Israel hit southern Lebanon with retaliatory artillery fire on Thursday after rockets were launched across the border, in what could be the biggest escalation between the two nations in a decade.
Following a cabinet meeting on Thursday evening regarding the increasing unrest across the country, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “We will hit back at our enemies and they will pay the price for every act of aggression.
“Our enemies will learn again that during times of war, Israeli citizens stand together and united, and support the actions of the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] and the rest of the security forces to protect our country and our citizens.”
He went on to say that there was no intention to change the status quo at Jerusalem's holy sites and called for a calming of tension.
Israel would act firmly against extremists who are deploying violence, he added.
“The internal debate among us will not prevent us from acting against them anywhere and at any time,” he said, referring to ongoing protests against his government's proposed judicial reforms. “We are all — with no exception — united on this.”
There were reports that mortar shells had been launched towards the area near Metula from the Blue Line, the IDF said on Thursday evening, referring to the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, and Lebanon and the Golan Heights.
After searches in the area, two rocket launches were identified as having been launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory.
Earlier on Thursday, several shells were fired by Israel from the border, towards the outskirts of the two villages of Qlaileh and Maaliyeh in the south of Lebanon, the Lebanese National News Agency reported.
The Lebanese Army later said that “a number of rockets” had been launched towards the area in the district of Sour, before tweeting that one of its units had discovered missile launchers and rockets in Zibqin and Qlaileh.
A Lebanese security source confirmed the retaliation to The National, saying: “Yes, they fired at us”.
Israeli media reported that 30 rockets had been fired within 15 minutes — the most significant security incident in southern Lebanon in years — after initially claiming 100 had been fired.
Lebanese security sources played down the claim, saying 100 rockets was an exaggeration.
Israel said it had “identified 34 rockets that were fired from Lebanese territory into Israeli territory” and that 25 had been intercepted by Israeli air defences.
“Five rockets landed in Israeli territory. Regarding the four additional launches, the information about their location is under review. The statistics are not final,” the Israeli Defence Forces said.
Lt Col Avichay Adraee, spokesman for the Israeli army, blamed Hamas in Lebanon for the rocket attacks. The group's leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was in the Lebanon to meet members of Hezbollah when the rocket launches took place.
“We are also examining the possibility of Iran's involvement,” he wrote on Twitter.
At least three people were injured, including one person in Israel who received a minor shrapnel wound and a woman who suffered a panic attack, Israel's Magen David Adom emergency services said.
The UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon Unifil said it was aware of the reports and was responding. It confirmed that personnel in the south of Lebanon had been asked to shelter in bunkers and called for restraint.
“The IDF informed Unifil that it had activated its Iron Dome defence system in response. Head of Mission and Force Commander Major General Aroldo Lazaro is in contact with authorities on both sides of the Blue Line,” a statement from the force said.
A resident of a village about a 20-minute drive inland from Sour said that members of his family had heard the Israeli response, but were uninjured.
“It’s been like this [for] 50 years. It’s normal for us,” the resident, who spends weeknights in Beirut, told The National.
The attacks came as Jews mark Passover and after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians at Al Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site, prompted warnings of retaliation from across the region.
Israeli police also said two suspects had been arrested during clashes in Umm Al Fahm.
Eli Cohen, Israel's Foreign Minister, said the timing of the inbound rockets was “not a coincidence”.
“First day of Passover. As we sit at the holiday table, family and friends, Israel is facing rockets from south and north … No one should test us, we will take all necessary measures to defend our country and people,” he wrote on Twitter.
Lebanon's pro-Iran armed movement Hezbollah said on Thursday that it would support “all measures” Palestinian groups may take against Israel after the clashes in Jerusalem. The group denied being behind the initial rocket fire, suggesting Palestinian factions were responsible.
“Hezbollah forcefully denounces the assault carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against Al Aqsa Mosque compound and its attacks on the faithful,” Hezbollah said.
Mr Haniyeh of Hamas said: “We condemn the continuous Zionist aggression against the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque, and we consider it an unprecedented crime and an aggression against our Islamic nation and its sanctities.”
The UN urged all actors to exercise maximum restraint.
“The UN interim force in Lebanon remains in contact with authorities on both sides of the blue line and we urge the parties to liaise with our peacekeepers and avoid any unilateral action that could further escalate the situation,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
Israeli police attacked worshippers at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque on Tuesday and Wednesday night after forcing their way inside.
The Gaza-based Islamic Jihad movement welcomed the attack, saying: “This is a heroic and strong resistance response to the enemy's crimes and aggression.”
Air raid sirens sounded in the Galilee region and the Israeli towns of Shlomi and Moshav Betzet, the Israeli army said.
Such cross-border rocket attacks have been rare between Lebanon and Israel since the 2006 war with Hezbollah.
In April 2022, Israel struck targets in Lebanon with artillery fire after a rocket was fired into Israel.
A small Palestinian faction active in Lebanon was suspected of being behind the launch but UN peacekeepers said there was not a wider conflict.
In May 2021, at least three rockets were fired from Lebanon into Israel but caused no damage.
Meanwhile, families were out walking in the Lebanese town of Sour on Thursday night, enjoying a typical Ramadan evening.
Anwar, a Palestinian restaurant worker, shrugged off Israel’s threats to retaliate harshly against Lebanon.
“People here are already dead,” said Anwar, who was relaxing by the seaside with a shisha.
“It can't get worse. I'm not scared.
“Even if Israel retaliated, they won't dare to start war as long as Hezbollah is here. They're too scared.”
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Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
Dominic Rubin, Oxford
'Skin'
Dir: Guy Nattiv
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle McDonald, Bill Camp, Vera Farmiga
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
SQUADS
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, George Worker, Glenn Phillips, Matt Henry, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Read more about the coronavirus
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Army of the Dead
Director: Zack Snyder
Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera
Three stars
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
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About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.