Al Joumhouria” News Summary”
Saturday, 09-Mar-2024 22:05

Israel today focused on targeting homes in several southern Lebanese areas, notably: Blida, Majdal Zun, Dahyra, and the town of Kafraya.

 

While a joint force of the Lebanese army and UNIFIL conducted a routine patrol between "Haddab" and "Ar-Rahib" west of the town of Ayta ash-Shab, Israeli soldiers from the settlement of Shtula fired intimidating machine gun bursts in the vicinity of the patrol's movement.

 

Meanwhile, the Israeli army fired heavy machine gun fire towards the forests adjacent to the towns of Ramyah, Ayta ash-Shab, and Al-Bustan from its positions adjacent to the Blue Line. Israeli reconnaissance aircraft flew over villages in the western and central sectors, reaching the outskirts of the Litani River, continuing to drop illuminating bombs over border villages adjacent to the Blue Line in the western and central sectors.

 

In response, Hezbollah targeted Israeli sites and gatherings, including: the Baghdadi site, the surroundings of Hounin Castle, the Ruwaisa al-Qarn site, and the Zabdine site. Hezbollah also intercepted an Israeli drone in the border areas with occupied Palestine using appropriate weapons, forcing it to retreat back into occupied territories.

 

Away from the field, the Speaker of the Parliament, Nabih Berri, received the caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati at the Second Presidency headquarters in Ain el-Tineh, where they discussed the general situation and the latest political and field developments. Speaker Berri also followed up on political developments, especially the presidential deadline, during his meeting with the "National Moderation" bloc delegation.

 

Regionally, the conflict in Gaza entered its 155th day, with the Israeli army continuing its intensive shelling, especially in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south, while humanitarian conditions worsen in the sector due to food and water shortages. The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced an increase in the death toll from Israeli shelling to 30,960 dead and 72,524 injured since October 7, 2023. The ministry stated that "the Israeli occupation committed 10 massacres against families in the Gaza Strip, resulting in 82 martyrs and 122 injuries in the past 24 hours."

 

According to "Waint" website, Israeli government ministers did not oppose the American proposal to establish a maritime dock on the Gaza beach, except for Minister of Security Itamar Ben Gvir, who fundamentally opposes the entry of aid.

 

During the educational seminar on "Martyr's Day," Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi discussed the cost of rebuilding the Gaza Strip, considering it unethical to betray those who are killed by allowing their displacement. He said, "We are keen to open the Rafah crossing 24 hours, but there are challenges in delivering aid," adding that "Egypt seeks to be a factor of stability and peace and not to ignite any fires." El-Sisi pointed out that the cost of reconstruction for the Gaza Strip amounts to $90 billion.

 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan considered that "unfortunately, the Islamic world, with a population of about two billion, was unable to fulfill its duty of brotherhood towards the Palestinian people in the best way."

 

The European Commission, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and Cyprus issued a joint statement on activating a maritime corridor to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The statement mentioned that "the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is tragic, where Palestinian families and innocent children urgently need basic necessities. For this reason, the European Commission, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the Republic of Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States announce their determination to open a maritime corridor to deliver additional aid that is urgently needed by sea."

 

Regarding developments in Yemen, the US Central Command announced that the US military targeted two anti-ship missiles mounted on trucks belonging to the Houthis in areas they control in Yemen.

 

The Houthis later launched two missiles from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden at the M/V Propel Fortune, owned by Singapore, without causing any damage, and there were no reports of injuries.

 

The President of the UAE, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, issued federal decrees appointing officials to official positions in the Presidential Diwan related to development projects, martyrs' families, strategic affairs, and others.

 

On another note, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian considered the recent action by the "Meta" company to censor the words of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei "unethical."

 

Internationally, a senior official from the US Treasury Department visited Beirut this week and urged the Lebanese authorities to prevent the transfer of funds to Hamas through Lebanon, according to the Associated Press citing officials.

 

Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal questioned the purpose of delivering US aid to Gaza by air while America is the largest military funder of Israel.

 

The Serbian newspaper "Politika" reported that Germany does not hide its preparations for war against Russia, but claims it is defensive.

 

Furthermore, Ukrainian police detained a bus near the Romanian border carrying 34 military-aged men who were hoping to enter Romania illegally.

 

The French Ministry of Defense announced the downing of four drones heading towards a French frigate in the Gulf of Aden, with the latter managing, with the help of French fighter jets, to shoot them down.

 

Also, Miss Lebanon 2023, Yasmina Zaytoun, won the title of first runner-up in the Miss World pageant, held Saturday evening in Mumbai, India.

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