Latest news with #Hezbollah-run
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli airstrike on Beirut suburb kills three and injures seven
At least three people were killed and seven wounded as a result of an Israeli airstrike that hit a suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Tuesday, the Lebanese Health ministry said. It was the second airstrike on areas in Beirut's southern suburbs since the the ceasefire between Israel and the Hezbollah militia came into effect in November. Eyewitnesses said the airstrike targeted the top three floors of a building with two missiles in the Dahieh suburb of Beirut, a known Hezbollah stronghold. It also caused damage to nearby buildings, they added. Ibrahim Mousawi, a member of Hezbollah bloc in the Lebanese parliament, has condemned the latest Israeli strikes, describing them "as a major act of aggression" that has pushed the situation into an entirely different phase. He placed full responsibility for what he termed a 'crime' on the international community and the United States, the local Lebanese pro-Iranian al-Mayadeen and Hezbollah-run al-Manar television channels cited him as saying. He asserted that Israel has effectively declared the ceasefire agreement null and void through its continuous airstrikes and violations in the south of Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley region and the southern suburbs of Beirut. 'The situation has become intolerable. The world is watching as our people are targeted in their sleep, and there is no justification for attacking civilians,' Mousawi said. Despite the escalation, he reaffirmed Hezbollah's commitment to its stance, emphasizing that Lebanon still has a full opportunity to respond to these violations through state institutions. 'We are not war enthusiasts,' he added. Mousawi urged the Lebanese government to take decisive diplomatic measures. "When the state acknowledges that the enemy is breaching the agreement, it must activate the highest levels of diplomacy to find solutions,' he added. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier it targeted a Hezbollah terrorist who had supported members of the allied Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in planning an imminent attack on Israeli civilians. The man posed a direct threat and was "eliminated," the IDF said in a statement on X. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun strongly condemned the Israeli strike, which hit in early hours of the morning. He described the attack as a "serious warning" that signals premeditated intentions against Lebanon, particularly given its timing. "We must intensify our engagement with Lebanon's friends around the world to uphold our right to full sovereignty and prevent any violations - whether from external forces or infiltrators within Lebanon who provide justification for further aggression," he said. On Friday, the Israeli military said it hit a Hezbollah facility in Dahieh used to store drones. Shortly before that, the IDF said it had intercepted two projectiles aimed at northern Israel from the direction of Lebanon. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia had fired rockets at Israel for more than a year since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023 in support of Hamas. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli warplanes strike targets in Beirut's southern suburbs
The Israeli military on Friday struck Hezbollah militia targets in Lebanon following the firing of two projectiles into northern Israel, which the army said it intercepted. "A short while ago, the IDF struck a terrorist infrastructure site," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on its Telegram channel. It said the places hit were "in the area of Dahieh, a key Hezbollah terrorist stronghold in Beirut." Two explosions were heard and black smoke could be seen, dpa reporters at the scene confirmed. It was not immediately clear whether there were any casualties. The Hezbollah-run al-Manar television station reported three warning drone strikes before the big attack took place. Local media reports showed at least two buildings leveled to the ground following the attack. The IDF had previously issued a warning to residents of the affected neighbourhood on X, saying they were close to Hezbollah facilities. Earlier the army said "two rockets were fired from Lebanon towards Israel. One of the rockets was intercepted, while the second fell inside Lebanese territory," Avichay Adraee, the Arabic spokesman of the Israeli army said on X. Hezbollah has denied any links with the rocket firing. Warning sirens were heard in areas of northern Israel which are close to the Lebanese border, Lebanese security sources said. The sources said two loud explosions were heard across southern Lebanon. The same sources told dpa the Israeli army retaliated by shelling a series of villages in southern Lebanon. Israeli shells fell on Qaqaait al-Jisr, Khiam and Kfar Kela. Israeli drones were also heard flying over villages in several areas of southern Lebanon and the capital Beirut. Adraee, shortly before the strike, issued a warning to residents of the al Hadath neighbourhood on the outskirts of Beirut's southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah, to evacuate certain buildings in the area. Shortly after the warning came from the Israeli army, people were seen rushing out of buildings near the area where the Israeli army said they will hit. Lines of cars were seen leaving al Hadath area, according to an eyewitness. People were panicking as parents rushed to pick their children up from school, a dpa reporter observed. This is the first warning by the Israeli army to residents in Beirut's southern suburbs since the ceasefire was implemented in November. