International

Israel shells Beirut, Hezbollah hits Haifa, ignoring peace talks

Published

1 year ago

October 9, 2024

Israel shells Beirut, Hezbollah hits Haifa, ignoring peace talks

BEIRUT: The sounds of Israeli missiles raining down on the southern suburbs of Beirut and Hezbollah missiles striking the city of Haifa and its surroundings overshadowed all political calls for an end to the war on Tuesday.

This conflict, now entering its second year, has resulted in over 2,000 casualties, thousands of injuries, the destruction of approximately 50,000 houses, and the displacement of more than 1 million Lebanese from their villages in the south and Bekaa Valley, as well as from the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The Israeli military expanded its ongoing aerial surveillance of Beirut’s airport and its monitoring of land crossings with Syria to include maritime oversight.

This development follows a recent warning issued by Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee, advising “vacationers and individuals present on the beach, as well as those using boats for fishing or other purposes from the Al-Wali River line toward the far south, to refrain from being in the sea or on the shore from this point forward until further notice.”

He announced that the Israeli military “will soon take action in the maritime area against Hezbollah activities.”

Israeli warships have aggressively engaged in attacks on coastal towns in the southern region, particularly targeting the town of Naqoura, which serves as the headquarters for forces of the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon, UNIFIL.

The Israeli army announced in the morning “the elimination of Suhail Hussein Husseini, the head of the Hezbollah command structure, in an airstrike that targeted him in the southern suburbs of Beirut.”

Adraee said: “Husseini was targeted in a precisely executed airstrike in Beirut. The unit he leads is a logistical unit focused on the manufacturing of precision-guided missiles, as well as the storage and transportation of combat resources within Lebanon.”

In the morning, the Israeli army announced the commencement of “limited ground operations against Hezbollah in the western sector of southern Lebanon.”

Field reports indicated an Israeli attempt to penetrate the Lebanese border town of Maroun Al-Ras.

The Israeli army announced that “30 soldiers were killed in the last 24 hours on the northern border with Lebanon.”

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UNIFIL forces disclosed that they rejected repeated requests from the Israeli side to vacate their positions in the area of their deployment along the border, insisting on the continuation of their operations in accordance with Resolution 1701.

They reported on “activities conducted by the Israeli army near the mission site 6 – 52, southeast of Maroun Al-Ras in the western sector within Lebanese territory,” expressing “serious concern.”

They described the events as “extremely serious developments” and said “it is unacceptable to jeopardize the safety of peacekeeping forces while they are carrying out their mandated tasks from the Security Council.”

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and head of UNIFIL Gen. Aroldo Lazaro said in a statement: “It has been a year since our repeated calls for restraint, the protection of civilians, adherence to international humanitarian law, a return to ceasefire, and engagement in a political process based on the implementation of Resolution 1701 have been disregarded.”

The two UN officials said that “the escalation of violence and destruction will not resolve the fundamental issues nor provide long-term security for any party.”

They emphasized that “a negotiated solution is the only path to restoring the security and stability that civilians on both sides of the Blue Line deserve. It is time to take action in this direction.”

Sheikh Naeem Qassem, deputy secretary-general of Hezbollah, meanwhile, addressed his supporters through a pre-recorded message broadcast on television. He urged the party’s supporters to remain steadfast and patient while assuring them that the resistance remains resilient. He also promised them “victory.”

Qassem said: “The resistance in the Gaza Strip is capable of persevering.”

He emphasized that Iran is “determined to support this resistance in whatever manner it deems appropriate. This struggle is not about Iran’s influence, but rather about assisting the Palestinians in liberating their land.”

Qassem warned that Hezbollah is capable of displacing “many times the number of settlers in northern Israel.”

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He said: “We will expand our strikes against the enemy within the range of our missiles, and we will target locations at a time of our choosing. There are numerous settlements within the reach of the resistance’s missiles.”

Qassem added said: “Before the ceasefire, any other discussion is irrelevant to us. The situation on the ground will dictate the outcome, and we are the ones who are directly involved; we will not plead for a solution.”

He spoke about filling all the vacancies in the party’s leadership after the assassinations that affected the front- and second-line leaders and field commanders and said the selection of a secretary-general to succeed Hassan Nasrallah “will be announced in due time following the organizational mechanisms.”

As soon as Qassem finished his speech, Israeli planes carried out violent airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburb, specifically in the vicinity of Haret Hreik-Rweiss.

Hezbollah announced shelling “the city of Haifa and Krayot with a large salvo of rockets.” The Israeli army reported “the launching of around 105 rockets from Lebanon toward the Haifa Bay in two waves.”

Israeli Channel 12 said that “12 individuals were injured,” and the shelling caused extensive material damage.

The Israeli army continues to prevent paramedics and Civil Defense personnel from rescuing the injured after each raid on the southern suburb.

On Tuesday, it shelled around the area where a group of Civil Defense members of the Ministry of Interior tried to enter the Haret Hreik area after the raids.

The Israeli airstrikes claimed more lives in the southern town of Adloun and the town of Khodr in the Baalbek-Hermel governorate.

Israeli planes carried out a strike targeting the main conveyor of the Litani River water toward the Qasimia irrigation project in the Arzay area, which draws more than 260,000 cubic meters of water daily to irrigate about 6,000 hectares of agricultural land along the southern coast.

At the same time, air bridges for relief supplies continued for the displaced. A Qatari plane loaded with medical, shelter and food aid arrived, led by Minister of State for International Cooperation Lulwa bint Rashid Al-Khater, who affirmed in a press conference “support for Lebanon, its sovereignty and its right to maintain its security and stability and the security of its citizens.”

