Bou Habib says diplomatic efforts ongoing to rein in awaited Israeli retaliation - Naharnet

A flurry of diplomatic activity is underway to contain an expected Israeli response against Hezbollah, Lebanon's top diplomat said, after an attack blamed on the group killed civilians in the annexed Golan Heights.

On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had vowed to "hit the enemy hard" after rocket fire killed 12 minors, raisings fears the war in Gaza could spread.

Israel has accused Lebanon's Hezbollah movement of firing a Falaq-1 Iranian rocket, but the Iran-backed group -- which has regularly targeted Israeli military positions -- said it had "no connection" to the incident.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said the United States, France and others were trying to contain the escalation, in an interview late Sunday with local broadcaster Al-Jadeed.

"Israel will escalate in a limited way and Hezbollah will respond in a limited way... These are the assurances we've received," Bou Habib said.

https://naharnet.com/stories/en/306857-lebanon-fm-says-diplomatic-efforts-ongoing-to-rein-in-awaited-israeli-retaliation

Syria salutes heroic stance of Golan citizens who reject visits of Zionist entity war criminals to Majdal Shams - SANA

Damascus, SANA- Syria has saluted the heroic stance of Syrian citizens in occupied Syrian Golan who refuse the visits of the Zionist entity’s war criminals, the latest of whom is Benjamin Netanyahu, to Majdal Shams, who came to trade in the bloods of Syrians after they were shed in the missile attack carried out by his forces on Saturday.

“The Syrian Arab Republic, while condemns that impudent behavior of the war criminal, Netanyahu, who committed mass genocide crimes against the Palestinian people through his continued aggression against them since October 7^th, affirms that the honorable stance of occupied Syrian Golan citizens today that confronts the Israeli war machine and reject all attempts to erase the Syrian identity decisively prove that the Syrian Golan is an occupied Syrian land and will remain a dear and precious part for the Syrians,” Foreign and Expatriates Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The statement added the occupied Syrian Golan’s citizens will remain adherent to their land and identity, and proud of their belonging to the homeland.

https://sana.sy/en/?p=335426

Beyrut Havalimanı'nda İsrail'in olası saldırısına karşı iptal edilen uçak seferleri nedeniyle birçok yolcu mağdur oldu - Anadolu Ajansı

İsrail ordusunun Lübnan'a yönelik olası saldırı tehdidi nedeniyle Beyrut Refik Hariri Uluslararası Havalimanı'ndaki uçak seferlerinin askıya alınması ya da ertelenmesi sonucu çok sayıda yolcu mağdur oldu.

https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/dunya/beyrut-havalimaninda-israilin-olasi-saldirisina-karsi-iptal-edilen-ucak-seferleri-nedeniyle-bircok-yolcu-magdur-oldu/3288626

Lebanon's Jumblatt urges unity as 'Israel' tries to sow discord - Al-Mayadeen

Former leader of Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party, Walid Jumblatt, emphasized on Saturday the need for vigilance against Israeli efforts to ignite conflicts, extending his heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs who perished in the occupied Syrian Golan.

Jumblatt, a Druze leader, remarked that in light of Hezbollah's statement denying the involvement of the Islamic Resistance in the bombing that killed at least 11 Druze Syrians living in the occupied Syrian territories, everyone must be aware of the Israeli occupation's attempts to sow discord.

He called on the people in Lebanon and the occupied Golan Heights to be cautious of "any provocation or incitement within the enemy's destructive agenda."

The Lebanese political figure underlined that the occupation has long been working to incite strife, fragment the region, and target its components.

"We have previously thwarted the Israeli plans," he added, but they "re-emerged, and we are ready to confront them alongside the resistance and all freedom fighters."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/lebanon-s-jumblatt-urges-unity-as--israel--tries-to-sow-disc

Prominent Druze leader warns of Israeli 'vile' plot in Majdal Shams - Al-Mayadeen

The head of the Druze Lebanese Democratic Party LDP and former member of Parliament, Talal Arslan, asserted that what happened in Majdal Shams in the occupied Syrian Golan, "is nothing but a vile and failed attempt" by the Israeli regime to "detach the Golan from its natural geographical and familial connections."

An explosive projectile of unknown origin struck on Saturday a football field in the occupied Syrian village of Majdal Shams, which is made up almost entirely of Druze Syrians. The explosion killed at least 12 Arab Syrian civilians, including children, and wounded dozens.

