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Hezbollah elects Naim Qassem to succeed slain head Nasrallah

Hezbollah elects Naim Qassem to succeed slain head Nasrallah
Lebanon’s Hezbollah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during a rally supporting Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Beirut, Lebanon. (File/Reuters)
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Updated 29 October 2024
Reuters
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Hezbollah elects Naim Qassem to succeed slain head Nasrallah

Hezbollah elects Naim Qassem to succeed slain head Nasrallah
  • Shoura Council says had elected Qassem, 71, in accordance with its established mechanism for choosing a secretary general
  • Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli air attack on Beirut’s southern suburb over a month ago
Updated 29 October 2024
Reuters
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BEIRUT: Lebanese armed group Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had elected deputy head Naim Qassem to succeed Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air attack on Beirut’s southern suburb over a month ago.
The group said in a written statement that its Shoura Council had elected Qassem, 71, in accordance with its established mechanism for choosing a secretary general.
He was appointed as Hezbollah’s deputy chief in 1991 by the armed group’s then-secretary general Abbas Al-Musawi, who was killed by an Israeli helicopter attack the following year.
Qassem remained in his role when Nasrallah became leader, and has long been one of Hezbollah’s leading spokesmen, conducting interviews with foreign media, including as cross-border hostilities with Israel raged over the last year.
Nasrallah was killed on Sept. 27, and senior Hezbollah figure Hashem Safieddine — considered the most likely successor — was killed in Israeli strikes a week later.
Since Nasrallah’s killing, Qassem has given three televised addresses, including one on Oct. 8 in which he said the armed group supported efforts to reach a ceasefire for Lebanon.
He is considered by many in Lebanon to lack the charisma and gravitas of Nasrallah.
The Israeli government’s official Arabic account on X posted, “His tenure in this position may be the shortest in the history of this terrorist organization if he follows in the footsteps of his predecessors Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.”
“There is no solution in Lebanon except to dismantle this organization as a military force,” it wrote.

Topics: Naim Qassem Lebanon

Israel says killed Hezbollah liaison with Syria army in Damascus strike

Updated 33 sec ago
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Israel says killed Hezbollah liaison with Syria army in Damascus strike

Israel says killed Hezbollah liaison with Syria army in Damascus strike
Updated 33 sec ago
“The (Israeli Air Force) conducted an intelligence-based strike in Damascus targeting Hezbollah’s representative to the Syrian military, Salman Nemer Jomaa,” the military said
“As part of his duties, Jomaa was responsible for coordination between Hezbollah agents and the Syrian army“

JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said it killed the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah’s liaison with the Syrian army in an air strike on Damascus on Tuesday as a fragile six-day-old ceasefire stutters.
“The (Israeli Air Force) conducted an intelligence-based strike in Damascus targeting Hezbollah’s representative to the Syrian military, Salman Nemer Jomaa,” the military said, adding he played a key role in weapons deliveries between Syria and the militant group.
“As part of his duties, Jomaa was responsible for coordination between Hezbollah agents and the Syrian army, including to support the smuggling of weapons between Syria and Hezbollah,” it added.
Syrian state news agency SANA had reported an Israeli strike on a car on the road to Damascus’s international airport, while a war monitor reported one person killed.
“A car exploded after it was targeted in an Israeli aggression on the road to Damascus International Airport,” SANA reported, citing a police source.
According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the car was targeted by an Israeli drone.
“A man who was inside was killed and another was injured,” said the Observatory, without providing details of their identities.
The strike occurred near a military airfield, added the Observatory, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria.
Since Syria’s war broke out in 2011, Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria, mainly targeting the army and Iran-backed groups including Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Israel rarely comments on such strikes but has repeatedly said it will not allow Iran to expand its presence in the country.
The strike on Damascus came amid mutual accusations between Israel and Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire that came into effect in Lebanon on November 27.