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salan called on the Lebanese army commander to move quickly to conduct the necessary investigations to uncover the parties behind the irresponsible rocket fire, which threatens Lebanon's security and stability. He stressed the need to prevent the recurrence of such acts, while emphasizing the need to complete the measures taken by the Lebanese Army to restrict the possession of weapons to the state. Salam also made a series of calls to Arab and international officials to exert maximum pressure on Israel to halt its repeated attacks. He reiterated Lebanon's full commitment to implementing UN Resolution 1701 and the cessation of hostilities arrangements, and said the Lebanese Army alone is responsible for protecting the border, and "that the Lebanese state is the sole authority to decide on war and peace." A ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia since November. The deal paused more than a year of intense cross-border shelling, which intensified when Israel launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon in October. The conflict broke out following the October 7, 2023, attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israeli troops are due to completely withdraw from southern Lebanon. However, they have remained at five strategic points, which the Lebanese government considers a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-02-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Report: Hezbollah Orders Its Fighters to Vacate Areas South of Litani
Hezbollah has issued internal directives for its operatives who do not live south of the Litani River in Lebanon to vacate the area, The Wall Street Journal said in a report published on Monday. The party has also temporarily suspended payments for compensation checks to those affected by Israel's war on Lebanon, it revealed. The decisions come as Hezbollah announced the suspension of its military activities pending the outcome of diplomatic efforts currently initiated by the Lebanese state to secure a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, and to stop air and ground violations. The Wall Street Journal said the damage inflicted by Israel on Hezbollah is becoming clear: its military abilities have been severely degraded and its finances are strained to the point that it is struggling to meet its commitments to followers. But the spiraling bill from its latest war is making many of those payments impossible, it explained. WSJ added, citing residents, that the group's primary financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan has recently 'frozen payments for compensation checks that had already been issued.' It said Hezbollah-run committees have evaluated hundreds of thousands of damaged homes and the group has issued $630 million in payments to people for loss or damage to their homes, according to an official at Al-Qard Al-Hassan. It also said the party has temporarily frozen compensation payments for its supporters and those affected, but not for party members and operatives. A person close to Hezbollah told the Journal that an internal memo was distributed to its combat units, ordering fighters who were not originally from areas south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon to vacate their positions, and that Lebanese army troops would be allowed to take control of the area in accordance with the ceasefire. 'The party has suffered heavy losses,' the person said, with some military units completely dismantled. But Hezbollah has partially replenished its ranks with fighters who had been stationed in Syria, the person added, with some restructured units ready for any resumption of fighting. 'The group has been weakened, but it is not defeated,' he stated. Hezbollah's new secretary-general, Sheikh Naim Qassem, has repeatedly emphasized the party's military readiness, asserting that the resistance remains strong in manpower and weaponry. However, he said United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 only relates to Hezbollah's weapons south of the Litani River and not its north. Qassem suggested that his party's weapons in northern Lebanon be discussed by the Lebanese state and various political forces as part of a defensive strategy.
