Israeli airstrikes kill 12 in eastern Lebanon despite ceasefire
Share on Messenger
Share on Messenger
Share on X
Share on Whatsapp
Israeli airstrikes killed 12 people in eastern Lebanon, according to a Lebanese security source - the attacks being the deadliest in the area since the US-brokered ceasefire between the two countries last November.
The Israeli military said the airstrikes targeted training camps used by Hezbollah and warehouses it used to store weapons in the Bekaa Valley region.
Bachir Khodr, governor of the Bekaa region, said seven of the dead were Syrian nationals.
Israel dealt Hezbollah heavy blows in last year's conflict, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah along with other commanders and destroying much of its arsenal.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Tuesday's strikes sent a "clear message" to Hezbollah, accusing it of planning to rebuild the capability to raid Israel through the Radwan force.
Israel "will respond with maximum force to any attempt at rebuilding", he said. He added that strikes were also a message to the Lebanese government, saying it was responsible for upholding the ceasefire agreement.
Hezbollah condemned the Israeli attack on Bekaa Valley, describing it as a "major escalation of ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon". It made no mention in its statement on whether some of its fighters were killed in the strikes.
There was no immediate public response from the Lebanese government.
The US has submitted a proposal to the Lebanese government aimed at securing Hezbollah's disarmament within four months in exchange for Israel halting air strikes and withdrawing troops from positions they still hold in south Lebanon.
Under the terms of the ceasefire brokered by the US and France, Lebanon's armed forces were to confiscate "all unauthorized arms", beginning in the area south of the Litani River - the zone closest to Israel.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Trump announces new tariff deal with Indonesia
US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Indonesia on Tuesday, saying Jakarta had agreed to pay a 19 per cent tariff rate on its exports and pledged to make US purchases. In a post on Truth Social, Mr Trump said Indonesia had agreed to supply the US with critical minerals, and planned to purchase Boeing aircraft and farming products. 'This Deal is a HUGE WIN for our Automakers, Tech Companies, Workers, Farmers, Ranchers, and Manufacturers,' Mr Trump wrote. The deal comes as Indonesia was facing a 32 per cent tariff on its exports to the US starting August 1. US officials said the agreement ensures that some tariffs remain on Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation with a population of about 280 million people. 'The deal is significant,' one official told journalists on a call. 'It opens new markets for us, exports, reaffirms US digital leadership, and it eliminates non-tariff barriers on US exports.' The official added that Indonesia would drop its tariffs 'to zero on over 99 per cent of its trade' with the US and would also eliminate all non-tariff barriers. The deal solidifies Mr Trump's strategy of using the threat of high tariff rates to extract concessions from trade partners under his America First approach. It may serve as a blueprint for agreements with other nations. He also announced a new 19 per cent tariff rate for goods from the Philippines, after a visit by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to the White House. 'It was a beautiful visit, and we concluded our Trade Deal, whereby The Philippines is going OPEN MARKET with the United States, and ZERO Tariffs. The Philippines will pay a 19% Tariff,' Mr Trump said. He called Mr Marcos a 'very good and tough negotiator.' Mr Trump in April had announced a blanket 10 per cent tariff on almost all trading partners, while imposing even higher levies on other countries with trade deficits. Mr Trump, who took office in January, had framed his so-called reciprocal tariff policy as a means to reduce deficits the US has with its trading partners. The US official said the agreement is worth at least $50 billion to the US in new market access, as well as purchases the Indonesian companies will be making in goods, including liquefied natural gas and farm commodities. The US had a goods trade deficit of $17.9 billion with Indonesia last year, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative, a 5.4 per cent increase from 2023. While US exports to Indonesia increased 3.7 per cent to $10.2 billion last year, imports rose 4.8 per cent. Mr Trump's efforts to reformat US trade has also come with great uncertainty and course reversals. The US President has said he would swiftly reach trade deals with nations, but so far only Indonesia, the UK and Vietnam have announced agreements. Mr Trump has secured a 'trade truce' with China, which has a separate deadline.
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Students at Netanyahu's former high school campaign for his removal from hall of fame
More than 200 students from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's former high school in Pennsylvania have petitioned to oust him from their hall of fame. The students submitted a petition to the Cheltenham High Alumni Association last month to have a photo of the alumnus removed from the school's hall of fame, the New York Times reported on Friday. The campaigning students cited Netanyahu's arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which accuses him of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip, as well his indictment on corruption charges in Israel. The New York Times reported that students sent an email to the alumni association that read: "When students see these alumni on the wall of fame as we walk past every day, we understand that these are people we should look up to, and we strive to be like them one day. "As such, we feel it is not right for him [Netanyahu] to continue to be recognised in our school." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Netanyahu attended the high school for four years and graduated in 1967 while his family lived in Cheltenham Township. He was elected to the hall of fame in 1999, when he was serving his first term as prime minister. A decision is expected to be made in a closed-door meeting between officers from the alumni association and school district officials on 25 July. Middle East Eye reached out to the school for comment but did not receive a response by time of publication.
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Palestinian Islamic Jihad loses contact with group holding Israeli soldier
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) on Tuesday announced that it has lost contact with its own guards that are holding an Israeli soldier captive in Gaza. PIJ said it does not know the fate of Rom Braslavski or those who were assigned to keep him alive. Fighting factions in Gaza, including Hamas, have often lost contact with one another and their own teams as they turn to more primitive communication methods to avoid detection and surveillance.
