Israeli strike kills Hezbollah commander in Lebanon

Damage to an apartment building that was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes is shown in Nabatiyeh town, south Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP)
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Damage to an apartment building that was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes is shown in Nabatiyeh town, south Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP)
Israeli strike kills Hezbollah commander in Lebanon
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Mohammed Raad, the head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, speaks during a commemoration on the 40-day anniversary of Hezbollah top commander Fouad Shukur, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in a southern suburb of Beirut, on Sept. 7, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 10 September 2024
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Israeli strike kills Hezbollah commander in Lebanon

Israeli strike kills Hezbollah commander in Lebanon
  • Mohammad Qassem Al-Shaer, “a field commander” in the group’s elite Radwan Force, “was targeted in an Israeli strike on a motorcycle in the Bekaa” Valley
  • 10 civilians wounded in Israeli raids across south Lebanon, Western Bekaa

BEIRUT: An Israeli strike on Tuesday in eastern Lebanon killed a Hezbollah commander, with the group retaliating by firing rockets at Israeli army targets.

Mohammed Qassem Al-Shaer, 47, was targeted as he rode a motorcycle on the Saghbine road in Western Bekaa.

A civilian car passed at the time of the drone strike, leading to one death and two injuries from the attack, according to the Ministry of Health.

Al-Chaer, aged 47, was from Sohmor, Western Bekaa.

Israeli raids also targeted cities and villages that until now had fallen outside the conflict zone, with southern Lebanon facing intense attacks since the morning.

A military drone targeted one of five floors of a building in Nabatieh with more than four missiles, injuring eight civilians, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

The identity of the injured and those targeted is still unknown.

An Israeli military drone later raided an area between Jouaiyya, Wadi Jilou and Mahrouna, targeting it with three missiles and igniting a massive fire.

A drone also targeted the center of Houla’s square.

An Israeli missile struck Khiam in the morning — but failed to detonate — following an Israeli raid at midnight on Monday.

The Israeli army is targeting border villages daily, usually at night, destroying roads and empty residential neighborhoods.

A security source told Arab News that Israel “seeks to form a fire belt in the border region to slow down Hezbollah’s combat movement.”

The source added: “Israel’s hostilities reached 15 km deep into Lebanese territory, targeting villages like Srifa, Froun, Ghandouriyeh and Wadi Al-Houjeir, and focusing its attacks on forest areas and valleys.”

Israel also targeted Lebanese Civil Defense fire brigades, as well as fire services associated with Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement.

The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, MP Mohammed Raad, said that the party opened a support front in Lebanon “in solidarity with Gaza and its people as a preemptive measure to protect Lebanon from Israeli aggression on its land, its sovereignty and its people.”

He added: “The sacrifices and losses we have endured in this regard are far less than the costs we would have faced if the enemy had achieved its goals in Gaza.”

Raad said that Israel had “reached a point where it can penetrate Gaza and destroy it, but it cannot achieve its objectives, establish its presence, or set up the alternative situation it seeks.”

Israel is “aimlessly circling and deteriorating internally at the security, economic, financial and displacement levels,” Raad said.

He highlighted the “burden of exceptional expenses” on Israel’s economy and the “ugly image that has rendered it a pariah entity worldwide.”

Raad said that Israel was now “operating in lost time, perhaps extending to the US elections and their scheduled date.

“This is why we see it moving from northern Gaza to the south, then turning to the West Bank to ignite a fruitless battle, and then threatening to expand northward toward southern Lebanon,” he added.

“However, it cannot meet its commitment to returning all northern residents to their homes.”

At about 2 a.m., Israeli raids hit the town of Aita Al-Shaab in the central sector, causing material damage to property and infrastructure, particularly to electricity and water networks.

The Israeli army also launched flares at night over border villages adjacent to the Blue Line.

Reconnaissance and drone flights continued throughout the night until morning over the towns of Naqoura, Yarine, Jebbayn, Dhayra, Aita Al-Shaab, Beit Lif and Rmeish.

On Tuesday, Hezbollah’s military media also released a video showing footage of its fighters targeting settlements and army bases in northern Israel.

 


Govts must build ‘proper guardrails’ against AI threats, report warns

Govts must build ‘proper guardrails’ against AI threats, report warns
Updated 4 sec ago
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Govts must build ‘proper guardrails’ against AI threats, report warns

Govts must build ‘proper guardrails’ against AI threats, report warns

DUBAI: Artificial intelligence can redefine societies but needs “proper guardrails” to be used for the common good, the head of a top management firm’s AI division has said.

Jad Haddad, partner and global head of Quotient, AI by Oliver Wyman, was speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Thursday.

His firm and the summit co-launched a report, “AI: A Roadmap for Governments,” highlighting the urgent need for governments to develop strategies for the responsible deployment of AI.

“This report highlights the urgent need for governments to act decisively in creating frameworks that not only foster innovation, but also address the ethical and societal risks associated with AI, ensuring it serves the common good,” Haddad said.

