Hizbul Mujahedin | Hizbul Mujahedin | United Jihad Council | Afghanistan-Pak-India | 20051011 | Link | ||||
Saadullah Hizbi | Saadullah Hizbi | Al-Badr | India-Pakistan | Kashmiri? | At Large | Front Man | 20021120 | ||
Bandipore spokesman of al-Badr |
Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |||
More than 20 killed in Damascus church attack | |||
2025-06-23 | |||
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited. [Regnum] More than 20 people were killed in a terrorist attack during a service at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Damascus, Syria TV reported on June 22. ![]() “According to preliminary data, more than 20 people were killed as a result of the terrorist attack in the church in Duweil,”
The incident occurred in the Duweil area, where the Christian population lives. It is noted that the suicide bomber, who entered the temple, opened fire on believers with an automatic weapon, after which he detonated an explosive device. The area was cordoned off by police and ambulances arrived at the scene. According to SANA, the terrorist was a member of the Islamic State (IS, a terrorist organization banned in Russia). This information was later confirmed by the Syrian authorities.
The explosion in Dweila, on the outskirts of Damascus, took placej as people were praying inside the Mar Elias Church. SANA, citing Syria’s health ministry, said that at least 53 others were maimed. Britannia-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were at least 19 people killed and dozens of others maimed, but did not give exact numbers. Some local media reported that children were among the casualties. The attack on the church was the first of its kind in Syria in years, and comes as Damascus, under its de facto Islamist rule, is trying to win the support of minorities. As President Ahmad al-Sharaa struggles to exert authority across the country, there have been concerns about the presence of sleeper cells of bad boy groups in the war-torn country. No group immediately grabbed credit Sunday, but the Syrian Interior Ministry said an bad boy from the Islamic State ![]() Allaharound with every other sentence, but to hear western pols talk they're not reallyMoslems.... group entered the church and fired at the people there before detonating himself with an explosives vest. The account echoing some witness testimonies. Syrian Information Minister Hamza Mostafa condemned the attack, calling it a terrorist attack. "This cowardly act goes against the civic values that brings us together," he said on X. "We will not back down from our commitment to equal citizenship... and we also affirm the state’s pledge to exert all its efforts to combat criminal organizations and to protect society from all attacks threatening its safety." Church Bishop Moussa Khoury said the attacker also threw a grenade into the church during the afternoon Mass. "He started shooting, went and then he blew up the church," he told The News Agency that Dare Not be Named. A witness who identified himself as Rawad told AP he saw the attacker, accompanied by two others who fled, as he was driving near the church. "He was shooting at the church.... He then went inside the church and went kaboom!," he said. However, man does not live by words alone, despite the fact that sometimes he has to eat them... Meletius Shahati, a church priest, said there was a second gunman who shot at the church door before the other person let 'er rip
The Syrian health ministry confirmed in a statement that "nine civilians were killed and 13 others were injured in the terrorist attack that targeted Mar Elias Church in the Dweilaa area of Damascus." Mar Elias Church is regarded as one of the most prominent Christian places of worship in rural Damascus. It holds deep spiritual and historical significance for Syria’s Christian community and frequently hosts both religious and social gatherings, particularly on Sundays and during holidays. | |||
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Israel strikes Hibbariyeh and Abbasiyeh, killing at least one person |
2025-06-21 |
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Berri ''200% sure'' Hezbollah won''t join Iran war; Qassem says Hezbollah ''not neutral,'' will act as it sees fit; Israel defense minister warns after 2 Hezbie big turbans and a GI turban killed |
2025-06-21 |
[NAHARNET] Hezbollah will certainly not join the Israel-Iran ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneouslytaking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militiasto extend the regime's influence. The word Iranis a cognate form of Aryan.The abbreviation IRGCis the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA).The term Supreme Guideis a the modern version form of either Duceor Führeror maybe both. They hate war, the group's ally Parliament Speaker Nabih KnobbyBerri ...perennial Speaker of the Lebanese parliament, head of the Amal Shiite party aligned with Hezbollah, a not very subtle sock puppet of the Medes and Persians... has reportedly told his visitors. Berri's visitors told al-Jadeed, in remarks published Friday, that the speaker is "certain" that Leb ![]() will not join the war. On Thursday, Berri said Lebanon will "200 percent" not enter the war. "It has no interest in that and would pay the price if it did," he said, adding that Iran "does not need us." A Lebanese government source also told al-Jadeed Thursday that Hezbollah will not join the fray after an Iranian official told al-Jazeera that Hezbollah would act if the United States intervened to back up its ally Israel. - HEZBOLLAH CHIEF SAYS GROUP WILL 'ACT AS WE SEE FIT'- Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem ![]() ... the Grand Vizier of the Hezbullies... said on Thursday that the group would "act as we see fit" in response to the ongoing war between Iran and Israel. In a statement, Qassem said Hezbollah was "not neutral" in the conflict between the two regional superpowers, saying that the group would "act as we see fit in the face of this brutal Israeli-American aggression". Berri said Qassem's remarks are only aimed at showing "solidarity" with Iran and certainly do not mean that Hezbollah will join the war. Earlier this week, Hezbollah political bureau member Mahmoud Qmati denied that Hezbollah would get involved and said that "Iran is strong enough and does not need military support from anyone". - HEZBOLLAH HAS NOT FIRED A SINGLE ROCKET - U.S. special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack on Thursday warned Hezbollah against getting involved in the war between Iran and Israel, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the entire "Shiite axis" is not responding