Israeli airstrike cuts off road linking Lebanon, Syria

Lebanon said an Israeli air strike on the Syrian border on Friday cut off the main international road linking the two countries.

Coastal Lebanon shares a border with Israel, with which Hezbollah is at war, and Syria, where tens of thousands of people have taken refuge from the violence engulfing the country.

Israel has said Hezbollah uses the road to bring weapons across the border from Syria, with which it is allied.

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“The road that leads to the main humanitarian crossing for thousands of Lebanese into Syria is now cut off after an Israeli strike,” Transport Minister Ali Hamieh told AFP.

The official National News Agency also reported the strike, saying that “enemy warplanes hit the Masnaa area”, as the crossing is known, “cutting off the road”.

Israeli airstrike cuts off road linking Lebanon, Syria

Hunger protests: Russia accuses US, UK of ruining its relations with Nigeria

The Russian government says the western countries are trying to destroy its relationship with Nigeria by linking the country with the recent hungry protests.

This is contained in a letter from the Russian government to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs obtained on Friday.

Yury Paramonov, official Press Secretary of the Russian embassy in Nigeria, released the document.

Recall that during the August 1-10 nationwide protests, some protesters were seen waving Russian flag and chanting slogans, while others held placards with various messages during the protest.

Russia, a global power, was also accused of involvement in political upheavals in several West African countries, including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

This has sparked concerns about external interference in regional affairs.

But Russia claimed that the United States, Britain and Ukraine were linking it with the protests to destroy the cordial relationship between it and Nigeria, advising the Federal Government to ignore the claims.

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The letter read in part, “In particular, statements by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, former Director of the British Council in Nigeria David Roberts, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Nigeria Ivan Kholostenko have shamelessly and baselessly suggested that the use of Russian flags during recent protests is evidence of Russia’s interference and have further warned that this could happen again in the future.”

“The Embassy categorically rejects such accusations and reiterates that the Russian Federation neither had any involvement in the protests that occurred in the recent past, nor does it have any connection to any potential future demonstrations or unrest.

“Russia has always respected the sovereignty of Nigeria. We strictly adhere to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of independent states.

“By contrast, the coordinated media campaign by Western and Ukrainian officials and outlets clearly points to their attempts to meddle in Nigeria’s internal affairs and shift the blame for any consequences onto the Russian Federation.

“We greatly value the level of relations between our two countries, support only peaceful dialogue within the legal framework as the proper means to resolve any internal disputes, and once again express our unwavering support for the leadership and the people of Nigeria.”

Yuri said the Embassy had conveyed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of Nigeria’s National Day.

“The Embassy also extends its best wishes to the people and Government of Nigeria for prosperity and stability, and we hope for continued cooperation and deepening relations between our two countries,” he said.

Hunger protests: Russia accuses US, UK of ruining its relations with Nigeria

Haiti gang attack leaves at least 20 dead

At least 20 people including children have been killed after an armed gang attacked a small town in Haiti.

Another 50 were wounded as Gran Grif gang members rampaged through Pont-Sondé in the central Artibonite region about 71km (44 miles) north-west of the capital Port-au-Prince.

Video footage shows groups of people fleeing the violence on motorbikes and on foot. A government prosecutor described the attack as “a massacre”, reported the Associated Press.

Armed gangs have taken control of large parts of Haiti and a UN-backed policing mission, led by officers from Kenya, began in June in an attempt to wrestle back control.

The exact number of dead from the attack is not clear – local media reported that more than 50 had been killed, while a Haitian human rights group put the figure at 20 or more, AP said.

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Gran Grif is said to be one of the most violent of Haiti’s gangs. In January 2023 its members were accused of attacking a police station near Port-Sondé and killing six officers. It is also blamed for forcing the closure of a hospital serving more than 700,000 people.

The gang has about 100 members and has been accused of crimes including murder, rape, robberies and kidnappings, according to a UN report cited by AP. Both its founder and current leader are subject to US sanctions.

Thursday’s gang rampage comes almost a month after the Haitian authorities expanded a state of emergency to cover the whole of the country.

Prime Minister Garry Conille has vowed to crack down on the gangs, with the UN saying a “robust use of force” is needed.

It has approved the policing mission made up of 2,500 officers from various countries – including 1,000 pledged by Kenya.

Their deployment has been authorised for one year, with a review to be held after nine months.

Haiti gang attack leaves at least 20 dead