Lebanon
Israel again attacks UN personnel in southern Lebanon
A new Israeli attack has wounded United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, the second such incident in as many days. Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported on Friday that the Israeli army struck a Sri Lankan battalion's watchtower in Naqoura, which is part of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon. According to Lebanon's official National News Agency, soldiers of the battalion were wounded by artillery fire from an Israeli Merkava tank.
$1,800 per seat: luxury vessels depart Lebanon as planes dry up
The Princess 2010 yacht is an amazing example of a boat. Before the war, its shining white hull could be seen patrolling Lebanon's coastline, revellers making the most of the 24-metre-long craft for which they each paid $600. Since Israel began an intensive bombing campaign throughout large parts of Lebanon on September 23, the Princess has been on a completely different voyage. The $1.3 million vessel has been transporting families from Beirut to Cyprus, with bottles of champagne replaced with hurriedly packed luggage.
Russian views of Israel-Iran escalation: chaos desirable, war terrible
Anna Levina, a Russian researcher and photographer-documentarian based in Beirut, has been stockpiling supplies in anticipation of Israel's assault on Lebanon, and she has had non-perishables in her kitchen since last October when Hezbollah and Israel began firing missiles at each other. "The feeling is, of course, unpleasant, but I've been waiting for this moment for a year," Levina said of Israel's major escalation of missile strikes on numerous sections of Lebanon, including Beirut, during the past two weeks, which has killed over 2,000 people. On Tuesday, Israel also announced the start of ground operations in southern Lebanon, where its forces have since clashed with Hezbollah fighters.
Deep Intelligence Breach Enables Israel to Kill Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah
In a devastating airstrike on Friday evening, Israel used approximately 100 munitions, including U.S.-made 2,000lb bombs, to kill Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. The strike targeted an underground bunker in the Dahieh suburb of southern Beirut. Nasrallah, who was famously cautious about his security and rarely appeared in public, made an unplanned trip to the secret meeting location. However, Israel’s deep intelligence penetration of Hezbollah allowed them to track Nasrallah’s movements and deliver the deadly strike.
Netanyahu to Reject Ceasefire Calls, Vows to Fight Hezbollah ‘Until Victory’ in UN Address
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to dismiss any hopes for a ceasefire in his upcoming United Nations speech, as Israel commits to continue its battle against Hezbollah militants "until victory." On Wednesday, Britain joined the United States, France, and other allies in proposing a 21-day ceasefire. Sir Keir Starmer, during his UN address, urged both sides to "step back from the brink." However, Netanyahu, upon arriving in New York last night, firmly rejected the truce proposal. He stated that Israeli forces would maintain their offensive against Hezbollah strongholds "with full force" and continue until Israel’s objectives are met.
Families Flee Southern Lebanon Amid Israeli Bombardment
Amid Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah-linked targets in southern Lebanon, families rushed to escape. Many packed belongings and headed north in cars, trucks, and on motorcycles. Some residents, like Zahra Sawli from Nabatieh, reported intense bombardment and received warnings from the Israeli military to evacuate areas near Hezbollah positions. Zahra described hearing bombings early in the morning, with strikes intensifying by noon. "I saw a lot of strikes, glass shattering, and many people stuck in traffic trying to flee," she told the BBC. Roads leading to Beirut became clogged with vehicles, and some, like one family of five, arrived in the capital on a single motorbike, exhausted and desperate.
Lebanon shaken by hand-held radio blasts as ‘solar energy systems erupt’
Israel's defense minister announced a "new phase" of the war as its forces focused on the northern front with Lebanon, where nine people were killed in the latest wave of explosives. A second wave of explosions has shaken Lebanon, this time connected to hand-held radios, with reports indicating that solar energy installations have also exploded in numerous regions.
Pager and walkie-talkie strikes on Hezbollah were daring and well-planned
It may take years to get the complete tale of how Hezbollah planned coordinated explosions of thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies. Even without Israel formally admitting guilt, it is apparent that the strike was meticulously prepared, no matter how unclear the outcome. Experts suspect that a little stable explosive was carefully inserted into each sabotaged device. Alan Woodward, a cybersecurity professor at Surrey University, says, "There wouldn't need to be much explosive, as proximity to a human body means it would cause injury even if it were just a few grams."
PwC fined £15 million for fraud at London Capital & Finance
PWC has been fined £15 million for failing to warn about alleged fraud at London Capital & Finance (LCF). The auditor is the first accounting company to be penalised by the City authority. The Financial Conduct Authority's inquiry discovered that while working on the minibond company's 2016 accounts, PWC's audit team discovered several red lights but neglected to notify the regulator.
Joe Biden ‘optimistic’ about Middle East ceasefire despite Israeli bombings in Gaza and Lebanon
The US president's words come as regional tensions have risen in recent weeks, with fatal Israeli attacks reported in Gaza and Lebanon. US President Joe Biden has expressed greater optimism about a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas than in previous months. "As of an hour ago, we were still playing. I am optimistic. It's still not over. "Just a couple more issues, and I believe we have a shot," he told reporters on Friday.
As war looms over Lebanon, refugees wonder how they may live
In 2014, the Syrian regime launched a missile against Alaa's residential building in Aleppo, Syria. Alaa, 13, and his family, which included his mother, father, and two sisters, escaped the explosion and fled to Lebanon. Today, Alaa works as a hairdresser in Beirut and is concerned about the possibility of another battle between the Lebanese party Hezbollah and Israel. "A war would affect everyone here: Lebanese and Syrian," Alaa explained outside a barbershop in Hamra, a thriving neighbourhood in West Beirut. "Whatever occurs, happens. "I live day to day."
Israel shoots drones at Lebanon amid escalation fears
Two civilians were reportedly killed by Israeli drone attacks in southern Lebanon as the border crisis escalated. The Israeli attack was the first lethal response to a missile attack on Saturday that Israel claims killed 12 children and youths in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. The strike has heightened fears that the battle in Gaza would develop into a regional conflict. According to Lebanon's state media, one strike hit a motorcycle near the border, killing two riders and wounding a kid. Two other people were hurt in a separate strike in southern Lebanon.