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☆ Lebanon's Hezbollah says it is stronger than before as border clashes rage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Smoke rises from Dhayra village after Israeli shelling as pictured from the Lebanese town of Marwahin, near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon, October 11, 2023. Hezbollah said two of its fighters were killed in south Lebanon on Wednesday and a third was in a serious condition. The fighting has been the deadliest at the border since Hezbollah and Israel went to war in 2006. Hezbollah announced on Wednesday a fighter had died of wounds sustained on Tuesday, increasing to six the number of its fighters killed in Tuesday's violence. Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem said on Oct. 13 the group would act when the time comes.

Persons: Mohamed Azakir, Hashem Safieddine, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Kibbutz Manara, Naim Qassem, Tom Perry, Laila Bassam, Henriette Chacar, Edmund Blair, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United, Palestinian, Hamas, Israeli, Kibbutz, Thomson Locations: Dhayra, Marwahin, Israel, Lebanon, Rights BEIRUT, United States, Iran, Gaza, Zar'it, Lebanon's Ras Naqoura, Rosh HaNikra, Beirut, Jerusalem

☆ Israel Military Steps up Denial It Hit Gaza Hospital, Says Building Undamaged
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's military published on Wednesday what it described as evidence that a misfired Palestinian rocket, rather than one of its own munitions, caused an overnight explosion at a Gaza hospital in which hundreds of people died. Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, has blamed the blast on Israel. Israel says it was a result of a failed rocket launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another militant group in the enclave. Hagari said some 450 rockets fired from Gaza had fallen short and landed inside the Strip within the last 11 days. The Israeli military then published what it said was an audio recording of such a conversation, with English captions.

Persons: Joe Biden, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Dan Williams, John Davison, Alex Richardson, Gareth Jones Organizations: Palestinian, IDF, Israel Defence Forces, West Bank, United Locations: JERUSALEM, Palestinian, Gaza, Israel, Al, Ahli, Jordan, Turkey, Israel's, United States, Iran, Lebanese, Lebanon

☆ Israel military steps up denial it hit Gaza hospital, says building undamaged
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that controls Gaza, has blamed the blast on Israel. Israel says it was a result of a failed rocket launch by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, another militant group in the enclave. He said there was no structural damage to buildings around the Al-Ahli al-Arabi hospital and no craters consistent with an air strike. Hagari said some 450 rockets fired from Gaza had fallen short and landed inside the Strip within the last 11 days. The Israeli military then published what it said was an audio recording of such a conversation, with English captions.

Persons: Joe Biden, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Dan Williams, John Davison, Alex Richardson, Gareth Jones Organizations: Palestinian, IDF, Israel Defence Forces, West Bank, United, Thomson Locations: Palestinian, Gaza, Israel, Al, Ahli, Gaza City, Jordan, Turkey, Israel's, United States, Iran, Lebanese, Lebanon

☆ Protesters in Mideast vent fury at Gaza blast as Europe ups security
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Israel said the blast was caused by a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, which denied blame. In Tunis, protesters burned Israeli and American flags and demanded the expulsion of the U.S. and French ambassadors for what they termed their unconditional support for Israel. In Amman, deployed riot police pushed back thousands of Jordanian protesters planning to march on the heavily fortified Israeli embassy. 'REVENGE, REVENGE'The protesters voiced slogans backing Hamas, including "Revenge ... revenge ... O Hamas, bomb Tel Aviv." In Lebanon, security forces fired tear gas and water canon at protesters who were throwing projectiles as a protest near the U.S. embassy north of Beirut turned violent, footage broadcast by footage broadcast by Lebanese broadcaster al-Jadeed.