The Israeli occupation accused Hezbollah of being responsible for the attack. However, the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon categorically denied the claims, stating that it had no connection whatsoever with the incident. 

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/prominent-druze-leader-warns-of-israeli--vile--plot-in-majda

‘They were just kids. What did they do wrong?’: In Majdal Shams, a town caught between Israel and Hezbollah mourns its young - CNN

Eleven-year-old Alma was daddy’s little girl. She used to get away with anything she wanted. Her father, Ayman Fakhr al-Din said she was always filled with energy and loved playing sports.

That was the last thing she did before her tragic death.

Alma was killed alongside 11 other children when a rocket hit a football pitch in Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday.

Israeli officials have blamed Hezbollah for the strike and vowed to retaliate. The Lebanese militant group has “firmly” denied responsibility.

In addition to the 12 deaths, at least 44 people were injured in the attack that has rocked the town’s Syrian Druze community.

Caught between the simmering conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, people here tell CNN they’re used to hearing sirens and seeing rockets flying overhead – but never like this.

“This time, something wasn’t right. It was something unbelievable,” Fakhr al-Din said.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/28/middleeast/majdal-shams-mourning-israel-hezbollah-intl-latam/index.html

Lebanese Druze leader warns about Israel's attempt to 'incite strife' following Majdal Shams attack - AA

Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt warned Saturday about Israel’s efforts to “incite strife” in the region after it accused Hezbollah of being involved in the shelling of the town of Druze in Majdal Shams in the occupied Golan Heights. 

Jumblatt said in light of Hezbollah’s statement denying any involvement in the attack on Druze, “We reiterate our warning and alertness to what the Israeli enemy has long been working on—to incite strife, fragment the region, and target its components,” as reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency. “We have previously thwarted this (Israeli) scheme, and now that it has reemerged, we remain vigilant alongside the resistance and all fighters confronting Israeli aggression and occupation.”

Israeli authorities said earlier that 11 people were killed and 37 others injured in the missile attack.

While the Israeli army accused Hezbollah of the attack, the group denied responsibility.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/lebanese-druze-leader-warns-about-israels-attempt-to-incite-strife-following-majdal-shams-attack/3287315

Thousands mourn 12 children killed in Majdal Shams rocket attack - LBC

Thousands gathered on Sunday to mourn 12 children and teenagers who were killed in a rocket attack in the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

The strike hit a football field in the Druze village where the children were playing, according to the Israeli army.

Before the funeral began, the grieving families, predominantly women, gathered around the coffins. At the town hall, religious leaders assembled to pray over the bodies.

https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/lebanon-news/786423/thousands-mourn-12-children-killed-in-majdal-shams-rocket-attack/en

Rai Calls Politicians to Assume Responsibility for the Country’s Ruin - This is Beirut

 The Maronite Patriarch, Bechara Rai, hoped that “politicians who obstruct the election of a president will take the right decision to save the country”.

In his Sunday homily, he called on the politicians “to assume, one by one, responsibility for the ruin of the country and its institutions”, while stressing that “by taking a courageous decision, they will realize their error with regard to the people”.

Audi

On the other hand, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Beirut, Elias Audi noted that “a week remains until the anniversary of the tragedy (Beirut Port explosion) that affected every household in Beirut , and we are still waiting for the truth and justice, hoping to ease the bleeding hearts and comfort the tormented souls.”

He emphasized the need for righteous individuals to stand against injustice, oppression, and the fragmentation of the state, starting with the presidency.

https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/lebanon/276305

'Israel' will come to end if it wages war on Lebanon: Hezbollah MP - Al-Mayadeen

The Israeli occupation entity will come to an end if it opts for a large-scale war against Lebanon, underlined Mohammad Raad, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc in the Lebanese parliament, on Sunday.

Raad added that "Israel's" objectives in Gaza have failed due to the steadfastness of the people of the Strip, the heroism of its Resistance fighters, and the support provided by entities in the Axis of Resistance.

His remarks came a day after an Israeli Iron Dome interceptor missile struck a playground in the town, which is made up entirely of Druze Syrians, killing at least 12 civilians, including children, and wounding at least a dozen others.

"Israel" was quick to pin the blame on Hezbollah and claimed that the Lebanese group targeted the town with an "Iranian rocket".

