Author: Steven Sahiounie

In a joint statement on Wednesday, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq warned that Israel is “pushing the region towards a full-scale war” as it continues its military campaign in Gaza and intensifies airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The foreign ministers of the three nations, following a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, discussed the “ongoing dangerous escalation in the region.” They emphasized that halting this escalation begins with stopping Israel’s aggression against Gaza. The ministers condemned Israel’s “aggression against Lebanon,” stressing that Israel’s actions are driving the region toward a comprehensive war, according to…

On Wednesday, Israel intensified its airstrikes across various regions of Lebanon amid escalating tensions and growing fears of a broader conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. For the first time, the Israeli bombardment targeted the mountainous village of Maaysra in the Keserwan area, north of Beirut, according to Lebanon’s official National News Agency. Residents of the predominantly Shia village, located in the largely Christian district of Keserwan, reported hearing two explosions. A witness described seeing a house and a café completely destroyed at the site of the strike. The airstrike on Maaysra resulted in 4 fatalities and 9 injuries, according to…

Al-Hilal’s head coach, Jorge Jesus, has announced that Brazilian star Neymar da Silva is not yet ready for an imminent return to action with the team. Neymar, who signed with Al-Hilal in August 2023, has only played five matches before undergoing surgery due to a severe knee injury sustained while on international duty in October. Despite Neymar’s return to training in July, sparking speculation about his comeback, Jesus tempered expectations during a post-match press conference. Jesus, who led Al-Hilal to their 19th league title in May, stated on Tuesday, “Neymar is an important player for Al-Hilal and the league as…

Gold reached a historic peak in the spot market on Wednesday, climbing to $2,665.10 per ounce. U.S. gold futures also saw a rise of 0.2%, trading at $2,682.60 per ounce. The U.S. dollar weakened by 0.2%, making dollar-denominated bullion more affordable for holders of other currencies. Among other precious metals, silver held steady at $32.11 per ounce, platinum increased by 0.4% to $989.60, while palladium slipped 0.2% to $1,054.75 per ounce.

French President Emmanuel Macron urged his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Bzeshkyan, during a meeting in New York on Tuesday to use Tehran’s influence to promote “general de-escalation” in the Middle East. Macron also warned Iran against providing military support to Russia. According to a statement from the Élysée Palace, during the meeting held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Macron emphasized Iran’s responsibility in fostering general calm and using its influence over destabilizing parties, particularly referencing Tehran-backed Hezbollah. The statement further noted that Macron cautioned Bzeshkyan against supporting Moscow in its war against Ukraine, following accusations by Western…

Iran-backed Iraqi armed factions announced on Wednesday that they targeted a site in northern Israel. The group, known as the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” claimed responsibility for attacking a “vital” location in northern Israel with a “developed cruise missile” named “Al-Arqab.” Additionally, the group reported launching a drone towards an Israeli target near the Jordan Valley. Israeli Army Radio confirmed that a drone had crashed in the town of Sapir in the Arava Valley. This same Iran-aligned group previously claimed on Sunday that it had targeted a “vital” site in Israel using a drone. On Sunday, the Israeli military reported…

Early Wednesday morning, Lebanon’s Hezbollah announced that it had launched a missile attack on Israel’s “Ilaniya” base. In a statement, Hezbollah claimed to have targeted the Israeli base with a barrage of Fadi 1 missiles. Additionally, the “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” issued a statement declaring that it had launched a drone strike on an Israeli target near the Jordan Valley. Israeli Army Radio reported that a drone had crashed in the town of Sapir in the Arava Valley. The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Lebanon, following Israeli…

The UK deployed hundreds of soldiers to Cyprus to assist its citizens in leaving Lebanon amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The British government has urged its nationals in Lebanon to leave the country immediately. The UK Foreign Office stated that while emergency plans are being put in place, around 700 troops supported by a border force will be moved to Cyprus within the next few hours. Additionally, the ministry noted that the Royal Air Force has transport aircraft on standby, ready to provide support if necessary. British Defense Secretary John Healey emphasized the urgency, saying, “The events…

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib announced on Tuesday that the number of people displaced due to the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in the south is approaching half a million. Bou Habib emphasized that “the United States holds the key to our salvation. The U.S. is the only country that can make a difference in the Middle East.” He also mentioned that “the Lebanese Prime Minister hopes to meet with U.S. officials in the next couple of days.” Israeli envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, stated on Tuesday that Israel is open to ideas for de-escalating the conflict…

Researchers in New Zealand announced on Tuesday the identification of a new species of ghost shark, a deep-sea predator capable of hunting in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. The research team reported the discovery of this narrow-snouted species in the Chatham Rise, a region in the Pacific Ocean stretching over 1,000 kilometers east of New Zealand. Ghost sharks, also known as chimaeras, are related to sharks and rays. They have a cartilaginous skeleton and feed on crustaceans at depths of up to 2,600 meters. Researcher Brit Finucci, who named the species “Harriotta avia” in honor of her grandmother, explained…