SYRIA WAR
Hezbollah's deputy leader says group would stop fighting with Israel after Gaza cease-fire
Hezbollah's deputy leader, Sheikh Naim Kassem, stated that a full cease-fire in Gaza is crucial for halting hostilities on the Lebanon-Israel border. He emphasized Hezbollah's support role for Hamas and indicated that if Gaza's conflict ceases, their military assistance will also end. Kassem expressed uncertainty about how Hezbollah would respond to partial cease-fires or ongoing military actions in Gaza. The remarks come amid heightened tensions as talks of Gaza cease-fires falter, raising concerns of escalation along the Lebanon-Israel frontier.
IS killed more than 4,000 since Syria territorial defeat: monitor
Islamic State fighters have killed nearly 4,100 people in Syria since 2019, according to a war monitor. This comes despite the jihadist group's loss of its last stronghold in the country that year.
Israel says it can send Lebanon 'back to Stone Age' as UN warns against war
During a visit to Washington, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that Israel does not seek war with Lebanon but warned of severe retaliation if diplomacy fails, capable of "taking Lebanon back to the Stone Age." He emphasized Israel's preparedness amid escalating clashes with Hezbollah since Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel. Gallant reported over 400 Hezbollah fighters killed, while an AFP tally recorded 481 deaths in Lebanon, including 94 civilians, and 26 Israeli casualties since the conflict began.
Thousands of Iran-backed fighters offer to join Hezbollah in its fight against Israel
Iran-backed fighters from various countries are prepared to support Hezbollah in Lebanon against Israel if conflict escalates. Recent clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border have increased tensions. Hezbollah already has a large number of fighters but could receive additional support from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
Muslims start the Hajj against the backdrop of the destructive Israel-Hamas war
This year's Hajj came against the backdrop of the raging war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Palestinian militants, which pushed the entire Middle East to the brink of a regional war between Israel and its allies on one side and Iran-backed militant groups on the other. Palestinians in the coastal enclave of Gaza were not able to travel to Mecca for Hajj this year because of the closure of the Rafah crossing in May when Israel extended its ground offensive to the strip's southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt.
Is the Hezbollah-Israel conflict about to spiral?
The conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah has escalated dangerously after more than eight months of fighting triggered by the Gaza war. Both sides are signaling readiness for a bigger confrontation, with the U.S. seeking a diplomatic solution. Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel to support Palestinians in Gaza, part of the regional spillover from the Gaza war. Israel views Hezbollah as a major threat due to its growing arsenal and foothold in Syria. The conflict has displaced tens of thousands and could worsen significantly if not contained.
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Israeli airstrikes near city of Aleppo kills several people, Syrian state media say
Syria and Israel have been at war since Israel's founding in 1948. Syria's President Bashar Assad has been backed by Iran in his country's yearslong war, and Israeli strikes previously have targeted Iranian positions and equipment. The strikes also come while Israel is fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel separately has been striking targets in Lebanon as well as Hezbollah continues its cross-border fire into the country.
Iran's nuclear policy of pressure and talks likely to go on even after president's death
Iran's nuclear program is nearing weapons-grade uranium enrichment, prompting indirect talks with the U.S. and inviting the UN atomic watchdog for negotiations. This strategy aims to lift economic sanctions crippling Iran's economy. Following a major attack on Israel amid its Gaza conflict, Iran seeks to manage risks from the U.S. Despite the recent helicopter crash killing key Iranian leaders, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remains in control, continuing efforts to balance pressure and diplomacy. Indirect talks with the U.S. are ongoing, with uncertain outcomes.
Hezbollah introduces new weapons and tactics against Israel as war in Gaza drags on
Hezbollah has regularly fired missiles across the border with Israel over the past seven months, but the one on Thursday appears to have been the first successful missile airstrike it has launched from within Israeli airspace. The group has stepped up its attacks on Israel in recent weeks, particularly since the Israeli incursion into the southern city of Rafah in the Gaza Strip. It has struck deeper inside Israel and introduced new and more advanced weaponry.
Hezbollah introduces new tactics against Israel, attacks with missiles launched from drones
Hezbollah launched a drone attack on an Israeli military post this week, injuring three soldiers. The group has increased missile strikes on Israel, using advanced weaponry and drones. Hezbollah's actions are seen as a message to Israel amid escalating tensions in the region. The group's use of drones and advanced missiles has raised alarms within the Israeli military.
