US and allies prepare to defend Israel as Netanyahu says it’s already in ‘multi-front war’ with Iran

A mourner reacts next to the body of Palestinian Ismail Nofal, who was killed in an Israeli strike on a tent camp for displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, August 4, 2024. (REUTERS)
A mourner reacts next to the body of Palestinian Ismail Nofal, who was killed in an Israeli strike on a tent camp for displaced people, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, at Al Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, August 4, 2024. (REUTERS)
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Updated 05 August 2024
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US and allies prepare to defend Israel as Netanyahu says it’s already in ‘multi-front war’ with Iran

US and allies prepare to defend Israel as Netanyahu says it’s already in ‘multi-front war’ with Iran
  • In Israel, some prepared bomb shelters and recalled Iran’s unprecedented direct military assault in April following a suspected Israeli strike that killed two Iranian generals

TEL AVIV, Israel: Israel is already in a “multi-front war” with Iran and its proxies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting Sunday, as the United States and allies prepared to defend Israel from an expected counterstrike and prevent an even more destructive regional conflict.
Tensions have soared following nearly 10 months of war in Gaza and the killing last week of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. Hamas says it has begun discussions on choosing a new leader.




A Palestinian man carries a wounded girl at the site of an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people, amid Israel-Hamas conflict, in Gaza City, in this still image taken from a video August 4, 2024. (REUTERS)

Netanyahu said Israel was ready for any scenario. Jordan’s foreign minister was making a rare trip to Iran as part of diplomatic efforts — “We want the escalation to end,” Ayman Safadi said — while the Pentagon has moved significant assets to the region.
“We are doing everything possible to make sure that this situation does not boil over,” White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told ABC.




Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike on a house, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, August 4, 2024. (REUTERS)

In Israel, some prepared bomb shelters and recalled Iran’s unprecedented direct military assault in April following a suspected Israeli strike that killed two Iranian generals. Israel said almost all the drones and ballistic and cruise missiles were intercepted.
A stabbing attack on Sunday near Tel Aviv killed a woman in her 70s and an 80-year-old man, according to Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service, and two others were wounded. The police said the attack was carried out by a Palestinian militant, who was “neutralized.”




Flares of the Israeli army light up the sky of the area bordering Lebanon on August 3, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

Inside Gaza, the Health Ministry said at least 25 people were killed and 19 others injured when Israel struck two schools in Gaza City. AP video showed at least one child among the dead. Israel’s military, which regularly accuses Palestinian militants of sheltering in civilian areas, said it hit Hamas command centers.
“As you can see, there is no equipment to recover the injured. Rescuers are digging with their hands,” said one man, Yusuf Al-Mashharawi.
Earlier, Israeli strikes killed at least 18 people. One hit a tent camp for thousands of displaced Palestinians in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, killing four people, including one woman, the Health Ministry said. The Israeli military said it targeted a Palestinian militant in the strike, which it said caused secondary explosions, “indicating the presence of weaponry in the area.”




Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian (R) welcoming Jordan's foreign minister Ayman Safadi ahead of their meeting in Tehran on August 04, 2024. (AFP)

The hospital in Deir Al-Balah is the main medical facility operating in central Gaza as many others in the territory no longer function. A separate strike on a home near Deir Al-Balah killed a girl and her parents, according to the hospital.
Another strike flattened a house in northern Gaza, killing at least eight, including three children, their parents and their grandmother, according to the Health Ministry. Another three people were killed in a strike on a vehicle in Gaza City, according to Civil Defense first responders.
Palestinian militants in Gaza fired at least five projectiles at Israeli communities near the border without causing casualties or damage, the military said. The military later told people in some parts of the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis to evacuate.