Persons: Jihed, Israel, “, ”, Ines Laswed, Nadia Sweilam, It's, Hesham Safieddine, Matteo Piantedosi, Tarek Amara, Suleiman al, Tom Perry, Benoit Van Overstraeten, William Maclean, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Wednesday, Islamic Jihad, Israel, West Bank, Hamas, Hezbollah, French Foreign, Islamic State, Thomson Locations: Al, Ahli, Gaza, Tunis, Tunisia, Israel France, Lebanon, Europe, France, Israel, Jordan, Iran, Turkey, Amman, Rabia, Jordanian, Tel Aviv, U.S, Beirut, Lebanese, Palestinian, America, Hamas's, Versailles, Italy, Italian, Milan, Khalidi, Paris

☆ Factbox-Iran's Middle East Allies Primed as Israel-Hamas War Rages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

Since the war erupted on Oct. 7, the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has already mounted operations against Israel, while others have threatened U.S. interests. Hezbollah has trained paramilitary groups in Syria and Iraq and inspired other forces such as Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis. Other Iran-backed Shi'ite groups backed by Tehran have played a vital combat role in Syria, including groups from Afghanistan and Iraq. Iran-backed forces have deployed across much of government-held Syria during the war, including at the Iraqi border and near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Israel has mounted airstrikes targeting Iranian and Iran-backed forces.

Persons: Israel, Bashar al, Assad, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, YEMEN Yemen's, Tom Perry, Edmund Blair Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel, Party, Iran's, Guards, United, . Marine, U.S, Popular, Forces, Reuters, SYRIA Iran's Revolutionary Guards, The U.S . Fifth Fleet, Revolutionary Guards, U.S . Navy Locations: BEIRUT, Israel, Tehran, Iran, Lebanese, LEBANON, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, . Washington, United States, Beirut, IRAQ, U.S, State, SYRIA, Afghanistan, Golan Heights, YEMEN, Gaza, Saudi, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, The, Bahrain, Gulf of Oman

☆ Iran's Middle East allies primed as Israel-Hamas war rages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned on Oct. 17 of further action by Tehran's allies against Israel if it did not cease its attacks. Since the war erupted on Oct. 7, the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has already mounted operations against Israel, while others have threatened U.S. interests. Hezbollah has trained paramilitary groups in Syria and Iraq and inspired other forces such as Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis. Other Iran-backed Shi'ite groups backed by Tehran have played a vital combat role in Syria, including groups from Afghanistan and Iraq. Iran-backed forces have deployed across much of government-held Syria during the war, including at the Iraqi border and near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Persons: Israel, Bashar al, Assad, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, YEMEN Yemen's, Tom Perry, Edmund Blair Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel, Party, Iran's, Guards, United, . Marine, U.S, Popular, Forces, Reuters, SYRIA Iran's Revolutionary Guards, The U.S . Fifth Fleet, Revolutionary Guards, U.S . Navy, Thomson Locations: BEIRUT, Israel, Tehran, Iran, Lebanese, LEBANON, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, . Washington, United States, Beirut, IRAQ, U.S, State, SYRIA, Afghanistan, Golan Heights, YEMEN, Gaza, Saudi, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, The, Bahrain, Gulf of Oman

☆ U.S. Allows Some Embassy Staff, Families to Leave Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The State Department also updated its travel advisory to Lebanon to a Level 4, urging U.S. citizens not to travel to the country. A statement on the embassy’s website said commercial options to depart Lebanon remain available, adding that U.S. citizens who are in the country and choose not to depart should prepare contingency plans for emergency situations. Israel has evacuated areas close to its northern border with Lebanon in wake of attacks from Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in recent days. Demonstrations by Hezbollah are planned in Lebanon, including close to the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday, the country's national news agency said.

Organizations: State Department, U.S, Embassy Locations: Lebanon, Israel

☆ Biden's wartime visit to Israel got more complicated in 2 key ways before he even landed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

President Joe Biden landed in Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning, amid the Israel-Hamas war. He'll have to address a hospital blast in Gaza that's sparked global outrage and cancelled his summit with Arab leaders. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs President Joe Biden landed on Wednesday morning in Tel Aviv, Israel, he found himself having to contend with two critical developments threatening to undermine his wartime visit. Injured Palestinians taken to Al-Shifa Hospital following Israeli airstrike on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, Gaza on October 17, 2023. All eyes are on Biden to address Gaza hospital blastThen there's the hospital explosion that Biden will most definitely be pressed to address.

