Multiple Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon, Hezbollah responds with Katyusha rockets

Special Multiple Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon, Hezbollah responds with Katyusha rockets
A firefighting aircraft releases flame retardant to extinguish fires caused by rockets launched from southern Lebanon which landed on the outskirts of Safed, in the upper Galilee. (AFP)
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Updated 22 September 2024
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Multiple Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon, Hezbollah responds with Katyusha rockets

Multiple Israeli airstrikes hit southern Lebanon, Hezbollah responds with Katyusha rockets
  • Israel’s targeting of Hezbollah has killed 70 in the past three days

BEIRUT: The Israeli military carried out dozens of airstrikes on southern Lebanon on Saturday, targeting forests and valleys about 30 km from the border and escalating the conflict to new levels.

Israeli reconnaissance planes flew at low altitudes over Beirut, its suburbs, and various other regions of Lebanon, reaching Hermel in the far north.

Seventy airstrikes were carried out in the south and western Bekaa within one hour, targeting Zawtar, Deir Seryan, Qotrani, Rihan Heights, Mahmoudiyeh, the Litani River at the outskirts of Khardali, Sohmor-Libbaya, Tayr Harfa, the area between Zrariyeh and Ansar, the area between Kounine and Aainata, Mays Al-Jabal, Alma Al-Shaab, the heights of Iqlim Al-Tuffah, the area between Deir Al-Zahrani and Roumine, and Wadi Al-Numairiyeh.

For the third consecutive day, Hezbollah’s response was limited to the use of Katyusha rockets.

The party announced it had targeted “the Air and Missile Defense Headquarters at Kela barracks,” the “command headquarters of the Sahel Battalion at Beit Hillel barracks,” the “positioning center of the 631st Reconnaissance Battalion of the Golani Brigade in the Ramot Naftali barracks,” and the Zar’it barracks.

The Israeli army confirmed that “rockets fell in the Adamit area in Western Galilee and in the Birya area near Safed, and the rocket barrages fired from southern Lebanon targeted the Golan Heights, Safed, and the Hula Valley.”

On Saturday morning, Hezbollah said that Israel had targeted a meeting of leaders of its elite Radwan Force in an airstrike on a residential building in the Jarmous neighborhood of Beirut’s southern suburb on Friday, and revealed the names of the 17 senior Hezbollah members killed.

The most notable was Ibrahim Aqil, a founding member of the party, who “took charge of Hezbollah’s central training in the early 1990s and of the Islamic Resistance’s General Staff in the mid-1990s, and led the Jabal Amel Operations Unit from 1997 to 2000,” according to Hezbollah.

“As of 2008, he served as the deputy secretary-general for Operations, overseeing the establishment, development, and leadership of the Radwan Force until his martyrdom.”

Israeli radio reported on Saturday that “a reliable intelligence source conveyed information regarding a meeting of the leaders of the Radwan Force, which prompted the Israeli military to carry out an assassination operation in the southern suburbs of Beirut.” Dozens of civilians were also reportedly killed during the airstrike.

The structure, which consisted of eight stories and two underground levels, was reduced to rubble. On Friday night, the bodies of Hezbollah leaders were recovered, along with the remains of a family of four. However, other residents remain trapped beneath the rubble.

The latest toll of casualties from the attack, as reported by the Ministry of Health, stands at 31, including three children and seven women. Three of the victims were Syrians. The ministry added: “There is a significant number of body parts.”

A further 68 people were injured severely enough to require hospital treatment, and “15 remain hospitalized due to the severity of their injuries, with two cases classified as critical,” according to the ministry.

On Saturday, the operation to remove debris from the site continued. The Lebanese army cordoned off the area and additional heavy machinery was brought in. The operation is being conducted in collaboration with members of the Health Authority of Hezbollah and the Lebanese Red Cross, as they search for an estimated 23 missing people.

Movement within the district, which is classified as one of Hezbollah’s security zones, has significantly diminished.

One resident of the neighborhood, Faisal, told Arab News, “I have rented a house in the mountains and my family and I have decided to relocate there for the time being until the situation becomes clearer. What happened is horrific; the Israeli assault did not spare civilians or children.”

The attack occurred two days after the bombings targeting communication channels among Hezbollah members and their leaders, which resulted in the death or injury of hundreds and caused dozens to lose their sight — and which has raised numerous questions among residents of the area.

These inquiries focus on the “accountability of Hezbollah for the incidents that occurred” and the “rationale behind choosing a residential building for such an important leadership meeting rather than utilizing the tunnels that Hezbollah boasted about.”

Since Sept. 18, the total number of deaths resulting from airstrikes on the southern suburbs and the targeting of communication devices, has reached 70, according to the health minister. Fifty-six of those were members of Hezbollah. There are still 777 people in hospital due to injuries caused by exploding pagers and wireless devices, with 152 of them in intensive care.

The Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Rassoul Al-Aazam Hospital announced that one of its nurses had been killed in an airstrike.

The health minister characterized the multiple airstrikes as a “manifest war crime committed by Israel, disregarding international law, which stipulates the principle of protecting civilians from the effects of conflicts. The parties involved in the conflict must take all necessary precautions to avoid harming civilians and to distinguish between civilians and combatants during military operations. Failure to do so constitutes a violation of international law.”

Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi described the situation in Lebanon as “critical,” and said: “We are going through a pivotal phase that necessitates vigilance and solidarity.”

He announced the authorities are “intensifying intelligence efforts on the ground,” and added: “We are monitoring travelers, hotels, Syrian and Palestinian camps, as well as any issues that could potentially result in internal security disturbances under the current circumstances.”


Gaza’s reunited twins speak of loss and joy

Palestinian twins Mahmoud and Ibrahim Al-Atout sit amidst the rubble of their destroyed house after being reunited, in Jabalia.
Palestinian twins Mahmoud and Ibrahim Al-Atout sit amidst the rubble of their destroyed house after being reunited, in Jabalia.
Updated 1 min 18 sec ago
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Gaza’s reunited twins speak of loss and joy

Palestinian twins Mahmoud and Ibrahim Al-Atout sit amidst the rubble of their destroyed house after being reunited, in Jabalia.
  • The two men, from the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, were split up early in the conflict that began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023

GAZA: The emotional reunion of twin brothers in Gaza after Israel allowed movement within the enclave as part of a ceasefire deal provided a visceral image of Palestinian survival after 15 gruelling months of death, separation and destruction.
Video of the twins’ ecstatic, tearful embrace amid the crowds of people trekking home a week ago from displacement camps was widely viewed around the world. But Ibrahim and Mahmoud Al-Atout had both endured loss and hardship that tinged the joy of their reunion.
“I didn’t want to let go of him. It’s like the soul returned to the chest, the soul returned to the heart,” said one of the 30-year-old twins, Mahmoud, speaking about their experience days later in a video obtained by Reuters.
The two men, from the Jabalia area of northern Gaza, were split up early in the conflict that began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and seizing about 250 hostages according to Israeli tallies.
The Israeli military campaign in Gaza killed more than 47,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities, and levelled much of the enclave.
Early on, Israel ordered civilians to leave the north, where its military operations were most intense, but not everybody did so. Those who did travel south were barred from returning until last week as part of the deal for a ceasefire and hostage release.
Ibrahim had ended up in the south, while Mahmoud stayed in the north.
When news came late one night that he could go back to Jabalia, Ibrahim phoned Mahmoud, who quickly dressed and rushed to a meeting point on a main road into northern Gaza.
“Imagine: I stood on my feet for six hours, standing around looking like this (and wondering) ‘where is Ibrahim? Where is Ibrahim?,’” said Mahmoud in the video obtained by Reuters.
People coming up from the south kept mistaking him for his brother, Mahmoud said, surprised he had come north so quickly. They then would tell him to wait longer because Ibrahim was traveling with his six young daughters and had to go slowly.
“He called out to me ‘Mahmoud’, and I couldn’t comprehend. I ran quickly and we hugged each other,” he said, describing their moment of reunion.
Together again
Now reunited, the two men and their families say they spend time picking through the ruins of their family home, destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in November 2023 that killed one of Ibrahim’s daughters and injured another in her head and legs.
Palestinians accuse Israel of indiscriminate bombardment. Israel says Hamas hides among the civilian population and it tries to hit the group while minimizing harm to civilians.
Ibrahim had not wanted to go south. But Israeli forces had moved toward north Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital while he was there with his family and the Red Crescent moved them all to a bigger hospital in the south where better treatment was available.
As each man spoke in the video obtained by Reuters, using big arm movements to illustrate their points, the other sat still and quiet, taking it in.
Things were hard for Ibrahim and his family in the south without home or possessions, and communications were cut off for about four months.
“I was devastated to the point where I lost weight,” said Mahmoud of that time.
Together again, they sat in the evening with a fire by the rubble of their home, cooking bread on a metal shelf, their small children gazing at them with delight.


Emir of Kuwait receives BlackRock CEO

Emir of Kuwait receives BlackRock CEO
Updated 11 sec ago
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Emir of Kuwait receives BlackRock CEO

Emir of Kuwait receives BlackRock CEO
  • Larry Fink highlights importance of collaborating with Kuwait

LONDON: Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the emir of Kuwait, received Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, in the presence of Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah.

Fink and his accompanying delegation were received at Bayan Palace on Monday, the Kuwait News Agency reported.

