Latest news with #Al-QudsDay
Shafaq News
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Lebanon nabs suspects amid rising tension with Israel
Shafaq News/ Lebanese security forces have arrested several suspects in connection with recent rocket launches from Lebanon, authorities said on Sunday, as tensions along the border remain high. The Lebanese General Security Directorate said in a statement that it intensified intelligence operations following the rocket attacks on March 22 and 28. "Under judicial supervision, a number of suspects have been arrested, and investigations are underway to determine responsibilities and take appropriate legal measures," the statement read, without revealing the identity of detainees. The latest escalation came after two rockets were fired from Lebanon toward northern Israel on March 28. The Israeli military said it intercepted one, while the other landed in an open area. In response, Israel launched airstrikes on several villages in southern Lebanon and, for the first time since a ceasefire in November 2024, targeted a building in Beirut's southern suburbs. Hezbollah denied involvement in the rocket fire, reaffirming its commitment to the ceasefire and accusing Israel of using the incident as a pretext for continued military action. The group has repeatedly stated that it is not seeking an escalation but remains prepared to respond to Israeli aggression. Meanwhile, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem accused Lebanon's new government of 'failing' to prevent Israeli incursions in the country's south and capital. Speaking at an event marking Al-Quds Day, Qassem described Israel as a 'relentless enemy with no defined borders,' asserting that Hezbollah's resistance 'can thwart its aggression and prevent it from achieving its objectives.' He urged the Lebanese government to 'halt Israeli aggression, remove the occupation, and explore measures beyond diplomacy to confront ongoing violations.' Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, said the Lebanese army is conducting investigations to determine who was behind the rocket launches. "Lebanon condemns any attack on its territory and any attempt to drag the country into a cycle of violence," he said. Aoun also suggested that third parties might be trying to destabilize Lebanon. "It is not Hezbollah," he said, referring to past evidence and the group's own denials. "There are other actors who have an interest in fueling tensions in Lebanon. We will not allow our country to become a battleground for external agendas." Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that "there will be no calm in Beirut without calm in the Galilee."
Jordan Times
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Jordan Times
Trump says 'there will be bombing' if Iran fails to make 'peace deal'
A man holds a portrait of the Iranian Supreme Leader and an anti-US sign as Iranians attend a rally marking Al-Quds Day (Jerusalem), a commemorative day held annually on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, in Tehran, on March 28, 2025. (AFP photo) WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has threatened that Iran will be bombed if it persists in developing nuclear weapons. "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," NBC News said the president told one of its correspondents in an interview late Saturday. It said he also threatened to punish Iran with what he called "secondary tariffs." Trump's language represented a sharpening of his comment a few days earlier that if Tehran refused to negotiate a new nuclear agreement, "bad, bad things are going to happen to Iran." It was not clear whether Trump was threatening bombing by US planes alone or in an operation coordinated with Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Politico late last month that "in order to stop a nuclear Iranian program before it will be weaponized, a reliable military option should be on the table." Analysts have said Iran may be just weeks away from producing a deliverable nuclear weapon -- though Tehran denies it is building such arms. Either way, such an attack carries a risk of spreading to a wider conflict. Trump in 2018 pulled the United States out of an agreement to relieve sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program. Now, in his second term, he has said he is open to talks on a new deal that could reduce the risk of military escalation. Trump revealed in early March that he had sent a letter proposing such talks to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Meantime, he has pushed ahead with his "maximum pressure" program of additional sanctions and the threat of military action. Tehran, deeply suspicious of the US administration after Trump's withdrawal from the original nuclear deal, has refused to negotiate directly with Washington. On Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the official IRNA news agency that he had delivered a letter responding to Trump's outreach to Oman, which has served as an intermediary in the past.
Shafaq News
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Hezbollah: Israel's non-compliance will trigger "Other Options"
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem accused Lebanon's new government of 'failing' to prevent Israeli incursions in the country's south and capital. Speaking at an event marking Al-Quds Day, Qassem reaffirmed Hezbollah's commitment to Palestinian 'just cause' and emphasized the liberation of holy sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque. He warned that Lebanon remains on Israel's annexation list, particularly in the south. 'The Israeli presence and visits to areas like Houla and Shemaa clearly signal expansionist ambitions,' he said, adding that 'Israel aims to establish a lasting foothold in Lebanon.' Qassem described Israel as a 'relentless enemy with no defined borders,' asserting that Hezbollah's resistance 'can thwart its aggression and prevent it from achieving its objectives.' He urged the Lebanese government to take decisive action, stating, 'The state must halt Israeli aggression, remove the occupation, and explore measures beyond diplomacy to confront ongoing violations.' He also called for prioritizing reconstruction efforts without external preconditions. 'If Israel does not comply, we will have no choice but to consider other options,' he warned, without elaborating. "على الدولة اللبنانية أن تتصدى.. و"إسرائيل" لن تتمكن من أن تحقق ما تريد مع وجود المقاومة والشعب والتماسك الداخلي، ولا تستخفوا بما نقول وإذا لم تلتزم "إسرائيل" لن يكون أمامنا إلا أن نعود إلى خيارات أخرى"الأمين العام لــ #حزب_الله الشيخ نعيم قاسم #الميادين #يوم_القدس_العالمي — قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) March 29, 2025 Qassem rejected normalization with Israel and political compromises that he claimed serve Israeli interests. He also dismissed allegations linking Hezbollah to recent cross-border incidents between Lebanon and Syria. Hezbollah's leader accused Israel, with US support, of seeking to dismantle the resistance and shape Lebanon's future. 'With our resistance, the Lebanese people, and national cohesion, Israel will not achieve its goals,' he said. His remarks come amid rising tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border, where recent clashes have raised concerns about the stability of a ceasefire agreement brokered on November 27, 2024, which Israel has violated over 1,500 times, causing at least 100 fatalities and 331 injuries, according to Lebanese official data. Israel also failed to complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by the agreed February 18 deadline, carrying out only a partial pullback while continuing to occupy five major Lebanese hills seized in the last war. Recently, it has begun constructing a border strip extending one or two kilometers into Lebanese territory.