Algeria guarantees freedom of worship

Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs Youcef Belmehdi. (X @MoHU_En)
Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs Youcef Belmehdi. (X @MoHU_En)
Updated 21 min 53 sec ago
AFP
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Algeria guarantees freedom of worship

Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs Youcef Belmehdi. (X @MoHU_En)
  • While Algerian law guarantees freedom of worship, it declares Islam as the state religion and requires government approval for places of worship and religious leaders
Updated 21 min 53 sec ago
AFP

ALGIERS: Algerian Minister of Religious Affairs Youcef Belmehdi insisted on Tuesday that the country protects freedom of worship following criticism from the United States.
“Freedom of worship is guaranteed within the framework of respect for the law,” Belmehdi said at a meeting attended by the Archbishop of Algiers Jean-Paul Vasco and the US ambassador to Algiers Elisabeth Moore Aubin.
“The exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms in our country is guaranteed by the constitution,” he added.
Earlier this year, Washington added Algeria to a watchlist of countries accused of restricting religious freedom, citing the closure of evangelical churches and the criminalization of blasphemy.
The United States said at the time that Algiers was “said the North African country was “engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.”
Vesco, who is French but was granted Algerian citizenship last year, is set to be appointed the first Algerian candidate in 60 years by Pope Francis next week.
The French-born prelate previously served as Bishop of Oran for more than a decade before becoming Archbishop of Algiers in 2021.
While Algerian law guarantees freedom of worship, it declares Islam as the state religion and requires government approval for places of worship and religious leaders.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom said in October Algeria “currently criminalizes blasphemy and restricts religious practice, worship, and observance.”
It also said authorities “continued to close churches and prosecute individuals on religion-based charges, including blasphemy, proselytization, and unauthorized worship.”
“It has also closed nearly all evangelical churches in the country with only one remaining open as of September 2024,” it added.
 

 

Topics: Algeria Islam Christian

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UN commission warns against placing already struggling Syrians in crossfire again

UN commission warns against placing already struggling Syrians in crossfire again
Updated 34 min 39 sec ago
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UN commission warns against placing already struggling Syrians in crossfire again

UN commission warns against placing already struggling Syrians in crossfire again
  • Syrian civil war back in spotlight amid largest rebel offensive in years
  • ‘Brutality of past years must not be repeated,’ says commission chair
Updated 34 min 39 sec ago
Ephrem Kossaify

NEW YORK: The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic expressed concerns on Tuesday that the renewed flareup of violence in the country will once again place civilians — already enduring years of war, economic collapse, and the brutality of armed groups and security forces — in the crossfire.

The Syrian civil war has been back in the spotlight since last week, when a coalition of opposition forces launched their largest offensive against the government in years.

They quickly swept through villages outside Aleppo and now say they control much of the city, meeting little resistance as the Syrian military quickly withdrew.

The government’s key ally Russia is conducting airstrikes against rebels who are now fighting the Syrian military in the central city of Hama.

There are reports of civilian casualties, displacements of tens of thousands of people, damage to civilian infrastructure, and interruption in essential services and humanitarian aid. 

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Monday said: “Syrians have endured the conflict for nearly 14 years. They deserve a political horizon that will deliver a peaceful future — not more bloodshed.”

As hostilities risk spreading across the country, the commission of inquiry urged all parties to the conflict to “strictly” adhere to international law and ensure the protection of civilians.

“We are investigating reported attacks impacting civilian infrastructure in the city of Aleppo, including at least one hospital and a university dorm, as well as reported airstrikes on Idlib city and other densely populated civilian areas,” said Commissioner Hanny Megally.

“Both the airstrikes and the rapid changes in territorial control are causing massive displacement of civilians.”

The commission was established in 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council with a mandate to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law since the beginning of the war earlier that year. 

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the commission’s chair, warned that the “brutality of past years must not be repeated,” and stressed that Syria must not veer toward a new cycle of atrocities.

He called on all factions involved to break from past patterns of violence and uphold human rights in line with the Geneva Conventions.

There are reports that the fighting could expand to other areas, with the government and its allies reportedly preparing a counteroffensive.