Persons: Joe Biden, it's, —, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu —, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Abbas, Sisi, Ali Jadallah, John Kirby, Carl Skadian, Mr Biden, Netanyahu, Stringer, Getty Images Biden, Israel —, Slim Organizations: Service, Palestinian Authority, Associated Press, White, Shifa, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Getty, National Security, Israel Defense Forces, Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore, Air Force, Embassy, Getty Images, Hamas, Bloomberg Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, Jordan, Egypt, Al, Ahli, Gaza City, Anadolu, Turkey, Lebanon, Lebanese, Washington

Israel and the U.S. said the cause was a failed rocket launch by anti-Israeli Palestinian militants in Gaza who denied responsibility. Amid fears the conflict could spread beyond Gaza, Biden had planned to meet Arab leaders. But Jordan called off his planned summit there with Egypt and the Palestinian Authority after the hospital blast. During Biden's visit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Israel would let food, water and medicines reach southern Gaza via Egypt. En route to Washington, Biden told reporters he was blunt with Israel about the need to facilitate aid to Gaza.

Persons: Dilara, Lior Haiat, Joe Biden, Abdel Fattah El, Biden, Sisi, John Kirby, Jordan, Martin Griffiths, Rishi Sunak, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Israel, West Bank . Mark Negev, Netanyahu, that's, Nidal, Steve Holland, Cynthia Osterman, Howard Goller Organizations: Consulate, Hamas, REUTERS, Biden, Gaza UN, TEL, U.S ., Palestinian, Israel's Foreign Ministry, Palestinian West Bank, West Bank, Wednesday, Palestinian Authority, Security, House, British, United Nations, West Bank . Mark, CNN, Aboard Air Force, Thomson Locations: Israel, Istanbul, Turkey, Egypt, Gaza, TEL AVIV, GAZA, U.S, Ahli, Arabi, Israeli, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Ukraine, Rafah, Washington, United States, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem

☆ Lebanon's Hezbollah denounces Gaza hospital strike, protests in Beirut
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An injured person is assisted at Shifa Hospital after an Israeli air strike hit the nearby Al-Ahli Hospital, according to Gaza Health Ministry in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, October 17, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammed Al-Masri Acquire Licensing RightsOct 17 (Reuters) - Lebanon's Hezbollah denounced what the group said was Israel's deadly attack on a Gaza hospital and called for "a day of unprecedented anger" on Wednesday, as protests erupted outside the U.S. embassy in Beirut just hours after the incident. Israel's military denied responsibility for the bombing, saying military intelligence suggested the hospital was hit by a failed rocket launch by the enclave's Palestinian Islamic Jihad military group. Others gathered outside the French embassy in Beirut. Reporting by Moaz Abd-Alaziz in Cairo and Beirut bureau; Editing by Edmund Blair and Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mohammed Al, Masri, Moaz Abd, Edmund Blair, Sandra Maler Organizations: Shifa Hospital, Gaza Health Ministry, REUTERS, U.S, Jihad, Islamic Jihad, Thomson Locations: Al, Ahli, Gaza, Gaza City, Beirut, Iran, Israel, U.S, Lebanon, United States, Cairo

Armed groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen that once largely fought separately now see themselves as being on the same team. Its members played a key role in helping Syria turn the tide against anti-government rebels during the country’s civil war, which began in 2011. And its operatives have increased the fighting abilities of pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Israel, the United States and other countries have designated Hezbollah and some of its regional partners, including Hamas in Gaza, as terrorist organizations. Israel has viewed Hezbollah as its most formidable foe since they fought to a standstill in a monthlong war in 2006 that killed more than 1,000 Lebanese and 165 Israelis.

