Israeli airstrike kills 4 in Lebanon; U.N. demands answers over Gaza aid workers found in mass grave
The operation marks the latest threat to a fragile four-month truce during which both Israel and Hezbollah have accused each other of violating terms, and came the day after United Nations officials demanded 'answers and justice' over the discovery of the bodies of 15 aid workers found in a mass grave in Gaza.
In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet — Israel's internal security agency — and its Mossad intelligence agency, said the strike on the southern Beirut suburb and Hezbollah stronghold of Dahiyeh had killed Hassan Ali Badir, who it said was a Hezbollah militant and member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who had recently assisted Hamas.
While Hezbollah did not confirm whether Badir had been killled, Ibrahim Al-Moussawi, one of the group's members of Lebanon's parliament, condemned the operation that left seven people injured and said it violated international laws.
'What happened was a major aggression that took the situation to a completely new phase,' Al-Moussawi told NBC News. 'We hold the international community and the United States responsible for this crime.'
Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun also criticized the bombardment, saying in a post on X Tuesday that Israel's growing aggression in Lebanon had prompted the country to seek support from its international allies.
Israel did not issue any evacuation warnings for the area ahead of the strike, while the U.S. State Department said in a statement Tuesday that hostilities had resumed 'because terrorists launched rockets into Israel from Lebanon,' Reuters reported.
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Belfast Telegraph
25 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Kneecap's Mo Chara arrives at London court after MP addresses crowd
LIVE | Follow our blog below for live updates from Westminster Magistrates Court Kneecap star Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court for to make his second appearance this morning. The west Belfast native, who makes up one third of the Irish language rap group Kneecap, is accused of displaying a flag in support of a proscribed organisation. The 27-year-old was charged in May, over the alleged display of the flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, last November. Ó hAnnaidh – known by his stage name, Mo Chara, which means my friend in Irish – has denied any wrongdoing. He arrived at court this morning shortly after North Belfast MP John Finucane addressed a growing crowd saying: 'We will be here tomorrow, we will be here next week, we will be here next month. We will be here as long as is necessary, with one clear voice and one clear message, free Palestine, free Mo Chara. Tiochfaidh ar lá.' Chaotic scenes as Kneecap's Liam Og O hAnnaidh arrives at court After being released on unconditional bail in June at the court, he is set to return on Wednesday morning at around 10am, alongside his band members – JJ Ó Dochartaigh (know as DJ Próvaí) and Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Moghlaí Bap) –.and his legal defence team, including Gareth Peirce, Blinne Ní Ghrálaigh and Darragh Mackin. Follow along this morning on our live blog: 8 minutes ago Liam Og O hAnnaidh swamped by photographers as he arrives at court It took the 27-year-old more than a minute to enter Westminster Magistrates' Court as security officers attempted to usher him through the front entrance. Hundreds of supporters greeted the Kneecap rapper with cheers as he made his way from a silver people-carrier to the building. Fellow bandmembers Naoise Ó Caireallain, and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh have also arrived at the courthouse. 20 minutes ago Mo Chara arrives at court This was the scene as Mo Chara arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court shortly after 9.30am. The crowd chanted 'Free Mo Chara', matching signs which were held aloft alongside Irish and Palestinian flags. Sinn Fein MP among protesters outside court John Finucane is addressing activists ahead of Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh's court appearance. The North Belfast representative has joined pro-Palestine campaigners outside the courthouse. "We will be here tomorrow, we will be here next week, we will be here next month," he said. "We will be here as long as is necessary, with one clear voice and one clear message, free Palestine, free Mo Chara, tiochfaidh ar lá" 39 minutes ago 'I love their music and the fact that they want to free Palestine' Arul Joseph from London believes Kneecap are massively popular outside of Ireland and has been following them for a year. 49 minutes ago Rush hour commuters express support for Kneecap member facing terror charge Drivers passing a protest zone outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London have been honking their horns in support of activists. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh is due to appear before a judge this morning accused of supporting the proscribed terror group Hezbollah. Our reporter Niamh Campbell is there. Niamh Campbell on Twitter / X Westminster Magistrates is packed - people keep beeping their horns as they drive past #kneecap #mochara @BelTel Niamh Campbell (@niamh_journo) August 20, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. 54 minutes ago 'I'm pro Kneecap' Niamh Campbell talks to Louise Kelleher, who is originally from Co Cork but lives in London, about why she is supporting Mo Chara today. Today 07:58 AM Crowd grows ahead of Kneecap member's court appearance Our reporter Niamh Campbell is outside court: "Protesters have been gathering outside Westminster Magistrates Court since 8am this morning. "Some of them are waving Palestine flags with one activist from NI wearing a massive papier-mâché head imitating DJ Provaí. "A small stage has been set up in a restriction zone with hundreds of cars driving past during rush hour beeping their horns in support of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh. "One woman is holding a sign with a message to the Prime Minister. "It reads: "Catch yourself on Keir". " Today 07:52 AM 'I felt I had to be here to support Kneecap and Mo Chara' Niamh Campbell talks to a supporter from Co Tyrone outside the court, who is wearing a massive paper maché head of Kneecap member DJ Provaí Today 