Middle East crisis live: Israeli troops reach deepest point in Lebanon since invasion began | Middle East and north Africa

Israeli troops attain deepest level in Lebanon since invasion, native media says

Two senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) figures have been killed in an Israeli strike on Syria on Thursday, a supply from the Palestinian group mentioned.

PIJ has fought alongside Hamas in opposition to Israel in Gaza.

The supply advised AFP on Saturday that Abdel Aziz Minawi, a member of Islamic Jihad’s political bureau, and the group’s international relations chief Rasmi Abu Issa have been killed within the strike on Qudsaya, within the Damascus space.

A Beirut property developer is one amongst many rich Lebanese folks denied entry to their fortunes by banks after a monetary disaster and now left reeling from results of Israel’s airstrikes, Ruth Michaelson experiences for the Observer:

Ibrahim Abdallah and his household are nonetheless members of the close by nation membership, however earlier this 12 months he bought his 10-metre-long boat with a luxurious cream leather-based inside. Final 12 months, he bought a flat positioned amongst embassy buildings within the pricier neighbourhood farther uphill that was meant for his younger son.

He has $2m within the financial institution and the receipts to show it, however weathering Lebanon’s a number of monetary and political crises has left Abdallah promoting the trimmings of his former life to maintain himself and his household …

“Right here’s the way it feels: you made your goals come true, however have been compelled to present it up. You achieved your goals, then somebody takes it away from you,” he mentioned.

Lebanon state media experiences a strike on Tyre within the south of the nation.

Earlier as we speak two separate airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs.

One other airstrike hit the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut round noon native time, in line with AFP, after the world was hit earlier this morning.

Lebanon’s state-run Nationwide Information Company reported a raid by “enemy plane” within the neighbourhood of Chiyah.

Earlier than the strikes, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee had urged residents of three neighbourhoods to depart the world.

Iran has “categorically” denied that its UN envoy met with Elon Musk in New York, the nation’s IRNA information company reported.

In an interview, international ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei mentioned whereas “categorically denying such a gathering” he expressed “shock on the protection of the American media on this regard”.

Iranian newspapers, notably these aligned with the reformist occasion that helps president Masoud Pezeshkian, largely described the assembly in constructive phrases earlier than Baghaei’s assertion.

Gaza loss of life toll: 43,799 Palestinians killed since October final 12 months

An artillery shell hit the west sector headquarters of UN forces in Lebanon yesterday afternoon, the company mentioned.

“This afternoon, a 155mm reside artillery shell hit UNP 2-3, Unifil West Sector headquarters in Shama,” a Unifil statement said. “The shell didn’t detonate and Italian bomb disposal consultants swiftly secured the world, eliminated the ordnance, and performed a managed detonation. There was no harm amongst peacekeepers, however solely minor damages to the gymnasium.”

The assertion didn’t say whether or not the shell had come from Israeli or Hezbollah forces.

“We strongly remind all actors of their obligations to make sure the security and safety of UN personnel and properties. Deliberate assaults on peacekeepers are a grave violation of worldwide humanitarian legal guidelines and of the UN Safety Council Decision 1701.”

Israel has been accused of targeting Unifil, the UN-mandated drive deployed alongside the border between Israel and Lebanon because it launched its floor invasion of Lebanon early final month. Israel has mentioned its raids are solely focused at Hezbollah.

Within the crowded Qalandia refugee camp, UNRWA’s coaching centre is an island of calm the place younger folks from the occupied West Financial institution be taught trades, however a latest Israeli ban on all cooperation with the UN company has left the centre in limbo, AFP experiences.

UNRWA’s ban in Israel and occupied east Jerusalem has raised fears that its West Financial institution workers might face issues not solely accessing these areas, but additionally transferring round extra usually as a result of they’d lose the flexibility to coordinate with the Israeli authorities manning checkpoints.

The identical fears apply to visas and permits delivered by Israeli authorities.

Eighteen-year-old Ahmed Naseef, a refugee from the Jalazone camp north of close by Ramallah, mentioned he didn’t know what he and his classmates would do ought to the Qalandia coaching centre shut because of the regulation.