Organizations: Biden Locations: Israel, United States, That’s, Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Islamic Republic

☆ Mozambique seeks $3 billion from Privinvest in 'tuna bonds' scandal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Traditional fishing boats sail as Mozambique's tuna fleet sits in dock beneath Maputo's skyline, in this picture taken August 15, 2015. REUTERS/Grant Lee Neuenburg/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Mozambique is seeking more than $3 billion in damages from Emirati-Lebanese shipbuilder Privinvest over the decade-old "tuna bond" scandal, London's High Court heard on Tuesday. The case centres on deals struck by state-owned companies with Privinvest for loans and bonds from banks including Credit Suisse in 2013 and 2014 for fishing boats and maritime security. Mozambique alleged Privinvest paid bribes on an "industrial scale", involving the "grand corruption" of officials including Mozambique's former Finance Minister Manuel Chang, court filings showed. Chang was extradited to the U.S., where in July he pleaded not guilty to fraud and money laundering charges related to the tuna bonds scandal.

Persons: Grant Lee Neuenburg, Privinvest, Jonathan Adkin, Iskandar Safa, Safa, Manuel Chang, Chang, Adkin, Sam Tobin, Kirstin Ridley, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Privinvest, UBS, Credit Suisse, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Maputo's, Mozambique, Safa, U.S, London's

☆ Iran just warned of imminent 'preemptive action' against Israel if the IDF launches a ground invasion of Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Iran's foreign minister said on Monday that Israel could face "preemptive action" if it invades Gaza. AdvertisementAdvertisementIran's government said on Monday that Israel can "expect a preemptive action" if Israel launches its anticipated invasion of Gaza. "In the coming hours, we can expect a preemptive action by the resistance front," he added, per Reuters. While Amirabdollahian did not specify what he meant by "preemptive action," he also said Israel's enemies are "capable of waging a long-term war," according to Reuters. Around 1,300 people were killed in the attacks, Israel estimated.

Persons: Israel, —, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Amirabdollahian, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, KHALED DESOUKI, Mostafa Alkharouf, Axios, It's, Israel —, Gerald R, Ford, Andrej Tarfila Organizations: Israel, Service, Reuters, Iranian Embassy, Getty, Al, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Getty Images, United Nations, Pentagon, —, Hezbollah, Street Journal, Palestinian Health Ministry Locations: Gaza, Iran, Israel, Lebanese, Beirut, AFP, Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar, Anadolu, Getty Images Iran

From this viewpoint, Japan is closely watching the situation with serious concern," she added when asked about Japan's oil dependence on the Middle East, which supplies more than 90% of its needs. G7 finance ministers, who were meeting in Morocco as events escalated, issued a brief statement on the attacks on Oct. 12. Japan was "standing one step behind the United States and some European countries", added Isamu Nakashima, associate research fellow at the Middle East Institute of Japan. "The through line of Japan's Middle East policy has been maintaining the flow of energy imports from the region," said David Boling, a director at consulting firm Eurasia Group. While the United States is Japan's closest ally, when it comes to the Middle East, Tokyo will be very wary of being seen as its proxy, said Shuji Hosaka, board member of the Institute of Energy Economics Japan.