Israel shells Beirut, Hezbollah hits Haifa, ignoring peace talks

Related Topics:Beirut Hezbollah Israel Peace

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International

Trump Halts Minnesota Immigration Crackdown After Fatal Shootings, Protests

Published

22 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Trends Admin

U.S President Donald Trump

Trump Halts Minnesota Immigration Crackdown After Fatal Shootings, Protests

The Trump administration has officially halted Operation Metro Surge, a controversial immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota, following widespread protests, political backlash, and the deaths of two U.S. citizens. The decision was announced by Tom Homan, the U.S. “border czar,” who confirmed that President Donald Trump approved ending the monthslong crackdown.

Operation Metro Surge, launched in December 2025, focused on the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area, deploying nearly 3,000 federal immigration officers at its peak. The operation aimed to detain undocumented immigrants, which the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described as targeting “criminal illegal aliens.” However, reports indicate that many detainees had no criminal records, including children and U.S. citizens, raising concerns about the operation’s scope and fairness.

The crackdown drew intense public opposition after anti-ICE protesters Renée Good and Alex Pretti were fatally shot during separate incidents in Minneapolis. The shootings intensified calls for accountability and prompted local and national criticism of federal enforcement tactics.

In a statement, Homan said, “I have proposed and President Trump has concurred that this surge operation conclude.” He noted that a drawdown of federal personnel had already begun, with a smaller contingent remaining temporarily to transition operations and coordinate with local authorities.

During the operation, DHS reported over 4,000 arrests, though critics highlighted the disproportionate impact on communities and families, emphasizing the humanitarian and civil liberties concerns arising from the surge.

Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, welcomed the decision, calling the operation an overreach that harmed communities and strained trust between law enforcement and residents. Civil rights groups also praised the halt but urged comprehensive immigration reforms to prevent future abuses.

The end of Operation Metro Surge marks a significant development in the national debate over immigration enforcement, sanctuary policies, and federal authority, highlighting the challenge of balancing border security with human rights and community safety.

Trump Halts Minnesota Immigration Crackdown After Fatal Shootings, Protests

International

Russia Escalates Digital Control with Attempted WhatsApp Block

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Russia Escalates Digital Control with Attempted WhatsApp Block

WhatsApp has accused the Russian government of trying to completely block its messaging service in the country, a move aimed at steering users toward the state-backed app MAX. The Meta-owned platform said the effort, reported on February 12, 2026, threatens over 100 million users and undermines private, encrypted communication in Russia.

In a statement, WhatsApp said: “Today the Russian government attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive people to a state-owned surveillance app. Trying to isolate over 100 million users from private and secure communication … can only lead to less safety for people in Russia. We continue to do everything we can to keep users connected.”

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The attempt is part of a broader crackdown on foreign tech platforms in Russia. Authorities have previously restricted access to Facebook, Instagram, and targeted other services like Telegram. Reports indicate that Roskomnadzor, Russia’s communications regulator, removed WhatsApp from its national internet directory, forcing users to rely on VPNs to access the platform. Critics warn that such measures are designed to expand state surveillance and control over digital communication.

The government is actively promoting MAX, a domestic “super-app” similar to China’s WeChat, which combines messaging with other services. Rights advocates caution that the push toward MAX could compromise privacy protections that platforms like WhatsApp provide. Meanwhile, Kremlin officials have indicated that WhatsApp and other restricted apps could be restored if Meta complies with local data storage and regulatory laws.

WhatsApp’s statement emphasizes that the company will continue to work to keep its service accessible where possible, but the attempted block highlights Russia’s ongoing effort to enforce digital sovereignty and shift users toward state-controlled technology platforms.

Russia Escalates Digital Control with Attempted WhatsApp Block

International

Tumbler Ridge Massacre: Canada Investigates Shooter’s Mental Health, Police History

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

Trends Admin

Tumbler Ridge Massacre: Canada Investigates Shooter’s Mental Health, Police History

Canadian authorities are intensifying investigations into the mental health history and prior police interactions of Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old who carried out a deadly mass shooting in the remote mining town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on February 10, 2026. The tragedy has left the small community in mourning and raised national questions about gun control, mental health support, and law enforcement interventions.

According to RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, authorities are still unclear on the motive behind the attack, which is one of the deadliest school shootings in Canadian history. Van Rootselaar, a transgender woman who had dropped out of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School four years ago, first killed her mother and stepbrother before opening fire at the school, where she shot six more victims. The shooter later took her own life at the scene.

Investigators have confirmed that Van Rootselaar was known to police and had previous interactions with the public health system due to mental health concerns. Authorities are reviewing prior incidents, including earlier firearms seizures and her lapsed gun licence, to understand how warning signs were addressed before the massacre. British Columbia Premier David Eby said officials are working with the health system to determine “what interactions may have taken place” in the past.

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The victims include a 39-year-old female teacher and five students aged 12 and 13, with one child, 12-year-old Maya Gebala, in critical condition after trying to lock herself and classmates in a library during the attack. First responders arrived within minutes, but the scale of the violence left the tight-knit community of about 2,700 residents reeling. Hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil to honour those killed and injured.

Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed parliament, describing Tumbler Ridge as a resilient, compassionate community of miners, teachers, and construction workers, and emphasised the need to learn from the tragedy. Flags across Canada have been lowered to half-staff for seven days in remembrance of the victims. Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla also expressed shock and sorrow over the massacre.

Schools in the area will remain closed for the remainder of the week as authorities continue their investigation into Van Rootselaar’s mental health background, police interactions, and access to firearms, seeking to understand how similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.