LBCI
28-03-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Iran speaker says US bases will be struck if Trump attacks Iran
Tehran would strike U.S. bases in the region if Washington follows through on its warning of military consequences for Iran in the absence of a new nuclear deal, the speaker of the Iranian parliament said Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this month that he had sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warning that "there are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal." "If the Americans attack the sanctity of Iran, the entire region will blow up like a spark in an ammunition dump,' Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf said. "Their bases and those of their allies will not be safe,' Qalibaf said in a live speech at the annual Al-Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, that marks the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. Khamenei has called Trump's message deceptive, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday talks were impossible unless Washington changed its "maximum pressure" policy. Iran had thoroughly examined Trump's letter and had sent "an appropriate response" through Oman, Araghchi said. Reuters
Al Manar
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Al-Quds Day: A Hopeful Reminder in a Year of Loss
As another holy month of Ramadan passes, its final week brings both solemn reflection and renewed determination. Throughout this sacred time, the resilience of resistance communities has been evident in countless ways. From long iftar tables set among the ruins left by the Zionist enemy in border villages to the tireless efforts of communities providing food, clothing, and support to those who have suffered great losses, the spirit of solidarity endures. The last Friday of Ramadan holds special significance as Al-Quds Day, a day dedicated to the ongoing struggle for the liberation of occupied Palestine and its sacred sites from the grip of the Zionist regime. Established in 1979 by founder of the Islamic Revolution in Iran Imam Sayyed Ruhollah Khomeini, Al-Quds Day serves as a global call for solidarity with the Palestinian people. Imam Khomeini's words from that time remain just as relevant today: 'I call on Muslims around the world to dedicate the last Friday of this holy month of Ramadan as Al-Quds Day, and to declare international solidarity among Muslims in support of the legitimate rights of the Muslim people in Palestine.' Even then, the Palestinian people and the residents of Southern Lebanon endured relentless aggression and violations. Despite the insurmountable losses suffered decade after decade, their commitment to the cause remains unshaken. This unwavering spirit echoes in the sacrifice of every martyr and in the voices of children pledging loyalty to their faith and land. Among those who carried this message with unwavering conviction was Martyr Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah. His words and leadership, both in life and beyond, continue to guide resistance efforts. Throughout Ramadan and on every Al-Quds Day, his speeches served as a crucial source of awareness, exposing the historical injustices behind Palestine's occupation and reinforcing the significance of this remembrance. In one of his speeches, Sayyed Hasan affirmed: 'Al-Quds Day is the last Friday of the month of Ramadan, as announced by His Eminence Imam Khomeini, may Allah Almighty be pleased with him. This position, which the Imam announced at that time, is in fact an advanced expression of an old and historical position of all our religious authorities since the beginning of the establishment of the Zionist entity in occupied Palestine.' He also highlighted the long-standing efforts of scholars from the school of Al-Najaf in Iraq, who opposed Zionist ideology even before the official establishment of the illegitimate Israeli state in 1948. These scholars played a crucial role in resisting colonial oppression and instilling principles of defiance in their communities. The Zionist entity has always recognized the power of knowledgeable and principled leaders produced by the school of Islam, often resorting to assassination to silence them. The martyrdom of Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah stands as proof of the immense influence a true leader can have in shaping a resilient and truth-seeking society. Sayyed Nasrallah's Unwavering Stance on Al-Quds The events following Operation 'Al-Aqsa Flood' and the ensuing genocide in Gaza have further reignited global awareness of Palestine's just cause. Yet, Sayyed Nasrallah never needed a resurgence to remember Palestine. He consistently spoke out against the occupation, oppression, and systematic dehumanization of Palestinians. On Al-Quds Day in 2021, he declared: 'Today is the day to again express the same firm position. I will start first with the steadfastness of the Palestinian people. This is a very important issue, and the developments taking place in Palestine, that steadfastness is the foundation. Their adherence to their legitimate rights and their refusal to give up Al-Quds (Jerusalem) or submit to intimidation, threats, siege, and temptation all at once, that is a scene of resilience, resistance, pride, and adherence to the truth, and it is the only scene that gives legitimacy to the entire resistance axis.' In short, leaders like Sayyed Nasrallah understood the value of every opportunity to denounce the Zionist regime and amplify the voices of the oppressed in occupied Palestine, as he himself embraced martyrdom all the way to Al-Quds. His words should always be remembered, now more than ever, as the vicious war on Gaza returns and the same innocent people who only just returned from a year of displacement were slaughtered with children in their ramshackle tents they built on the ruins of their destroyed houses. Al-Quds Day serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring struggle for Palestine's liberation, symbolizing resilience, solidarity, and resistance against oppression. Through the voices of leaders like Sayyed Nasrallah and the legacy of Imam Khomeini, the significance of this day remains unwavering, reinforcing the just cause of the Palestinian people. Despite immense sacrifices and relentless aggression, the spirit of resistance persists across generations, ensuring that the voices of the oppressed are never silenced. In a year of profound loss, Al-Quds Day stands as a beacon of hope, uniting communities in their unwavering commitment to justice and liberation.
