israel

FAO Assesses Damage to Lebanon’s Agricultural Sector

Lebanon’s Caretaker Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan met on Monday with a delegation from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), led by Ambassador Veronica Quattrola. The meeting focused on key issues concerning Lebanon’s agricultural sector, especially assessing the damage caused by Israeli bombings on agricultural ...

Iran Says Hopes Trump Will Take 'realistic' Approach to Region

Iran said Monday it hoped the incoming US administration under Donald Trump would adopt a "realistic" approach and show "respect" for the interests of countries in the region. Trump will be sworn in for a second term as US president on Monday. "We hope that the approaches and policies of the (new) US government will be realistic and based on ...

Tensions and Military Deployment in South Lebanon Ahead of Ceasefire Expiry

Search and rescue teams from the Lebanese Civil Defense recovered five bodies on Monday in the town of Khiam, the General Directorate of Civil Defense announced in a statement. Four bodies were found in the Jalahiya neighborhood, while another was recovered in the eastern neighborhood of al-Faour. The remains have been transferred to Marjayoun ...

Cyprus tourist arrivals topped four million in 2024

Cyprus tourist arrivals exceeded four million for the first time last year despite devastating wars in the nearby Middle East, official figures showed on Friday. Tourism Minister Costas Koumis called the figures a "historic achievement" with income expected to exceed three billion euros for the first time. But he warned that the island, which ...

Israeli Hostages, Palestinian Detainees Freed on first Gaza Truce Exchange

Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners on Monday after Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages, completing the first exchange under a long-awaited truce aimed at ending more than 15 months of war in Gaza. The three hostages released Sunday, all women, were reunited with their families and taken to hospital in central Israel where a doctor said ...

US Calls Houthi Claim of New Attacks ‘Disinformation'

The United States military on Sunday dismissed claims by Houthis that they had attacked an American aircraft carrier, saying Washington would not engage in the Iran-backed group' "disinformation campaign." The denial from US Central Command (CENTCOM) came after the Houthis said they had carried out the attack earlier Sunday and ...

UN Races to Feed One Million Gazans After Truce

The UN's World Food Programme said Sunday it was moving full throttle to get food to as many Gazans as possible after border crossings reopened as part of a long-awaited ceasefire deal. "We're trying to reach a million people within the shortest possible time," the WFP's Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau told AFP, as the Rome-based UN agency's ...

Gaza: Saar Warns About Regional Instability, Ben Gvir Leaves Coalition

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar warned on Sunday that the Middle East would remain unstable if the Palestinian militant group Hamas remained in power in the Gaza Strip. "If (Hamas) stays in power, the regional instability it causes might continue," Saar said at a press conference. Speaking as a ceasefire went into effect in Gaza, ...

Lebanese Army Deploys in Bint Jbeil as Israeli Violations of Ceasefire Continue

The Lebanese Army began deploying in the city of Bint Jbeil on Sunday, stationing at roads to prevent travel to towns still occupied by the Israeli army, namely Yaroun, Maroun al-Ras, and Aitaroun. Motorized reinforcements were sent to Bint Jbeil as part of the army’s redeployment plan in the border area.   Meanwhile, Israeli ...

Israel Recovers Body of Soldier Held in Gaza Since 2014

Israel announced on Sunday that it had recovered, during a “special operation” in Gaza, the remains of an Israeli soldier killed in action in 2014 and held by Hamas ever since. “During the night (of Saturday to Sunday), in a special operation by the Shin Bet (Israel's internal security agency) and the army (...) we brought the body of ...

Gaza Truce Takes Effect with Nearly a Three-Hour Delay

After 15 months of war in the Gaza Strip, Israel announced on Sunday the implementation of a ceasefire with Hamas, delayed by nearly three hours due to Hamas publishing the names of hostages scheduled for release that day. The Qatari mediator also confirmed on Sunday the enforcement of the ceasefire in Gaza, noting that the names of the three ...