The commission has said it is closely monitoring the treatment of minorities and prisoners of war as opposition forces advance into government-controlled areas.

Particularly concerning is the situation in northern Aleppo, where the opposition Syrian National Army has taken control of areas with a Kurdish population, the commission said.

“There are some welcome statements by parties indicating that they intend to ensure the protection of the civilian population and their rights, so what is required is that their deeds match their words in the coming days and that humanitarian actors on the ground obtain the access and sufficient resources to alleviate suffering,” said Commissioner Lynn Welchman.

Topics: Syria Hama Stephane Dujarric

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Woman, child among civilians killed as Israeli attacks continue in Lebanese border area

Woman, child among civilians killed as Israeli attacks continue in Lebanese border area
Updated 46 min 34 sec ago
NAJIA HOUSSARI
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Woman, child among civilians killed as Israeli attacks continue in Lebanese border area

Woman, child among civilians killed as Israeli attacks continue in Lebanese border area
  • PM Mikati says diplomatic communications have intensified to ‘stop Israeli violations of ceasefire’
  • Three Merkava tanks were spotted advancing toward Burj Al-Molouk, marking the first time an Israeli incursion has reached this area
Updated 46 min 34 sec ago
NAJIA HOUSSARI

BEIRUT: Cautious calm prevailed in southern Lebanon following an intense night that shook the ceasefire agreement.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Tuesday that diplomatic communications had intensified since Monday to stop Israeli violations of the ceasefire.

The Lebanese authorities documented 47 Israeli violations of the agreement as of Monday morning.

Hezbollah retaliated on Monday, targeting the Shebaa Farms and the Galilee.

The Israeli military responded by targeting southern villages where residents had just returned, killing six civilians, including a woman and a child in Haris, according to the Ministry of Health.

Two injured people were pulled from the rubble of their house.

The Israeli targets included Jabal Safi, Louaizi, Mlikh, Bouslaiya, Deir Al-Zahrani, and the outskirts of Arnoun.

Although Israeli officials had threatened to launch a severe attack on Beirut in response to Monday’s developments, urgent calls were made to reduce tensions.

Israeli media outlets reported that significant US pressure prevented Israel from attacking Beirut on Monday.

Mikati met with US Gen. Jasper Jeffers, who chairs the monitoring committee.

Mikati said: “During the calls, we emphasized the need for stability so the displaced people could return to their villages and areas, in addition to widely deploying the Lebanese Army troops in the south.”

His remarks came as Israeli forces that advanced into the border area in southern Lebanon continued to violate the ceasefire agreement by targeting towns outside the area in which they are located while warning residents against entering.

For the third consecutive day, Avichai Adraee, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, warned residents of the border area against moving south of the line of the following villages: Shebaa, Habbariyeh, Marjayoun, Arnoun, Yohmor, Qantara, Shaqra, Baraashit, Yater and Mansouri until further notice.

He said anyone who moved south of the line put themselves at risk.

On Tuesday, an Israeli drone targeted the town of Beit Lif in the Bint Jbeil district.

The Israeli military opened fire with machine guns in a neighborhood in the town of Haboush.

Security reports indicated that an Israeli armored force penetrated the towns of Khiam and Wazzani, spreading across several neighborhoods.

Three Merkava tanks were spotted advancing toward Burj Al-Molouk, marking the first time an Israeli incursion has reached this area.

On Monday night, the Israeli military’s violations reached the town of Kfar Melki in the Sidon district.

On Tuesday, the Lebanese Armed Forces deployed in Tyre and its surroundings to maintain security, marking the start of the redeployment of army units, especially in the border villages, under the ceasefire agreement.  

The Civil Defense units affiliated with Hezbollah continued to retrieve the remains of victims who perished during the war and who were not buried in their hometowns due to extensive hostilities.

The majority of these remains belong to Hezbollah fighters.

The head of the Tyre District Medical Department, Dr. Wissam Ghazal, said that 192 victims had been handed over, and the Ministry of Health, the Civil Defense, and the Disaster Unit of the Municipal Union were working to facilitate the humanitarian operations.

The Iranian ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, made a public appearance after recovering from a significant injury incurred from the detonation of a pager device he was carrying, which was triggered by Israel’s actions against Hezbollah.

During his visit to the southern suburbs of Beirut, he emphasized Iran’s continued support for Lebanon and its assistance in the reconstruction efforts.

Topics: Battlefield Lebanon Najib Mikati Jasper Jeffers

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Cash crunch pushes Libyans to bank cards despite hurdles

A man counts U.S. dollars at a currency exchange office in Tripoli, Libya April 24, 2016. (REUTERS)
A man counts U.S. dollars at a currency exchange office in Tripoli, Libya April 24, 2016. (REUTERS)
Updated 57 min 47 sec ago
AFP
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Cash crunch pushes Libyans to bank cards despite hurdles

A man counts U.S. dollars at a currency exchange office in Tripoli, Libya April 24, 2016. (REUTERS)
  • Libya has been wracked by instability and conflict since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew and killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi
Updated 57 min 47 sec ago
AFP

MISRATA, Libya: In Libya, a shortage of cash in the banking system has pushed many to turn to cards for payments after more than a decade of war and instability has hammered the country’s financial system.
Across most Libyan cities, withdrawing money is akin to an obstacle course in which hundreds wait, often for hours, outside heavily guarded banks for a turn to take out cash.
But the money all too often runs out early due to short supply.
Mistrust in that system means money is rarely reinjected back into banks, with Libyans preferring instead to keep cash on hand.
And while cashless culture has yet to take root, “the younger generations are easily adopting it,” said Abdullah Al-Gatet, an employee at a bank in Misrata, the country’s third largest city.
Withdrawals at bank counters are capped at 1,000 dinars ($206) each time.
This, along with the cash shortage, means civil servants who make up the bulk of Libya’s working population often receive their salaries late.
There is a growing awareness among Libyans of “the importance of electronic solutions to facilitate daily transactions, especially in times of liquidity crisis,” said 30-year-old Gatet, “even if the infrastructure is still insufficient.”

Libya has been wracked by instability and conflict since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that overthrew and killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi.
It is currently divided between a United Nations-recognized government in the capital Tripoli and a rival administration in the east backed by general Khalifa Haftar.
In Misrata, a major port city and commercial hub about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Tripoli, the population of 400,000 are increasingly signing up to receive bank cards.
But the shift toward cash-free transactions is not without stumbling blocks.
There are few ATM machines and many vendors do not accept card payments as they are not equipped with payment terminals.
Economist Khaled Al-Delfaq, 42, said that while the shortages have pushed many to shift to using cards, there needs to be an accompanying shift in awareness, and work needs to be done to “make these services more accessible.”
But in the seeming absence of other options, many have already been converted.
Among those are Mohamed Al-Soussi, who was shopping for his family at a supermarket in Misrata.
“Transactions are more simple with the card. I don’t need to carry large wads of cash with me anymore,” he said.

Libya’s political upheaval has also precipitated another strange side-effect — multiple prints of 50-dinar banknotes.
Libya’s institutions have since 2014 been caught between the two camps vying for power in the oil-rich country, and its central bank is no exception.
Until last year, it had been split in two, with an internationally recognized headquarters in the capital and another in the east, with each printing bills signed off by their respective governors.
In 2012, new 50-dinar bills, the largest available denomination, were put into circulation to make life easier for consumers who often make cash payments in the thousands.
But last April, the central bank announced the withdrawal of those notes from circulation due to the proliferation of counterfeits.
“The situation became even more complicated with businesses refusing the 50-dinar bills,” said Moussab Al-Haddar, a 45-year-old teacher who was visiting his bank branch to request a card.
The central bank had initially set a deadline for the end of August for the notes to go out of circulation, before extending it to the end of the year.
In a bid to address the current crisis, the bank injected 15 billion dinars into the system in late October, while urging banks to facilitate the issuing of cards to clients.
 

 

Topics: Libya financial system in Libya

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