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/-israel--will-come-to-end-if-it-wages-war-on-lebanon--hezbol

Tensions high but beaches full as Lebanon readies for war - The Guardian

Despite the deadly rocket strike in Golan Heights, tourists still flock to resorts as cars idle in traffic jams below anti-war billboards

The azure sky above Tyre beach looked clear as glass, but that was an illusion. “We were swimming like one hour ago and they shot a missile or something,” said Maha Mrad, pointing down the southern Lebanese coastline, stretching out in the distance towards Israel.

An Israeli jet, lurking high beyond view, had bombed a Lebanese village about 20km from the beach, the latest in a 10-month campaign of tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that appeared closer than ever on Sunday to full-scale war.

“But it felt so – cool,” Mrad said, now face-down on a sun lounger. “Like, oh, there’s a strike. Say hi! We kept swimming.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/28/summer-lebanon-coast-hezbollah-israel-strikes

IDF chief of staff: Israel raising readiness to 'next level,' prepared to strike - The Jerusalem Post

IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi announced on Sunday that Israel’s readiness for the next phase of fighting in the North is to be raised to the “next level.” The comments were made following Halevi’s visit to Majdal Shams on Saturday, following a fatal rocket sent by Hezbollah that killed 12 children and teenagers in the Druze town.

https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-812141

İsrail'e yönelik roket saldırısında en az 12 can kaybı - VOA Türkçe

İsrail’e yönelik Hizbullah tarafından düzenlendiği iddia edilen füze saldırısı sonucunda Golan Tepeleri bölgesinde aralarında çocukların da bulunduğu en az 12 kişi hayatını kaybetti. Hizbullah’sa saldırı iddialarını reddetti.

İsrail Dışişleri Bakanı Israel Katz, Axios’a yaptığı açıklamada, “Hizbullah'ın bugünkü saldırısı tüm kırmızı çizgileri aşmıştır ve buna uygun bir karşılık verilecektir. Hizbullah ve Lübnan'a karşı topyekûn bir savaş anına yaklaşıyoruz” dedi.

Olayın ardından yazılı bir açıklama yapan İran destekli Hizbullah grubuysa olayla ilgili sorumluluklarının bulunmadığını öne sürdü. Açıklamada, “İslami Direniş'in olayla kesinlikle hiçbir ilgisi yoktur ve bu konudaki tüm yanlış iddiaları kategorik olarak reddetmektedir” ifadelerine yer verildi. Hizbullah daha önce Lübnan mevzilerinden İsrail’e yönelik füze saldırıları düzenlediğini duyurmuştu.

İsrail ordusundan yapılan açıklamada, saldırıya karşılık vermek üzere hazırlık yapıldığı belirtildi. Lübnan hükümetinden de saldırının ardından bir açıklama geldi. Açıklamada sivillere yönelik her türlü saldırının kınandığı ifade edildi.

Saldırı Hamas'ın 7 Ekim'de İsrail'e düzenlediği ve bin 200'den fazla kişinin öldüğü 250 civarında kişinin rehin alındığı saldırıdan bu yana en büyük saldırı olarak kayda geçti.

Hizbullah ve İsrail, Gazze savaşının patlak vermesinden bu yana Lübnan-İsrail sınırında ya da sınıra yakın bölgelerde karşılıklı çatışıyor.

https://d33vxfhewnqf4z.cloudfront.net/a/israil-e-yonelik-roket-saldirisinda-en-az-11-can-kaybi/7715492.html

Bassil meets with Jamaa Islamiya at start of south Lebanon tour - L'Orient Today

Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) leader Gebran Bassil began a tour of south Lebanon on Saturday with a meeting with Bassam Hammoud, deputy director of the Jamaa Islamiya political bureau, in Saida, our correspondent in the region reported. 

https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1421684/bassil-meets-with-jamaa-islamiya-at-start-of-south-lebanon-tour.html

US halts deportation of Lebanese citizens due to conflict in south Lebanon - Naharnet

The White House has announced that U.S. officials will halt the deportation of Lebanese citizens who have run afoul of immigration laws because of the ongoing conflict on Lebanon’s border with Israel.

President Joe Biden said in a statement that “humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated” and “many civilians remain in danger” due to the ongoing low-level fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

The two sides have engaged in near-daily clashes since October, which have killed around 500 people on the Lebanese side, most of them fighters with Hezbollah and allied groups, but also including some 90 civilians.

