Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza
As Israel expands its ground assault into Gaza, the scale and intensity of activity on the Lebanon front has also increased, reflecting Hezbollah’s willingness to support Hamas even at the risk of igniting a broader regional conflict.
“The rules of engagement, which have been so far relatively respected, are being increasingly tested day after day, so no one can dismiss the risk of a wider escalation,” said Karim Bitar, professor of international relations at Saint Joseph University in Beirut.
Hezbollah said on Tuesday it had “killed and wounded” the crew of a Merkava tank near northern Israel's Pranit barracks. It was not immediately known how many soldiers were killed in the attack, as the Israeli military does not immediately acknowledge fatalities.
Overnight, Israeli forces struck the outskirts of several southern Lebanese towns – Ramia, Aita Al Shaab and Labouneh – with white phosphorous and artillery.
The Israeli military said the attack had been aimed at Hezbollah military positions, including a weapons cache.
The use of white phosphorous by Israel in its attacks on south Lebanon has been documented on several occasions by rights group Amnesty International. Its use is banned under international law.
Although Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire almost daily since the conflict began, the cross-border bombardment has significantly intensified since last week, after Israel announced the “second stage” of its war on Hamas.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels also claimed to have launched “a large batch of ballistic and cruise missiles and a significant number of drones” towards Israel’s southern city of Eilat on Tuesday – the third such operation claimed by the rebel group.
Gaza invasion a 'red line' in 'unity of fronts' strategy
“We have seen a widening of the geographic area in which the military operations are happening,” Mohanad Hage Ali, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Middle East Centre in Beirut, told The National.
Since 2021, Hezbollah and its allies have employed a strategy commonly referred to as the “unity of fronts”, in which the respective groups would pool resources, tactics and weapons, Mr Ali explained.
The strategy saw them form a “a Nato of non-state actors, if you will, in which they would all join in if attacked by Israel and that would deter Israel from launching attacks against these organisations”.
“So what we're seeing now in south Lebanon has been in the works for years,” he explained.
“Hezbollah has to step in to try and draw a red line around the invasion of the Gaza Strip and destruction of Hamas.”
The unity of fronts strategy has also been enacted in Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthis have launched attacks on Israel over the past three weeks, and in Iraq, where Iran-backed groups have attacked US military instalments.
How has the Israel-Lebanon front evolved?
The gradually escalating conflict has been more or less continuous since hostilities began on October 8, punctuated by brief lulls in the bombardment.
Three weeks ago, when the conflict first erupted between Israel and armed militant groups in Lebanon led by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed party primarily launched attacks on Israeli military instalments – intelligence watchtowers, surveillance infrastructure and tanks. The vast majority of casualties were soldiers.
Hezbollah has also allowed Palestinian groups such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas to cross into Israel for limited operations.
The exchange of fire was largely tit for tat: whenever Israeli shelling killed civilians, Hezbollah or its allies would also attack civilians. If an especially high death toll was announced in Gaza following intense aerial bombardment by Israel, groups in south Lebanon would, in turn, intensify their own attacks.
But the tactics have since evolved.
Hezbollah and its allies intensified attacks on Israel following the latter’s high-intensity bombardment of Gaza last week, which was accompanied by a ground operation conducted under the cover of a total communications blackout.
Israel, in turn, has responded by striking up to 20km into Lebanon in areas such as Jezzine, no longer limiting itself to the border – a significant boost in hostilities.
Hezbollah's aims
Hezbollah aims to prevent a military invasion of the Gaza Strip, or at least keep Israel too occupied to focus its full attention on the enclave.
The group is sending the message that “it will step if will step in and will be part of this conflict if Israel continues its ground invasion in Gaza”, Mr Ali explained.
“And secondly, it's also an attempt to engage as many Israeli soldiers in the north to divert some of the resources away from the Gaza Strip,” he continued.
“Hezbollah will keep phasing its escalation to try an avoid a war, as it tries to send the message to Israel that it needs to limit its operation in the Gaza Strip, or this will get out of hand.”
To date, at least 50 people have been killed in Lebanon since the conflict with Israel erupted – mostly Hezbollah fighters and some fighters from allied groups. There have been four civilian casualties, including Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah.
Most of Hezbollah’s fighters have been killed in Israeli drone strikes, leading the powerful group to unveil its surface-to-air missile capability for the first time on Sunday when it downed an Israeli drone.
