International

Lebanon calls for UN decision on ceasefire as Israeli strikes expand

Published

2 years ago

October 12, 2024

Lebanon calls for UN decision on ceasefire as Israeli strikes expand

BEIRUT: Lebanese Premier Najib Mikati said on Friday that the Israeli attacks on Lebanon are “completely unacceptable.”

After a Cabinet meeting, he said that the Foreign Ministry “will submit a request to the UN Security Council to take a decision for an immediate ceasefire and the implementation of Resolution 1701, which Lebanon adheres to and has reaffirmed in international forums.

“A diplomatic solution is on the table, and Hezbollah, as a partner in the government, agrees to implement Resolution 1701. Most importantly, an immediate ceasefire is necessary.”

The official Lebanese stance came after Israeli strikes expanded to include the capital, Beirut, and the UN peacekeeping mission UNIFIL in the south.

Lebanon’s military said two of its soldiers were killed and three others were wounded after an Israeli airstrike targeted a military post in Yatter, southern Lebanon.

By noon on Friday, the death toll rose to 2,198 since the beginning of confrontations, including women and children. The number of the injured reached 10,329.

Mikati said Lebanon has become “a victim of Israeli arrogance, which continues unchecked and violates our sovereignty before the eyes of the world, emboldened by the disturbing silence regarding its massacres.

“The Israeli attack on UNIFIL is a condemnable crime and a matter for the international community, whose sanctity is being violated.”

The observation tower in UNIFIL’s Naqoura headquarters was hit by a heavy airstrike on Friday, marking the second attack on the international forces within 24 hours. The new attack resulted in the injury of two Sri Lankan soldiers, one of them critically.

READ ALSO:

A UNIFIL source told Arab News: “The Israeli attacks covered military sites of UNIFIL units during their incursion attempts into Lebanese territory. They entered a Nepalese force’s site in the border town of Blida and smashed cameras and lighting equipment. They also broke into the site of the Irish (force) … in the town of Maroun Al-Ras and destroyed its assets and broke into the site of the Ghanaian force in the town of Yaroun and committed the same aggression.

“In the 2006 war, UNIFIL were not subjected to this type of aggression, as they retreated to their barracks and remained there. The number of those forces at that time did not exceed 3,500 peacekeepers, but today, the situation is different, as the UNIFIL include 10,500 soldiers, and their deployment is wider as they have more sites in the border area.”

UNIFIL recently received threats to retreat from their positions to a depth of 5 km. However, the source said that this retreat would still be subject to new threats and that the UNIFIL commander cannot make such a decision, which is entrusted to the UN Security Council.

According to the source, “at the moment, UNIFIL has stopped all their patrols in the south and remained in barracks and did not use their right to self-defense mentioned in Resolution 1701. Their centers in the areas of deployment are facing shortages of food supplies, with reserves expected to last between one and two weeks, depending on the location.”

In this context, Reuters quoted two sources familiar with Hezbollah operations as saying that “Hezbollah is preparing for a long war of attrition in south Lebanon. It still has a considerable stockpile of weapons, including its most powerful precision missiles, which it has yet to use. Hezbollah’s command was disrupted for the first few days after Nasrallah’s Sept. 27 assassination until it established a new ‘operations room’ 72 hours later.”

Hezbollah later denied the report, calling it “pure fiction.”

Israeli army spokesperson, Capt. Ella Waweya, published a video of Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi wandering around Lebanon’s southern border region.

In the video, Halevi said: “We will not stop until we ensure that we can safely return the residents. If anyone considers rebuilding new terrorist infrastructure, the Israeli army will destroy it again.”

A video was shared of Israeli army spokesperson Daniel Hagari in the southern village of Blida, displaying military belongings and ammunition allegedly “inside the homes of the southerners, for the purpose of breaking into the border.”

READ ALSO:

Rescue teams continued to remove rubble in Noueiri and Basta in Beirut, as the Israeli raids on Thursday destroyed two residential buildings, killing 22 civilians and injuring 117.

Reports said the head of Hezbollah’s security apparatus Wafiq Safa, who was targeted by the raids on Beirut, was in a hospital in the capital.