to Israeli attacks on Iran and that "Hezbollah has not fired a single rocket". Caroline Rose, a director at the Washington-based New Lines Institute think tank said that "Iran-backed proxies across the region — particularly Hezbollah— just do not have the capacity" to enter the fray. But Israel could still target them, she said. Geagea tells Hezbollah's Qassem only state ''can act as it sees fit'' [NAHARNET] Lebanese Forces A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb... leader Samir Geagea ....Geagea was imprisoned by the Syrians and their puppets for 11 years in a dungeon in the third basement level of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense. He was released after the Cedar Revolution in 2005.... said Friday that only the Lebanese state "can act as it sees fit" after Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said that the Death Eater group would "act as we see fit" in response to the ongoing war between Iran and Israel. "Sheikh Naim, you cannot act as you see fit. Only the Lebanese government can do that because it represents the majority of the Lebanese people," Geagea said, adding that it is "absolutely unacceptable" for anyone to allow themselves to act as they like. "Leb ![]() This comes after the U.S. special envoy for Syria warned Hezbollah against getting involved in the war. Geagea urged Qassem to propose his ideas through Hezbollah's ministers in the government. "Only there, such matters can be discussed," he said. FPM calls for ''Lebanon's neutrality'' in Israel-Iran conflict — Naharnet [NAHARNET] The Free Patriotic Movement Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic... said Wednesday that Leb ![]() "The war in the region is concerning and is threatening peace and stability in the region and in Lebanon," the statement said, describing the Israeli strikes on Iran as an aggression and condemning it. "The FPM is against any aggression on the illusory sovereignty of any county." The statement, despite the condemnation, stressed that Lebanon must stay neutral and should not get involved, in order to preserve national interests and the security of the Lebanese people. "Lebanon's national interests require a full commitment to a policy that keeps Lebanon out of foreign conflicts, fortifies the domestic front, enhances stability, and prevents Lebanon from becoming an arena for regional festivities," the FPM said, as it urged international powers to restart nuclear talks and look for peaceful solutions that "preserve countries' illusory sovereignty and spare people in the region more destruction and divisions." Israel’s defense minister warns Hezbollah to stay out of Israel-Iran war, IDF killed 2 more Hezbie emirs and a GI turban [IsraelTimes] ‘If there is terror, there will be no Hezbollah,’ says Katz after leader of Iran-backed terror group says it will ‘act as we see fit’ amid Israeli aerial campaign Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem to tread carefully Friday after the latter said his terror group would "act as we see fit" in the war between Israel and Iran. "The Hezbollah leader hasn’t learned from his predecessors and is threatening to act against Israel," said Katz, referring to former Hezbollah chief His Eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah ...The late, lamented satrap of the Medes and the Persians in Leb...> , who was killed by Israel last September. "I suggest that the Lebanese proxy be careful, and understand that Israel has lost patience with the murderous Moslems who threaten it," Katz added, warning: "If there is terror — there will be no Hezbollah." On June 13, Israel launched a campaign of ... KABOOM!... s in Iran to decimate the Islamic Theocratic Republic’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, which Jerusalem characterized as an imminent, existential threat. Iran has responded with deadly barrages of ballistic missiles at civilian population centers and military targets in Israel. Hezbollah, an Iran-backed proxy, has largely stayed out of the fray in the recent conflict. The group was severely weakened by last year’s fighting with Israel and remains under the tight watch of the Lebanese government, which issued a warning to the group not to involve Leb in the war. But Qassem said Thursday that the Iran-backed proxy is "not neutral" in the conflict between the two regional superpowers, saying that the group would "act as we see fit in the face of this brutal Israeli-American aggression." The remarks came after US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack warned Hezbollah against getting involved in the war, saying it would be a "very bad decision." Since a ceasefire agreement went into effect in Lebanon in November 2024, Israel has continued to launch targeted strikes on Hezbollah operatives and infrastructure, claiming violations of the truce by the terrorist organization. According to the Israel Defense Forces, over 180 Hezbollah operatives have been killed in Israeli strikes since the deal was reached. The military has continued to attack Hezbollah targets in dronezaps on southern Lebanon since the fighting with Iran broke out. The IDF announced Thursday morning it had killed Yassin Izz a-Din, commander of Hezbollah’s rocket artillery unit in the Litani River sector, in a strike on Barish, in southern Lebanon, the night before. The IDF said he had advanced numerous rocket attacks on northern Israel during the war, and was involved in "attempts to restore Hezbollah’s artillery forces." Northeast of Harish that same night, in Nabatieh, the IDF said it killed Mohammad Ahmad Khreiss, who it said was the commander of Hezbollah’s anti-tank unit in the Shebaa area. "During the war, the terrorist advanced numerous attacks against the State of Israel," including an anti-tank missile attack on Mount Dov on April 26, 2024, which killed Sharif Sawaed, an IDF civilian contractor, the military said. The IDF on Thursday killed a third Hezbollah operative in a strike, saying he had been involved in efforts to restore the terror group’s infrastructure in the Houla area. |
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Iran orders thousands of tons of ballistic missile ingredients from China - WSJ |
2025-06-06 |