Amid rapid evolution in AI, the report underscores both the transformative potential and significant risks the technology poses to society.

With more than one-third of the world’s countries already publishing national AI strategies, the report highlights AI as a strategic technology poised to redefine industries, governance and global competitiveness.

WGS’ managing director, Mohamed Al-Sharhan, said: “The future of AI demands a unified global response.”

The report is a crucial blueprint for policymakers that guides them through the complexities of the technology, Al-Sharhan said.

It also highlights the importance of aligning academic institutions, launching talent programs and establishing public-private collaborations to effectively navigate the complexities of AI adoption worldwide.

The report calls for building robust regulatory frameworks to protect citizens and ensure equitable access to AI technologies.

“Without proper guardrails, AI could become the biggest threat to privacy and democracy that we have ever faced,” Haddad said.


Western allies and Arab countries gather in Paris to discuss Syria’s future amid US aid freeze

Western allies and Arab countries gather in Paris to discuss Syria’s future amid US aid freeze
Updated 7 min 53 sec ago
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Western allies and Arab countries gather in Paris to discuss Syria’s future amid US aid freeze

Western allies and Arab countries gather in Paris to discuss Syria’s future amid US aid freeze
  • Trump’s controversial decision to freeze foreign assistance has raised concerns in Syria, a country that had depended on hundreds of millions of dollars in aid from the US and now left in ruins by a civil war

PARIS: Western allies and Arab countries are gathering in Paris on Thursday for an international conference on Syria to discuss the country’s future after the fall of former Syrian president Bashar Assad and amid uncertainty over the United States’ commitment to the region.
It’s the third conference on Syria since Assad was ousted in December, and the first since President Donald Trump’s administration took over in the US.
Trump’s controversial decision to freeze foreign assistance has raised concerns in Syria, a country that had depended on hundreds of millions of dollars in aid from the US and now left in ruins by a civil war.
The Trump administration is pulling almost all USAID workers out of the field worldwide, all but ending a six-decade mission meant to shore up American security by fighting starvation, funding education and working to end epidemics.
While many Syrians were happy to see the rule of Assad come to an abrupt end in December, analysts have warned that the honeymoon period for the country’s new rulers may be short-lived if they are not able to jumpstart the country’s battered economy.
An end to the sanctions imposed during Assad’s time will be key to that, but sanctions are not the only issue.
Billions in aid needed
More aid is crucial to achieve a peaceful reconstruction during the post-Assad transition. The country needs massive investment to rebuild housing, electricity, water and transportation infrastructure after nearly 14 years of war. The United Nations in 2017 estimated that it would cost at least $250 billion, while some experts now say the number could reach at least $400 billion.
With few productive sectors and government employees making wages equivalent to about $20 per month, Syria has grown increasingly dependent on remittances and humanitarian aid. But the flow of aid was throttled after the Trump administration halted US foreign assistance last month.
The effects were particularly dire in the country’s northwest, a formerly rebel-held enclave that hosts millions of people displaced from other areas by the country’s civil war. Many of them live in sprawling tent camps.
The freeze on USAID funding forced clinics serving many of those camps to shut down, and nonprofits laid off local staff. In northeastern Syria, a camp housing thousands of family members of Islamic State fighters was thrown into chaos when the group providing services there was forced to briefly stop work.
A workshop bringing together key donors from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations, the United Nations and key agencies from Arab countries will be held alongside the conference to coordinate international aid to Syria.
Doubts over US support
Uncertainty also surrounds the future of US military support in the region.
In 2019 during his first term, Trump decided on a partial withdrawal of US troops form the northeast of Syria before he halted the plans. And in December last year, when rebels were on their way to topple Assad, Trump said the United States should not ” dive into the middle of a Syrian civil war.”
Now that Syria’s new leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa is trying to consolidate his power, the USintentions in the region remain unclear.
A French diplomatic official confirmed the presence of a US representative at the conference, but said “our understanding is that the new US administration is still in the review process regarding Syria, it does not seem (the US position) will be clarified at that conference.” The official spoke anonymously in line with the French presidency’s customary practices.
The commander of the main US-backed force in Syria recently said that US troops should stay in Syria because the Daesh group will benefit from a withdrawal.
Since Damascus fell on Dec. 8 and Assad fled to Moscow, the new leadership has yet to lay out a clear vision of how the country will be governed.
The Islamic militant group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, or HTS – a former Al-Qaeda affiliate that the EU and UN consider to be a terrorist organization – has established itself as Syria’s de facto rulers after coordinating with the southern fighters during the offensive late last year.
French organizers said the three main goals of the meeting, which is not a pledging conference, are to coordinate efforts to support a peaceful transition, organize cooperation and aid from neighbors and partners, and to continue talks on the fight against impunity.
The conference takes place at ministerial level. Syria’s interim foreign minister Asaad Al-Shibani has been invited and it will be his first visit to Europe.
Speaking this week at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Al-Shibani underlined the new government in Damascus’ desire to improve relations with the West and get sanctions on Syria lifted so the country could start rebuilding after the ruinous, 14-year war.


