Digital that the orders were a “clear message” that countries have “an obligation to accept repatriation flights.” Petro has yet to respond directly to Trump’s retaliation on Sunday. He initially condemned the migrant flights, however. “The US cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I deny the entry of American planes carrying Colombian migrants into our territory. The United States must establish a protocol for the dignified treatment of migrants before we receive them,” Petro wrote. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has warned that the administration’s deportation program is just getting started. Officials are currently targeting illegal aliens who have committed violent crimes, but Homan says everyone who has entered the country illegally will soon be “on the table.”
Graham says Republicans may ‘own another attack’ on US if Trump border czar doesn’t get deportation funds fast
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., warned that congressional Republicans must expedite funding for President Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan to continue his mass deportation plan, or else they could “own another attack on this country.” Graham made appearances on NBC and CNN Sunday shows advocating for two separate bills – a $100 billion border package, and a second $200 billion bill centered on “national security.” As deliberations in both chambers continue, Graham cautioned Republicans against taking too long to reach a consensus. He said Homan needs immediate funding to further execute his mass deportation strategy, including to increase the number of detention beds from 41,000 to approximately 150,000, to hire more Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, finish the border wall and secure new technology. HOMAN WARNS DAILY MIGRANT ARRESTS WILL ‘STEADILY INCREASE’ AS TRUMP ADMIN TARGETS NONVIOLENT ILLEGAL ALIENS “This whole debate in the Republican Party, do you need one bill or two right now? Right now, Tom Homan needs more money to hire ICE agents. He needs more money to finish the wall to increase bed space,” Graham told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “He doesn’t have the tools necessary to carry out this plan that President Trump gave him until Congress appropriates more money.” Graham argued that the tax debate could wait until the end of the year, but Congress cannot delay funding for the border given the national security implications. “So to my Republican colleagues, we’ve hit a wall here. We’re not building a wall. We’ve hit a wall,” Graham told CNN. “We need to appropriate money to Tom Homan so he can do what President Trump promised. And if we delay that – the taxes expire in December, we got plenty of time to deal with that – I worry that we’re going to own another attack on our country. I worry that we’re delaying this plan that President Trump ran on if the Congress doesn’t give his administration, Tom Homan, the money to do the plan that he promised, that President Trump promised. We need to come together quickly on this, in my view.” TRUMP DHS REPEALS KEY MAYORKAS MEMO LIMITING ICE AGENTS, ORDERS PAROLE REVIEW “We need more money for Tom Homan. I’m for deporting illegal immigrants here who are criminals. Most people are. The public’s with him. But if you don’t get new money into the system, Tom Homan can’t do his job,” Graham added. “We need more bed space. We need to finish the wall. But I think the signature issue for Donald Trump was to get a handle on illegal immigration, and he’s off to a good start. We just need to help him in Congress.” In an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Graham doubted that Homan was interested in deporting close to the approximately 11 million people in the U.S. illegally. As host Kristen Welker noted Trump has signaled potentially being interested in cutting a deal related to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for people who were brought into the United States illegally as minors, Graham said the Trump administration’s focus with deportations appeared to remain on criminal illegal immigrants. He cited how there are about 1.4 million illegal immigrants “who’ve had their case fully adjudicated, and they’re still here,” and there are “about 680,000 convicted of serious crimes.”
Tens of thousands of Greeks seek justice for victims of Tempe train crash
Fifty-seven people were killed when a freight train and a passenger train packed with students collided in February 2023. Tens of thousands of protesters have rallied outside Greece’s parliament in Athens to demand justice for the victims of the country’s worst railway disaster nearly two years ago. Sunday’s demonstration, one of the biggest to be held in the capital in recent years, came days after after local media released an audio recording suggesting that some of the 57 victims might have survived the collision but died in a fire of yet unknown origin that burned for more than an hour following the crash. Protests were also held in dozens of other cities in Greece and abroad, with participants rallying under the “I have no oxygen” slogan, which echoed a woman’s last words in a call to emergency services. Attendees in Athens held banners reading “We won’t forget” while chants of “Murderers, murderers” reverberated around Syntagma Square. A judicial investigation is still in progress over the collision of a freight train and a passenger train packed with students near Tempe, outside the city of Larissa, just before midnight on February 28, 2023. Advertisement The crash, on a line linking Athens with Greece’s second-largest city Thessaloniki, triggered angry protests across the country, where it was seen as the result of widespread neglect of the railways after a decade-long financial crisis. Two years later, the cause of death of many of the victims has not been determined as their families have accused authorities of trying to cover up evidence. “Many thanks to all the Greeks, wherever they are, for their support,” Maria Karystianou – a representative of the association of families of Tempe victims, who lost her 20-year-old daughter in the disaster – told reporters. “Our voice says one thing: no crime will go unpunished, ever again,” she said. “Let the crime at Tempe be the beginning and justice is served, as it should be, because that’s what the entire society wants.” Protesters outside the parliament building, shouting slogans [Stelios Misinas/Reuters] Fire’s cause unclear Ilias Papangelis, who lost his 18-year-old daughter in the crash, told the crowd in Athens: “Two years after the tragedy, no one has been punished, no one is in prison.” According to a report by experts hired by families, the crash led to a huge fireball. It is unclear what caused it. A growing number of experts have ruled out assumptions that electricity cables or oils used in the passenger train caused the fire, raising questions over the freight train’s cargo. The centre-right government, which was re-elected after the crash, has denied the accusations. Its proposal of former parliament speaker Constantine Tassoulas for the Greek presidency last week further angered the relatives, who say that under his watch parliament failed to investigate any political responsibility. Advertisement “We don’t know what caused the explosion, what the [freight] train was carrying,” said Nikos Plakias, who lost his two daughters and a niece in the accident. “We will always have questions … and if we need to reach the European courts, we will,” he added. Brief clashes broke out between riot police and a number of protesters after the largely peaceful demonstration in Athens, with police officers firing tear gas to disperse some in the crowd. Riot police fire tear gas during clashes with a group of protesters in Athens [Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters] Adblock test (Why?)
Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire: Why is Israel still in southern Lebanon?
On the day Israeli forces were due to withdraw under a ceasefire deal, Lebanese health officials reported that the Israeli army killed at least 15 people in the south. At least 83 people were also wounded as the Israeli army opened fire when people tried to return to their homes, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health said in a statement on Sunday. The killings appear to be another violation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah and mark the latest in a series of violent attacks that have occurred since it began in November. The ceasefire brought a reduction in the number of daily attacks on Lebanon’s south, Bekaa Valley, and Beirut’s southern suburbs. However, Israeli forces have remained in south Lebanon to conduct demolishing operations in border villages. Here’s a look at the situation in southern Lebanon on the last day of the ceasefire. Lebanese army members gesture as they drive through a damaged site at the Lebanese village of Khiam, near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, January 23, 2025 [Karamallah Daher/Reuters] What are the terms of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire? Under the terms of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire, Hezbollah agreed to pull back above the Litani River, which runs across south Lebanon, and Israel was supposed to pull all troops out of Lebanese territory over the 60-day period. Advertisement Once the Israeli military was out, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were to enter, followed by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF). Furthermore, the LAF is supposed to ensure that they are the only Lebanese armed presence in south Lebanon. However, Israeli forces were still in the south on Sunday with both sides firing off blame as to why the terms of the ceasefire have not been followed. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said in recent days that the Israelis would hold on to certain points in Lebanon’s southeast. Lebanese women hold portraits of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Aita al-Shaab [Bilal Hussein/AP] When did the ceasefire expire? Israeli forces were required to withdraw from Lebanon as the ceasefire expired at 02:00 GMT on Sunday. Why is Israel refusing to withdraw from southern Lebanon? A UN source told Al Jazeera on Friday that, while Israeli forces had withdrawn from large parts of the western and central areas of southern Lebanon, field data suggested they were preparing to retain points in the east. Netanyahu blamed Lebanon for the delay, saying Hezbollah has not pulled back sufficiently from the border region. Lebanon denies the claim and has urged Israel to respect the deadline. Israel also justified this by saying the LAF has not been quick enough in deploying to the entirety of the south. The LAF denied those claims, saying they are fully prepared to deploy. UNIFIL, who has previously reported Israeli violations, has called on both sides to obey the terms of the ceasefire. Advertisement The Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported on Friday that Israel was asking US President Donald Trump’s new administration to extend the deadline, claiming the Lebanese army has deployed too slowly to the south and allowed Hezbollah to regroup. How many times has Israel violated the ceasefire agreement since November 27? According to investigations by media organizations and think tanks, Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement hundreds of times. Al Jazeera’s Sanad agency monitored the region and noticed that Israel did not withdraw troops during the period but used the truce to reinforce military positions seized during previous combat operations. Sanad verified more than 30 videos and images of documented ground incursions and aerial attacks by Israel inside Lebanon during the ceasefire. There have been at least 660 incidents, according to Anadolu Agency, while the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a pro-Israel DC think tank, said Israel has committed at least 800 airspace violations since November 27. The Israeli military also entered new areas it had been unable to penetrate before the ceasefire agreement and demolished numerous civilian homes. Sanad found that 4.5 square km (1.74 square miles) of land, primarily along frontline villages, were subject to demolishing and bulldozing by Israeli forces. At least 90 people in Lebanon were killed by the Israeli military between the ceasefire and early December, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. An Israeli soldier sits on top of a tank as it stands by near the Israel-Lebanon border in northern Israel, January 18, 2025 [Avi Ohayon/Reuters] What has Lebanon’s government said? The country’s leaders have called for Israel to respect the terms of the agreement and for citizens to trust in the Lebanese Army. Advertisement Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who is himself from southern Lebanon, sent a message to the residents of the area urging them to trust the army and to remain calm. “Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial unity are non-negotiable, and I am following this issue at the highest levels to ensure your rights and dignity,” he said in a statement. These sentiments were echoed by Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, who said he has full confidence in the LAF to protect Lebanon’s sovereignty and return residents to the south. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, also from southern Lebanon, called on the international community to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied Lebanese territory. Hezbollah has not put out a public statement, but Hassan Fadlallah, a parliamentarian linked to the group, appeared on local television station Al-Jadeed to praise people pushing into their southern villages. Hezbollah has so far not presented a military response. Due to the cutting of its supply lines in Syria with the fall of the al-Assad regime, “Hezbollah’s military capabilities and regional influence have been diminished, leaving it more vulnerable to Israeli demands,” Imad Salamey, a political scientist at the Lebanese American University in Beirut, said. Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam shakes hands with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda [Reuters] What has been the international reaction? On January 25, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to his Lebanese counterpart, Joseph Aoun, and stressed the need for Israel to abide by the ceasefire