During the meeting, Sheikh Meshal highlighted the importance of fostering investment in Kuwait and enhancing cooperation with foreign companies.

He highlighted the significance of attracting capital to support the national economy and create job opportunities for youth to advance the country’s development.

Fink, the CEO of the US-based multinational investment company established in 1988, highlighted the importance of enhancing collaboration with Kuwait and supporting the country’s Vision 2035.

Minister of Finance Noora Al-Fassam and the Director-General of the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority Sheikh Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah attended the meeting.


Oman to host Indian Ocean conference on Feb. 16

Oman to host Indian Ocean conference on Feb. 16
Updated 33 min ago
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Oman to host Indian Ocean conference on Feb. 16

Oman to host Indian Ocean conference on Feb. 16
  • Omani FM says event is a key platform for discussing the sea economy, ocean governance
  • It is expected to attract people from more than 60 countries

LONDON: The Omani Foreign Ministry will host the 18th Indian Ocean Conference on Feb. 16 to discuss maritime security and trade issues.

The two-day conference will be held under the theme “Voyage to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership,” the ministry said, highlighting Muscat’s commitment to enhancing maritime security and sustainable freight shipping, as well as developing international cooperation.

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi said that the conference is a key platform for discussing the sea economy and ocean governance.

The event is expected to attract people from more than 60 countries to discuss maritime partnerships, including trade links, maritime security, freedom of navigation, and the use of modern technology to enhance port security and control.

It aims to improve regional cooperation and tackle the challenges confronting the Indian Ocean region, the Oman News Agency reported.


Hamas officials say ‘ready’ for negotiations on phase two of Gaza truce

Palestinians transport aid supplies on an animal-drawn cart, amid a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, February 3
Palestinians transport aid supplies on an animal-drawn cart, amid a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, February 3
Updated 03 February 2025
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Hamas officials say ‘ready’ for negotiations on phase two of Gaza truce

Palestinians transport aid supplies on an animal-drawn cart, amid a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, February 3
  • “Hamas has informed the mediators … that we are ready to start the negotiations for the second phase,” an official said

CAIRO: Hamas is ready to begin talks on the details of a second phase of the ongoing truce in Gaza, two officials from the Palestinian militant group told AFP on Monday.
“Hamas has informed the mediators, during ongoing communications and meetings held with Egyptian mediators last week in Cairo, that we are ready to start the negotiations for the second phase,” one official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
“We call on the mediators to ensure that the occupation adheres to the agreement and does not stall,” they added.
A second official said the group was “waiting for the mediators to initiate the next round.”
Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel — the first phase of which came into effect on January 19 — indirect talks to hammer out the details of phase two were due to start Monday.
The 42-day phase one revolves around the release of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for around 1,900 prisoners, most of them Palestinian, being held in Israeli jails.
The second phase is expected to cover the release of the remaining hostages and include discussions on a more permanent end to the war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said he will begin discussions about the second phase with US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Monday.
The Israeli premier is currently in Washington, and is due to meet Trump on Tuesday.


Queen Rania calls for protecting children at Vatican summit

Queen Rania calls for protecting children at Vatican summit
Updated 03 February 2025
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Queen Rania calls for protecting children at Vatican summit

Queen Rania calls for protecting children at Vatican summit
  • Queen Rania explained that one in six children globally lives in conflict-affected areas
  • Around 96% of vulnerable children in the Gaza Strip feel their death is imminent

LONDON: Queen Rania Abdullah of Jordan called on Monday for respecting and protecting children’s rights during the World Summit on Children’s Rights held by the Holy See at the Vatican.

The queen spoke at “The Rights of the Child in Today’s World” panel, following the opening remarks of Pope Francis at the international summit.

“Whether they are missing their two front teeth or have lost limbs to war wounds, every child has an equal claim to our protection and care,” Queen Rania said, according to Petra agency.

She explained that one in six children globally lives in conflict-affected areas, where dozens are killed or injured each day, Petra added.

Queen Rania highlighted shocking findings from a December study showing that 96 percent of vulnerable children in the Gaza Strip feel their death is imminent following more than a year of Israeli bombardment.

“Almost half said they wanted to die,” she added. “Not to become astronauts or firefighters like other children, they wanted to be dead. How did we let our humanity come to this?”

At least 47,000 Palestinians have died as a result of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, with the majority being women and children.

“From Palestine to Sudan, Yemen to Myanmar, and beyond, this ‘un-childing’ creates chasms in our compassion,” she said.

“It stifles urgency in favor of complacency. It allows politicians to sidestep blame, and put narrow agendas above collective obligations.”

The Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day initiated the World Summit on Children’s Rights to further the Roman Catholic Church’s mission of advocating for the rights of children.

The summit was attended by Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani; former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi; Climate Reality Project founder and chairman, Al Gore; and Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, among others.