DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Live updates: Israel says it is 'at war' after Hamas surprise attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | Andrew Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon said their peacekeepers remain in position even after an exchange of fire between Hezbollah and Israel earlier Sunday. “Early this morning, UNIFIL peacekeepers detected several rockets fired from southeast Lebanon toward Israeli-occupied territory in the general area of Kafr Chouba, and artillery fire from Israel to Lebanon in response," United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on X, formerly Twitter. Our peacekeepers remain in their positions and on task. UNIFIL said they're available to help de-escalate the situation. “We urge everyone to exercise restraint and make use of UNIFIL’s liaison and coordination mechanisms to de-escalate to prevent a fast deterioration of the security situation”, it added.

Organizations: United Nations, United Nations Interim Force, UNIFIL Locations: Lebanon, Israel, Kafr Chouba

☆ Israel, Hezbollah Exchange Artillery, Rocket Fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

BEIRUT (Reuters) -Israel and Lebanon's powerful armed group Hezbollah exchanged artillery and rocket fire on Sunday following the deadliest attack in years by Palestinian gunmen on Israel. Hezbollah on Sunday said it had launched guided rockets and artillery onto three posts in the Shebaa Farms "in solidarity" with the Palestinian people. Israel has held the Shebaa Farms, a 15-square-mile (39-square-km) patch of land, since 1967. A Lebanese security source told Reuters that a tent set up by Hezbollah in the Shebaa Farms had been hit and that Hezbollah fighters had erected a new one. On Saturday, UNIFIL said it had enhanced its presence in southern Lebanon following developments in Israel and Gaza, including its operations to counter rocket launches.

Persons: Hashem Safieddine, Har Dov, Israel, Andrea Tenenti, Lebanon Joanna Wronecka, Laila Bassam, Aziz Taher, Karamallah Daher, Gebeily, Ari Rabinovitch, William Mallard, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Hezbollah, Palestinian, Twitter, Israeli Defence Forces, Patriot, Reuters, United Nations Locations: BEIRUT, Israel, Iran, Dahieh, Beirut's, Lebanon, Syria, Shebaa, Kfar Shouba, Gaza, Jerusalem

☆ Israel, Hezbollah exchange artillery, rocket fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BEIRUT, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Israel and Lebanon's powerful armed group Hezbollah exchanged artillery and rocket fire on Sunday following the deadliest attack in years by Palestinian gunmen on Israel. Hezbollah on Sunday said it had launched guided rockets and artillery onto three posts in the Shebaa Farms "in solidarity" with the Palestinian people. Israel has held the Shebaa Farms, a 15-square-mile (39-square-km) patch of land, since 1967. A Lebanese security source told Reuters that a tent set up by Hezbollah in the Shebaa Farms had been hit and that Hezbollah fighters had erected a new one. On Saturday, UNIFIL said it had enhanced its presence in southern Lebanon following developments in Israel and Gaza, including its operations to counter rocket launches.

Persons: Hashem Safieddine, Gil Eliyahu, Har Dov, Israel, Andrea Tenenti, Lebanon Joanna Wronecka, Laila Bassam, Aziz Taher, Karamallah Daher, Gebeily, Ari Rabinovitch, William Mallard, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Hezbollah, Palestinian, Twitter, Israeli Defence Forces, Patriot, REUTERS, Reuters, United Nations, Thomson Locations: BEIRUT, Israel, Iran, Dahieh, Beirut's, Lebanon, Syria, Shebaa, Kfar Shouba, Gaza, Jerusalem

☆ U.N. Peacekeepers Urge Restraint on Lebanese Border
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A United Nations peacekeeping force said it detected rockets fired from southeast Lebanon toward Israeli-occupied territory and artillery fire from Israel in response. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, known as Unifil, said it was in contact with authorities on both sides to urge restraint and avoid an escalation in violence.