EU announces $1 bn in aid for Lebanon to shore up economy, border security
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen announced $1 billion in aid for Lebanon during a visit, aiming to boost the country's socio-economic stability amid a severe economic crisis. The aid will support basic services like education and health. Von der Leyen also urged Lebanon to tackle illegal migration, emphasizing the EU's commitment to legal pathways to Europe while seeking Lebanon's cooperation in preventing illegal migration and combating smuggling. Lebanon hosts around two million Syrian refugees, facing challenges exacerbated by its economic collapse and political turmoil.
Rockets fired from Iraq at US-led coalition base in Syria
The rocket attack on the military base in Syria housing a US-led coalition, originating from northern Iraq, has sparked a major search operation by Iraqi security forces in the Nineveh province. The vehicle used in the attack was located and destroyed. This incident marks the first significant assault on coalition forces in weeks, following heightened tensions in the region.
Miscalculation leads to escalation as Israel and Iran clash
The tense situation between Israel and Iran escalated dramatically. The Israeli strike, which killed several senior Iranian commanders, caught the United States off guard, leading to private expressions of anger from U.S. officials towards Israel for not consulting them beforehand. Iran retaliated with a barrage of more than 300 drones and missiles at Israel, signaling a significant shift in the conflict dynamics. The unexpected scale of Iran's response raised fears of an all-out war, prompting concerns about further escalation.
Iran says Israel 'in complete panic' over Syria attack response
Tehran has blamed Israel and vowed to avenge the April 1 air strike on Damascus that levelled the Iranian embassy's consular annex, killing seven members of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two generals.
'Israel bracing for potential direct attack from Iran in next 48 hours'
A missile and drone barrage would represent a retaliation by Iran for a deadly attack on its diplomatic compound in Syria last week, which the Islamic Republic blames on Israel. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly said Israel will be “punished” for the assault, though stopped short of saying what form such a counter move would take.
US on high alert for Iran threat in region after Israeli strike in Syria
Suspected Israeli warplanes bombed Iran's embassy in Damascus on Monday in a strike that killed an Iranian military commander and marked a major escalation in Israel's war with its regional adversaries.
Six months of bloodshed: The Gaza war in numbers
The unprecedented Hamas raid on southern Israel killed 1,170 Israelis and foreigners, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel hits Syria in heaviest raid on Iran proxies in months
Israel conducted deadly strikes in Aleppo, killing a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon amid escalating conflict with Iran's proxies. Airstrikes targeted Hezbollah, IRGC, with pilots training for deep Lebanon raids. Impact on civilians, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian casualties.
Two Hezbollah members killed in Israeli strike on Syria
Hezbollah later announced in separate statements that two of its fighters were "martyred on the road to Jerusalem", the phrase it uses to refer to members killed by Israeli fire. A source close to Hezbollah confirmed that both were killed this morning in Syria. Syrian state media did not report the strike.
Five dead including civilians in Israeli strikes on Syria: monitor
Israeli airstrikes in Syria's Homs killed five, including three civilians, with seven injured. Syria's defense ministry reported casualties and shared footage of rescue efforts. Last week, US strikes on Iran-backed groups in Syria and Iraq, alongside Israeli attacks in Syria, heightened tensions. Israel aims to prevent Iranian influence in Syria. The strikes occurred amidst the ongoing civil war, which has claimed over half a million lives and displaced millions since 2011.
Joe Biden says he has decided response to Jordan attack
The White House warned that "multiple actions" were likely in retaliation for the first fatal attack on US forces in the region since the Israel-Hamas war broke out in October. A leading pro-Iranian group in Iraq said Tuesday that it would halt attacks on US forces as military action loomed, but there was no sign it would be enough to stop Washington retaliating.
Syria faces upsurge in strikes
Already unstable after years of civil war, Syria has seen attacks on US troops on its territory, Israel targeting its airports and senior Iranian figures, Iran striking suspected jihadists, as well attacks from Jordan and Turkey. Here are some questions and answers about the upsurge in raids on the country.
Iran 'flexes muscles' amid Gaza war fallout: analysts
On Tuesday, Khamenei hailed the Yemeni rebels for their actions saying "these efforts will continue until victory." Iran says it sees it as "duty" to support what it calls "resistance groups" in the region but insists they are "independent" in decision and action.
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