Persons: Yoko Kamikawa, Fumio Kishida, Isamu Nakashima, David Boling, Shuji Hosaka, John Geddie, Yoshifumi Takemoto, Tim Kelly, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Ekaterina Golubkova, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Kentaro Sugiyama, Alex Richardson Organizations: Petroleum, Kyodo, Tokyo, Reuters, Middle East Institute of Japan, Middle, Energy, Eurasia Group, U.S, Institute of Energy Economics Japan, Thomson Locations: Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, TOKYO, Israel, Tokyo, Gaza, Iran, Hezbollah, Syria, Morocco, United States, U.S, Saudi Arabia, East

The trip by Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, is the latest by a senior U.S. official to Israel ahead of an expected ground assault by Israel's military in Gaza. The Pentagon is also rushing weaponry, including air defenses and munitions, to Israel. "I'm here to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself, particularly focused on avoiding other parties expanding the conflict," Kurilla told Reuters, which is traveling with him, in brief remarks before landing. A U.S. official told Reuters Kurilla was scheduled to hold high-level meetings with Israel's military leadership, ensuring a clear understanding of the close U.S. ally's defense requirements. Clashes this last week have been the deadliest in the Lebanon border area since a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Persons: Michael, Erik, Kurilla, Jehad, Joe Biden, Reuters Kurilla, Biden, Israel, Antony Blinken, Phil Stewart, Stephen Coates Organizations: U.S . Central Command, Jordan, REUTERS, American, Palestinian, Hamas, Army, U.S, Pentagon, Reuters, United, Hezbollah, Thomson Locations: U.S, Jordan, Amman's, TEL AVIV, Israel, Gaza, Iran, Washington, United States, Lebanon, Lebanese

☆ Lebanon-Israel border clashes escalate, 5 Hezbollah fighters killed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM/BEIRUT, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Violence escalated on the Lebanese-Israeli border on Tuesday with five fighters from Lebanon's heavily armed Hezbollah group killed during operations against Israel, security sources in Lebanon said. Hezbollah confirmed that five of its fighters had been killed but it was not immediately clear if any of them were the same ones referred to by Israel. The al-Manar television channel run by Hezbollah reported "fierce Israeli shelling" on Lebanese territory across the frontier from Metula. It said no Israeli army personnel had been injured. "Lebanon should be asking themselves if they want to risk their future for Hamas," Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said.

Persons: Israel, Abdallah Bou Habib, Hakan Fidan, Richard Hecht, they'll, Hecht, Henriette Chacar, Edmund Blair, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Lebanese, Hezbollah, Islamic, Canada, East Airlines, Turkish, Hamas, Thomson Locations: JERUSALEM, BEIRUT, Israel, Lebanon, Iran, Gaza, Palestinian, Metula, Turkey, Beirut, Jerusalem

☆ Biden Israel, Jordan visit: Who will he meet? What are his goals?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Steve Holland | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Biden will then fly to Amman for talks about accelerating humanitarian assistance to Gaza. HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS IN GAZABiden's second trip to a war zone this year - he visited Ukraine in February - carries some risk. ISRAEL RED LINESBiden and Netanyahu, thrown into a wartime partnership despite deep political differences on the way forward in the Middle East, have joined forces. Biden has given Israel full-throated support while stressing the need to head off a massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The U.S. and Israel agreed to develop a plan that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza, Blinken said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jordan, NETANYAHU, ABDULLAH, ABBAS Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Jordan's King Abdullah, Abdel Fattah al, Mahmoud Abbas, Netanyahu, Kevin Lamarque, John Kirby, Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Steve Holland, Humeyra Pamuk, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Israeli, Israel, West Bank, GAZA, United, General Assembly, REUTERS, White House, Biden, The State Department, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Amman, In Amman, Ukraine, Iran, Hezbollah, Syria, United States, Egypt's, Rafah, New York City, U.S, ISRAEL

☆ Protests Break Out After Hospital Blast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Protesters clashed with Lebanese security forces outside the U.S. Embassy in Beirut early Wednesday during a demonstration in solidarity with the people of Gaza. (Joseph Eid/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)

Persons: Joseph Eid Organizations: U.S, Embassy, Agence France Locations: Beirut, Gaza

