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Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon that killed three children and their grandmother earlier this month showed “reckless disregard for civilian life.”
The statement from the rights group comes as Israel and Hezbollah are continuing to clash along the tense Lebanon-Israel border since Oct. 8. The skirmishes have escalated but remain largely contained to areas near the border. The international community and Lebanese government have been scrambling to prevent the situation from turning into an all-out war in the small Mediterranean country.
Full StoryBritish Ambassador to Lebanon Hamish Cowell on Saturday commemorated Remembrance Day.
This annual event, which marks the end of the First World War on 11 November 1918, honors “the sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from the UK and the Commonwealth and remembers innocent civilians who have lost their lives in conflict and acts of terrorism,” the British embassy said in a statement.
Full StoryIsraeli artillery and drones bombed Tuesday several southern towns including al-Labbouneh, al-Naqoura, Blida, Rab Tlatine, Markaba, Tayr Harfa, Hawnine, Aitaroun, Odeisseh, Mays al-Jabal, Aita al-Shaab, Kfarshouba, Halta and Houla.
Hezbollah targeted for its part several Israeli posts including al-Malkiyyeh, al-Marj, Margaliot, Arab al-Aramsha, Petah, Shomera, Matat, Rwaisat al-Alam, Birkat Risha and Shtula. The group had targeted an infantry force in Netua'a overnight. Two Israeli soldiers were severely wounded.
Full StoryIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday issued a warning to Hezbollah amid escalating tensions on the border, saying the Lebanese group is “playing with fire.”
“There are those who think they can expand their attacks against our troops and against civilians. This is playing with fire,” Netanyahu said, without explicitly mentioning Hezbollah. “Fire will be met with much stronger fire. They must not try us, because we have displayed only a little part of our power. We will harm those who harm us,” he added.
Full StoryBrazilian police said Monday they arrested a third suspect for involvement in planning "terrorist attacks" in the country, a plot Israel says was backed by Lebanon's Hezbollah.
The alleged plot came to light last week, when Brazil's federal police carried out a series of raids across several states and arrested two suspects in Sao Paulo in an "anti-terrorism" investigation.
Full StoryThe Strong Republic parliamentary bloc of the Lebanese Forces on Monday visited Speaker Nabih Berri to ask that he schedule a parliamentary session for extending the term of Army chief General Joseph Aoun.
“We have been promised by the Speaker that he will only wait until the end of the month, because he prefers the extension to take place in Cabinet. After that he will set a session and our proposal will be the first item on the agenda of the urgent bills,” MP George Adwan of the bloc said after the meeting.
Full StoryTwo Israeli shells targeted Monday a gathering of reporters in the town of Yaroun on the Lebanese border. Al-Jazeera cameraman was lightly injured and cars were damaged.
Two Israelis were earlier wounded in a Hezbollah attack on Netu'a and an Israeli who got injured by an anti-tank missile strike near the northern community of Dovev on Sunday night was reported dead on Monday. Twenty-one Israelis were wounded in total on Sunday in two anti-tank guided missile attacks.
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The websites of the Beirut-based, pro-Iranian TV channel Al-Mayadeen have been blocked in Israel over "security" concerns, an official said Monday, as the war in Gaza raises worries of a regional conflict.
Full StoryMaronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi met Monday with U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea.
No statement was made after the meeting but the National News Agency said the two discussed the need for a swift election of a Lebanese president and the need to prevent Lebanon from joining the Gaza war.
Full StoryU.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed concern to his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant in a call on Saturday about Israel's role in escalating tensions along the border between Israel and Lebanon, three Israeli and U.S. sources briefed on the call said.
“Austin's message to Gallant reflected growing anxiety in the White House that Israeli military action in Lebanon is exacerbating tensions along the border, which could lead to a regional war,” U.S. news portal Axios reported overnight.
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