UNRWA chief reports 10 children in Gaza lose legs daily due to the ongoing conflict, totaling around 2,000 since the war began. Up to 21,000 children are estimated missing. The Gaza health ministry reports over 37,658 deaths. UNRWA faces funding crisis and allegations of staff involvement with Hamas, though probes found limited evidence. The agency has cash until August but faces a $140 million shortfall. Source AFP
Category: MIDDLE EAST
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Hezbollah fires rockets at Israel after fighter killed
Hezbollah fired “dozens” of rockets into northern Israel in retaliation for a deadly strike in south Lebanon. This follows escalating tensions and a warning from Hezbollah’s leader. Israel confirmed striking a Hezbollah operative and a missile launcher. Cross-border violence since October has killed 479 in Lebanon and 26 in Israel. The UN special coordinator for Lebanon called for both sides to stop firing and commit to sustainable solutions, emphasizing there’s “no inevitability to conflict.” AFP
Quake kills four, injures 120 in Iran
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck the northeastern Iranian city of Kashmar, killing at least four people and injuring 120 others. The quake, which occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, caused significant damage to dilapidated buildings in urban and rural areas. Thirty-five people were hospitalized, and rescue efforts are underway amid the rubble. Iran is prone to earthquakes due to its location on multiple tectonic plates.
Biden envoy in Israel as northern border tensions flare
A U.S. envoy visited Israel to press for de-escalation with Lebanon amid ongoing cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah, which has fired over 5,000 projectiles into Israel since the start of the Gaza war in October. The envoy met Israeli leaders, with Israel accusing Hezbollah of aggression instigated by Iran. The U.N. has warned of the risk of miscalculation leading to a wider escalation in the region.
Eight Israeli soldiers killed as fighting rages in Gaza
Eight Israeli soldiers were killed in an explosion in southern Gaza on Saturday, one of the military’s heaviest losses during the ongoing conflict. The blast hit an armored vehicle near Rafah amid fierce street battles between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants. The incident brings Israel’s death toll to 306 since the ground offensive began in October. Intense cross-border violence also erupted between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising fears of the conflict spilling over regionally.
US sanctions Israeli group for blocking aid to Gaza
The United States imposed sanctions on the Israeli extremist group Tzav 9, accusing it of blocking and looting aid convoys attempting to deliver humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict. The State Department condemned Tzav 9’s acts of sabotage and violence targeting essential aid, stating such assistance is vital to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Fire in Kuwaiti building housing workers kills 41
A devastating fire in a workers’ accommodation building in Mangaf, Kuwait, claimed at least 41 lives on Wednesday morning. The Kuwaiti deputy prime minister blamed the tragedy on real estate owners’ greed and violations, accusing them of cramming too many workers into inadequate housing facilities. Kuwait, June 12, 2024. REUTERS
Iran approves six candidates for 28 Jun presidential vote
Iran has approved six candidates, mostly conservatives, for the June 28 presidential election to replace Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash. The approved candidates include conservative Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, ultraconservative former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, and one reformist candidate, Massoud Pezeshkian. Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was disqualified again. The elections come amid tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and the ongoing Gaza war between Israel and Iran-backed Hamas. Reuters file photo
Netanyahu says Israel won’t ‘surrender’ after hostages rescued
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said “Israel does not surrender to terrorism” after troops rescued four hostages alive from Gaza Strip militants. The hostages, kidnapped during a music festival attack on October 7, were identified as Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv. Netanyahu vowed to bring home all remaining hostages, both alive and dead, from the militant group Hamas. The October 7 attack had resulted in over 1,000 Israeli deaths and nearly 37,000 Palestinian casualties. AFP
Hajj pilgrimage to start June 14: KSA
Saudi Arabia announced that the annual Hajj pilgrimage will start on June 14, after astronomical observatories spotted the crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic month Dhu al-Hijjah. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken by all able-bodied Muslims at least once. It involves a series of rituals over four days in Makkah and surrounding areas, with the high point on June 15 when pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat. image: Reuters
Gaza hospital says 37 dead in strike on UN school
A Gaza hospital reported at least 37 people killed in an Israeli strike on a UN school, which Israel alleged housed Hamas militants. The strike came amid talks for a truce in the 8-month Gaza war sparked by a Hamas attack on Israel last October. The US called for transparency, while the UN condemned the civilian toll. Spain joined a case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice. Tensions escalated with cross-border violence between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. AFP
Helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi makes rough landing: media
An Iranian helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister made a rough landing on Sunday due to heavy fog in a mountainous area while returning from Azerbaijan. Rescue efforts were hampered by bad weather. Raisi, elected in 2021, has ordered tighter morality laws, overseen a crackdown on protests, and pushed hard in nuclear talks. Though the president wields less power than the supreme leader in Iran’s dual system, Raisi is seen as a potential successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photo: Reuters