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/TEL AVIV, Oct 16 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's White House is wrestling with thorny security and political challenges as officials consider a potential trip to Israel that may hold longer-term diplomatic advantages for Biden. A visit would, however, grant Biden fresh leverage to influence events on the ground and bolster his image at home. Highlighting the unique security risks facing a Biden trip, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in Israel for meetings, was forced to take shelter in a bunker for five minutes with Netanyahu when sirens went off in Tel Aviv during their meeting. Forty-one percent of respondents said they agreed with a statement that "the U.S. should support Israel" in its conflict with Hamas, while just 2% said the U.S. should support the Palestinians. Biden has visited Israel 10 times, first as a senator in 1973, before the Yom Kippur War involving Israel, Egypt and Syria.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden's, Biden, Adrienne Watson, Netanyahu, Kirsten Fontenrose, Antony Blinken, Olaf Scholz, Jon Alterman, Alterman, Mahmoud Abbas, Alon Pinkas, Ehud Barak, Richard Nixon, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jarrett Renshaw, Humeyra Pamuk, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick, Heather Timmons, Howard Goller, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Israeli, General Assembly, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Biden, Israel, National Security, U.S, Atlantic Council, Presidential, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Service, Republicans, Reuters, Democratic, Gaza, Palestinian, West Bank, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, TEL AVIV, Israel, Washington's, East, Iran, Hezbollah, Syria, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, GAZA, Colorado, Egypt, Washington

The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt is still closed, leaving humanitarian supplies piling up on the Egyptian side of the border. But, Israel has closed its two border crossings with Gaza and imposed a “complete siege” of the territory. That has left the Rafah crossing as the only viable outlet to get people out of the enclave – and supplies into it. Also complicating matters: border authorities have not managed to repair Israeli airstrike damage to the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing, a Palestinian official said. Abu Obaida claimed 22 of the hostages in Gaza were killed in Israeli airstrikes (CNN cannot independently verify that claim).

Persons: Sameh Shoukry, Abu Odaida, Abu Obaida, Antonio Guterres, Rishi Sunak, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Yoav Gallant, Yair Lapid, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, White Organizations: Egypt’s, UN, UN Office, Humanitarian Affairs, European Commission, World Health Organization, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, CNN, United Nations, Hezbollah, British, Israeli, State Department, Pentagon, Hamas Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Lebanese, Turkish, East

☆ Clashes at Lebanon-Israel border raise fears of wider war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Smoke rises from Israeli artillery shelling in Dahaira, in southern Lebanon, at the border with Israel on October 16. Hussein Malla/APIsraeli soldiers patrol a road near the border with Lebanon, on Monday, amid threat of a regional conflict between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah. It is an ominous sign of what may come if the situation on the Lebanon-Israel border combusts into a full-scale war. By Friday morning, three Israeli soldiers and three Hezbollah fighters had been killed in the exchanges across the border. On Sunday, the Lebanese militants fired at several Israeli locations at the border, killing one civilian and one soldier.

Persons: Southern Lebanon CNN —, Hussein Malla, Francisco Seco, Amir Abdollahian, ”, “, Gerald Ford —, Israel, Issam Abdallah, Abdallah, Israel —, Israel’s, Bashar al, Assad, Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah Organizations: Southern, Southern Lebanon CNN, Hezbollah –, Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s, US, CNN, Israeli Apache, Hezbollah, Palestinian, ISIS, Observers, Israel Locations: Southern Lebanon, Israel, Iran, United States, Lebanon, Syria, Golan, Tehran, Dahaira, Tunisia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Gaza, Palestinian, Israeli, Hanita, Russian