Organizations: United Nations, United Nations Interim Force Locations: Lebanon, Israel

☆ Lebanese Army Says Troops Exchange Tear Gas, Smoke Bomb Fire With Israeli Forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - The Lebanese army said on Saturday that it had fired tear gas at Israeli forces in response to attacks by smoke bombs fired by the Israelis in the Bastra area of southern Lebanon. "Elements of the Israeli enemy violated the withdrawal line and fired smoke bombs at a Lebanese army patrol that was accompanying a bulldozer removing an earthen berm erected by the Israeli enemy north of the withdrawal line, the blue line, in the Bastra area," the Lebanese army said in a statement. "The Lebanese patrol responded to the attack by firing tear bombs...forcing them to withdraw to the occupied Palestinian territories." Andrea Tenenti, a spokesperson for UNIFIL, the UN peacekeeping force in the area, said: "There has been tension today. At the moment we are on the ground, monitoring the situation and trying to bring calm back to the area."

Persons: Andrea Tenenti, Maya Gebeily, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Peter Graff Organizations: Lebanese, UNIFIL, UN Locations: CAIRO, Bastra, Lebanon, Lebanese, Palestinian

☆ Lebanese army says it exchanged tear gas, smoke bomb fire with Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows the border area between Lebanon and Israel as pictured from Bastra farms, in southern Lebanon, August 8, 2023. REUTERS/Aziz Taher/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCAIRO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Lebanon's army said it fired tear gas at Israeli forces over the border on Saturday in response to smoke bombs fired at its troops, though Israel said Lebanon started the confrontation. "Elements of the Israeli enemy violated the withdrawal line and fired smoke bombs at a Lebanese army patrol that was accompanying a bulldozer removing an earthen berm erected by the Israeli enemy north of the withdrawal line, the blue line, in the Bastra area," the Lebanese army said in a statement. "The Lebanese patrol responded to the attack by firing tear bombs ... forcing them to withdraw to the occupied Palestinian territories," Lebanon's army added. The Israeli military said it was Lebanon that started the violence.

Persons: Aziz Taher, Mount Dov, Andrea Tenenti, Maya Gebeily, Emily Rose, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Peter Graff, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United, UNIFIL, UN, Thomson Locations: Lebanon, Israel, Rights CAIRO, Lebanese, United Nations, Mount, Jerusalem

☆ France, US compromise to renew UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) - established in 1978 - patrols Lebanon's southern border with Israel. A planned Wednesday vote was delayed as France, the United States and the United Arab Emirates argued over language on U.N. freedom of movement. France kept language in the resolution that spells out that peacekeepers should coordinate with the Lebanese government. That has sparked friction with Hezbollah, which effectively controls southern Lebanon despite the presence of the Lebanese army. In December, an Irish peacekeeper was killed when his UNIFIL vehicle came under fire in southern Lebanon.

Persons: Aziz Taher, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Najib Mikati, Andrea Tenenti, Michelle Nichols, Laila Bassam, Gebeily, Doina Chiacu, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Lebanese, UN, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Security, Interim Force, United, U.S, UNIFIL, United Nations, Irish, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Israel, Lebanon, France, United States, Russia, China, Emirates, UAE, Iran, Lebanese

☆ US could help settle Lebanon, Israel border dispute - White House adviser
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senior White House Advisor for Energy Security Amos Hochstein speaks at the end of his visit to Lebanon, at Beirut international airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, August 31, 2023. REUTERS/Issam Abdallah Acquire Licensing RightsBEIRUT, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The United States is exploring the possibility of resolving the long-standing border dispute between Lebanon and Israel, senior White House adviser Amos Hochstein said on Thursday at the end of a two-day visit to Lebanon. The senior White House adviser said he visited southern Lebanon during his trip "to understand and learn more about what is needed to be able to potentially achieve an outcome". Lebanon's caretaker foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib said last week that determining the land border could put an end to those tensions. The U.N. peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL, which had its one-year mandate renewed on Thursday, has hosted meetings of Lebanon, Israel and the United Nations on points of contention preventing the delineation of the land border.