Ya Libnan
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Hezbollah to hold a funeral for its slain leaders
By Dalal Saoud A portrait of slain Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah appears in front of the rubble of a building at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon on November 14, 2024. File photo by Fadel Itani/UPI BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 2 (UPI) — Hezbollah announced Sunday that a funeral for Hassan Nasrallah and his successor Hashem Safieddine, who were killed by Israel more than four months ago, will take place later this month. Sheikh Naim Qassem, the current leader of the Iran-backed militant group, said that Nasrallah was killed at a time the security conditions were 'difficult, and we did not have the possibility of holding a funeral' for him. Hezbollah had fears then that his funeral would be targeted by Israel. Qassem said in a speech broadcast by Hezbollah-run Al Manar television station that Nasrallah was originally buried in an undisclosed location after his assassination in an Israeli airstrike that hit the group's underground central command headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut. Israel reportedly used 85 bunker-busting bombs, one ton each, in the attack. He added that the group decided to hold on Feb. 23 'a grand solemn public funeral' for the men. Nasrallah was assassinated during an Israeli strike on Sept. 27. Hashem Safieddine, who served as the head of Hezbollah's Executive Council from 2001, was elected as the new secretary-general to succeed Nasrallah but was killed Oct. 3 before the group could make the announcement, Qassem revealed. He explained that Nasrallah will be buried 'in a piece of land' at the edge of Beirut's southern suburbs near the airport. Safieddine will be buried in his village of Deir Qanoun En Nahr in southern Lebanon. The joint funeral, which will take place after the extended cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel expires on Feb. 18, will be attended by 'personalities and political parties' from Lebanon and abroad. Details are to be announced later. A U.S.-brokered cease-fire agreement that ended 14 months of a destructive Hezbollah-Israel war on Nov. 27 was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to complete the pullout of its forces from southern Lebanon under the 60-day deadline set in the accord. Israel has argued that the Lebanese Army has been slow in redeploying, while Hezbollah still maintains its military presence in areas prohibited by the agreement. Lebanon has accused the Israeli military of procrastinating its troop withdrawal. Israel's decision to remain inside southern Lebanon prompted thousands of displaced residents last Sunday to forcefully return to their towns and homes, most of which were destroyed by the war between Israel and Hezbollah that broke out in October 2023. A total of 26 people were killed and 134 were wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on the returning residents. Qassem said the 'sacrifices' of the southern residents' will lead to the complete liberation of the land,' rejecting Israel's attempts to stay in the border area. 'Resistance will stay, and Hezbollah will not change its convictions,' he said, calling on the Lebanese authorities to 'handle its responsibilities' for securing the implementation of the cease-fire accord. Under the agreement, Hezbollah must end its military presence and withdraw to north of the Litani River, while Israeli forces should pull out completely to pave the way for the Lebanese Army to deploy and take control of the area. Hezbollah was greatly weakened during the war after receiving devastating blows, with Israel killing its top leaders and dismantling its military infrastructure. Last October, a memorial ceremony attended by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was held for Nasrallah in Tehran. UPI
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lebanon says two killed in Israeli raid in eastern Lebanon
At least two people were killed when the Israeli military carried out at least five airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon on Friday, authorities said. The Lebanese Health Ministry said 10 others were wounded in the strikes on Janta in eastern Lebanon. The ministry did not specify if the casualties were Hezbollah operatives. But a Lebanese security source told dpa the area where the strikes occurred is a stronghold of the militia. Videos shared by the Hezbollah-run Al-Manar television showed explosions in the mountainous area close to the Syrian border. One of the airstrikes also targeted a crossing on the Lebanese-Syrian border near Al-Qasr. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier that "terrorist targets" were struck. The military said the targets included an underground facility used by the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia for weapons development and production, as well as infrastructure along the Syrian-Lebanese border used for arms smuggling. While the IDF emphasized its commitment to the fragile ceasefire currently in effect, it said that it would not tolerate any "terrorist activities." The IDF said it will act to eliminate any threats to Israel and its forces. On Sunday, the White House announced that the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, agreed upon in November, was extended until February 18. The agreement originally included the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon within 60 days. However, according to Israel, this will now be delayed. Israel justified the decision by stating that Lebanon has not yet fully implemented its part of the agreement. The Lebanese army, which is responsible for ensuring compliance with the ceasefire and preventing Hezbollah's return to southern Lebanon, is accused of not deploying quickly enough into the vacated positions once held by the militants.