☆ Analysis: US is mounting a frantic effort to head off a wider Middle East war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —US leaders are mounting an urgent effort to prevent Israel’s war against Hamas and a resulting civilian catastrophe in Gaza from escalating into a widening regional conflict that could snowball into an even greater geopolitical crisis after this month’s horrific attacks. If we look at the issue of water – we all know water is life – Gaza is running out of water, and Gaza is running out of life,” Lazzarini said. Hamas has urged civilians to ignore Israeli warnings to evacuate the northern part of Gaza. Back in Washington, the administration is expected to offer a full classified briefing on the situation to senators Wednesday. “Whether it is 24 hours, 48 hours, whether it is by next week, the fact is, it’s coming,” he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, “, Biden, Antony, Jake Sullivan, ” Sullivan, ”, Philippe Lazzarini, Gazans, ” Lazzarini, Israel, he’d, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, we’ve, Sullivan, CNN’s Jake Tapper, David Satterfield, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Netanyahu, it’s, ” Biden, Chuck Schumer, Republican Sen, Mitt Romney, Utah –, Aaron David Miller Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Antony Blinken’s, Administration, Union, CBS, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, United Arab, State Department, West Bank, United Nations, ISIS, ”, Israel, Representatives, Republican, New York Democrat, Tel, Veteran US Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Egypt, United States, Washington, Saudi Arabia, “ State, Iran, Blinken, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain, Cairo, Rafah, Turkey, Lebanese, Lebanon, Islamic Republic, Iraq, Syria, Saudi, Ukraine, America, Tel Aviv, Utah, East

☆ Explainer: What you need to know about Hezbollah, the group backing Hamas against Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Members of Hezbollah march with party's flags during a rally marking al-Quds Day, (Jerusalem Day) in Beirut, Lebanon May 31, 2019. Backed by Iran, Hezbollah has said it is ready to help when the time comes in the war between Israel and Hamas, which is also backed by Tehran. While other groups disarmed after Lebanon's civil war, Hezbollah kept its weapons to fight Israeli forces that were occupying the predominantly Shi'ite south of the country. Hezbollah demonstrated its military advances in 2006 during a five-week war with Israel, which erupted after it crossed into Israel, kidnapping two soldiers and killing others. Hezbollah's influence is underpinned by its sophisticated arsenal and the support of many Lebanese Shi'ites who say the group defends Lebanon from Israel.

Persons: Aziz Taher, Israel, Bashar al, Assad, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Tzachi Hanegbi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hanegbi, Lebanese Shi'ites, Rafik al, Hariri, Michel Aoun, Imad Moughniyah, Nasrallah, Tom Perry, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, Guards, United, Islamic, West, Maronite Christian, Marine, U.S ., European Union, Thomson Locations: Quds, Jerusalem, Beirut, Lebanon, Rights BEIRUT, Israel, Palestinian, Iran, Tehran, Lebanese, United States, Syria, ISRAEL, Gaza, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, LEBANON, Saudi, U.S, Arab, Argentina, Buenos Aires

☆ Exclusive-Senior US General Flies Into Israel as Its War With Hamas Deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The trip by Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, is the latest by a senior U.S. official to Israel ahead of an expected ground assault by Israel's military in Gaza. "I'm here to ensure Israel has what it needs to defend itself, particularly focused on avoiding other parties expanding the conflict," Kurilla told Reuters, which is traveling with him, in brief remarks before landing. A U.S. official told Reuters Kurilla was scheduled to hold high-level meetings with Israel's military leadership, ensuring a clear understanding of the close U.S. ally's defense requirements. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held hours of talks with Israel's war cabinet in Israel on Monday, and was once forced to shelter in a bunker for five minutes when air raid sirens went off. Clashes this last week have been the deadliest in the Lebanon border area since a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Persons: Phil Stewart TEL, Michael, Erik, Kurilla, Joe Biden, Reuters Kurilla, Biden, Israel, Antony Blinken, Phil Stewart, Stephen Coates Organizations: Reuters, American, Palestinian, Hamas, Army, U.S . Central Command, U.S, Pentagon, United, Hezbollah Locations: Phil Stewart TEL AVIV, Israel, U.S, Gaza, Iran, Washington, United States, Lebanon, Lebanese

☆ Explainer: What is Hezbollah? The Lebanese group backing Hamas in its war with Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

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