[Jpost] Sources estimated that if delivered, the materials could produce around 800 missiles. Iran has ordered thousands of tons of ballistic missile ingredients from China as part of an effort to rebuild its military capabilities while navigating ongoing nuclear talks with the United States, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the transactions. The shipments, which are expected to reach Iran in the coming months, include ammonium perchlorate, a key component in the solid propellant used for ballistic missiles. Sources indicated that these materials could potentially fuel hundreds of missiles. Some of the ammonium perchlorate is expected to be sent to militias aligned with Iran, including the Houthis in Yemen, one of the sources revealed. This move aligns with Iran’s broader strategy to strengthen its regional influence and rebuild its missile arsenal while continuing to negotiate with the Trump administration over the future of its nuclear program. Iran has been expanding its stockpiles of uranium enriched to just below weapons-grade levels, despite calls from the US to curb its nuclear activities. At the same time, Iran has made it clear that it has no intention of negotiating limits on its missile program, a point that has remained a major sticking point in international discussions. According to sources, the order for the missile ingredients was placed in recent months by an Iranian entity, Pishgaman Tejarat Rafi Novin Co.. The material was sourced from Hong Kong-based Lion Commodities Holdings Ltd., a company that did not respond to requests for comment. The Iranian mission to the United Nations also declined to comment on the matter. In a statement, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson denied knowledge of the deal, asserting that China has “always exercised strict control over dual-use items in accordance with China’s export control laws and regulations and its international obligations.” PART OF REBUILDING IRAN’S 'AXIS OF RESISTANCE' The shipment of ammonium perchlorate is part of Iran’s broader efforts to rebuild its so-called "Axis of Resistance" network, which includes a number of terror proxies across the region. These groups have faced significant setbacks over recent years, as well as the ongoing war. These setbacks include Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon and the assassination of key leaders such as Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, former Hezbollah secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and multiple Hamas leaders. While US and Israeli strikes have damaged the Houthis' capabilities in Yemen, they continue to periodically launch missiles at Israel. Beyond supporting regional militias, Iran has also reportedly transferred ballistic missiles to Shia militia groups in Iraq, which have previously targeted both US and Israeli forces in the region. EARLIER SHIPMENTS OF MISSILE INGREDIENTS Earlier this year, Iranian ships docked in China to load over 1,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, a precursor for ammonium perchlorate. The material was delivered to Iranian ports in mid-February and late March, according to shipping trackers. This quantity of sodium perchlorate is said to be enough to fuel around 260 short-range missiles. The new order for ammonium perchlorate, which was placed months before President Trump’s proposed nuclear talks with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in early March, could supply Iran with enough material to produce approximately 800 missiles, one official estimated. In response to Iran’s missile activities, the US Treasury Department sanctioned six individuals and six entities from both Iran and China on April 29 for their involvement in procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients. Two weeks later, the Treasury expanded these sanctions to include additional Chinese and Hong Kong entities. The US Department of the Treasury also added sodium perchlorate to the list of materials it believes are being used in Iran’s military, nuclear, or ballistic missile programs. Iran’s reliance on foreign material for missile production is due, in part, to domestic production bottlenecks. Fabian Hinz, a military analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that Iran’s defense industry struggles to meet its needs without the continued importation of missile propellant materials. The storage and handling of these materials, however, come with significant risks. A deadly explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port in April, which killed dozens, was reportedly caused by the mishandling of explosive materials by a unit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Some of the sodium perchlorate imported earlier this year was lost in that explosion, an official confirmed. “These substances are a major fire and explosive hazard,” said Hinz. “Iran’s defense industrial complex does not have a strong track record in ensuring safety standards.” Not just perchlorates, and not just Iran. It was ammonium nitrate sent with brotherly Moslem affection from Iran to Hezbollah that destroyed the Port of Beirut and a good chunk of the nearby city. Much of the material will reportedly remain in Iran The Times of Israel adds: ...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneouslytaking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militiasto extend the regime's influence. The word Iranis a cognate form of Aryan.The abbreviation IRGCis the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA).The term Supreme Guideis a the modern version form of either Duceor Führeror maybe both. They hate as the country works to repair missile production plants that were damaged in October, when Israel responded to Iran’s second-ever direct attack some six months after an earlier missile-and-dronezap. Israel’s October strike destroyed about a dozen so-called planetary mixers, which serve to blend ballistic missile ingredients, the Journal said. A report earlier this week said Iran is also working to revive its air defense system after Israel’s successive attacks on it. An earlier Chinese shipment of missile fuel material has been linked to a blast in a southern Iranian port that state media said killed at least 18 people and maimed hundreds. That shipment, which Iran has not acknowledged, contained enough ammonium perchlorate precursor to produce 260 short-range missiles, the Journal said, attributing the blast to mishandling by a unit from the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for Iran’s enrichment capabilities and nuclear facilities to be fully dismantled. US intelligence has assessed that Israel will attack the nuclear facilities this year. However, we can't all be heroes. Somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by... Israel has assured the White House that it won’t launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities unless Trump signals that the ongoing negotiations with Tehran have failed, Axios reported Thursday, citing two Israeli officials familiar with the matter. One official said it could take several months before that happened, and Iran would try to prevent the talks from collapsing. During a visit last week by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Mosssd ![]() Director David Barnea and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, Israeli officials reassured the White House that Israel would not surprise the US by unilaterally striking Iran, the report said. An Israeli official quoted by the news site said, "We calmed the Americans and told them there is no logic in launching an attack if a good diplomatic solution can be found. This is why we are going to give it a chance and wait with any military action until it is clear that negotiations have been exhausted and [White House envoy to the Middle East] Steve Witkoff has given up." Though the IDF is constantly training for a strike on Iran, separate preparations for strikes on the Iran's Houthi sock puppets ...