Israeli drone drops sound bomb near southern Lebanon town
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L'Orient-Le Jour
6 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Statue of Virgin Mary vandalized in Jezzine district
BEIRUT — A statue of the Virgin Mary was destroyed in the village of Qtaleh (Jezzine district), a security source told L'Orient Today on Tuesday, just days before the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which takes place every year on Aug. 15. The source had not yet been able to determine when exactly the incident occurred but added that an investigation has been launched. MP Charbel Massaad condemned 'the cowardly act of vandalizing the statue" in a statement relayed by the state-run National News Agency, and called on the security and judicial authorities to 'take immediate and serious action to identify the perpetrators and impose the harshest penalties on them." However, he also insisted that 'coexistence and mutual respect" among the region's residents will "remain stronger than any attempt to sow discord or stir up sectarianism.' Although southern Lebanon has a Shiite majority, the district of Jezzine is predominantly Christian. This kind of incident is not rare in Lebanon. Various regions across the country have seen similar incidents where religious statues are vandalized, arousing the emotions of the faithful. Last February, the destruction of a Virgin Mary statue in Sania, another village in the Jezzine district, raised concerns. Earlier this year, several individuals were arrested for stealing saint figurines displayed in a Christmas grotto in Shadra. In June, also in Shadra, two motorcyclists allegedly threw a heavy stone at a small structure housing an icon of the Virgin and Child Jesus.
L'Orient-Le Jour
6 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo as Netanyahu says partial truce not an option
Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya and his delegation arrived in Cairo Tuesday evening, Egypt's state-affiliated al-Qahera News channel reported, while from Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu told local media that a partial cease-fire deal would not be on the table. The Palestinian negotiators will begin holding talks with Egyptian mediators on the framework, which Qatari and Egyptian officials have been drafting this past week. The renewed push for a cease-fire comes as Israel prepares for its phased occupation of Gaza amid global outcry. The Israeli plan is expected to take some time to launch, leaving room for a potential cease-fire, which White House envoy Steve Witkoff continues to push for, having just met with the Qatari prime minister over the weekend to deliver Trump's message urging an "all or nothing" truce that ends the war for good. Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said that Cairo, working in coordination with Qatar and the U.S., is seeking a 'comprehensive agreement,' a sentiment apparently echoed by Netanyahu, who said he thinks the possibility of a partial cease-fire deal with Hamas 'is behind us,' Times of Israel reported, citing comments during an interview with the i24 television channel. 'You heard President Trump,' Netanyahu said when asked if the possibility of forging a partial cease-fire and hostage release deal is still open. 'I think it's behind us.' 'We've made all kinds of attempts,' he says, without elaborating. 'We went a long way. It became clear to us that they're just leading us astray.' Previous rounds of negotiations stuck on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory, which Israel now plans to completely occupy. Domestically, Netanyahu is facing increasing pressure from his government and the public to end the war. 'In any case, a lot of hostages, both living and dead, will remain in their hands,' he says, appearing to refer to a past proposal for a partial deal, which would have secured the release of 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 more. 'I want everyone — both the living and the fallen,' he said.
LBCI
7 hours ago
- LBCI
Iran says direct nuclear talks with US possible under suitable conditions
Iran could hold direct nuclear talks with the United States if conditions are suitable, first Vice President Mohammadreza Aref said on Tuesday, according to state media. But he said U.S. demands for Tehran to drop uranium enrichment entirely were "a joke." "Iran is ready for negotiations under equal conditions to safeguard its interests ... The Islamic Republic's stance is in the direction that people want and, should there be suitable conditions, we are even ready for direct talks," Aref said. Previous rounds of negotiations, which started in April, were indirect, mediated by Oman. Washington says uranium enrichment in Iran constitutes a pathway to developing nuclear weapons and should be dropped. On Sunday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made a controversial statement in favour of resuming negotiations with the U.S. regardless of current levels of distrust. "You don't want to talk? Well then, what do you want to do? Do you want to go to war? ... Going to talks does not mean we intend to surrender,' he said, adding that such issues should not be "approached emotionally." A senior commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Aziz Ghazanfari, reacting to Pezeshkian's comments on Monday, said foreign policy requires discretion, and careless statements by authorities can have serious consequences for the country.
