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Middle East Latest 11/13 06:44
Three young siblings killed in Gaza as Israeli strikes leave 6 dead in
Lebanon
(AP) -- An Israeli strike on a home in northern Gaza killed three siblings
aged 6 and under, among at least six people killed in airstrikes in the
war-ravaged territory, Palestinian medics said. In Lebanon, an Israeli
airstrike on an apartment building south of Beirut on Wednesday killed at least
six people and wounded 15, the Health Ministry said.
The Biden administration said Tuesday it won't limit weapons transfers to
Israel because it has made limited progress in increasing the flow of
humanitarian aid to Gaza. Eight international aid groups had earlier said that
Israel failed to meet U.S. demands for greater humanitarian access to the Gaza
Strip, where hunger experts say the north may already be experiencing famine.
Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 43,000 people, Palestinian health
officials say. The officials do not distinguish between civilians and
combatants, but say more than half of those killed were women and children.
The Israel-Hamas war began after Palestinian militants stormed into Israel
on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people -- mostly civilians -- and abducting
250 others.
Lebanon's Hezbollah group began firing into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, in
solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. Since then, more than 3,200 people have been
killed in Lebanon and more than 14,200 wounded, the country's Health Ministry
reported. In Israel, 76 people have been killed, including 31 soldiers.
A new video shows an Israeli hostage in Gaza
CAIRO -- The Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group has released a new
video showing an Israeli hostage who has been held in Gaza for over a year.
The video shows Sasha Troufanov, likely speaking under duress, describing
the harsh conditions inside Gaza, warning against military operations to free
him and calling on Israelis to protest for his release.
It was the first such video to be released in several weeks. It was not
clear when it was filmed, but Troufanov appeared to refer to Israel's war
against Hezbollah in Lebanon and its recent exchange of fire with Iran, which
occurred in October.
Islamic Jihad took part in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel, in which
militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 250
people hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, about a third of whom
are believed to be dead.
Islamic Jihad released two previous videos of Troufanov earlier this year.
He turned 29 on Monday, marking his second birthday in captivity. His mother,
grandmother and girlfriend were also taken captive, but they were released
during a November 2023 cease-fire. His father was killed in the Oct. 7 attack.
The U.S., Egypt and Qatar have spent most of this year trying to broker a
cease-fire and the release of the remaining hostages. Hamas has said it will
only release the remaining hostages in return for a lasting cease-fire, the
full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of Palestinian
prisoners.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retain Israeli
control over parts of Gaza and to continue the war until "total victory" over
Hamas and the return of the remaining captives.
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At least 6 dead and 15 wounded in an Israeli strike south of Beirut
BEIRUT -- An Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in the town of
Aramoun, just south of Beirut, killed at least six people and wounded 15 others
Wednesday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said.
The state-run National News Agency reported that there were children missing
after the strike and it wasn't clear if they are under the rubble or were
transferred to a hospital.
There was no warning issued before the strike, and it was not clear what the
target was. There was no immediate statement from the Israeli military.
Also Wednesday morning, the Israeli military struck several sites in
Beirut's southern suburbs, an area known as Dahiyeh, after issuing evacuation
warnings. It said the strikes were targeting "Hezbollah facilities and
interests." There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Israeli forces and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have been clashing
since Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah began launching rockets across the border in
support of its ally, Hamas, in Gaza. The conflict escalated beginning in
mid-September. Israel has launched a widespread aerial bombardment of Lebanon
and a ground invasion that it said is intended to push Hezbollah back from the
border.
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US forces conduct strikes in Syria against Iranian-aligned militia groups
WASHINGTON -- U.S. forces conducted strikes in Syria against Iranian-aligned
militia groups for a second day in a row Tuesday in response to further attacks
on U.S. personnel, U.S. Central Command said late Tuesday.
In the latest retaliatory strikes, U.S. forces hit a weapons storage and
logistics facility after militia groups launched a rocket attack on U.S.
personnel at Patrol Base Shaddadi in eastern Syria.
Earlier Tuesday, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said that over
the weekend the militias had also targeted U.S. personnel with a drone attack
and indirect fire at another base, Green Village, where U.S. troops are
operating -- which prompted the U.S. to strike nine militia targets on Monday
in self-defense.
There are about 900 U.S. troops deployed in Syria. No U.S. troops were
wounded in either attack.
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