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The legitimate Yemeni government has accused the them of having ties to the Iranian government. Honest they did. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is God is Great, Death to America™, Death to Israel, a curse on the JewsThey like shooting off... ummm... missiles that they would have us believe they make at home in their basements. On the plus side, they did murder Ali Abdullah Saleh, which was the only way the country was ever going to be rid of him... s have been misread by the US and other countries as a sign of an imminent Israeli attack on Iran, according to a senior Israeli official cited by Axios. The report added that Iranian and US negotiators are not expected to hold talks this weekend, despite reporting earlier this week that a sixth round could take place in the Middle East. Related: Perchlorate 04/29/2025 Port Explosion: Israel Silent, Iranians Thirsty for Revenge Perchlorate 04/28/2025 Day 3: Death toll from Iranian port blast rises to 40, MP blames Israel Perchlorate 04/26/2025 WATCH: Explosion rocks Iran's Bandar Abbas port near IRGC base, Related: Port of Beirut: 2022-04-23 Report accuses Iran of sending port blast nitrates to Beirut Port of Beirut: 2021-12-18 U.S. Says Hizbullah Govt. Role Impeding Action on Hizbullah-Linked 'Terrorist Incidents' Port of Beirut: 2021-12-16 Khalil to File New Lawsuit as Bitar Looks into Russian Satellite Images |
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Hezbollah member arrested in South for spying for Israel |
2025-06-03 |
[NAHARNET] Lebanese security forces have arrested Hezbollah member Mahmoud Ayoub in the Nabatieh district town of Harouf on charges of collaborating with Israeli intelligence services, sources told al-Arabiya's al-Hadath channel on Monday. Ayoub is ''the financial director of the (Hezbollah-affiliated) Ragheb Harb Hospital'' in the Nabatieh district, the sources said. ''Mahmoud Ayoub was arrested by the Internal Security Forces' Information Branch in coordination with Hezbollah,'' the sources added. |
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Rajji slams Hezbollah as ''outlaw'' group and its tripartite equation as outdated |
2025-05-30 |
[NAHARNET] Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji has said that Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem![]() ... the new Fearless Leader of the Hezbullies... ''can say what he wants'' about the so-called ''army-people-resistance'' equation but added that ''the Lebanese people no longer want this outdated equation.'' ''He certainly does not want to give up his weapons, but eventually he must find a solution,'' Rajji said in an interview with the al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper. ''This is an outlaw gang and it is not legitimate. We ask it to seek a solution, hand over its weapons and form a normal political party that has the creed it wants. I support total creed freedom and let its fighters return to their normal life and each member to his job,'' the minister added. Hezbollah MPs lash out at Foreign Minister Rajji [An Nahar] A number of Hezbollah MPs have lashed out at Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji, who is close to the Lebanese Forces, over his latest remarks on Hezbollah and its weapons. “Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji’s remarks reflect the opinion of a political party, not the government. He used to fire bullets at people during the (civil) war, and now he is firing words,” MP Hassan Fadlallah said in an interview on al-Manar TV. Responding to Rajji’s statement that the Lebanese people no longer want the so-called army-people-resistance equation, MP Ibrahim al-Moussawi said: “Which people are you referring to? The people who marched in the funeral of (Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah)? You are talking about hundreds of thousands of Lebanese people … Are you talking about the people who signed with their blood before their ink in the municipal elections to reiterate this equation?” Slamming Rajji’s remarks as “irresponsible” and “shameful,” Moussawi said the people want to hear the minister talking about “Israeli occupation, aggression and daily assassinations.” Related: Hassan Fadlallah 05/24/2025 Hezbollah seeks boost in Lebanon vote as disarmament calls grow Hassan Fadlallah 04/17/2025 2 killed in new Israeli drone strikes in south Lebanon Hassan Fadlallah 04/12/2025 Lebanese army said to enter Hezbollah bases north of Litani River for first time Related: Ibrahim al-Moussawi 01/05/2022 Hizbullah MPs Slam Miqati for Defending Saudi Arabia Ibrahim al-Moussawi 10/10/2012 FSA Says Arrested 13 Hizbullah Fighters: Nasrallah Not Safe from Our Strikes Ibrahim al-Moussawi 10/04/2012 FSA Promises Hizbullah 'Severe Retaliation' over 'Interference in Syrian Affairs' Related: Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah 05/27/2025 Syria hands Lebanese Army a suspect in LF official''s killing — Naharnet Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah 05/25/2025 UK police charged Jewish man with racial harassment for holding anti-Hezbollah sign Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah 05/22/2025 Member of Irish band Kneecap faces terror charge for flying Hezbollah flag at concert Related: Naim Qassem 05/27/2025 Qassem: Resistance to continue, let Israel withdraw first — Naharnet Naim Qassem 05/27/2025 Two wounded in overnight strikes on Beit Leef and Majdalzoun Naim Qassem 05/27/2025 Three Israeli airstrikes target outskirts of Brital |
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Muslim-Christian parity preserved in Beirut Municipality as list backed by main political parties wins |
2025-05-20 |
