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Israel strikes buildings in Kfar Tibnit and Ain Qana after evacuation warnings

Israeli airstrikes targeted two buildings Monday in the southern towns of Kfar Tibnit and Ain Qana after the Israeli army issued evacuation warnings.

The Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee said the buildings contained "military infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah."

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Israeli army drops leaflets threatening hospital in Bint Jbeil

The Israeli military dropped Sunday flyers aiming to intimidate residents in south Lebanon's Bint Jbeil near the border.

The National News Agency published a photograph of one of the alleged leaflets, which bore a warning to residents that Hezbollah operatives were using a hospital in the town.

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Kremlin confirms Ukraine war talks this week in Abu Dhabi

Russia has confirmed that talks with Ukraine and the United States in Abu Dhabi that were meant to take place over the weekend have been moved to Wednesday, blaming a scheduling issue for the delay.

"They were indeed originally planned for this past Sunday. But additional coordination of the schedules of the three parties was needed," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding: "Now, on Wednesday-Thursday, the second round will indeed take place. It will be held in Abu Dhabi. We can confirm that."

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Ukrainian drone strike kills two in Russia

A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's border region of Belgorod killed two civilians, the regional governor said Monday.

The overnight strike hit a residence which caught fire and partially collapsed in the town of Stary Oskol, north of the Ukrainian border, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram.

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Curfew in northeast Syria city awaiting entry of govt forces

Northeast Syria's Hasakeh was under a curfew on Monday as government forces were expected to enter parts of the city under an integration deal with the Kurds.

Damascus and Kurdish forces reached a comprehensive agreement on Friday to gradually integrate the Kurds' military and civilian institutions into the state, after the minority ceded territory to advancing government forces in recent weeks.

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Stocks, oil, precious metals plunge on volatile start to the week

Equities, oil and precious metals plunged Monday to extend the volatility that struck markets at the end of last week, with concerns about elevated tech valuations once again casting a shadow.

Investors resumed Friday's rollercoaster ride as they assessed geopolitical developments, the latest batch of company earnings and the outlook for U.S. interest rates.

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Iraq starts investigations into IS detainees moved from Syria

Iraq's judiciary announced on Monday it has begun its investigations into more than 1,300 Islamic State group detainees who were transferred from Syria as part of a US operation.

"Investigation proceedings have started with 1,387 members of the Daesh terrorist organization who were recently transferred from the Syrian territory," the judiciary's media office said in a statement, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

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Iran says framework for negotiations with US to be finalized in coming days

Iran said Monday it expected a framework for negotiations with the United States would be ready in the coming days, as President Donald Trump threatens military action against Tehran.

"Countries of the region are acting as mediators in the exchange of messages," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, without giving details on the content of any prospective negotiations.

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Gaza's Rafah crossing opens for limited traffic

Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt reopened on Monday for limited traffic, a key step as the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire moves ahead, according to Egyptian and Israeli security officials.

An Egyptian official said 50 Palestinians would cross in each direction in the first day of the crossing's operation. The official, involved in talks related the implementation of the ceasefire deal, spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue.

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Trump hopeful of Iran deal after Tehran warns of regional war

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he was hopeful of agreeing a deal with Iran after the country's supreme leader warned that any U.S. attack on the Islamic republic would trigger a regional war.

Following the Iranian authorities' deadly response to anti-government protests that peaked last month, Trump has threatened military action and ordered the dispatch of an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East.

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