07:39 AM Significant police presence outside Westminster Magistrates' Court The Met Police introduced a restriction zone for protesters who have already started gathering outside the courthouse. Niamh Campbell on Twitter / X Plenty of Met Police ready to go ahead of Mo Chara appearing in court today... @BelTel Niamh Campbell (@niamh_journo) August 20, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 07:20 AM Catch up podcast: The first court appearance Chaos in London as Kneecap's Mo Chara appears in court over terror charge External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 07:12 AM What's been said During a recent Féile an Phobail event earlier this month, Kneecap's band manager, Dublin native Daniel Lambert, said that Óg hAnnaidh 'knows that he's right'. Speaking at the 'West Belfast Talks Back' initiative, he stated: 'I don't want to speak for Liam Óg, but I think there's a great sense of conviction that comes when you know that you're right... and you haven't done anything wrong. 'You walk into any room, and there's a group of people against you, but you're clear on what you've done and that you've done the right thing, and that kind of counts for a lot. That's the way he kind of feels about it.' Today 07:12 AM What's happening today? Legal argument is set to be dealt with in the court today. London's Metropolitan Police Service have also imposed conditions on planned protests due to take place today, as Ó hAnnaidh arrives. The Met Police confirmed it will enforce strict conditions to 'prevent serious disruption' outside the courthouse. Metropolitan Police on Twitter / X We've imposed Public Order Act conditions to prevent serious disruption being caused by a protest outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in support of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh and aligned causes must remain in the red area. Any stage must be erected in the green area Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 19, 2025 External contentWhen displaying external content, data is transferred to third parties. Today 07:10 AM What happened during Mo Chara's last court appearance? As Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh arrived wearing a keffiyeh (a traditionally Palestinian scarf), thousands of supporters gathered outside the court, with many holding signs stating 'Free Mo Chara' and 'Free Palestine'. In that first sitting, Ó hAnnaidh confirmed his name to the judge in Irish, and an interpreter has been sought for today's proceedings, with the judge stating that one had not been available for June's court session. It is not yet known whether an Irish interpreter has been found for today's hearing.
The Independent
25 minutes ago
- The Independent
Hundreds greet Kneecap rapper as he arrives at court on terror charge
Hundreds of Kneecap supporters waving flags and holding banners have greeted one of the rap trio's members as he arrived at court for allegedly supporting a proscribed terror organisation. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in November last year. Demonstrations in support of the rapper were organised outside Westminster Magistrates' Court in London where he arrived on Wednesday, as well as in Dublin. The Metropolitan Police has imposed conditions limiting where the demonstration outside the court can take place, saying they are needed to 'prevent serious disruption'. O hAnnaidh was swamped by photographers as he arrived, with security officers taking more than a minute to usher him into the court building. Hundreds of supporters greeted the Kneecap rapper with cheers as he made his way from a silver people-carrier to the building. Fans held signs which read 'Free Mo Chara' while others waved Palestine and Irish flags before the rapper's arrival at court. Chants of 'free, free, Mo Chara' could also be heard over a megaphone, which was repeated by the crowd. In response to the Met imposing conditions on the protest, Kneecap described this move as a 'calculated political decision' that was 'designed to try and portray support for Kneecap as somehow troublesome', and 'asked supporters to go out of your way to be compliant with all instructions issued, irrespective of how pitiful'. O hAnnaidh received a rockstar welcome when he appeared at the same court in June, supported by fellow bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh. He was greeted by a festival-like atmosphere for his first court appearance, with dozens of fans waving flags, playing drums and one supporter setting off a smoke canister. The court previously heard the 27-year-old defendant is 'well within his rights' to voice his opinions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, was a 'wholly different thing'. O hAnnaidh is yet to enter a plea to the charge.
Reuters
26 minutes ago
- Reuters
Member of Irish rap group Kneecap appears at UK court on terrorism charge
LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - A member of Irish rap group Kneecap was welcomed by hundreds of supporters as he arrived at a London court on Wednesday, charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who was initially charged under the Anglicised name Liam O'Hanna and whose stage name is Mo Chara, is alleged to have waved the flag of the banned militant group Hezbollah during a Kneecap gig in London in November 2024. The 27-year-old was charged in May under the Terrorism Act, under which it is a criminal offence to display an article in a way which arouses reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a proscribed organisation. Wednesday's hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court is expected to deal with Óg Ó hAnnaidh's argument that the charge was brought too late and should be thrown out, failing which he is likely to formally enter a plea. Belfast-based Kneecap, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs, previously said the flag had been thrown on stage and described the charge as an attempt to silence them. The group – who rap about Irish identity and support the republican cause of uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland – have been increasingly vocal about the war in Gaza since Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged. Kneecap led a 30,000-strong crowd at Glastonbury Festival in June in chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer and accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies.
