Latest news with #IsraeliAttacks

Iraq condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon during visit by Aoun

Al Arabiya

17 hours ago

Business
Al Arabiya

Iraq condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon during visit by Aoun

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Sunday condemned Israeli attacks on Lebanon as he hosted Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, on his first visit to Baghdad since taking office. Israel has continued to strike Lebanon despite a November ceasefire that ended more than a year of conflict – including two months of open war – with militant group Hezbollah, which emerged severely weakened. Lebanese authorities reported on Sunday the third deadly Israeli raid on the country's south in four days. In a joint press conference with Aoun, al-Sudani denounced 'repeated Israeli attacks against Lebanon's sovereignty' which he said were in 'violation of international law.' The Iraqi prime minister called to 'fully implement' a UN Security Council resolution that ended a 2006 war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah and served as the basis for the latest truce, which went into effect on November 27. Under the truce terms, Hezbollah fighters were to withdraw north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the border, and dismantle their military posts to the south. Israel, for its part, was to pull all its troops out of Lebanon but has maintained five positions it deems 'strategic' along the frontier. Al-Sudani also said he discussed with the visiting Lebanese president 'shared opportunities in various sectors' including energy, telecommunications and commerce. Dominated by pro-Iranian parties, the Iraqi government has close ties with Lebanon and welcomed thousands of Lebanese people, mostly Shia Muslims, displaced by the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah war. Tehran-aligned armed factions in Iraq are staunch allies of Lebanon's Shia militant group Hezbollah. Since 2021, gas-rich Iraq has provided fuel for power stations in Lebanon, mired in a grave economic crisis. Last month Beirut said it was expecting a delivery of 320,000 tons of wheat from Iraq. In Baghdad, Aoun expressed his gratitude for 'all the support and donations' Iraq has given Lebanon. Aoun, who assumed the presidency in January, also met with his Iraqi counterpart Abdel Latif Rashid.

Israeli attacks kill two people in southern Lebanon

The National

3 days ago

General
The National

Israeli attacks kill two people in southern Lebanon

At least two people have been killed in a wave of Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, the country's National News Agency has reported. A drone strike killed a civilian while he was pumping water, local authorities said, and Israeli gunfire in the border town of Kfar Kila killed another civilian. The casualties late on Thursday night underscore a deeply unstable situation in south Lebanon, where daily attacks continue to be carried out despite the ceasefire Israel agreed with Hezbollah in November. Mahmoud Atwi was fixing a well that provided several neighbourhoods with water in Nabatiye El Faouqa when he was attacked, according to the municipality's mayor, Zein Ghandour. He said Mr Atwi was employed by the municipality and was killed while carrying out his work. The Israeli army claimed it struck 'a Hezbollah terrorist', alleging he was working to restore a site used to manage the group's 'fire and defence array'. The military later said it hit 'several military sites throughout Lebanon' belonging to Hezbollah, accusing the group of trying to reestablish its weaponry there. It did not immediately comment on the shooting in Kfar Kila. Israeli troops continue to occupy five areas of Lebanese territory, despite the ceasefire agreement which mandates their withdrawal. Lebanon has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire more than 3,000 times. Vast swathes of south Lebanon lie in ruins from the bombardment, which has continued since last year. A low-level border conflict with Hezbollah, which broke out in parallel to Israel's war with Hamas, erupted in September when Israel invaded, killing more than 4,000 people. Many Hezbollah leaders were among them and large parts of the country were left in ruins.

Interior Minister highlights security and unity as municipal elections begin

LBCI

24-05-2025

Politics
LBCI

Interior Minister highlights security and unity as municipal elections begin

Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar confirmed that Lebanon has received support from the ceasefire committee member states to help safeguard the electoral process, allowing citizens to exercise their democratic rights safely. Speaking during the launch of the municipal elections, Hajjar underscored the critical role municipalities play in driving local development and announced efforts to reinstate funding to the municipal fund. He emphasized that Lebanon is once again rising to meet challenges, noting that the election process is proceeding securely, with logistical shortcomings being addressed. He added that most complaints received so far do not appear serious. Addressing the broader regional context, Hajjar condemned Israeli attacks that have impacted the entire country, stressing that all Lebanese have been affected and reaffirming Lebanon's unity. He hoped that the municipal and local elections would mark the first step in Lebanon's reconstruction—particularly in the south. He praised the resilience of residents in Marjayoun, highlighting their commitment to democracy through voter turnout.

Lebanese PM condemns wave of Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon

Al Jazeera

22-05-2025

Politics
Al Jazeera

Lebanese PM condemns wave of Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has denounced a wave of Israeli attacks across southern Lebanon, calling on the international community to pressure Israel to respect a ceasefire reached in November with Lebanese group Hezbollah. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA) said on Thursday that the Israeli military struck a building in Toul, a town in the Nabatieh governorate. The army had earlier warned residents to evacuate the area around a building it said was used by Hezbollah. Lebanese media outlets also reported Israeli bombardment in the towns of Soujod, Touline, Sawanna and the Rihan Mountain – all in the country's south. In a statement, Salam's office said the Israeli attacks come at a 'dangerous' time, just days before municipal elections in Lebanon's southern districts on Saturday. The contests are expected to be dominated by Hezbollah and its allies, and there have been growing concerns about the safety of voters, especially in border towns, amid the continued Israeli occupation of parts of southern Lebanon. 'Prime Minister Salam stresses that these violations will not thwart the state's commitment to holding the elections and protecting Lebanon and the Lebanese,' his office said in its statement. As part of the November ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah fighters were to pull back north of the Litani River and dismantle military infrastructure south of that demarcation line. For its part, Israel was to withdraw all forces from Lebanon but it has kept troops in parts of south Lebanon. It argues it must maintain a presence there for 'strategic' reasons. The truce was based on a UN Security Council resolution that says Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be the only people to bear arms in southern Lebanon, and calls for the disarmament of all non-state groups. On Thursday, the Israeli military said its forces had carried out several strikes targeting Hezbollah sites and killed one fighter in the southern Lebanon town of Rab el-Thalathine. Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the Israeli army's claim. Separately, a shepherd was injured in a different Israeli attack nearby, the NNA reported. The Israeli military said its forces also 'struck a Hezbollah military site containing rocket launchers and weapons' in the Bekaa Valley in northeastern Lebanon. The NNA described Israel's attacks as some of the heaviest since the ceasefire went into effect.