Israel says it made ‘targeted strike’ in Beirut as Lebanon reels from pager blasts
Global News
Hezbollah's leader on Thursday vowed to keep up daily strikes on Israel despite this week’s deadly sabotage of its members’ communication devices.
The Israeli military said it carried out a “targeted strike” in the Lebanese capital on Friday, while two security sources told Reuters the southern suburbs of Beirut had been hit.
Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV reported “an attack” on the area.
“The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) conducted a targeted strike in Beirut. At this moment, there are no changes in the Home Front Command defensive guidelines,” the Israeli military said, providing no further details.
A thick cloud of smoke could be seen rising over the capital, according to a Reuters live feed, after residents said they heard a loud blast.
Hezbollah pounded northern Israel with 140 rockets Friday, a day after the militant group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah vowed to retaliate against Israel for a mass bombing attack, the Israeli military and the militant group said.
Israel’s military said the rockets came in three waves Friday afternoon targeting sites along the ravaged border with Lebanon.
Hezbollah said it had targeted several sites along the border with Katyusha rockets, including multiple air defence bases as well as the headquarters of an Israeli armored brigade they said they’d struck for the first time.
Hezbollah said the rockets were in retaliation for Israeli strikes on villages and homes in southern Lebanon.
Authorities in Sicily say tourist vehicles are clogging up streets leading to the volcano, potentially blocking emergency services and rescue efforts.
In a statement, Pope Francis noted that any bishop who turns 75 is automatically requested to offer his resignation, the Pope then decides whether to accept the offer.
The warring sides have yet to negotiate the second and more difficult phase, in which Hamas says it will release dozens more hostages in exchange for a lasting ceasefire.
U.S.-Russia agreed to restore embassy staffing and create a high-level team to negotiate peace in Ukraine peace and promote economic cooperation.
The U.S. State Department removed the phrase "we do not support Taiwan independence” from the fact sheet last week, drawing ire from Beijing.
The talks, scheduled for Tuesday in Saudi Arabia, mark another consequential step by the Trump administration to reverse U.S. policy on isolating Russia.
The ceasefire's first phase is set to end in two weeks and the second phase has yet to be negotiated, though talks were meant to begin two weeks ago.
The proposal did not offer any specific security guarantees in return, according to one current and one former senior Ukrainian official familiar with the talks.
European leaders are reeling after Trump's decision to upend years of U.S. policy by holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in hopes of ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Sources told Reuters that the United States had sent a document to European capitals asking questions that include possible future troop contributions.
It is the sixth swap since the ceasefire took effect on Jan. 19. Before Saturday, 21 hostages and over 730 Palestinian prisoners were freed.
The latest fighting is part of a major escalation of a conflict over power, identity and resources dating back to the 1990s Rwandan genocide.
The red and white has been a symbol of national pride for many decades, and in the wake of Donald Trump's anti-Canadian rhetoric, a sense of patriotism is sweeping the country.