Israel strikes Lebanon's Tyre, intensify attack on northern Gaza

Germany's FM from Beirut: diplomatic solution needed

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that "the Israeli army had significantly weakened Hezbollah, and now the need is to reach a viable diplomatic solution between Israel and Lebanon."

Baerbock arrived today in Beirut, where she is meeting with Lebanese officials to discuss the rapidly escalating military developments, a month after the expanded Israeli aggression on Lebanese territory. 

Baerbock pointed out that "hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in Lebanon, and the complete destabilisation of the country would be disastrous for the most religiously diverse society in the region."

In a statement, the German minister also emphasised that "the current priority is to work with our partners in the United States, Europe, and the Arab world to find a viable diplomatic solution that protects the legitimate security interests of both Israel and Lebanon."

On the eve of her visit, Hezbollah's Head of Public Relations, Mohammed Afif, launched an attack on the German FM, strongly condemning her statements that "justify the Zionist enemy's killing of civilians".

He added: "The new Nazism in Germany justifies Zionist fascism's crimes. If your memory is burdened with crimes against humanity, then you and those you represent are once again complicit in a crime against humanity."

Hezbollah maintains silence on Safieddine

Hezbollah is continuing to maintain its silence on the fate of Hashem Safieddine, despite the Israeli confirmation that he was killed in an air strike in southern Beirut three weeks ago.

There has been no comment from Hezbollah officials nor its media outlets either denying or confirming the announcement.

Gaza MoH: 74 killed, 130 wounded in last 24 hours

Gaza's ministry of health has said that in the last 24 hours 74 people have been killed and 130 wounded in Israel's war on Gaza.

The ministry added that the total death toll has risen to 42,792 killed and 100,412 wounded.

Hamas hails Hezbollah attack on Netanyahu's house

The spokesman for Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has hailed an attack claimed by the Lebanese Hezbollah on the holiday home of the Israeli prime minister.

"Hezbollah's targeting of Netanyahu's home sends a message to the criminal occupation leaders that even if they can escape from the one-eyed international justice, they will not escape the just retribution of the free and resistant people of the nation," the Hamas-run Shehab News website quoted Abu Ubaida as saying yesterday.

Earlier yesterday, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a drone attack last week on Netanyahu's holiday residence in Caesarea in northern Israel.

Hamas urges global action to stop Israel's Gaza 'massacres'

Hamas has urged the international community to stop the "forced displacement, ethnic cleansing and massacres" carried out by Israeli troops in northern Gaza where about 400,000 people are believed to be trapped.

"The fascist [Israeli] occupation army continues its attempts to implement its criminal plan, known as the Generals' Plan, in the northern Gaza Strip, besieging schools and hospitals, committing massacres against defenceless and displaced citizens and carrying out the most heinous forced displacement operation live on air and in full view of the entire world," Hamas said in a statement posted on Telegram yesterday.

The group said Israel's "flagrant violation of all laws" would not have been possible "without the silence and inaction of the international community and complicity of the US administration".

Blinken arrives in Saudi Arabia on renewed quest for Israel

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday as he renews his bid to broker diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

"There remains, despite everything that's happened, an incredible opportunity in this region to move in a totally different direction," he said before leaving Tel Aviv.

"Saudi Arabia would be right at the heart of that, and that includes potentially normalisation of relations with Israel," he added.

Blinken's visit to the region is his 11th since the start of the Israel's war on Gaza and his first since Israel escalated its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon last month.

The Gaza war halted tentative moves towards an agreement dubbed the "mega-deal", under which Saudi Arabia would recognise Israel in exchange for a defence pact and help on a civil nuclear programme.

After meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials in Israel, Blinken said "now is the time" to end the conflict in Gaza.

"Since October 7 a year ago, Israel has achieved most of its strategic objectives when it comes to Gaza... Now is the time to turn those successes into enduring, strategic success," he said.

Northern Gaza polio campaign postponed due to bombardment

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that intense bombardments, mass displacements and lack of access in northern Gaza have forced the postponement of a polio vaccination campaign.

This final phase of an ongoing polio vaccination campaign, due to begin on Wednesday, aimed to vaccinate over 119,000 children in northern Gaza, according to the agency.

(Reuters)

Lufthansa suspends flights to Beirut, Tehran until 2025

 Lufthansa extended the suspension of its flights to Tehran and Beirut until early next year for operational reasons, the German flagship airline said on Wednesday.

For Lufthansa Airlines, this means flights to Tehran will be suspended up to and including Jan. 31, 2025, while those to Beirut are suspended up to and including Feb. 28, 2025, it said.

Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Eurowings are all part of the Lufthansa Group.

SWISS said in a separate statement that flights to Beirut would be cancelled up to and including Jan. 18, 2025, to provide greater planning certainty for both its passenger and crew.

(Reuters)

Israel begins strikes on historic Lebanese port city of Tyre

Israel began striking on Wednesday in the historic Lebanese port city of Tyre according to Reuters witnesses.

(Reuters)

Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims seven attacks on Israel

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) group has claimed seven new drone attacks on various Israeli sites.

The group reported on Telegram yesterday and this morning three attacks on the occupied Golan Heights, two other attacks on Eilat, another attack on the Jordan Valley and a seventh one against a "vital" target inside Israel.

IRI released four videos on Telegram this morning and yesterday, which showed the launch of the drones used in the attacks.

The group said that the attacks were "in support of our people in Palestine and Lebanon".

Saudi crown prince discusses regional escalation with Jordan

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed efforts to halt the escalation in the region Jordan's King Abdullah II during his visit to Riyadh yesterday.

Bin Salman had received the Jordanian monarch at the Al Yamamah Palace in the Saudi capital where they discussed developments in the Middle East and efforts to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, according to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

Both sides stressed their "full support for the brothers in Palestine and Lebanon" and would continue to provide humanitarian assistance to ease their suffering but did not give further details on the discussions.

The meeting was attended by a number of senior Saudi and Jordanian officials.

Egyptian, Russian presidents call for ceasefires

Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, emphasising the need for regional de-escalation and for "avoiding practices that would push the region towards further crises".

According to a statement yesterday, Sisi met Putin on the sidelines of his visit to Russia to participate in the Brics summit held in Kazan City on 22-24 October. 

This is Egypt's inaugural participation at the summit after becoming a Brics member earlier this year.