[NAHARNET] A list backed by most political parties won all 24 seats of Beirut's municipality on Sunday, maintaining Christian-Moslem parity on the capital's municipal council. Political rivals such as Hezbollah and the Lebanese Forces A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb... came together to form the list, arguing that such a temporary coalition was necessary to preserve equal Christian-Moslem power-sharing. The list was also backed by the Amal Movement, the Kataeb Party, the Free Patriotic Movement Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic... , al-Ahbash, the Tashnag Party Socialist party representing the Armenian diaspora in Leb. They're Christians, but they try to remain neutral, which means they get shot at without shooting back... , the Hunchak Party and MP Fouad Makhzoumi. A rival list was formed by MP Nabil Bader, the Jamaa Islamiya and a figure who was considered close to al-Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... Movement. Four other lists were also formed in the capital, including one by the Beirut Madinati civil society group, which won one third of the capital's votes in the 2016 polls. Voter turnout reached 21% in Beirut, 44.57% in Zahle, 41.11% in West Bekaa, 37.70% in Rashaya, 34.15% in Hermel and 48.88% in Baalbek. The Lebanese Forces meanwhile announced its victory in the Zahle municipal polls against a list backed by all the other political forces and families in an electoral battle in which the Free Patriotic Movement gave its supporters the freedom to vote for either list. LF leader Samir Geagea ....Geagea was imprisoned by the Syrians and their puppets for 11 years in a dungeon in the third basement level of the Lebanese Ministry of Defense. He was released after the Cedar Revolution in 2005.... hailed a ''major victory'' in the city, saying ''Zahle has chosen progress, change, civilization, illusory sovereignty, deaders and Leb ![]() A Hezbollah front man meanwhile said the party and its ally the Amal Movement won in the city of Baalbek, the city of Hermel and in 19 towns in the Bekaa. |
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India-Pakistan |
Times of India liveblog |
2025-05-11 |
SUMMARY India on Saturday accused Pakistan of violating a ceasefire agreement reached earlier the same day between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations. Speaking at a late-night press conference, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Indian forces had been directed to give a firm response to any further ceasefire breaches along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border. “An understanding was reached this evening between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan to halt the ongoing military action. However, in the last few hours, Pakistan has violated this understanding,” Misri stated. He confirmed that Indian forces were already retaliating against the latest cross-border attack, which he called “extremely condemnable.” Misri held Pakistan fully accountable for the renewed hostilities and called on Islamabad to immediately put an end to these provocations. “The armed forces are maintaining strict vigilance, and instructions have been issued to deal strongly with any further violations,” he added. Earlier, Misri had confirmed that both sides agreed to stop all military operations — whether by land, air, or sea — from 5:00 pm IST. But within hours, reports of gunfire emerged from Pakistan’s side in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir, along with sightings of multiple drones near the border. Tensions between the two countries are at their highest in years, sparked by India’s launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. Early Friday, powerful explosions shook Jammu city, leading to a complete blackout shortly after Indian forces thwarted Pakistani attempts to hit military targets near the border. Reports suggested that loitering munitions were present in the airspace. In a similar pattern, loud blasts were heard in the border town of Jaisalmer, while blackouts were enforced across several districts in western Rajasthan bordering Pakistan, throwing entire areas into darkness. A senior official confirmed that explosions continued for nearly an hour. Several parts of Punjab, Chandigarh, and Haryana — including Panchkula, Ambala, and Sirsa — were also affected by blackouts. These were seen as precautionary steps amid mounting military friction and fears of airstrikes following Operation Sindoor. The operation itself was launched in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, including 25 Indians and one Nepali national. The strike targeted nine key terror infrastructure sites tied to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), located across both Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Sources said the operation began at 1:05 am and wrapped up by 1:30 am, with follow-up hits reported at 1:44 am. Officials stated that the mission deliberately avoided Pakistani military assets to prevent wider escalation while still delivering a strong counter-terror message. Key targets included JeM’s base in Bahawalpur and LeT’s hub in Muridke. Other locations hit included sites in Sialkot and Tehra Kalan in Pakistan, and Muzaffarabad and Kotli in PoK. The Indian military described the strikes as "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," exclusively aimed at terror networks. The operation was jointly detailed by Foreign Secretary Misri, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh at a media briefing in New Delhi. In retaliation, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the strikes as an “act of war,” asserting that Pakistan’s response was already in motion. He declared the full backing of the Pakistani people for their armed forces and warned of further retaliatory action, fuelling fears of a broader conflict. Back in India, the government defended the move as necessary and justified. At a cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the armed forces for their precision and courage. He expressed satisfaction with the success of the operation and emphasised the need for ongoing alertness. The conflict has drawn international attention. US President Donald Trump commented on the situation, expressing alarm over the worsening scenario. "It’s so terrible," he said, while noting his strong ties with both India and Pakistan. Trump voiced hope that the two sides could bring the hostilities to an end. "Hopefully they can stop now, as they have gone tit-for-tat," he said, offering to assist with de-escalation if required. 