“It will disrupt my fellow college students. Many don’t have the monetary means to go to a different institute for examine. Right here, it’s virtually free,” he advised AFP throughout a category during which he was studying learn how to set up lights in a room.

Jonathan Fowler, UNRWA spokesman in Jerusalem, warned that if among the companies have been unable to proceed, the socioeconomic penalties may very well be “doubtlessly disastrous”.

“If these companies are usually not capable of function… who’s going to supply schooling for the kids and the adolescents on this camp?”

Baha Awaad, the varsity’s principal, mentioned it trains 350 college students however can’t present for extra as a result of lack of permission to increase buildings. Requested whether or not the scholars would be capable to end their college 12 months, Awaad admitted: “Frankly, we don’t know.”

Tensions between UNRWA and Israel started after Israel accused a few dozen of the company’s employees of collaborating in Hamas’s assault on southern Israel on 7 October final 12 months.

A collection of probes discovered some “neutrality associated points” at UNRWA, and decided that 9 workers “could have been concerned” within the assault, however discovered no proof for Israel’s central allegations.

Outoging US president Joe Biden now has his greatest opening to finish Israel’s battle on Gaza however he gained’t use it, Mohamad Bazzi writes …

[Biden’s] lack of motion this week is particularly egregious as a result of he’s politically unrestrained: the presidential election is over, and Donald Trump gained. Biden can do no matter he desires with out incurring a political price. He doesn’t even have to fret a few transition to his fellow Democrat and vice-president, Kamala Harris. If there was ever a time for Biden to make use of his appreciable energy to avoid wasting Palestinians, this was it. But he squandered this remaining alternative to make the suitable and ethical alternative – and assist finish the Gaza battle earlier than leaving workplace.

Biden’s choice to maintain supplying weapons to Israel reinforces his legacy as the first enabler of the slaughter in Gaza, and Netanyahu’s marketing campaign to increase the battle into Lebanon. Whereas Biden and his allies have finished a whole lot of hand-wringing about Trump’s disregard for the rule of regulation, the Biden administration did not uphold US regulation and its personal insurance policies – and it has undermined US credibility around the globe even earlier than Trump takes workplace as soon as once more.

You’ll be able to learn the total piece on the hyperlink under.

Photographs are coming via of Israel’s strike on Beirut this morning, exhibiting a big plume of smoke rising above town.

An Iranian official met with Elon Musk, in line with a US official, AP experiences.

Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani met with Musk — a key Trump ally and the world’s richest man — on Monday in New York.

The US official mentioned he had been knowledgeable that the dialogue coated quite a lot of subjects, most notably Iran’s nuclear program, its help for anti-Israel teams all through the Center East and prospects for improved relations with the US.

The official, who spoke on situation of anonymity, mentioned no instant selections have been taken by both aspect. The official mentioned the Iranians sought the assembly with Musk and that it didn’t happen on the Iranian mission to the UN.

The Trump transition staff wouldn’t affirm or deny the assembly.

“The American folks re-elected President Trump as a result of they belief him to guide our nation and restore peace via energy around the globe. When he returns to the White Home, he’ll take the required motion to do exactly that,” Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump transition, mentioned in a press release.

Iran’s UN mission declined to remark.

In the meantime, The Wall Avenue Journal reported, citing unnamed US officers, that Iran advised the Biden administration in a written message delivered on 14 October that it could not attempt to kill Trump. It was a response to an earlier warning from the US that an try on Trump’s life can be thought of an act of battle, the Journal reported.

Right here is the tweet from the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, calling for the evacuation of southern Beirut’s Haret Hreik neighbourhood a few hours in the past.

“To all residents within the southern suburb space, particularly within the buildings specified within the hooked up maps and the buildings adjoining to them in Haret Hreik … You’re positioned close to Hezbollah amenities and pursuits, in opposition to which the IDF will act forcefully within the close to future,” a translation of the publish reads.

“In your security and the security of your loved ones members, you will need to evacuate these buildings and people adjoining to them instantly and steer clear of them for a distance of at least 500 meters.”

AFP reported an Israeli strike hit the south of town this morning.

Strike hits south Beirut after Israeli evacuation name