Page 17 - Lebanon

Israel claims 'hostile aircraft' entered country from Lebanon, alarms north

The Israeli military said Wednesday night that hostile aircraft had entered the country from Lebanon, setting sirens blaring across northern Israel as it urged citizens there to shelter. The military did not specify the kind of aircraft. But Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Palestinian militants are known to have drones and gliders. The news came after Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position earlier Wednesday, claiming to have killed and wounded troops. The Israeli military confirmed the attack but did not comment on possible casualties. The Israeli army shelled the area in southern Lebanon where the attack was launched.

Israel carrying out strikes in Lebanon after anti-tank missile fire: IDF

The IDF said it would soon come out with more information on the attack. Earlier, IDF said an anti-tank missile was launched from Lebanon towards a military post near the community of Arab Al-Aramshe

Israel Defence Forces confirms 3 soldiers killed in Lebanon border attack

Five additional Israeli troops were wounded in the attack, according to the IDF

Energy consortium bids in Lebanon's licensing round for oil, gas blocks

The consortium last month began drilling an exploratory well in Lebanon's Block 9, one of the blocks falling alongside the newly delineated maritime border between Lebanon and Israel

Shots fired outside US embassy in Lebanon, no injuries reported: Nelson

An unknown gunman opened fire outside the US embassy in Beirut late Wednesday night. Embassy spokesperson Jake Nelson said in a statement that "small arms fire was reported in the vicinity of the entrance" of the sprawling and heavily fortified compound in the suburb of Awkar. "There were no injuries, and our facility is safe," he said. "We are in close contact with host country law enforcement authorities." Earlier this year marked the 40th anniversary of a deadly bombing attack on the US embassy in Beirut on April 18. US officials blame the attack, which killed 63 people, on the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Following that attack, the embassy was moved from central Beirut to the Christian suburb of Awkar, north of the capital. Another bomb attack struck the new location on September 20. 1984. In recent years, there have been no reported attacks on the embassy.

Kuwait bans Barbie movie, under fire in Lebanon for promoting homosexuality

Interestingly, 'Barbie' and director Greta made history the past weekend, flying past over $1 bn in worldwide box office gross, becoming the first movie directed solely by a woman to do so

Food inflation still high worldwide; Venezuela, Lebanon worst hit

In real terms, food price inflation exceeded overall inflation in 79.8% from 163 countries where data are available, the World Bank said in its latest food security update

Israel attacks Syria; Syrian air defence missile explodes over north Israel

Israel carried out airstrikes on areas near the central Syrian city of Homs early Sunday causing material damage but no casualties, the Syrian military said in a statement. Syrian state media quoted an unnamed military official as saying the air defences shot down some of the missiles fired by Israeli warplanes flying over neighbouring Lebanon. Israeli authorities did not comment on the airstrike on Homs but said one of the Syrian air defence missiles exploded over northern Israel without causing any damage. Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee later said that Israel's military retaliated for the firing of the air defense missile that exploded over the country's north by attacking Syrian air defence batteries from where the missile was fired. The warplanes also attacked other targets in the area, Adraee tweeted without elaborating. Israel, which has vowed to stop Iranian entrenchment next door, has carried out hundreds of strikes on targets in government-controlled parts of ...

SAFF Championship: Lebanon crush Bhutan, move closer to the semi-finals

Lebanon moved closer to the semifinals of the SAFF Championship with a commanding 4-1 victory over Bhutan at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Saturday. Lebanon came to the match as the favourites and they underscored that status with chilling authority, slamming in four goals in the first half itself. With six points and a match to go against Maldives on June 28, Lebanon are on top of Group B and that much nearer to a last-four berth. Bangladesh and Maldives have three points apiece and they are also in the race to enter the semifinals. With two defeats from as many matches Bhutan are out of contention. On a night when the skies opened up with vengeance, Lebanon went ahead as early as in the 11th minute through Mohamad Sadek. Ali Al Haj swelled the scoreline to 2-0 in the 23rd minute, beating a diving Bhutan goalkeeper T Dendup with a sweet first-touch shot from inside the box. Lebanon seemed to have perfectly understood the group equations as they pressed on for more goals and