The White House statement said Biden had “determined that it is in the foreign policy interest of the United States to defer for 18 months the removal of any Lebanese national” with some exceptions, including anyone convicted of a felony or who the Secretary of Homeland Security determined “presents a danger to public safety.” The Lebanese citizens would be authorized to work during that period. 

https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/306829

Hezbollah targets military base in northern Israel with drones - IRNA

According to Lebanese media outlets, in a statement, the Lebanon-based group said it launched an “aerial attack using a squadron of precision-guided drones on the artillery position of Battalion 411 in Neve Ziv of the 288th Fire Brigade".

Hezbollah added that the attack “targeted the positions and deployments of Israeli officers and soldiers, hitting its targets accurately and causing confirmed casualties".

As of yet, there was no comment from Israel regarding Hezbollah’s statement.

Earlier in the day, Lebanon’s official news agency reported that an Israeli airstrike on the village of Rab El Thalathine killed one person and injured two others.

Fears have grown about a full-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah amid an exchange of almost daily attacks.

https://en.irna.ir/news/85549178/Hezbollah-targets-military-base-in-northern-Israel-with-drones

South Lebanon: Two Hezbollah Fighters Killed in Israeli Airstrike - This is Beirut

 Border clashes between Hezbollah and Israel continued on Friday.

Israeli warplanes destroyed one house and damaged three others in an attack on the outskirts of Markaba, killing two Hezbollah fighters.  Both had apparently succumbed to wounds they had sustained.

The pro-Iranian group first announced the death of one combatant, identified as Abbas Hammoud, code-named “Amir”, from Markaba. It later said another combatant, Fadel Noureddine, was also killed in the raid.

Earlier, Hezbollah reported targeting the technical system of the Israeli Ramya site with a guided missile, resulting in its destruction. It also claimed responsibility for an attack on Israeli soldiers moving through the Hadab Yaroun site in the morning.

Hezbollah’s air defense units had previously fired anti-aircraft missiles at Israeli fighter jets flying over southern Lebanon. The planes had to “withdraw from Lebanese airspace,” according to a statement issued by the group on Thursday night.

Then, shortly after midnight, Israeli military aircraft attacked the outskirts of Aita al-Shaab, targeting an uninhabited house, before targeting the village with two missiles. Israeli MK spy planes also carried out reconnaissance flights over the Hasbaya caza, including Mount Hermon, and overflew the Beqaa Valley and the Iqlim al-Tuffah region.

https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/lebanon/275636

Hezbollah “Forces an Israeli Plane to Retreat”: Khaled Hamade Clarifies - This is Beirut

Hezbollah’s air defense units “fired an anti-aircraft missile” at Israeli warplanes flying over south Lebanon”, forcing them “to retreat from the Lebanese airspace”, according to a communiqué published by Hezbollah on the night of Thursday to Friday. Is it a game changer or an incident that can be exploited politically by Hezbollah?

Contacted by This Is Beirut, retired army general and general director of Regional Forum Consultancy and Studies (RFSC), Khaled Hamade, believes that “a simple communiqué would not be enough to substantiate Hezbollah’s declaration, given especially that the Americans and Israelis mentioned nothing about it.”

Hamade said. “We have no information on the type of missile used or its capacity when it comes to the defense of the Lebanese airspace.” In this same context, the retired general explained that “state-of-the-art missiles, which should normally be a threat to the Israeli air force, are part of a radar and electronic jamming system. Therefore, they cannot be easily concealed.”

https://thisisbeirut.com.lb/lebanon/275799

President al-Assad pays a work visit to Moscow, meets President Putin - SANA

Moscow, SANA- President Bashar al-Assad paid a work visit to Russia, during which he met with President Vladimir Putin and discussed with him all aspects of relations between the two countries, as well as the situation in the Middle East, the accelerated developments in it and aspects of joint coordination to deal with it.

President al-Assad considered that both Syria and Russia have faced difficult challenges and have always been able to overcome them, noting the mutual trust and credibility that underpin the relations of the two countries and peoples.

President Putin stressed that the situation is becoming increasingly tense in the Middle East and that the talks with President Assad are an opportunity to discuss all possible developments and scenarios.

https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=335104

Lebanon’s advertising industry mirrors the ups and downs of a stormy economy - L'Orient Today

The sector experienced a 74 percent drop in revenue between 2018 and 2023.

https://today.lorientlejour.com/article/1421372/lebanons-advertising-industry-mirrors-the-ups-and-downs-of-a-stormy-economy.html