04:17 (IST) May 11 Pakistan violates ceasefire: Firing, drones trigger blackouts in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat Shortly after the ceasefire pact between India and Pakistan was announced, multiple ceasefire violations and drone intrusions were reported across the western front, including along the LoC and international border in J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Firing and drone sightings occurred in Rajouri, Jammu, Akhnoor, R S Pura, Udhampur, and Srinagar, triggering explosions and panic. Nearly 50 drones were reportedly shot down over Srinagar, with similar activity noted in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer and Barmer, and Gujarat’s Kutch. The violations led to widespread blackouts in border districts to avoid detection of targets, as advised by Indian defence authorities. Local administrations in affected regions enforced night-time blackouts, and residents were urged to remain in bunkers. In response to Pakistani aggression, Indian forces retaliated strongly, causing heavy damage to Pakistan Rangers’ posts and destroying a terror launchpad in Sialkot, PoK. 03:47 (IST) May 11 India-Pakistan Tensions Live: Lashkar’s Muridke HQ chief among 140 terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor India’s covert Operation Sindoor, carried out on the night of May 6-7, resulted in the elimination of around a dozen top-tier terrorists in Pakistan, including IC-814 hijacker Yusuf Azhar, Lashkar’s Muridke head Abu Jundal alias Mudassar, and the son of the 2016 Nagrota attack planner. Sources confirmed that the strikes, launched in retaliation for the recent Pahalgam massacre, killed an estimated 130-140 terrorists. The operation dealt a severe blow to Pakistan's military-terror nexus, as seen in the high-profile funerals of several terrorists, attended by Pakistani military and political leaders. Among the key targets was Yusuf Azhar, a long-wanted terrorist with an Interpol Red Notice, and Mudassar, who was given a military-style funeral by Pakistan Army. Lashkar's Abu Akasha and JeM’s Mohammad Hassan Khan were also killed. India’s intelligence claimed to possess video proof of military officials at these funerals, confirming direct links between the Pakistani state and terrorist groups. Two major terror hubs—Muridke and Bahawalpur—were destroyed in the strikes. These facilities had been central to planning and training for attacks like Pulwama (2019) and Nagrota. Officials called Operation Sindoor a clear signal of India’s capability to locate and eliminate high-value targets across the border. 03:19 (IST) May 11 Pakistan shelling kills 2 Army men, an IAF Sergeant and a BSF SI in Jammu Intensified shelling and drone attacks by Pakistani forces across the Jammu region resulted in the loss of four Indian security personnel. Among the casualties were an Army JCO and a rifleman, an IAF sergeant stationed in Udhampur, and a BSF sub-inspector positioned along the international border in the RS Pura sector. 01:31 (IST) May 11 India-Pakistan Tensions Live: Soldier injured in firing at Nagrota Army station in Jammu, search ops underway to track intruder An alert sentry at Nagrota Military Station thwarted a potential intrusion, sustaining minor injuries during a brief exchange of fire. Simultaneously, a precautionary blackout was enforced in parts of Punjab. India reported ceasefire violations by Pakistan, responding firmly and maintaining a strong vigil along the border and Line of Control after terrorist attack in Pahalgam. 00:21 (IST) May 11 Loud explosions, red streaks and sirens haunt Jammu and Kashmir, border districts again as Pakistan breaches ceasefire: What we know so far Despite a newly agreed ceasefire, loud explosions and drone sightings have triggered widespread concern across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan, prompting a complete blackout in several districts. Following the explosions in Srinagar, air defense units were activated, while a firing incident occurred at an Army unit near Jammu. Security forces are investigating the threats as tensions escalate. 00:16 (IST) May 11 Ceasefire violations: India accuses Pakistan, orders strong response to border breaches India on Saturday held Pakistan responsible for breaching a ceasefire understanding reached earlier in the day between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri, addressing a late-night press briefing, said Indian armed forces had been directed to respond firmly to any further violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border. "An understanding was reached this evening between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan to halt the ongoing military action. However, over the past few hours, Pakistan has breached this understanding," Misri said. 00:11 (IST) May 11 India Pakistan News Live: Nagrota Military Station; Sentry injured in brief gunfire after spotting suspicious movement A sentry posted at the Nagrota Military Station opened fire after detecting suspicious movement near the perimeter late Friday night, the White Knight Corps said in a statement. Upon issuing a challenge, the sentry was met with retaliatory fire, resulting in a brief exchange. The sentry sustained a minor injury during the incident but managed to alert security forces immediately. A search operation has since been launched in and around the area to trace the suspected intruder(s). SUMMARY India on Saturday blamed Pakistan of breaching a ceasefire understanding reached earlier in the day between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both countries. At a late-night press briefing, foreign secretary Vikram Misri said Indian armed forces had been instructed to respond firmly to any further violations along the Line of Control (LoC) and the international border. “An understanding was reached this evening between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan to halt the ongoing military action. However, in the last few hours, Pakistan has violated this understanding,” Misri stated. He confirmed that Indian forces were retaliating against the latest cross-border intrusion, which he termed “extremely condemnable.” Misri said Pakistan bore full responsibility for the latest escalation and urged Islamabad to act immediately to halt the provocations. “The armed forces are maintaining strict vigilance, and instructions have been issued to deal strongly with any further violations,” he added. Earlier in the day, Misri announced that the DGMOs had agreed to cease all military activity — including on land, air, and sea — starting at 5:00 pm IST. However, just hours later, firing was reported from the Pakistani side in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu and Kashmir, with multiple drone sightings along the border. On Friday morning, panic