Israel has publicly acknowledged its responsibility for the September operation that detonated hundreds of pagers belonging to Hezbollah in Lebanon. This revelation, confirmed by an Israeli official to CNN, comes as a result of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s briefing to his cabinet, which was subsequently reported by Israeli media. The decision to publicly acknowledge Israel’s role appears to be a strategic move within the context of ongoing domestic political turmoil in Israel, potentially aimed at criticizing the military leadership and intelligence establishment, including former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, whom Netanyahu recently dismissed. The operation resulted in numerous casualties, including civilians, and was carried out despite opposition from senior security officials.
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Israeli forces reportedly killed Salim Jamil Ayyash, a Hezbollah commander allegedly responsible for the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, in a recent airstrike. The Saudi media outlet Al-Arabiya broke the news, claiming that Ayyash was killed near the Syrian city of al-Qusayr, a Hezbollah stronghold.
Ayyash, who was wanted by the US State Department and had a $10 million bounty on his head, was a prominent member of Hezbollah’s Unit 151 assassination squad. He was sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment by a UN-backed tribunal for the assassination of Rafiq Hariri, who was killed in a 2005 suicide bombing in Beirut.… Continue reading
During ground operations in southern Lebanon, IDF forces discovered a Hezbollah training base located within 200 meters of a UNIFIL base. This base was used for training operatives and storing weapons, including rocket launch sites aimed at Israeli towns, training manuals, and operational maps of Israel. Simultaneously, Hezbollah launched rockets from Lebanon, striking a house in Kfar Yassif, causing damage but no injuries. Multiple drones were also intercepted after crossing from Lebanon. In the Upper Galilee, communities faced brief concerns over potential ground infiltrations, resulting in emergency protocols and roadblocks.
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Israeli forces have declared their intention to prevent the return of Palestinian residents to northern Gaza following a systematic evacuation. This action, which has been criticized by international humanitarian law experts as a potential war crime, has been justified by Israel as necessary to combat regrouped Hamas cells. While Israel denies forcing evacuations, residents have described dire conditions and a desperate flight south. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon continues, marked by a deadly Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Barja and retaliatory rocket fire by Hezbollah targeting Israel.
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Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militant group, has declared that it has tens of thousands of fighters ready to engage in battle with Israel. This statement, however, has sparked a range of reactions and skepticism from those who see it as an empty threat. The sheer number of fighters claimed by Hezbollah seems improbable, especially considering their recent losses and the potential for Israel to easily target any declared leader.
Many critics suggest that this declaration is nothing more than posturing, an attempt to project strength despite a history of failed attempts against Israel. The idea that Hezbollah possesses such a large, organized force is met with doubt.… Continue reading
IDF soldiers found a stash of weapons hidden amidst dolls in a children’s bedroom and kitchen of a house in a southern Lebanese village. The house was serving as a storage facility for RPGs, launchers, rockets, and grenades. The troops also found tactical tools and intelligence documents reportedly used by Hezbollah terrorists. IDF continues to operate in the area, eliminating terrorists through close-quarters encounters, precise munitions, and air strikes. The existence of additional weapons in the area was suggested by secondary explosions during the destruction of terror targets.
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The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that on Saturday, Hezbollah launched roughly 100 projectiles at Israel from Lebanon. The IDF assured that they will steadfastly protect Israel and its citizens against threats posed by the Hezbollah terrorist organization. The military strikes mark an escalation in the conflict between the two entities.
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Swedish migration minister, Johan Forssell, has said that individuals supporting terrorist organisations should be deported from the country. Forssell’s comments followed a demonstration supporting Gaza during which flags of known terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah were seen. In response to this, the minister plans to change the law to allow the deportation of those paying tribute to such organizations. Similarly, migration policy spokesperson, Annika Hirvonen, emphasised that supporting terrorism should be banned for all citizens regardless of their immigration status. Earlier, Sweden had introduced stricter regulations for citizenship applicants in a bid to enhance security.
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A US official has reportedly requested Lebanon to unilaterally declare a ceasefire with Israel with the hope of reviving stagnated talks between Israel and Hezbollah, according to a senior Lebanese political source and a senior diplomat. The US, however, denied this claim, stating it is working with both parties towards a ceasefire. Lebanon also denied the claim, expressing their intentions were to seek a mutual ceasefire in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which terminated the previous conflict between these opponents in 2006. Lebanon’s response towards a ceasefire would require the support from Hezbollah, whose allies and members dominate Lebanon’s governmental and parliamentary seats. There is a popular view in Lebanon that a one-sided declaration could potentially be seen as a surrender to Israel.
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A UN peacekeeping base in Lebanon, housing hundreds of Irish troops, was hit by a rocket on Thursday. The Irish Defence Forces have confirmed that all soldiers are safe and uninjured, with the rocket causing minimal damage to an unoccupied area of the camp. Lt Gen Sean Clancy, the Chief of Staff for the Irish Defence Forces, stated that the rocket, which he described as a Katyusha rocket, was launched by an armed group from north to south towards Israel. The Irish Defence Forces are reassuring family members of the soldiers stationed there, stressing that comprehensive force protection measures are in place at the base. The Forces are also working with international partners to evaluate any potential future risks.
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