Skip next section Israel strikes southern Beirut
10/16/2024October 16, 2024
Israel strikes southern Beirut
An Israeli strike hit southern Beirut on Wednesday, media sources reported. Israel’s army said its jets had hit a Hezbollah underground strategic weapons storage depot.
It was the first strike on the Lebanese capital in five days.
It comes after Israeli Prime Minister rejected the idea of a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Netanyahu told French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday that he was “opposed to a unilateral ceasefire, which does not change the security situation in Lebanon, and which will only return it to the way it was”, according to a statement from his office.
The strike occurred less than an hour after the Israeli military ordered residents to leave part of the city. Black smoke billowed from between buildings in Haret Hreik.
Earlier, the Israeli military had urged residents to evacuate a specific building in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The military gave the warning in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, that it was set to hit Hezbollah targets there.
Israel has been criticized for its evacuation warnings, with Amnesty International calling them “inadequate,” “misleading” and “issued at short notice.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4lqiW
Skip next section Middle East conflict tops agenda at first EU-Gulf summit
10/16/2024October 16, 2024
Middle East conflict tops agenda at first EU-Gulf summit
Seeking ways to avoid a “general conflagration” in the Middle East will be at the top of the agenda when and Gulf leaders attend a summit in Brussels, according to European officials.
‘s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will be in attendance on Wednesday along with heads of state and government from six Gulf countries.
Israel’s conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, and the risk of a broader regional war, are expected to be “the main topic” at the summit, EU officials said.
“One of the objectives is to avoid a general conflagration,” the news agency AFP reported one official as saying. “Both sides are worried about this.”
The EU is seeking closer ties with nations from the Gulf Cooperation Council, which brings together Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
jcg,js/ab (AFP, Reuters, AP, dpa)
https://p.dw.com/p/4lqb1
The post Middle East: Israel strikes Beirut, after Netanyahu rejects ceasefire appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
