July 29, 2024 11:09 AM

Israel cabinet authorizes government to respond to Hezbollah rocket strike

Israel's security cabinet on Sunday authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to decide on the "manner and timing" of a response to a rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 teenagers and children, and which Israel and the United States blamed on Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. Hezbollah denied responsibility for the attack on Majdal Shams on Saturday, the deadliest in Israel or Israeli-annexed territory since Palestinian militant group Hamas'...

July 28, 2024 5:55 PM

Is the Hezbollah-Israel conflict about to spiral?

A deadly rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has added to concerns that Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah could be sucked into a full-scale war - something they have both previously indicated they want to avoid but for which they have also said they are ready. Israel said on Sunday it would strike hard at Hezbollah after accusing the group of killing 12 children and teenagers in a rocket attack on a football field in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Hezbolla...

July 25, 2024 10:36 PM

Salman Rushdie’s alleged attacker faces federal terrorism charges

The man accused of attempting to kill author Salman Rushdie in New York two years ago now faces federal terrorism charges for his alleged support for Hezbollah, according to an indictment unsealed on Wednesday. The grand-jury indictment charges Hadi Matar, the New Jersey man already facing state charges of attempted murder and assault for a 2022 knife attack on Rushdie, with three terror charges, including carrying out an act of terrorism and providing material support to Hezbollah, a U.S.-desi...

July 9, 2024 9:21 PM

Israeli strike in Syria kills ex-bodyguard of Hezbollah leader, group says

An Israeli strike hit a vehicle in Syrian territory on the Damascus-Beirut highway, killing one of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's former bodyguards, who security sources said was lately involved in transporting weapons for the group. Hezbollah issued a statement mourning Yasser Nimr Qarnabsh without elaborating on his role in the organisation. Two security sources said the former bodyguard had become a mid-ranking Hezbollah official involved in the transport of weapons. Israel typi...

June 18, 2024 10:01 AM

Netanyahu disbands war cabinet as pressure grows on Israel’s northern border

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved the six-member war cabinet, an Israeli official said on Monday, in a widely expected move following the departure from government of centrist former general Benny Gantz. Netanyahu is now expected to hold consultations about the Gaza war with a small group of ministers, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer who had been in the war cabinet. The move was announced as U.S. special envoy Amos Hochs...

June 12, 2024 4:07 PM

Hezbollah fires big rocket salvos at Israel after senior commander killed

Lebanon's Hezbollah fired big barrages of rockets at Israel on Wednesday in retaliation for an Israeli strike which killed a senior Hezbollah field commander, sharply escalating tensions in the conflict across the Lebanese-Israeli border. The Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire since the eruption of the Gaza war in October, in steadily intensifying hostilities that have fuelled concern of a bigger confrontation between the heavily armed adversaries. The Israeli strike in so...

May 30, 2024 4:33 PM

Israeli Defence Minister Gallant lists Hezbollah terror commanders killed by Israeli forces

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has delivered a stern warning to Hezbollah, listing senior terrorist commanders recently eliminated by Israeli forces while accusing the Lebanese militant group's chief Hassan Nasrallah of dragging the country into a "difficult reality." During an operational assessment at the Israeli military's Northern Command on Wednesday, Gallant presented images of slain Hezbollah brigade leaders and claimed over 300 terrorists and commanders from the Iran-backed grou...