Smoke rises from an Israeli air strike on a Lebanese village near the border with Israel. AP
Smoke rises from an Israeli air strike on a Lebanese village near the border with Israel. AP
Smoke rises from an Israeli air strike on a Lebanese village near the border with Israel. AP
Smoke rises from an Israeli air strike on a Lebanese village near the border with Israel. AP

Two killed and journalists targeted in separate Israeli attacks on south Lebanon


Nada Homsi
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

Two people were killed on Monday following an Israeli air strike that levelled a residence in the southern Lebanese town of Ainata, Lebanon's state news agency said.

They are the latest casualties in an intensifying border conflict between armed militants, led by the Lebanese group Hezbollah, and Israel.

It was not clear whether the two Lebanese people killed in the strike were civilians or fighters.

The Israeli Electricity Company also announced the death of one of its employees on Monday from critical injuries sustained in Hezbollah’s attack on a convoy near the Dovev military barracks.

The Israeli military vowed on Sunday to "change the security situation in the north [of Israel]" after the attacks, which resulted in at least 14 additional injuries, both military and civilian.

In a separate incident, Israel twice fired artillery at the southern Lebanese town of Yaroun, metres away from where a group of journalists from various outlets were operating.

Only minor injuries were reported.

The southern Lebanese village of Yaroun lies directly across the border from the Israeli town of Dovev, where electricity company employees and Israeli soldiers had been hit in a Hezbollah attack the previous day.

The incident was filmed live by Al Jadeed, a local Lebanese channel. The news anchor could be heard speaking to correspondent Rif Akil over the air, who was on the ground reporting when the artillery struck nearby.

“It’s clear the rocket has fallen just a few metres away from you,” the anchor said as the camera filmed the destruction caused by the strike. “It’s clear this is a direct strike on journalists operating in Yaroun.”

“Yes,” Akil answered as she caught her breath.

A fire burns next to a press car following reported Israeli shelling in Lebanon's southern border village of Yaroun on November 13, 2023. AFP
A fire burns next to a press car following reported Israeli shelling in Lebanon's southern border village of Yaroun on November 13, 2023. AFP

The strike on the journalists Monday came exactly one month after Israeli strikes on Reuters, Al Jazeera, and AFP journalists who, clearly marked as press, were reporting on clashes near Ayta al Shaab. Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed in that attack.

Hezbollah and allied groups have waged a war of attrition against Israel since October 8, seeking to divert Israel’s focus from Gaza.

The border conflict has escalated significantly since Saturday, when Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said the southern Lebanese front would “remain a front of pressure”.

Sunday’s significant progression of hostilities on the Lebanon-Israel border prompted Israeli army spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari to say that Israel will “change the security situation in the north”.

“Lebanese citizens will pay the price of this lawlessness and the decision of Hezbollah to be the protector of ISIS," Admiral Hagari said, comparing Hamas with the extremist group.

He said Hezbollah and the Lebanese government would bear responsibility for the attacks.

Israeli army flares fall over the northern Har Dov area on Mount Hermon on November 13, 2023. AFP
Israeli army flares fall over the northern Har Dov area on Mount Hermon on November 13, 2023. AFP

Daily clashes have intensified between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel in the past month, as both parties fight a war of attrition while attempting not to be drawn into full-scale war.

Hezbollah has conducted or provided armed groups with cover for daily attacks on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, seeking to prevent Israel from focusing its full attention on its bombardment of the blockaded Gaza Strip.

But the Iran-backed group has not launched a full-scale campaign, despite escalating tension at the border.

Armed Iran-allied groups in Syria, Yemen and Iraq have also attacked Israel, seeking to divert its attention from Gaza.

Israel has also tempered its responses in an attempt to prevent a full-scale confrontation from breaking out and turning into a regional war.

More than a month of violence has claimed at least 90 lives on the Lebanese side, with 72 Hezbollah fighters and at least 10 civilians among the dead.

Mourners gather near the coffin of Hezbollah member Jaafar Serhan, who was killed while deployed in Syria with Hezbollah, during his funeral in Mashghara, Lebanon, November 13, 2023. Reuters
Mourners gather near the coffin of Hezbollah member Jaafar Serhan, who was killed while deployed in Syria with Hezbollah, during his funeral in Mashghara, Lebanon, November 13, 2023. Reuters

Members of armed Palestinian groups operating from Lebanon were also among the casualties.

The Israeli army told The National that eight of its soldiers have been killed on the Lebanon-Israel front since the fighting began, but declined to provide numbers for civilian casualties.

After Mr Nasrallah’s speech last week, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned that residents of Beirut would pay the price if Israel was dragged into war with Hezbollah.

“What we are doing in Gaza we know how to do in Beirut,” he threatened during a visit to the border region.

“I am saying here to the citizens of Lebanon, I already see the citizens in Gaza walking with white flags along the coast and moving south."

Mr Nasrallah has repeatedly conditioned the end of Hezbollah’s war of attrition on a ceasefire in Gaza – but he also said that “all options are open” on the Lebanese front against Israel, and that every action would be met with an equal and corresponding reaction.

“For every civilian, a civilian,” he promised in his televised speech.

Earlier this month three schoolgirls and their grandmother were killed in an Israeli air strike. Hezbollah promised retribution for their killing.

Student Of The Year 2

Director: Punit Malhotra

Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal 

1.5 stars

Tori Amos
Native Invader
Decca

First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus 

The Birkin bag is made by Hermès. 
It is named after actress and singer Jane Birkin
Noone from Hermès will go on record to say how much a new Birkin costs, how long one would have to wait to get one, and how many bags are actually made each year.

THE SPECS

      

 

Engine: 1.5-litre

 

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

 

Power: 110 horsepower 

 

Torque: 147Nm 

 

Price: From Dh59,700 

 

On sale: now  

 
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
The bio

Who inspires you?

I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist

How do you relax?

Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.

What is favourite book?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times

What is your favourite Arabic film?

Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki

What is favourite English film?

Mamma Mia

Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?

If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.  

 

Eyasses squad

Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)

Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)  

Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)

Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)

Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)

Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)

Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)         

Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)

Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

Islamic%20Architecture%3A%20A%20World%20History
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eric%20Broug%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Thames%20%26amp%3B%20Hudson%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20336%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20September%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: November 13, 2023, 4:56 PM