People stand near their luggage at the Beirut-Rafic Al Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon August 4, 2024. (REUTERS)

The Health Ministry also said an Israeli strike on Saturday at a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City killed at least 16 people. Israel’s military said it struck a Hamas command center.
The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into Israel that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 people hostage.
Israel’s massive offensive in response has killed at least 39,580 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. Heavy airstrikes and ground operations have caused widespread destruction and displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, often multiple times.
The militant group Hezbollah and Israel have continued to trade fire along the Lebanon border since the war began, with the severity growing in recent months. The Lebanese state-run National News Agency said an Israeli strike targeted a house in Beit Lef, and the Lebanese Health Ministry said two people were critically wounded.
Hezbollah says it’s aimed at relieving pressure on fellow Iran-backed ally Hamas. A growing number of countries, including the US, are encouraging citizens to leave Lebanon after last week’s killing of a senior commander.


 

 

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Israeli border officer wounded in Jerusalem stabbing attack: police

Israeli police and border guards deploy near the scene of an attempted stabbing attack at the Damascus Gate.
Israeli police and border guards deploy near the scene of an attempted stabbing attack at the Damascus Gate.
Updated 58 min 26 sec ago
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Israeli border officer wounded in Jerusalem stabbing attack: police

Israeli police and border guards deploy near the scene of an attempted stabbing attack at the Damascus Gate.
  • The attack took place near the Damascus Gate in the historic walls of the Old City
  • “Border Police officers engaged with the terrorist, neutralized him with gunfire, and concluded the attack swiftly,” the police said

JERUSALEM: An Israeli border police officer was wounded in a stabbing attack on Sunday evening at a gate to Jerusalem’s Old City, police said.
The attack took place near the Damascus Gate in the historic walls of the Old City.
“The stabbed officer was lightly wounded and was evacuated for medical treatment,” the force said in a statement.
“Border Police officers engaged with the terrorist, neutralized him with gunfire, and concluded the attack swiftly,” the police said.
Tensions between Palestinians and Israeli Jews are frequent in the Old City and have only heightened since the start of the Gaza war more than 11 months ago.
In a separate statement, Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service said the 20-year-old officer had an injury to his upper body.
“The terrorist, who attempted to flee into the Old City, was neutralized,” the police said.
Police and border forces were on the scene and investigating the incident, it added.
Jerusalem, and in particular the Old City, is a holy city for the three Abrahamic religions and remains a key issue at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel claims Jerusalem as its indivisible capital, but the United Nations and the international community consider Israel’s annexation of east Jerusalem to be illegal.
Palestinians aspire to make occupied east Jerusalem, which includes the walled Old City and its holy sites, the capital of a future independent state.


Army says ‘high probability’ Israel air strike caused deaths of 3 hostages in November

Supporters of Israelis held hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza since October rally near the residence of the Israeli PM.
Supporters of Israelis held hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza since October rally near the residence of the Israeli PM.
Updated 15 September 2024
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Army says ‘high probability’ Israel air strike caused deaths of 3 hostages in November

Supporters of Israelis held hostage by Palestinian militants in Gaza since October rally near the residence of the Israeli PM.
  • “The findings of the investigation suggest a high probability that the three were killed as a result of a byproduct of an IDF air strike,” the military said

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military on Sunday said there was a “high probability” an Israeli air strike was responsible for the deaths of three hostages who were killed in Gaza in November.
The bodies of the three hostages, Corporal Nik Beizer, Sergeant Ron Sherman and French-Israeli Elia Toledano, were brought back to Israel in December.
“The findings of the investigation suggest a high probability that the three were killed as a result of a byproduct of an IDF air strike, during the elimination of the Hamas Northern Brigade commander, Ahmed Ghandour, on November 10th, 2023,” the military said in a statement, referring to the three captives.
“This assessment is based on the location of where their bodies were found in relation to the strike’s impact, performance analysis of the strike, intelligence findings, the results of the pathological reports, and the conclusions of the Forensic Medicine Institute.”
“This is a high-probability assessment based on all of the available information, but it is not possible to definitively determine the circumstances of their deaths,” the military said.
The bodies of the three hostages were recovered on December 14.
The military said its investigation revealed that the three captives had been held in a tunnel complex from which Ghandour operated.
“At the time of the strike, the IDF did not have information about the presence of hostages in the targeted compound,” the military said.
“Furthermore, there was information suggesting that they were located elsewhere, and thus the area was not designated as one with suspected presence of hostages.”
The war in Gaza erupted after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Militants also seized 251 hostages, 97 of whom are still held captive in Gaza, including 33 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory military offensive in Gaza has so far killed at least 41,206 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which does not provide details of civilian and militant deaths.
While 105 hostages were released during a one-week truce in November in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, three captives were killed by Israeli fire.
Yotam Haim, Samer El-Talalqa and Alon Shamriz were mistakenly killed by Israeli troops in December in north Gaza, according to the military.