There is conflicting information on whether Safa sustained a critical injury or was killed following the attack.

Following the difficult night that Beirut witnessed, reconnaissance planes hovered over Lebanon around the clock.

Israel raided about 30 villages in the south, destroying a building in Jebchit and killing four people.

Three people were also killed as a result of an Israeli raid on Arzoun, Tyre.

Moreover, an Israeli drone raided the Civil Defense center in Tayr Debba.

Israeli raids mainly targeted Bekaa, specifically Bodai in west Baalbek, Al-Keiyal in Baalbek, Khodor, Douris, the Nabi Chit valley, the Saraaine Al-Tahta valley, and the border village of Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali between Hermel and Syria.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, carried out a series of military operations against the Israeli army.

According to its statements, the militant group targeted “a gathering of soldiers in the Yiftah settlement and its surroundings, technical equipment in the Al-Abbad site with a guided missile, and a gathering of soldiers in the Kfar Szold settlement.”

It also targeted “a gathering of soldiers in the Yaara settlement” and carried out “an aerial attack with a fleet of attack drones against the air force command base in Kiryat Eliezer in Haifa.”

Israeli media outlets reported that “a building in the industrial zone of Kiryat Bialik in the Haifa district was directly hit by missiles launched from Lebanon,” adding that “an anti-armor missile injured two people in Yir’on in the upper Galilee.”

They estimated that “about 30 missiles have been launched from southern Lebanon toward the Galilee since the morning.”

The Israeli army stated in the afternoon that “Hezbollah launched 65 rockets from Lebanon toward Israel,” adding that “sirens sounded in Shomera in the Galilee.”

Lebanon calls for UN decision on ceasefire as Israeli strikes expand

Related Topics:Israeli strikes Lebanon UN

Up Next

US to Israel: Stop shooting at UN peacekeepers in Lebanon

Don't Miss

28 killed in Israeli strike on Gaza school

International

Trump Rules Out Ceasefire Extension With Iran

Published

10 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump

Trump Rules Out Ceasefire Extension With Iran

US President Donald Trump has ruled out extending the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran beyond its current deadline, warning that failure in ongoing negotiations could lead to renewed military confrontation.

Speaking in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box, Trump said he was not in favour of prolonging the truce, stressing that both sides must move quickly to reach a binding agreement.

“I don’t want to do that. We don’t have that much time,” he said, indicating that the situation remains time-sensitive as diplomatic talks continue under pressure.

The ceasefire, which is expected to expire on Wednesday evening, has temporarily eased tensions between Washington and Tehran, allowing both sides to regroup following weeks of heightened conflict and military escalation concerns.

READ ALSO:

Trump noted that both countries had used the pause to “restock,” describing the truce as fragile and warning that it could collapse if negotiations fail to produce results.

He further suggested that the breakdown of talks could trigger a return to military operations, stating that he “expects bombing” to resume if diplomacy fails. According to him, the U.S. military remains fully prepared for any required action.

“I expect to be bombing because I think that’s a better attitude to go in with,” he said, defending a strong negotiating posture.

The president also reiterated earlier warnings about targeting Iranian infrastructure, including strategic facilities such as transport routes and power installations, arguing that such measures would weaken Iran’s military logistics and operational capacity.

Despite his hardline position, Trump acknowledged that Iran’s population is “incredible,” while describing its leadership as resistant to compromise. He insisted that a negotiated deal could still allow Iran to “become a strong nation again” if it agrees to terms acceptable to Washington.

The comments come as senior U.S. officials prepare for further diplomatic engagements, with Vice President JD Vance expected to participate in upcoming discussions aimed at extending the ceasefire and reducing tensions in the region.

Trump also criticised Iran’s internal handling of unrest, referencing reports of violent crackdowns on protests, which he said further complicate efforts toward lasting peace.

The latest remarks highlight continued uncertainty surrounding the U.S.–Iran ceasefire negotiations, with global observers closely watching whether diplomacy or renewed conflict will define the next phase of relations between both countries.

