Middle East & North Africa

BEIRUT, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli drone on Saturday morning launched several missiles toward an armed group at a border point in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua.

The unnamed sources added that the drone flew for several minutes along the borderline and then launched several air-to-surface missiles towards the axis of Hunin Hill in the central sector of the border area.

Initial information indicated that the drone targeted three armed individuals trying to approach the border fence separating Lebanon and Israel on this axis.

KHIAM, Lebanon (AP) — A Reuters videographer killed in Israeli shelling of southern Lebanon was laid to rest in his hometown Saturday in a funeral procession attended by hundreds of people.

Draped in a Lebanese flag, Issam Abdallah’s body was carried on a stretcher through the streets of the southern town of Khiam, from his family’s home to the local cemetery.

Dozens of journalists and Lebanese lawmakers attended the funeral.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin assured Israel that “we have your back” as he and America’s top diplomat met Friday with Israeli and Arab leaders. There was no indication the U.S. was trying to prevent an expected Israeli ground offensive into Gaza that could worsen a humanitarian crisis for the 2.3 million Palestinians trapped in the blockaded territory.

The visits to the Middle East by Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken came as Israel escalated its war against Hamas militants in response to their shocking and brutal rampage last weekend.

14 October 2023; AA: Thousands of demonstrators have gathered in central London on Saturday for a pro-Palestine protest, voicing their solidarity with the people of Palestine and demanding an immediate end to Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

The city's streets were filled with a sea of demonstrators, with many holding placards that read "Free Palestine" and draped in the Palestinian flag.

14 October 2023; AA: The United States has asked Israel to delay its ground operation in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media reports.

“The United States has asked Israel to postpone its ground offensive until the establishment of a humanitarian corridor,” daily Jerusalem Post reported, citing the public Israeli Broadcasting Corporation.

According to the report, “it was unclear what the Israeli response was to the request.”

14 October 2023; AA: The number of Palestinians killed by a massive Israeli air assault against the Gaza Strip has risen to 2,215, the Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry said that 724 children and 458 women were among the people killed in the Israeli attacks.

The ministry also said that the number of wounded has risen to 8,714, including 2,450 children and 1,536 women.

14 October 2023; AA: The people of Gaza must have safe and urgent access to humanitarian aid, stressed the Turkish foreign minister and Egyptian president in a meeting on Saturday, said the Egypt Presidency in a statement.

Türkiye’s Hakan Fidan and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi discussed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, said the presidency.

14 October 2023; AA: The Israeli army said air defenses intercepted two flying aircraft overnight Friday above the northern city of Haifa. 

A statement said the aircraft were shot down after air-raid sirens blared near the Arab-majority city of Shefa-Amr in Israel.

No injuries were reported.

14 October 2023; AA: Thousands of Palestinians have taken shelter at the Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, from ongoing Israeli airstrikes, a hospital official said Saturday. 

“Around 35,000 residents of Gaza take shelter at the hospital from the Israeli aggression,” Director Mohamed Abu Slima said on Facebook.

“The population are in total panic and fear,” he said, adding families set up their tents in the medical complex “for safety.”

14 October 2023; AA: A third Turkish plane carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza Strip civilians arrived in Egypt on Saturday.

The plane landed at El Arish International Airport in Egypt, which neighbors the embattled strip and has allocated it for humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The military aircraft, in collaboration with the National Defense Ministry, Turkish Red Crescent, and Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), is delivering much-needed aid to the people of Gaza.