Morocco blocks mass migration attempt into Spain’s Ceuta enclave

A general view shows Morocco’s Fnideq border crossing with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta (background). (File/AFP)
A general view shows Morocco’s Fnideq border crossing with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta (background). (File/AFP)
Updated 15 September 2024
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Morocco blocks mass migration attempt into Spain’s Ceuta enclave

A general view shows Morocco’s Fnideq border crossing with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta (background). (File/AFP)
  • In the most recent attempt, dozens of migrants gathered on top of a hill in Fnideq on the border on Sunday and began throwing stones at Moroccan security forces
  • Police prevented them from approaching the Ceuta fence

RABAT: Moroccan authorities on Sunday prevented dozens of migrants from storming a border fence to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, after calls on social media for a mass migration attempt.
Spain’s two enclaves on Morocco’s Mediterranean coast, Ceuta and Melilla, share the only land borders of the European Union with Africa. The enclaves sporadically experience waves of attempted crossings by migrants trying to reach Europe.
In the most recent attempt, dozens of migrants gathered on top of a hill in Fnideq on the border on Sunday and began throwing stones at Moroccan security forces, a video shared by local news websites showed. Police prevented them from approaching the Ceuta fence.
Moroccan authorities said they arrested at least 60 people last week for using social media to incite migrants to attempt a mass crossing.
Since Friday, Moroccan security forces have been deployed heavily in Fnideq.
“This is the heaviest security deployment ever in Fnideq with authorities acting pre-emptively by setting up multiple checkpoints on roads to northern Morocco,” Mohammed Ben Aissa, a local human rights activist said.
Hundreds of would-be migrants had been bussed away from Fnideq, he said.
Most of the migrants are Moroccan youths, joined by a smaller number of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Many of them arrive in Fnideq on foot and hide in nearby forests to evade authorities, said Zakaria Razzouki, a rights activist in Fnideq.
Moroccan security forces try to prevent crossings at the land border and patrol the beach to prevent migrants from swimming to Ceuta, he said.
Morocco’s interior ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Morocco and Spain have strengthened their cooperation in addressing illegal migration since they patched up a separate diplomatic feud in 2022.
In the first eight months this year, Morocco stopped 45,015 people from illegally migrating to Europe, according to interior ministry figures.
Last month, hundreds of migrants took advantage of a thick mist to swim to Ceuta, Spanish police said.
Tighter surveillance of Morocco’s northern borders has prompted an increasing number of migrants to try the riskier and longer Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.


Egypt welcomes UN’s decision to establish position of special envoy on water

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will assume the post of UN special envoy on water in November. (File/AFP)
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will assume the post of UN special envoy on water in November. (File/AFP)
Updated 15 September 2024
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Egypt welcomes UN’s decision to establish position of special envoy on water

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will assume the post of UN special envoy on water in November. (File/AFP)
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to assume post in November

CAIRO: Egypt has welcomed the decision of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to establish the position of a UN special envoy on water, and the announcement that Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi will assume the high-ranking post in November.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cairo said Egypt, in collaboration with Germany, had led an extensive initiative in preparation for the 2023 UN Water Conference.