Chhetri, Chhangte help India beat Lebanon 2-0 to win Intercontinental Cup

India sealed the Intercontinental Cup 2023 after overpowering Lebanon 2-0 in the final at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sunday

Israeli troops fire tear gas to disperse protesters along Lebanon border

Israeli soldiers fired tear gas to disperse scores of protesters who pelted the troops with stones along the border with Lebanon Friday, leaving some Lebanese demonstrators and troops suffering breathing problems. The tension on the edge of the Lebanese border village of Kfar Chouba began earlier this week over the Israeli military digging in the area that Lebanon claims. On Wednesday, a Lebanese villager tried to stop an Israeli bulldozer from digging a trench along the border. Once the villager's legs were covered with sand as the bulldozer moved ahead, U.N. peacekeepers jumped in and convinced the driver to move back. Videos of the elderly man with his legs stuck in the sand dune went viral on social media. Israel ended an 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon when its troops withdrew from the area in May 2000. Friday's protest took place on the edge of Kfar Chouba hills, which Beirut says is Lebanese land occupied by Israel. Kfar Chouba hills and the nearby Chebaa Farms, ar

World Bank approves $300 million financing to help the poor in Lebanon

The World Bank approved a USD 300 million additional financing to Lebanon's poor, providing cash payments to help families struggling through the country's historic economic meltdown, institution said in a statement Friday. The new financing comes two years after the World Bank approved a USD 246 million loan to Lebanon to provide emergency cash assistance to hundreds of thousands in the tiny Mediterranean nation of 6 million people. Lebanon is in the throes of the worst economic and financial crisis in its modern history. The meltdown, rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement by Lebanon's ruling class, began in October 2019 and has left more than three quarters of Lebanon's population in poverty. The additional financing will enable the Government of Lebanon to continue to respond to the growing needs of poor and vulnerable households suffering under the severe economic and financial crisis, said Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Middle East Country Director. The World B

Lebanon's booming dollar cash economy hinders economic recovery: World Bank

Crisis-hit Lebanon's economic recovery is hampered by a growing dollarised cash economy, which is predicted to be $9.9 billion in 2022, or almost half size of country's economy, the World Bank said

34 rockets fired into Israel from Lebanon, most sustained attack since 2006

At least 34 rockets were fired into northern Israel from Lebanon, of which 25 were successfully intercepted, according to the latest information from the Israeli army

Without reforms, the country could see hyperinflation: IMF warns Lebanon

The International Monetary Fund gave a grim assessment on Thursday of Lebanon's prospects for getting out of its deepening financial crisis, saying that without reforms, the country is headed for hyperinflation. Since late 2019, tiny Lebanon has fallen into the worst economic crisis in its modern history, rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement by a political class that has ruled the country since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. Three-quarters of Lebanon's population of over 6 million, including a million Syrian refugees, now lives in poverty and inflation is soaring. Ernesto Ramirez Rigo, the head of the IMF mission visiting Lebanon, said at a news conference on Thursday that continued inaction by Lebanese leaders would leave the nation in a never-ending crisis in which it could spiral into hyperinflation, affecting the quality of life of many Lebanese for years to come. The IMF visit came as progress towards finalizing a sorely needed IMF bailout package for the ...

UN peacekeeping forces report no Blue Line crossing amid Israeli claim

The Blue Line is a 120-kilometre line drawn by the United Nations between Lebanon and Israel in 2000 to verify the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon

World Bank pledges $500mn to support Lebanon's agri, vulnerable population

The World Bank announced that it will allocate about $300 million this year to provide social protection to Lebanon's vulnerable population and invest $200 million in the country's agriculture sector.

World Bank grants $8.86 mn to improve Lebanon's solid waste management

The aid will be financed by the Global Environment Facility, a multilateral funder of green endeavours in developing countries which comprises UN affiliates and national entities

Lebanese PM calls on UN to help secure safe return of Syrian refugees

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the UN should help authorities in his country to secure a safe return for Syrian refugees to their homeland

European Union assists Lebanon's armed forces with 6 million euros

The statement added that the assistance measure will finance healthcare equipment to support military medical services and personal gear