Middle East: Hezbollah issues warning to northern Israel – DW – 10/12/2024

Lebanese group Hezbollah has warned Israelis to stay away from Israeli military sites in residential areas in the north of the country.

In a statement published in Hebrew and Arabic, Hezbollah claimed that the Israeli military has bases in neighborhoods of cities like Haifa, Tiberias and Acre.

The group warned Israelis against “being near these military gatherings in order to preserve their lives.”

Hezbollah is an Iran-backed Shiite political party and militant group in Lebanon. It is designated as a terrorist organization by the US, Germany and several Sunni Arab countries. The EU lists its armed wing as a terrorist group.

Border skirmishes between the group and Israeli forces have occurred almost daily since the October 7 Hamas terror attacks last year, with Hezbollah saying attacks on Israel were in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

In September, fighting escalated with Israel conducting airstrikes in various areas including the capital Beirut, some of which killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Earlier this month, Israel began a ground invasion of southern Lebanon. 

Israel says it is attacking Hezbollah so that displaced Israeli citizens can safely return to the north near the border to Lebanon. Some 60,000 were evacuated from northern Israel because of Hezbollah’s attacks. 

Nicaragua is breaking off diplomatic relations with Israel, Vice President Rosario Murillo said Friday, calling the Israeli government “fascist” and “genocidal.”

The government said in a statement that the break in relations was due to Israel’s attacks on Palestinian territories.

Earlier in the day, the country’s parliament, the National Assembly, called on the government to take action regarding Israel.

The move is essentially symbolic, as relations between Israel and the Central American country are virtually nonexistent. Israel does not have an ambassador in the Nicaraguan capital, Managua.

Nicaragua has become increasingly isolated in recent years after President Daniel Ortega cracked down on anti-government protests in 2018. However, Iran is an ally of Ortega’s administration.

zc,dh/lo (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)