Trump Rules Out Ceasefire Extension With Iran

International

Man Gets Three Life Sentences for Killing Couple, Drowning Their 1-Year-Old Son in US

Published

10 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Jose Luis Rodriguez and the victims

Man Gets Three Life Sentences for Killing Couple, Drowning Their 1-Year-Old Son in US

A man in the United States has been sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison after pleading guilty to the brutal killing of a couple and their 1-year-old son in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The convict, identified as Jose Luis Rodriguez, admitted to three counts of first-degree murder, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said the case began on September 13, 2025, when 31-year-old Junior Cabrera-Colon was found shot dead. Days later, authorities discovered that his wife, Geraldina Peguero-Mancebo, and their infant son, Jeyden Peguero, were missing, triggering a wider investigation.

READ ALSO:

A week after the discovery of Cabrera-Colon’s body, police located the bodies of the missing mother and child in a wooded area. Prosecutors revealed that the toddler was found “partially submerged in a marshy area,” a detail that shocked investigators and the local community.

During court proceedings, prosecutors said Rodriguez confessed to killing all three victims. He allegedly picked up Peguero-Mancebo and her son, shot the woman, drowned the child, and later killed Cabrera-Colon.

The prosecution described the killings as premeditated and deliberate, stating that each act was carried out with intent and malice.

According to court records and reports by local media, Rodriguez claimed he had a personal relationship with Peguero-Mancebo and referenced financial disputes as a possible motive behind the killings.

The sentencing judge handed down three consecutive life sentences without parole, effectively ensuring Rodriguez will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Family members of the victims described the outcome as painful but necessary for closure, with relatives expressing gratitude that the case has reached a conclusion after months of emotional distress.

The case has drawn widespread attention in Pennsylvania due to its violent nature and the involvement of a young child, with prosecutors calling it one of the most disturbing family-related homicide cases in the region in recent years.

Man Gets Three Life Sentences for Killing Couple, Drowning Their 1-Year-Old Son in US

International

US Singer D4vd Faces Murder Charges Over Teen’s Death in Los Angeles

Published

18 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Trends Admin

American singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke

US Singer D4vd Faces Murder Charges Over Teen’s Death in Los Angeles

American singer D4vd, born David Anthony Burke, has been charged in connection with the killing of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, in a case that prosecutors have described as one of the most serious and disturbing in recent years.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, led by District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman, confirmed that the 21-year-old faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, continuous sexual abuse of a minor, and mutilation of human remains.

According to investigators, the teenager was last seen on April 23, 2025, after visiting Burke at his residence in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles. She was reported missing shortly after she failed to return home.

Months later, on September 8, 2025, authorities made a gruesome discovery when her decomposed and dismembered remains were found inside the front trunk of a Tesla vehicle linked to the singer. Police reportedly traced the vehicle after receiving complaints about a strong odour, leading to the recovery of body parts stored in a cadaver bag.

Prosecutors say the case includes several special circumstance allegations, such as murder of a witness, murder for financial gain, and lying in wait. They also allege that Burke used a sharp instrument to carry out the killing.

READ ALSO:

“This is a parent’s nightmare,” Hochman said during a press briefing, describing the case as “brutal and horrific.” He added that the charges represent the most severe offences his office can prosecute.

Jim McDonnell, chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, stated that authorities remain committed to ensuring justice for the victim and her family.

Burke was arrested on April 16, 2026, and is currently being held without bail. He is expected to be arraigned at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center.

If convicted, he faces either the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole, although prosecutors have yet to decide whether capital punishment will be pursued.

The singer’s legal team, led by Blair Berk, alongside Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter, has denied all allegations. In a statement, they said evidence will show that Burke “did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez and was not the cause of her death.”

The case has already had major consequences for Burke’s career. He cancelled his planned “D4VD Withered” world tour and was dropped from brand partnerships with Hollister Co. and Crocs.

D4vd rose to prominence in 2022 with his hit Here With Me and later released Romantic Homicide, a track whose title he previously described as metaphorical rather than literal.

The case remains ongoing, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.