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Pakistan says ‘terror’ attacks in Lebanon ‘manifestation of Israeli adventurism’

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the blasts in Lebanon, saying the “terror attacks” were a “manifestation of Israel’s alarming adventurism in the region, which has endangered regional peace and security”.

“Pakistan reaffirms its support to Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and calls upon the international community to take urgent steps to hold Israel to account on its acts of international terrorism and violations of international law,” ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement.


Hezbollah chief Nasrallah expected to address attacks

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is scheduled to speak at 5pm (14:00 GMT) today. In his highly anticipated speech, he is expected to address the pager and walkie-talkie attacks and how Hezbollah will respond.

Amid fear, Beirut residents trust Hezbollah to handle Israeli aggression

We have been talking to residents of Lebanon’s capital about the increasing tensions in the region following the pager and walkie-talkie attacks.

Sara Berjawi, a 20-year-old student, told Al Jazeera that she believes Israel was behind the attacks.

“Israel is showing off its power, but it is not going to reach any of its goals,” she said at a coffee shop in Beirut. She added that she would be watching Nasrallah later today when he speaks.

“I’m not a Hezbollah supporter, but I’m going to watch the speech,” Berjawi said. Hezbollah “is the only one taking care of the situation”.


Nasrallah speech aimed at ‘injecting tranquility’

Military analyst Elijah Magner says Nasrallah’s speech would be crucial in easing nerves following the device attacks of the past two days.

“Revealing what happened and exposing the reality behind in details, it will indicate really where was the lack of security and the breach and how that has been dealt with,” he told Al Jazeera.

“That will inject tranquility but this is not the end of it; people will be waiting to know what would be his intention afterwards and how he’s going to retaliate,” Magnier said, noting that both Hezbollah and Israel understand that the former’s communications system has not been compromised by the attacks.

“[They] did not blow up the Hezbollah wireless system and certainly not the wire system that 90 percent of Hezbollah communications system relies on,” the analyst continued.

‘That is the rule of the game’

Military and security analyst Elijah Magnier said that Hezbollah currently needs to respond to two kinds of attacks: first, against its fighters; and second, against noncombatants and civilians.

“Because the Israeli sabotage was indiscriminate against medical body personnel, civilians in their homes, solar systems owned by civilians, and did not hit only the combatants,” he told Al Jazeera.

“So this violation of the rules of engagement necessitates a similar response and an intelligence attack would be responded by a similar intelligence attack,” Magnier added.

“That is the rule of the game.”



Around the Network

Muslim Americans shunning Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris: poll

Angry over the US’s position on Gaza, growing numbers of Arab and Muslim Americans are turning away from Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, a poll by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) shows.

While such voters make up a relatively small percentage of the US populace, they could play an important role in decisive battleground states, such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Arizona.

In Michigan, home to a large Arab-American community, 40 percent of Muslim voters now back the third-party candidate Jill Stein, according to the CAIR poll. Eighteen percent back Republican candidate Donald Trump, while just 12 percent support Harris.

Stein, who is running with the Green Party, also leads Harris among Muslims in Arizona and Wisconsin, the CAIR poll showed.

The trend is a sharp reversal from 2020, when Muslim Americans overwhelmingly supported the Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden, according to exit polls.

Abbas meets Spanish PM Sanchez in Madrid

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid.

During the meeting, Abbas discussed financial challenges in the Palestinian territories, ways to boost bilateral ties, and his planned visit to the Gaza Strip, according to Wafa news agency. He also thanked Sanchez for Spain’s recognition of Palestinian statehood, which he said was proof of its “commitment” to Palestinian people’s right to self-determination.

“We also appreciate your efforts in the European Union and in international forums and your role in supporting the implementation of the two-state solution,” Abbas told Sanchez during a news press conference.

Sanchez also urged restraint following the explosives attacks in Lebanon.


“Today the risk of escalation has again dangerously increased. President Abbas and I have been talking about it in Lebanon, so we have to make a new and strong call for restraint, for de-escalation, for peaceful coexistence between countries. In short, to peace,” he told reporters.

Spain, whose prime minister was an early critic of Israel’s war on Gaza, formally recognised Palestinian statehood in May.


France’s Macron condemns Lebanon attacks in call with PM Mikati

French President Emmanuel Macron has held a phone conversation with Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati during which he voiced his “condemnation” for the blasts that killed at least 37 people and wounded several thousand, according to a statement quoted by the NNA news agency.

Macron expressed his “solidarity and sympathy with Lebanon in this painful ordeal” and called on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid an escalation. The French president did not make any direct reference to Israel, which is being blamed for but has not claimed responsibility for the attacks.

For his part, Mikati thanked Macron for his “affection and continuous support for Lebanon” and requested “that a firm stance be taken against the Israeli aggression during the Security Council session scheduled for tomorrow at the request of the Lebanese government”.

Last edited by SvennoJ - 7 hours ago