Persons: Energy Security Amos Hochstein, Issam Abdallah, Amos Hochstein, Hochstein, Abdallah Bou Habib, Maya Gebeily, Mark Heinrich, Jonathan Oatis, Andrew Heavens Organizations: White, Energy Security, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, United, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Lebanon, Beirut, Rights BEIRUT, United States, Israel, America, United Nations, Lebanese

☆ UN vote on Lebanon peacekeeping force delayed as France, US, UAE argue
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) - established in 1978 - patrols Lebanon's southern border with Israel. France has drafted a U.N. Security Council resolution to extend the peacekeeping mission for another year, but the United States and the United Arab Emirates argue it has weakened some language on the ability of U.N. troops to move freely. Lebanon's caretaker foreign affairs minister Abdallah Bou Habib has said that the new Security Council resolution should stipulate that UNIFIL coordinate with the Lebanese army. That has sparked friction with Hezbollah, which effectively controls southern Lebanon despite the presence of the Lebanese army. In December, an Irish peacekeeper was killed when his UNIFIL vehicle came under fire in southern Lebanon.

Persons: Aziz Taher, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, Gilad Erdan, Abdallah Bou Habib, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Michelle Nichols, Dan Williams, Laila Bassam, Gebeily, David Holmes Organizations: Lebanese, UN, REUTERS, UNITED NATIONS, Nations, United, Interim Force, Security, Security Council, Reuters, Israel's Army Radio, Irish, UNIFIL, Thomson Locations: Israel, Lebanon, France, United States, Emirates, Iran, UAE, Lebanese

[1/9] United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) members stand near their vehicles in Naqoura near the Lebanese-Israeli border, southern Lebanon, August 16, 2023. Israel and Hezbollah have avoided war across the Lebanese-Israeli frontier since their last major clash 17 years ago, deterred by mutual threats of destruction. The tensions come against the backdrop of a political crisis in Israel that has emboldened its enemies. Lebanon can ill afford conflict four years into a financial meltdown that has paralysed the state. Hezbollah last year gave its blessing to a maritime border deal with Israel that allows Lebanon to explore for offshore energy.

Persons: Aziz Taher, Israel, Tzachi Hanegbi, Hassan al, Baghdadi, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohanad Hage Ali, General Lázaro, Andrea Tenenti, Tom Perry, Nick Macfie Organizations: United Nations Interim Force, REUTERS, Reuters, National Security, Iran's, Guards, Carnegie Middle East Center, West Bank, UNIFIL, Thomson Locations: Lebanon, Naqoura, Lebanese, Israel, JERUSALEM, BEIRUT, Iran, Syria, Ghajar, Western, Tel Aviv, Palestinian, Gaza, Jerusalem, Al, Aqsa, Beirut

☆ Hezbollah members wounded in flare-up on Lebanon border with Israel -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] A Lebanese army vehicle drives in Khiam, near the border with Israel, in southern Lebanon July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Aziz TaherBEIRUT/JERUSALEM, July 12 (Reuters) - Several members of Lebanon's powerful armed Hezbollah group were wounded on Wednesday in a flare-up on the southern border with Israel, two Lebanese security sources and a source briefed on the developments told Reuters. The Lebanese source briefed on developments described the incident as an attack and said several Hezbollah members had been wounded, but could not immediately provide more details. A Lebanese security source said Israeli troops had fired "something like a grenade" that emitted shrapnel and hurt three Hezbollah members. A Lebanese parliamentary delegation planning on visiting the southern border on Thursday indefinitely postponed the visit "due to the security developments on the border".

Persons: Aziz Taher, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Maya Gebeily, Laila Bassam, Dan Williams, Toby Chopra, Howard Goller, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, United Nations, Hezbollah, Lebanese, Thomson Locations: Lebanese, Khiam, Israel, Lebanon, Aziz Taher BEIRUT, JERUSALEM, U.S, New York, Ghajar, Syria, Beirut, Jerusalem

☆ Israeli strikes target Hamas in Lebanon and Gaza after rocket attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

GAZA CITY - Flames rise from the area after Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on the central part of the Gaza Strip, on April 07, 2023. "We strongly condemn the blatant Zionist aggression against Lebanon in the vicinity of Tyre at dawn today," Hamas said. The strikes came in response to rocket attacks from Lebanon towards northern Israeli areas, which Israeli officials blamed on Hamas. As the Israeli jets struck in Gaza, salvoes of rockets were fired in response and sirens sounded in Israeli towns and cities in bordering areas. An Israeli military spokesman said the Israeli operation was over for the moment.