gripped parts of Jammu following air-raid sirens and explosions near the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri. The Border Security Force (BSF) also thwarted an infiltration attempt in Samba late Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Indian Army reported shooting down more than 50 swarm drones during several Pakistani attempts to breach defences. Advanced air defence systems including L-70, Zu-23mm, and Schilka guns were deployed across critical areas such as Udhampur, Jammu, Nagrota, Akhnoor, Samba, and Pathankot. Unverified reports claimed that a Pakistani Air Force jet may have been downed over the Pathankot sector. Two Pakistani drones were also destroyed in the Naushera sector amid intense artillery exchanges. The Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) confirmed that key Indian military installations in Jammu, Pathankot, and Udhampur were targeted with drones and missiles, all of which were successfully intercepted with no casualties. Union home minister Amit Shah chaired an emergency meeting with top officials from border forces and CISF to review security across India’s borders and airports. Internationally, US Vice President JD Vance, who was in India during the Pahalgam terror attack, called the situation a “regional conflict” and said the US would not intervene but would support dialogue. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has been in touch with global leaders, assuring them that India’s response has been “targeted, proportional, and focused on terror infrastructure.” India strongly rejected Pakistan’s accusation that it targeted the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), warning Islamabad against using such “blatant lies” as pretext for further escalation. Foreign secretary Misri reiterated that the current crisis was triggered by the Pahalgam attack and said the onus now lay on Pakistan to de-escalate. He also accused Pakistan of running a disinformation campaign. Pakistan, meanwhile, reportedly launched another round of drone and missile strikes on Thursday night, targeting areas including Satwari, RS Pura, and Arnia. All eight missiles were intercepted. Authorities confirmed the recovery of drone and missile debris from multiple sites, offering clear evidence of the assault. |
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India-Pakistan |
Vikram Misri Criticises Pakistan For Giving State Honour To Terrorists, Sat Photos Released of 2 Sites India Hit Wednesday |
2025-05-09 |
[OneIndia] Addressing the media on escalating tensions between India and Pakistain, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri slammed Pakistain for giving state-honour funerals of three terrorists. These individuals were eliminated in strikes by the Indian military as part of Operation Sindoor. Misri highlighted the unusual practice of draping coffins with Pak flags and conducting the funerals with state honors, a treatment typically reserved for civilians. This occurrence raises questions about the nature of the individuals being honored in such a manner. During the briefing, Misri pointed out the contradiction in Pakistain's claim that the Indian military had targeted civilians in their recent operation. He underscored that the strikes on May 7 specifically targeted terrorist infrastructure, based on precise intelligence. The presence of Pakistain Army personnel at these funerals, Misri argued, sends a telling message about the identities of the dear departed. According to Misri, the practice of giving Lions of Islam state funerals seems to be a norm in Pakistain, which he finds perplexing and unjustifiable. INDIA'S COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS HIGHLIGHTED India undertook military action against nine terrorist facilities under 'Operation Sindoor' in response to a terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir ...a disputed territory lying between India and Pakistain. After partition, the Paks grabbed half of it and call it Azad (Free) Kashmir. The remainder they refer to as "Indian Occupied Kashmir". They have fought four wars with India over it, the score currently 4-0 in New Delhi's favor. After 72 years of this nonsense, India cut the Gordian knot in 2019, removing the area's special status, breaking off Ladakh as a separate state, and allowing people from other areas to settle (or in the case of the Pandits, to resettle) there.... , which resulted in the death of 26 civilians. This operation aimed to dismantle the infrastructure supporting terrorism, with India confirming the successful elimination of several terror targets. Despite Pakistain's claims that the strikes resulted in civilian casualties, India maintains that the operation was focused exclusively on combatting terrorism. The targeted strike in Muridke, situated about 40 kilometers from Lahore, resulted in the deaths of Qari Abdul Malik, Khalid, and Mudassir. This action was part of India's broader strategy to disrupt the operations of terrorist groups. The funeral for these individuals was conducted under strict security measures and saw the attendance of not just Pakistain Army personnel but also members of the civil bureaucracy and Jamaat-ud-Dawa ...the front organization of Lashkar-e-Taiba... h (JuD), a banned ...the word bannedseems to have a different meaning in Pakistain than it does in most other places. Or maybe it simply lacks any meaning at all... organization led by Hafiz Saeed ![]() . The ceremony, led by Hafiz Abdul Rauf, included prayers for the nation's safety and security. Misri also addressed Pakistain's allegations that India had targeted religious sites during its operation. He categorically denied these claims, emphasizing that the operation focused solely on terrorist infrastructure and facilities linked to cross-border terrorism into India. Misri accused Pakistain of misusing religious sites to radicalize, instruct, and train terrorists, thereby endangering the region's security. Proof From Above: Satellite Pics Show Extent of 5/7 Terror Site Damage in Operation Sindoor - Before-After Photos [OneIndia] High-resolution satellite images released by Maxar Technologies provide clear visual confirmation of the extensive damage caused by Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. These sites were linked to terrorist groups Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen. The imagery offers striking before-and-after comparisons of two major targets: the Markaz Subhan Allah compound near Bahawalpur and the Markaz Taiba complex in Nangal Sadhan, Muridke. Both facilities, key ideological and operational centres for JeM and LeT, respectively, now appear severely damaged with visible