By The Independent (World News) | Created at 2024-09-30 15:40:18 | Updated at 2024-09-30 23:41:31
8 hours ago
Hezbollah claims attack using 'Nour Missile' for first time
Hezbollah on Monday said in a statement it had attacked Israel using a "Nour Missile", which sources familiar with Hezbollah say is a ballistic missile.
Tara Cobham30 September 2024 16:34
French foreign minister again urges Israel not to invade Lebanon
French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot again urged Israel on Monday not to undertake any ground invasion of Lebanon, adding France will step up its support for the Lebanese army.
"I (...) urge Israel to refrain from any ground incursion and to cease fire. I call on Hezbollah to do the same and to refrain from any action likely to lead to regional destabilisation," Barrot told reporters while visiting Lebanon.
Israel has hit Lebanon with a two-week wave of attacks, eliminating Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and several commanders but also killing around 1,000 Lebanese and forcing 1 million to flee their homes. Hezbollah has pledged to confront any Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon.
Tara Cobham30 September 2024 16:30
India's Modi speaks to Israel's Netanyahu as Middle East conflict escalates
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that he had spoken to his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu about recent developments in West Asia and highlighted the need for de-escalation.
"It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages," Modi posted on X.
Tara Cobham30 September 2024 16:11
US to announce over £251 million in aid for Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank
The United States on Monday will announce nearly $336 million (£251 million) in additional humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, according to a US Agency for International Development statement seen by Reuters.
The funding, first reported by Reuters, will enable USAID’s partners to continue to provide humanitarian aid, including food assistance, healthcare, nutrition and other services, according to the statement.
The funding will also support emergency shelter assistance to displaced Gazans ahead of winter, the statement said.
“Over the last year, this conflict has cost the lives of innocent Palestinians and Israelis and has left Gaza and the West Bank in a state of humanitarian crisis and dire humanitarian need,” the statement said.
“The United States continues to call on all parties to agree to a ceasefire deal and an immediate release of hostages, and to allow for the immediate scale-up of humanitarian aid moving into and throughout Gaza.”
The war began last 7 October when Hamas gunmen stormed Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.
Since then, Israel‘s military has leveled swaths of the besieged Palestinian enclave, driving nearly all of its 2.3 million people from their homes, giving rise to deadly hunger and disease and killing more than 41,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Tom Watling30 September 2024 16:01
It’s a ‘very difficult time’ for US Jews as High Holy Days and 7 October anniversary coincide
Tom Watling30 September 2024 15:46
Pictured: Smoke rises above Lebanese town after shelling
Tom Watling30 September 2024 15:29
Mapped: Where has Israel fired missiles around the Middle East?
Tom Watling30 September 2024 15:13
Israel-Hezbollah conflict: Why is Lebanon being attacked?
Tom Watling30 September 2024 14:52
Lebanese soldier killed in an Israeli drone strike on southern Lebanon, army says
A Lebanese soldier was killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting a motor-bike while passing through an army check point in southern Lebanon’s Wazzani area, the country’s army said on Monday.
Tom Watling30 September 2024 14:37
Our travel correspondent Simon Calder answers your questions on evacuating Lebanon
Could an airlift be organised by the UK?
In theory, although the UK government has not raised that possibility. But it is possible that evacuation aircraft may be sent in by the UK as other countries have done.
Germany has sent an Airbus A321 to repatriate citizens to Berlin, while the Bulgarian government has dispatched a smaller A319 jet for an emergency flight from Beirut to Sofia. Jordan’s government sent a military transport plane.
"Were the UK to launch such an operation, it would most likely be a shuttle between Larnaca in Cyprus and Beirut. The two airports are only 129 miles apart, representing a total flight time of around half-an-hour.
"It is possible one of the government jets could be used, or instead a military transport airport deployed."
Can people leave by land or sea?
The FCDO “advises against leaving Lebanon through land border crossings”.
The border with Israel is closed. The border with Syria is open, but the Foreign Office advises “against all travel to Syria due to the ongoing conflict and unpredictable security conditions”.
Some travellers may decide to risk the journey to Damascus, because the airport in the Syrian capital is running normally – with flights to Kuwait City, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah (adjoining Dubai) probably the best bet, due to easier connections to the UK.
But some British nationals are travelling to the northern border of Lebanon, taking a taxi for around 100 miles through Syria to Turkey and flying back from Antakya airport via Istanbul.
The obvious destination for the evacuation by sea of British citizens would be Cyprus.
At their closest the two countries are 100 miles apart. But the distance from the key port of Tripoli in Lebanon and Limassol in Cyprus is about 160 miles, representing typically seven hours’ sailing.
Ferries formerly ran between Tripoli and the Turkish port of Mersin, but no longer operate.
Simon Calder30 September 2024 14:25