Turkish president holds talks with Pakistani premier to discuss Gaza and bilateral issues

Turkish president holds talks with Pakistani premier to discuss Gaza and bilateral issues
Updated 13 February 2025
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Turkish president holds talks with Pakistani premier to discuss Gaza and bilateral issues

Turkish president holds talks with Pakistani premier to discuss Gaza and bilateral issues

ISLAMABAD: Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday at his office in Islamabad to discuss the situation in Gaza and a range of bilateral issues.
They will sign several agreements for boosting trade and economic ties between the nations, officials said.
Erdogan left his hotel amid tight security, and was welcomed by people in traditional Turkish and Pakistani dresses who lined a key city road that had been decorated with Turkish and Pakistani flags. The crowds danced to the beat of drums as the Turkish leader’s convoy passed through the streets.
Erdogan and his wife, Emine Erdogan, were welcomed by Sharif on their arrival at his office. A band played the national anthems of both countries before a ceremony that saw the leaders inspecting a guard of honor.
Erdogan will jointly chair bilateral strategic cooperation talks and the two sides are expected to sign a number of agreements, according to a government announcement.


Hamas to release hostages as planned, apparently resolving ceasefire dispute

Hamas to release hostages as planned, apparently resolving ceasefire dispute
Updated 13 February 2025
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Hamas to release hostages as planned, apparently resolving ceasefire dispute

Hamas to release hostages as planned, apparently resolving ceasefire dispute
  • Hamas suspends handover of Israeli hostages over what it said were Israeli violations of the terms
  • Israel has called up military reservists to brace for a possible re-eruption of war in Gaza

CAIRO: Hamas said Thursday it would release Israeli hostages as planned, apparently resolving a major dispute that threatened the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The militant group said Egyptian and Qatari mediators have affirmed that they will work to “remove all hurdles,” and that it would implement the ceasefire deal.

The statement indicated three more Israeli hostages would be freed Saturday. There was no immediate comment from Israel after Hamas’ announcement.

That would allow the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip to continue for now, but its future remains in doubt.

Hamas had threatened to delay the next release of Israeli hostages, accusing Israel of failing to meet its obligations to allow in tents and shelters, among other alleged violations of the truce.

Israel, with the support of US President Donald Trump, had threatened to renew its offensive if hostages were not freed.

“We are not interested in the collapse of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, and we are keen on its implementation and ensuring that the occupation (Israel) adheres to it fully,” Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua said.

“The language of threats and intimidation used by Trump and Netanyahu does not serve the implementation of the ceasefire agreement,” Qanoua said.

A Hamas delegation led by the group’s Gaza chief, Khalil Al-Hayya, met Egyptian security officials on Wednesday to try to break the impasse.

A Palestinian official close to the talks told Reuters that mediators Egypt and Qatar were trying to find solutions to prevent a slide back into fighting.

In a statement, Hamas said the mediators were exerting pressure for the ceasefire deal to be fully implemented, ensure Israel abides by a humanitarian protocol and resume exchanges of Israeli hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel on Saturday.

Israel has called up military reservists to brace for a possible re-eruption of war in Gaza if Hamas fails to meet a Saturday deadline to free further Israeli hostages.


Governments need to invest in digital infrastructure for the future, says UAE official

Governments need to invest in digital infrastructure for the future, says UAE official
Updated 13 February 2025
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Governments need to invest in digital infrastructure for the future, says UAE official

Governments need to invest in digital infrastructure for the future, says UAE official

DUBAI: Governments need to invest in digital resilience infrastructure not for today but for the future, Deputy Director General for UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority Mohammed Al-Zarooni has said.

Speaking at the World Governments Summit on Thursday, Al-Zarooni referenced how countries responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and said countries that invested in digital infrastructure were able to adapt quickly.

“The UAE had sufficient infrastructure in 2020 to accommodate its school and university students on digital platforms and continue providing them with education,” he added.

Salman Al-Khalifa, National Cyber Security Centre of Bahrain CEO, said trust in digital systems and in governance was important.

“We need to have the utmost trust in these systems, without trust we can’t use them. Ensuring that there is resilience in our systems will contribute to overall efficiency,” he said.

On Tuesday, summit chairman and UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Al-Gergawi said building strong relationships between governments and people was important. “Trust in government (worldwide) stands only at 52 percent,” he said, quoting findings from the Edelman Trust Barometer.

Al-Khalifa discussed his concerns over rapid growth in the artificial intelligence sector and said it was vital governments were prepared.

“AI helps hackers get a hold of information. AI creates an easier way for people to steal information, we need to be prepared,” he explained.

Al-Zarooni emphasized the importance of cybersecurity awareness and said those who did not know the risks would be most susceptible to cybercrime.

“These risks are borderless, they are spread out, without having digital cooperation we can’t achieve full digital resilience. Cybersecurity is not a one-country problem, but a world problem” he concluded.