Hezbollah leader urges Lebanon's government to cancel Israel talks as battle rages in strategic town Hezbollah's leader has urged Lebanon to withdraw from direct talks with Israel scheduled in Washington.

Hezbollah leader urges Lebanon’s government to cancel Israel talks as battle rages in strategic town

“The opportunity is still there. We call for a historic and heroic position to cancel these negotiations.”

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Israel and Hezbollah clash in strategic Lebanese village ahead of official talks Fierce fighting has erupted in the strategic southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil. Israeli troops appeared to encircle the area while Hezbollah militants launched rockets and artillery to push them ba...

#Lebanon: Israel and Hezbollah clash in strategic Lebanese village ahead of official talks in Washington.

Israeli troops appear to have encircled Bint Jbeil while Hezbollah launched rockets and artillery in an effort to push them back.

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Israeli strike kills Lebanese security forces as Israel and Hezbollah trade fire ahead of talks Tensions have escalated between Israel and Hezbollah, with intensified attacks on Friday. At least 13 Lebanese security personnel were killed in an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon.

Ahead of direct Lebanon-Israel talks:

- Israeli strike in Nabatieh kills 13 Lebanese State Security forces

- Hezbollah claims attack targeting naval base in Ashdod

- Lebanon hopes for negotiations under a truce similar to U.S. and Iran.

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Shock & horror in #Beirut: This building is just one of dozens hit in a rapid series of Israeli strikes w/o warning yesterday

Searches have continued overnight. A man on top of the rubble looks for his missing 23 year-old daughter w/Civil Defense workers.

📍Ain Mreisseh, Beirut

🇱🇧🔴112 people killed in Israeli strikes today across Lebanon, mostly in Beirut. 837 wounded.

This is the latest and not the final count from Lebanon's health ministry, in one of the deadliest days of the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Lebanese social affairs minister tells me moments after widespread Israeli attacks in central Beirut:

- Lebanon wants a seat at the negotiating table to end war. President & prime minister are ready & making calls.

- Widespread incl areas where 10,000s of displaced people are sheltered

🇮🇶🔴 Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah said they decided to release kidnapped American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson

The statement comes after initial obstacles in negotiations

One condition: she leaves the country immediately

She was kidnapped in Baghdad on March 31

Displaced by war, Lebanon's Christians mark Easter far from their homes and churches Many Lebanese Christians are marking Easter far from their homes and churches, displaced by Israel's war with the militant Hezbollah group. The Rev.

“Today, you understand what the cross means, not as an idea, not as a concept, but because you are going through it"

Displaced by war, Lebanon’s Christians mark Easter far from their homes and churches

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Israel says it will strike the Masnaa border crossing between #Lebanon and #Syria, alleging that Hezbollah uses it for military activity.

It is the key border crossing between the two countries.

Photos show the scene in Beirut's Jnah area after an Israeli airstrike hits Lebanese capital BEIRUT (AP) — An Israeli strike hit a building in a Beirut neighborhood just south of the heart of the Lebanese capital overnight.

Photo gallery by @apnews.com photographers showing the scene in #Beirut’s Jnah area after an Israeli airstrike hits Lebanese capital

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Kareem Chehayeb | Substack Middle East journalist for The Associated Press in Beirut, Lebanon. Bedroom guitarist. Find my latest reporting here-- not so much my opinions.

If you’re interested in following up with what I have been reporting on for The Associated Press or watching my live hits with news networks, please consider subscribing to my Substack

You will get regular updates + some additional material from my reporting on the ground

substack.com/@chehayebk

🇱🇧🇺🇳Two more UN peacekeepers were killed today after an explosion of unknown origin destroyed their vehicle in southern Lebanon.

Two others were wounded-- one sustaining severe injuries.

This is the second fatal incident in 24 hours after an Indonesian peacekeeper of the was killed yesterday.

Lebanese fear another occupation as Israel threatens to use Gaza tactics in the south Israel is trading fire with Hezbollah, calling for mass evacuations and sending ground troops deeper into Lebanon.

Lebanese fear another occupation as Israel threatens to use Gaza tactics in the south

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🔴🇱🇧🇮🇷Lebanon withdraws accreditation from Iranian ambassador, declares him persona non grata, and orders him to leave the country by Sunday.

The Israeli military struck a bridge on #Lebanon's southern coastal highway over the Litani River near the coastal city of Tyre.

Fierce fighting in southern Lebanon with Hezbollah has intensified, as Israel continues to strike key pathways over the strategic river.

War has already displaced nearly a million Lebanese, and aid groups warn of a humanitarian crisis Hundreds of thousands of people in Lebanon have fled their homes since Israel issued mass evacuation orders and ramped up its airstrikes on the militant group Hezbollah.

"It's a race against time"

In just over 10 days of war, almost 1 million in #Lebanon are displaced

Many fled for a second time in just over a year & at times took days to find shelter

And this time they worry they'll never return

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Israel dropped clusters of leaflets across Beirut.

One called on Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.

The other resembled a newspaper front-page called "The New Reality" which they said has reached Beirut after "great success" in Gaza.

🔴🇱🇧 Over half a million people (517,000) have been displaced in #Lebanon over the past week in the latest conflict b/w Israel and Hezbollah, the government said

The number is likely higher as the government data comes from the amount of people who registered on their platform

🔴🇱🇧 83 children among almost 400 people killed in one week of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, says Lebanon's health minister.

Israeli military orders immediate evacuations in southern Lebanon as strikes on Beirut intensify Israel has ordered residents of dozens of villages in southern Lebanon to evacuate as airstrikes around Beirut intensify and Hezbollah reports more attacks.

Israeli military orders immediate evacuations in southern Lebanon as strikes on Beirut intensify

with @bmroue.bsky.social for @apnews.com

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🔴🇱🇧The Israeli military has ordered all residents in southern Lebanon to move north of the Litani River.

This is area consists of dozens of villages close to the border.

The Lebanese government said the army has cleared it from Hezbollah military presence in recent months.

🇱🇧❗️More Israeli strikes over Beirut's southern suburbs. More displaced people have reached the capital.

The Lebanese government declared Hezbollah's military activities illegal.

Hezbollah have not commented since claiming responsibility for the rocket attack last night.

Some celebrate in Iran after supreme leader's death, but deep fear and uncertainty remain Some of the jubilation was open and even raucous. People danced in Iranian streets, honked car horns in celebration and screamed joyfully from windows and rooftops over the killing of the country’s su...

Some celebrate in #Iran after supreme leader’s death, but deep fear and uncertainty remain

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Cash-strapped Lebanon finds itself sitting on a gold mine, as precious metal prices surge Tiny Lebanon sits on one of the largest gold reserves in the Middle East and its government is weighing whether to use that stockpile to restore a crippled economy while its citizens are looking at go...

Cash-strapped #Lebanon finds itself sitting on a #gold mine, as precious metal prices surge

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Syrian rapper Al Darwish returns home after 13 years to perform in post-Assad Damascus Hani Al Sawah, a rap artist known as Al Darwish, has returned to Syria after 13 years to perform his political songs for the first time without the Assad dynasty in power.

Syrian rapper Al Darwish returns home after 13 years to perform in post-Assad Damascus

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Rights group warns on failure to deliver justice after sectarian killings in Syria's Sweida Human Rights Watch criticizes the Syrian government for lacking accountability in sectarian violence.

#Syria: @hrw.org warns on failure to deliver justice after sectarian killings in #Sweida

“The government’s acknowledgment of atrocities isn’t enough if those leading and directing abusive forces are shielded from justice" @adamcoogle.bsky.social

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Lebanon's financial recovery will rest on security and political reforms, economy minister says Lebanon's economy minister says the country's efforts to control weapons from non-state groups are crucial for economic recovery.

“We have a credibility gap, we need an international framework to help us solve our problems,” said #Lebanon Economy Minister Amer Bisat in an interview with @apnews.com

“The days in which people help us without us doing our homework are gone.”

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.@LBpresidency Aoun endorsed the army's statement

He called on Israel must stop its attacks, leave occupied areas, & release Lebanese prisoners

Aoun asked countries to only send weapons to state institutions - an apparent reference to Iran which has armed Hezbollah for decades

The second phase for the Lebanese military to deploy and disarm non-state groups will be tricky.

It includes strategic locations in Jezzine provinces, Iqlim el-Teffeh, and the Ain el-Hilwe refugee camp near the port city of Saida.

Lebanese military moves to new phase of disarmament plan of non-state groups like Hezbollah The Lebanese military says it has ended the first phase of its plan to deploy across southern Lebanon and disarm non-state groups, including Hezbollah.

#Lebanon's military said it completed first phase of their plan to fully deploy across southern Lebanon & disarm non-state groups

Officials say the next phase will be in area b/w the Litani and Awali Rivers

No comment yet from Hezbollah or Israel

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