This initiative, which successfully garnered the support of 151 countries, aimed at establishing the position of UN special envoy on water to support member states, particularly water-scarce countries, to help address the challenge of achieving the sixth Sustainable Development Goal regarding everyone having access to water.

Guterres’ decision to create the position is a culmination of Egypt’s efforts to enhance multilateral action in response to emerging challenges.

Egypt looked forward to enhancing cooperation with the new UN special envoy to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda in addressing water scarcity, the statement added.

The news comes in light of the significant efforts made by Egypt for the rational management of water resources and the promotion of transboundary cooperation, in accordance with international law.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty received a phone call on Friday from the UN secretary-general. The call addressed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the dangerous escalation of conflict in the West Bank.

Tamim Khallaf, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the call emphasized the importance of an immediate ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and facilitating the work of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s position, which focuses on halting aggression and promptly delivering humanitarian aid to the region. He said peace, security, and stability in the area could not be achieved without adhering to agreed-upon references and establishing a Palestinian state based on June 4, 1967, lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The UN secretary-general spoke of his appreciation of the roles of Egypt, Qatar, and the US in mediation efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire agreement and exchanging hostages and detainees. He expressed hope in achieving agreement as soon as possible.


Stricken Red Sea tanker salvage makes ‘slow’ progress: Greek military

Stricken Red Sea tanker salvage makes ‘slow’ progress: Greek military
Updated 15 September 2024
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Stricken Red Sea tanker salvage makes ‘slow’ progress: Greek military

Stricken Red Sea tanker salvage makes ‘slow’ progress: Greek military
  • The operation is being overseen by the European Union’s Red Sea naval mission Aspides
  • Damage to the vessel had threatened a Red Sea oil spill four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska

ATHENS: The towing of an abandoned tanker struck by Yemen’s Houthis in August, threatening environmental disaster, is proceeding slowly for a second day, a Greek military source told AFP Sunday.
The operation to tow the Greek-flagged Sounion which began Saturday “is proceeding at a very slow pace,” the source said, adding that it was “initially headed north” without revealing a destination.
The tanker was hit on August 21 by Iran-backed Houthis with missiles off the coast of Hodeida while carrying 150,000 tons of crude oil.
After the initial strike, the Houthis returned and detonated charges on the ship’s deck, setting off new fires.
Damage to the vessel had threatened a Red Sea oil spill four times the size of the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster off Alaska.
The operation is being overseen by the European Union’s Red Sea naval mission, Aspides, which Sunday said the tanker was being towed to a “safe location.”
“The salvage of the MV SOUNION is a complex operation and consists of various phases,” the mission said on X, formerly Twitter.
It added aerial shots of the tanker escorted by two warships, one dated Sunday, in which it is still emitting smoke.
Greek state news agency ANA said the tugboat was escorted by three frigates, helicopters and a special forces team, without disclosing the states of origin.
Fires were still visible on board in Aspides pictures on X dated Saturday.
“When it reaches safe mooring there will be an attempt to put out the fire and preliminary steps will be taken to secure the cargo from leaking,” the Greek source said Sunday.
The ships’ radars have been turned off for security reasons.
The tanker had been anchored west of the militia-held port city of Hodeida, midway between Yemen and Eritrea.
The Sounion’s crew — made up of 23 Filipinos and two Russians — was rescued the day after the attack by a French frigate serving with the EU mission.
The EU naval force was formed in February to protect merchant vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by the Houthi militia, who have waged a campaign against international shipping that they say is intended to show solidarity with Hamas in its war with Israel in the Gaza Strip.
Since November, the Houthi attacks have caused the sinking of two ships and deaths of at least four crew members.
The Houthis have been firing drones and missiles at ships in the vital commercial route, saying they are targeting vessels linked to Israel, the US and Britain in solidarity with Palestinians over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.