Eight Israelis have been killed in attacks coming from Lebanon, the vast majority of them soldiers.
Thousands of people have evacuated or been displaced on both sides of the border.
AL%20BOOM
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Black Panther
Dir: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o
Five stars
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The%20specs
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Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20Profile
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
RoboCop%3A%20Rogue%20City
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETeyon%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENacon%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsole%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlayStation%205%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20X%2FS%20and%20PC%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Representing%20UAE%20overseas
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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SCORES
Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
(Caleb Jewell 38, Sean Willis 35, Karl Carver 2-29, Josh Shaw 2-39)
Most F1 world titles
7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)
4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
THE%20HOLDOVERS
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Qosty Byogaani
Starring: Hani Razmzi, Maya Nasir and Hassan Hosny
Four stars
Which honey takes your fancy?
Al Ghaf Honey
The Al Ghaf tree is a local desert tree which bears the harsh summers with drought and high temperatures. From the rich flowers, bees that pollinate this tree can produce delicious red colour honey in June and July each year
Sidr Honey
The Sidr tree is an evergreen tree with long and strong forked branches. The blossom from this tree is called Yabyab, which provides rich food for bees to produce honey in October and November. This honey is the most expensive, but tastiest
Samar Honey
The Samar tree trunk, leaves and blossom contains Barm which is the secret of healing. You can enjoy the best types of honey from this tree every year in May and June. It is an historical witness to the life of the Emirati nation which represents the harsh desert and mountain environments
The Gandhi Murder
- 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
- 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
- 7 - million dollars, the film's budget
RESULTS
Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) beat Azizbek Satibaldiev (KYG). Round 1 KO
Featherweight: Izzeddin Farhan (JOR) beat Ozodbek Azimov (UZB). Round 1 rear naked choke
Middleweight: Zaakir Badat (RSA) beat Ercin Sirin (TUR). Round 1 triangle choke
Featherweight: Ali Alqaisi (JOR) beat Furkatbek Yokubov (UZB). Round 1 TKO
Featherweight: Abu Muslim Alikhanov (RUS) beat Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG). Unanimous decision
Catchweight 74kg: Mirafzal Akhtamov (UZB) beat Marcos Costa (BRA). Split decision
Welterweight: Andre Fialho (POR) beat Sang Hoon-yu (KOR). Round 1 TKO
Lightweight: John Mitchell (IRE) beat Arbi Emiev (RUS). Round 2 RSC (deep cuts)
Middleweight: Gianni Melillo (ITA) beat Mohammed Karaki (LEB)
Welterweight: Handesson Ferreira (BRA) beat Amiran Gogoladze (GEO). Unanimous decision
Flyweight (Female): Carolina Jimenez (VEN) beat Lucrezia Ria (ITA), Round 1 rear naked choke
Welterweight: Daniel Skibinski (POL) beat Acoidan Duque (ESP). Round 3 TKO
Lightweight: Martun Mezhlumyan (ARM) beat Attila Korkmaz (TUR). Unanimous decision
Bantamweight: Ray Borg (USA) beat Jesse Arnett (CAN). Unanimous decision
SANCTIONED
- Kirill Shamalov, Russia's youngest billionaire and previously married to Putin's daughter Katarina
- Petr Fradkov, head of recently sanctioned Promsvyazbank and son of former head of Russian Foreign Intelligence, the FSB.
- Denis Bortnikov, Deputy President of Russia's largest bank VTB. He is the son of Alexander Bortnikov, head of the FSB which was responsible for the poisoning of political activist Alexey Navalny in August 2020 with banned chemical agent novichok.
- Yury Slyusar, director of United Aircraft Corporation, a major aircraft manufacturer for the Russian military.
- Elena Aleksandrovna Georgieva, chair of the board of Novikombank, a state-owned defence conglomerate.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl turbo
Power: 435hp at 5,900rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,800-5,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Price: from Dh498,542
On sale: now
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Final results:
Open men
Australia 94 (4) beat New Zealand 48 (0)
Plate men
England 85 (3) beat India 81 (1)
Open women
Australia 121 (4) beat South Africa 52 (0)
Under 22 men
Australia 68 (2) beat New Zealand 66 (2)
Under 22 women
Australia 92 (3) beat New Zealand 54 (1)
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
The Greatest Royal Rumble card
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto
