Author: Steven Sahiounie

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday renewed his call for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah after Israel disregarded a ceasefire proposal co-authored by the United States and France. During a press conference concluding a week of diplomatic meetings at the United Nations, Blinken stated, “The choices that both sides make in the coming days will determine the path this region takes, with serious consequences for its people, both now and potentially for years to come.” He added, “The diplomatic path may seem difficult at this moment, but it exists, and in our view, it is necessary.”…

Cameras captured the exodus of residents from parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs late Friday night, following an Israeli military warning to evacuate the area. The Israeli army issued its first-ever call for residents to leave buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs since the escalation with Hezbollah began. The warning, shared in a post on the platform “X,” specifically targeted buildings in the Lailaki and Hadath neighborhoods. Following the evacuation notice, an Israeli military spokesperson announced that the army would launch airstrikes on buildings in the southern suburbs, which are allegedly used by Hezbollah to store weapons. In the early hours of…

Late Friday, the Israeli military issued a warning that it may target Beirut Airport as tensions with the Lebanese group Hezbollah continue to escalate. Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari cautioned that the army “will not allow the transfer of any weapons to Hezbollah,” including those transported through Beirut International Airport. Hagari stated, “We will not permit the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah by any means. We are aware of Iranian arms being smuggled to Hezbollah, and we will work to thwart these efforts.” He added that Israeli Air Force planes are currently patrolling the area around Beirut Airport. “So far,…

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen announced on Friday that NATO will establish a new land command headquarters in Finland, near the Russian border, next year. This command will be responsible for leading NATO’s ground forces operations in Northern Europe in the event of a military conflict. Finland joined NATO last year. Häkkänen, following up on a previous announcement made in June, stated, “This morning, I decided that we will propose to NATO the establishment of this command in conjunction with the Army Command in Mikkeli.” The new headquarters will operate under NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk, based in the United…

The Israel Broadcasting Authority reported on Friday that 17 people were injured as Israelis rushed to bomb shelters following air raid sirens in Tel Aviv. According to Israeli media, some of the injuries were moderate, occurring as people scrambled to reach shelters after a missile was intercepted over Tel Aviv. Earlier on Friday morning, the Israeli military announced it had successfully intercepted a missile launched from Yemen towards Israel. The military issued a series of statements confirming that the sirens in various central Israeli locations were triggered by a missile launched from Yemen. They also confirmed that the missile was…

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday urged the United States to pressure Israel into accepting a 21-day ceasefire plan in Lebanon, warning that an Israeli invasion would be a grave mistake. Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz rejected a joint French-American proposal for a 21-day truce. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he had instructed the military to continue fighting with full force. Macron emphasized the need for clear and committed communication from all partners, stating, “Israel cannot invade Lebanon today. War in Lebanon would be a significant mistake and a major risk of escalation.” During a press conference in…

Politico reported that a U.S. grand jury has indicted several Iranian nationals in connection with the hacking of the 2016 presidential campaign of Republican candidate Donald Trump. According to ABC News, federal law enforcement officials are expected to announce criminal charges on Friday related to the suspected Iranian hacking of emails belonging to members of Trump’s campaign. Former President Donald Trump called for the U.S. to “threaten destruction” against Iran if it harms any American presidential candidate. He made these remarks after intelligence briefed him on threats from Tehran. During a campaign rally in North Carolina on Wednesday, Trump stated,…

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the United States will continue to provide military support to Israel, downplaying the notion of “red lines” while warning that a full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah would be catastrophic. Israel, on the same day, rejected global calls for a mutual ceasefire with the Iran-backed Hezbollah, defying its strongest ally, the United States, by continuing strikes that have killed hundreds in Lebanon and heightened fears of a regional war. When asked about Washington’s “red lines” in supporting Israel, Austin responded that the U.S. commitment to helping Israel defend itself remains unwavering. Austin…

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, announced that his forces are ready to implement a nationwide ceasefire in their ongoing conflict with the Sudanese army, as well as to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid. Dagalo’s remarks were made in a recorded message addressed to the United Nations General Assembly, following a speech by Sudanese army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Earlier on Thursday, the Sudanese army launched a military operation aimed at seizing control of several areas in Khartoum that were under the control of the RSF. Sudanese media reported intensified military movements and airstrikes by the…

Denmark expressed its support for Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan, describing it as a “serious and credible contribution” to the ongoing UN-led process and a solid foundation for a mutually agreeable solution among all parties. This endorsement was part of a joint statement issued following discussions in New York on Wednesday between Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen. The talks took place on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The statement, as reported by the Moroccan Press Agency, reiterated that “the autonomy…