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Middle East updates: Israel sends troops to southwest Lebanon

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Israel’s army expanded ground operations to Lebanon’s southwest, as Hezbollah says it has repelled the incursion.

Israel has expanded its ground operations to Lebanon’s southwest Hezbollah says its capabilities remain ‘intact’ Major airlines cancel flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv

Here are the latest developments regarding the Israel-Lebanon escalation, Gaza and the wider Middle East region on Tuesday, October 8:

Major airlines cancel flights to Middle East

Major international airlines canceled flights to the region amid concerns over a wider conflict, with Israel’s commercial hub of Tel Aviv and Lebanon’s capital Beirut most affected.

US airline Delta, Germany’s Lufthansa and Italy’s ITA Airways all canceled flights to Tel Aviv until October 31, while low-budget UK carrier EasyJet extended its flight suspensions until March 30, 2025. Air India has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv until further notice.

The French and Dutch group Air France-KLM extended its flight suspensions to Beirut to October 26, while Turkish airline Pegasus canceled flights to Beirut until October 28. UAE’s Emirates airline canceled flights to Beirut through October 15, while others, like Algeria’s Air Algerie and Qatar Airways, suspended flights to Lebanon indefinitely.

Other cities in the vicinity of the conflict have also been affected. Qatar’s national carrier also suspended flights to Iran and Iraq, while Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling canceled flights to Amman, Jordan until further notice.

A major route connecting Iran and Lebanon has also been suspended, with Iran Air canceling all flights to and from Beirut until further notice.

Hezbollah leader says group’s capability is intact

Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Kassem, said in a televised address on Tuesday that the group’s capabilities were intact and its fighters were repelling Israeli ground incursions despite the “painful blows” the militant group suffered in recent weeks.

Kassem warned that more Israelis will be displaced as the militant group expands its rocket fire deeper into Israel.

“We are firing hundreds of rockets and dozens of drones. A large number of settlements and cities are under the fire of the resistance,” Kassem said.

But Hezbollah’s acting leader also said the group supported the efforts by Lebanon’s Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri to secure a cease-fire. He did not provide any further details on possible conditions Hezbollah demands. The group previously said a cease-fire in Lebanon would be reliant on a cease-fire in Gaza.

Kassem said that Hezbollah is expected to name a new leader to succeed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month, “but the circumstances are difficult because of the war.”

Israel says it began operations in southwest Lebanon

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that ground operations in southwest Lebanon had begun in a move that would expand its incursions to a new zone in its ongoing fight with the militant group Hezbollah.

Iran-backed Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by the US, Germany and several Sunni Arab countries, while the EU lists its armed wing as a terrorist group.

“Yesterday (Monday), the 146th Division began limited, localized, targeted operational activities against Hezbollah terror targets and infrastructure in southwestern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

The announcement comes after Israel’s military struck Beirut’s southern suburbs overnight, saying a senior Hezbollah official responsible for the group’s budgeting and logistics had been killed.

The Israel Defense Forces have also imposed a naval blockade stretching 60 kilometers (37 miles) along Lebanon’s southern Mediterranean coast. The IDF warned civilians that going to beaches or heading out to sea on boats is “life-threatening” until further notice.

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“We no lose o” — VeryDarkMan sings and dances after court hearing against Femi Falana and Falz held today.

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"We no lose o" — VeryDarkMan sings and dances after court hearing against Femi Falana and Falz held today.
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VeryDarkMan’s court hearing against Femi Falana and Falz took place today, and he seems to be celebrating. However, the court actually ruled in favor of Femi Falana, ordering VeryDarkMan to delete defamatory videos about him.

It appears VeryDarkMan had made some allegations against Falana and his son, Falz, which the court deemed defamatory. The court also granted Falana’s request to serve VeryDarkMan with court processes through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju Esq.

Despite the court’s ruling, VeryDarkMan seems to be in high spirits, singing and dancing after the hearing. It’s unclear what the outcome of the case will be, but for now, VeryDarkMan appears to be taking it in stride.

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GUNMEN ATTACK MILITARY CHECKPOINT AT ABIA AND IMO BOARDER, ALLEGEDLY KILL TWO SOLDIERS…

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GUNMEN ATTACK MILITARY CHECKPOINT AT ABIA AND IMO BOARDER, ALLEGEDLY KILL TWO SOLDIERS
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Ekwutosblog gathered that Gunmen attacked an army checkpoint earlier today, Wednesday 13th November, 2024 at Ekenobizi, a border community between Abia and Imo states in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area, killing two soldiers.

A military source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the attack occurred around 6:18 am. The gunmen arrived in a white Lexus (350/400) model, although the exact number of attackers could not be confirmed.

Confirming the incident in a press release on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA said: “In the early hours of today, 13 November 2024, troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, deployed at a checkpoint along the Umuahia – Owerri Road in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, came under attack by faceless group.

“During the attack, the gallant troops were able to repel the assault, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray with gunshot wounds, abandoning one Sienna and one Lexus Jeep used in the attack. However, in the ensuing firefight, two soldiers paid the supreme price.”

The Joint Task Force appealed to residents of the South East, particularly those in Abia State, for credible information to help track down the fleeing attackers and combat criminal elements in the region.

The force reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property in line with global best practices and the rules of engagement.

Kindly follow ekwutosblog on Instagram and Facebook for verified News and Current Affairs in addition to insightful contents that inform, inspire, educate and entertain you always.

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TV chef found dead in hotel aged 52 after criticising Vladimir Putin

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Alexei Zimin has died
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A TV chef who fled to London after his opposition of Vladimir Putoin has been found dead while on a promotional tour

A Russian TV chef who criticised Vladimir Putin has been found dead in a Belgrade hotel

Alexei Zimin, 52, died suddenly on a promotional tour to the Serbian capital. Authorities have said his cause of death is currently “unclear”.

Zimin fled Russia to London after his oppositions of Putin. Zimin was once a popular figure on Russian cooking shows. He also owned Zima restaurant in Soho, which he founded after he had left Russia following Putin’s invasion of Crimea.

In a statement released by Zima magazine today, a spokesperson said: “Alexei Zimin, the project’s editor-in-chief and the chef of the Zima restaurant, has passed away. Alexei was not only a colleague, he was our friend, a close person with whom we were lucky to go through a lot – both good, kind and sad.”

London-based exiled Russian TV chef, editor and restaurateur Alexei Zimin, dies at 52.

It concluded: “Thank you to everyone for the words we received today about Alexei. We are hurting together with you.”

Zimin had also been editor-in-chief of the Russian edition of GQ magazine.

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