craters, collapsed roofs, and scattered debris, as seen in images dated May 7. Established in 2015, this compound functioned as JeM's central hub for operations and training. It housed the group's top leadership, including chief Masood Azhar and deputy Abdul Rauf Asghar. The centre was reportedly involved in planning multiple attacks, including the 2019 Pulwama bombing. MARKAZ TAIBA, MURIDKE In operation since 2000, this LeT stronghold served as a key training and radicalisation centre. It offered weapons training, religious indoctrination, and fitness programs to nearly 1,000 recruits annually. Notably, it was a training site for the 2008 Mumbai attackers, including Ajmal Kasab and David Headley. Historical intelligence suggests Osama bin Laden contributed significantly to building its mosque and guesthouse. Satellite imagery shows severe structural damage to several buildings. Additional sites targeted in Operation Sindoor include Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Rawalakot, Chakswari, Bhimber, Neelum Valley, Jhelum, and Chakwal. Indian intelligence had been monitoring these locations for months, tracking suspicious movement patterns, satellite phone activity, and vehicular logistics consistent with terror operations. THE OPERATION Operation Sindoor was launched in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 25 lives, including that of a Nepali tourist. India attributed the attack to LeT operatives trained across the border. The offensive employed a mix of air-launched cruise missiles, loitering munitions (kamikaze drones), and long-range artillery. The Indian Air Force executed four strikes across the international border, while five others targeted sites within Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Defence officials clarified that no Pakistani military installations were hit, describing the operation as "measured, focused, and non-escalatory." Meanwhile, Indian Defence Minister Rajanth Singh has said that 100 terrorists were killed in the Wednesday operation. He has reportedly said that such operation will continue. |
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India-Pakistan |
India opens ''Operation Sindoor'' against Pakistan |
2025-05-07 |
[TIMESOFINDIA.INDIATIMES] Under 'Operation Sindoor', the armed forces on Wednesday targeted and destroyed nine terror hideouts belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba ...the Army of the Pure,an Ahl-e-Hadith terror organization founded by Hafiz Saeed. LeT masquerades behind the Jamaat-ud-Dawa facade within Pakistain and periodically blows things up and kills people in India. Despite the fact that it is banned, always an interesting concept in Pakistain, the organization remains an blatant tool and perhaps an arm of the ISI... , and Hizbul Mujahideen ... Party of Holy Warriors, founded by Muhammad Ahsan Dar in September 1989. One of the Pak sock puppets waging jihad in Indian Kashmir. It was originally organized as the armed wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. In 1990, Dar declared Hizbul as the sword arm of Jamaat. Hizbul murdered many of the pro-independence intelligentsia in Kashmir. After the organization was taken over by Syed Salahuddin Dar and several other ex-Hizb leaders were assassinated between 2001 and 2003... in Pakistain and Pakistain-occupied Kashmir ![]() Azad (Free) Kashmir. The remainder they refer to as "Indian Occupied Kashmir". They have fought four wars with India over it, the score currently 4-0 in New Delhi's favor. After 72 years of this nonsense, India cut the Gordian knot in 2019, removing the area's special status, breaking off Ladakh as a separate state, and allowing people from other areas to settle (or in the case of the Pandits, to resettle) there.... .This marked India's most decisive strike in response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 non-combatants were killed. According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Air Force conducted precision strikes on four terror sites inside Pakistain and five within PoK. The ministry described the operation as ''focused, measured and non-escalatory,'' adding that no Pak military installations were targeted. ''These actions are in direct response to the horrific Pahalgam attack,'' the Defence Ministry said in its statement, adding, ''We are upholding our commitment to ensure that those responsible for the attack face consequences.'' The Indian government later released an official video declaring the mission a success, while Pak authorities were reportedly caught off guard. Related: Hizbul Mujahideen: 2025-04-27 India v Pakistan, Day 5 post-Pahalgam round-up: Preparing for war, cutting off water, search and raids in Kashmir, gunfire along the border Hizbul Mujahideen: 2023-10-03 Delhi Police Nabs Suspected ISIS Operative Shahnawaz Alam In Major Crackdown Hizbul Mujahideen: 2023-09-19 3 OGWs booked under PSA in Kishtwar: Police |
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Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
Main political parties agree on coalition list for Beirut municipal elections — Naharnet |
2025-05-07 |
[NAHARNET] The country's main political parties have agreed on forming a unified electoral list for Beirut's municipal vote, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Tuesday. ''A meeting was held yesterday at MP Fouad Makhzoumi's home in the presence of representatives of parties and Beiruti figures, which resulted in an agreement on forming a coalition list in Beirut,'' the daily said. The list will comprise candidates nominated by Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, the Free Patriotic Movement Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic... , the Lebanese Forces A Christian political party founded by Bashir Gemayel, who was then bumped off when he was elected president of Leb... , the Kataeb Party, al-Ahbash, the Tashnag Party Socialist party representing the Armenian diaspora in Leb. They're Christians, but they try to remain neutral, which means they get shot at without shooting back... and the Hunchak Party, the newspaper added. MP Nabil Bader and the Jamaa Islamiya meanwhile stayed outside the coalition, al-Akhbar said. ''Over the past hours, Bader contacted a number of figures trying to convince them to join a list that he intends to form in the face of the political forces' list, but he is facing difficulty in convincing these figures, who believe that it will be a lost battle,'' the daily added. The Beirut Madinati civil society coalition, which garnered one third of the votes in 2016, is meanwhile expected to form a third list. |
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