[1/4] Israeli policemen stand next to smoke from a fire following incoming rockets from Lebanon to Israel in Bezet, northern Israel, April 6, 2023. The Israeli military said 34 rockets were launched from Lebanon, of which 25 were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome, anti-missile system. There was no claim of responsibility but an Israeli military official also said that Israel was working on the assumption that the attack was Palestinian-linked. "It's not Hezbollah shooting, but it's hard to believe that Hezbollah didn't know about it," Tamir Hayman, a former head of Israeli military intelligence said on Twitter. In response, Israel has hit targets in Gaza linked to Hamas, which it holds responsible for any attacks from the blockaded coastal strip.

☆ France is already sending one armored 'oddity' to Ukraine. Now it might send a slightly odder one.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

France is reportedly considering sending AMX-10P amphibious infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine. France has already sent its AMX-10RC armored vehicle to Ukraine, among other military hardware. Troops exit an AMX-10P armored vehicle in France KEYSTONE-FRANCE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesAbout 2,000 AMX-10Ps were manufactured between 1973 and 1985. It is also relatively easy to learn and operate, Péria-Peigné said, describing it as "simpler than most modern" infantry fighting vehicles. As Ukraine struggles to assimilate a plethora of Western arms quickly, an old but simple armored vehicle may be good enough.

☆ Lebanon army shoots at Israeli drone - statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) stand together in Houla near the border with Israel, southern Lebanon January 13, 2023. REUTERS/Aziz TaherBEIRUT, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The Lebanese army said on Friday its troops shot at an Israeli drone that crossed into Lebanon's southern airspace, with a security source saying the drone was not brought down. Israel regularly flies military aircraft in Lebanon's airspace without permission but it is rare for troops to target them. The Lebanese army statement said a patrol was inspecting a separate incident in the south when a "drone belonging to the Israeli enemy violated Lebanese airspace," prompting troops to begin shooting in its direction. A Lebanese security source told Reuters they did not shoot it down.

☆ Lebanese forces rescue about 200 migrants after boat sinks
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CAIRO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Lebanese naval forces carried out rescue operations on Saturday after the sinking of a boat transporting about 200 would-be migrants, the army said on Twitter. Separately, State TV tweeted that initial information was that the boat had been carrying people from Lebanon, Syria and Palestinian territories. The army said the boat had carried people who had tried to illegally cross Lebanese territorial waters, adding that three naval vessels escorted by a UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) vessel arrived at the site of the sinking, off the coast of Selaata, north of Beirut, and proceeded to rescue about 200 people. In September, 34 bodies of migrants were found off the coast of the northern Syrian port city of Tartus, suspected of having left north Lebanon heading towards Europe. Reporting by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Egypt: How the Arab world's most populous country became addicted to debt
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Cnn Staff | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The loan, along with billions of dollars in cash inflows from Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, are Band-Aids, experts say, designed to keep the Arab world’s most populous country afloat. Without proper reforms, however, Egypt may never be able to shake off its chronic financial woes and break its growing debt addiction. Billions of dollars from Abu Dhabi and Riyadh have poured into the Egyptian economy in recent years. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) also launched the Saudi Egyptian Investment Company (SEIC) in August, a company dedicated to investments in several vital sectors of the Egyptian economy. Still, the Egyptian economy has struggled to shake off its economic woes.

☆ Irish soldier killed on U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBLIN, Dec 15 (Reuters) - An Irish soldier was killed on a U.N. peackeeping mission in Lebanon late on Wednesday when a convoy of two armoured utility vehicles travelling to Beirut came under small arms fire, Ireland's defence forces said in a statement. Another Irish member of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is in a serious condition having undergone surgery following the incident, the statement said. "It is with deep regret that Óglaigh na hÉireann (the Irish defence forces) can confirm the death of one of our peacekeepers in a serious incident in Lebanon last night," the defence forces said, adding that a full investigation will commence. Irish Defence Minister Simon Coveney, who is in New York for a U.N. Security Council meeting, said he will meet U.N. Secretary General António Guterres later on Thursday to discuss the incident. "As a people, we take great pride in our unbroken record of peacekeeping with the United Nations.

Search resuls for: "UNIFIL"

18 mentions found