Latest news with #air strike
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Israeli strikes in north and south Gaza leave 14 dead
Four people were killed in an air strike in the Jabalia al-Nazla area in Gaza's north. (AP pic) GAZA CITY : Gaza's civil defence agency said today that Israeli strikes killed 14 people in the north and south of the war-ravaged Palestinian territory. The emergency service said fighter jets conducted air strikes and there was artillery shelling and gunfire in the early morning in areas north of the southern city of Khan Younis. Agency official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said 10 people were killed in two separate strikes in the Khan Younis area, with one hitting a house and the other tents sheltering displaced people. In Gaza's north, four people were killed in an air strike in the Jabalia al-Nazla area, he added. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the agency and other parties. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which asked for exact coordinates to look into the reports when contacted by AFP. The latest strikes came after Israel said it mistakenly hit Gaza's only Catholic church with a 'stray' round yesterday, killing three and provoking international condemnation. On Wednesday, at least 20 people were killed in a crush at a food aid distribution centre in the south of the territory run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas began in the Qatari capital Doha on July 6 to try to agree on a 60-day ceasefire after 21 months of hostilities. The war was sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023 which led to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 58,667 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Syrian media report Israeli strike near violence-hit Druze city
Syrian state-run media say Israel carried out an air strike near Syria's southern Druze-majority city of Suweida late on Sana news agency is reporting that "Israeli occupation aircraft carried out a raid on the outskirts" of the city, without giving any further details. Israel's military has not commented on the confirmed, it would the first Israeli attack in the area since Syrian government forces pulled out following deadly sectarian fighting on Sunday.A monitoring group says nearly 600 people have been killed in clashes in the Suweida province involving the Druze religious minority, Bedouin fighters and government forces. The UK-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR) documented a significant outbreak of brutality in the killings that gripped the province since says that 300 Druze were killed, including 146 fighters and 154 civilians, 83 of whom were "summarily executed" by government least 257 government personnel and 18 Bedouin fighters were also killed, while three Bedouin civilians were summarily killed by Druze fighters, it fighting was sparked by a dispute between the Bedouin and Druze 15 government personnel were reportedly killed in Israel air strikes, which Israel said it carried out to protect the Druze and make the government forces withdraw from was not immediately possible to verify the SOHR's figures. However, security sources put the death toll at 300 and another monitoring group, the Syrian Network for Human Rights said it had documented the deaths of at least 169 civilians. On Thursday, Suweida residents reported scenes of damage and looting, as well as bodies being found in the of fighters from Syria's Islamist-led government began entering the city on Monday, ostensibly to restore order following the clashes between the Druze and Bedouin. But that was followed by an escalation in the fighting and a fracturing of Syria's Druze, whose religion is an offshoot of Shia Islam with its own unique identity and Syrian government announced a ceasefire on Wednesday evening ahead of its one prominent Druze leader, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, rejected it, calling for further fighting until the "total liberation of our province from gangs", referring to government Hajri, whose followers led the fighting against the government's forces, has sought to forge close relationships with Israel. Other branches of Suweida's Druze community have sought to work closely with Syria's new Islamist-led government. There is also a sizeable Druze community in Israel and the occupied Golan Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel intended to continue imposing its interests on Syria with intervention in the clashes was done partly to protect the Druze, Netanyahu said, but also to prevent the Syrian military from deploying in the south of the country."That will also be our policy going forward - we will not allow Syrian army forces to enter the region south of Damascus, and will not allow any harm to the Druze," he Wednesday, Israeli air strikes caused severe damage to the Syrian ministry of defence in Damascus and struck the vicinity of the presidential palace - a dramatic escalation in Israel's repeated attacks on its neighbour since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December last a televised statement on Wednesday evening, Syria's interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa called Israel's attacks an attempt to destabilise his country."We find ourselves in the heart of a battle to protect the unity of our land, the dignity of our people and the resilience of our nation," he said. "The Israeli entity, which has consistently targeted our stability and sown discord since the fall of the former regime, now seeks once again to turn our sacred land into a theatre of endless chaos."Addressing Syria's Druze, he continued: "We affirm that protecting your rights and freedoms is among our top priorities. We reject any attempt - foreign or domestic - to sow division."
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Israeli strike hits Catholic church in Gaza that Pope Francis called nightly
An Israeli air strike has killed two people at a Catholic church in Gaza city that Pope Francis used to call every night for updates on the conflict. Several were also injured in the attack on the Holy Family Church, including parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said two people died and that the church sustained "extensive damage". Official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that seven were wounded. "Targeting a holy site currently sheltering approximately 600 displaced persons, the majority of whom are children and 54 people with special needs, is a flagrant violation of human dignity and a blatant violation of the sanctity of life and the sanctity of religious sites," the Patriarchate of Jerusalem said. "The bombing destroyed large parts of the complex, and those with special needs were forced to evacuate the area, some of whom were unable to receive the respirators they rely on for survival." The Israeli military said it was "aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene". "The circumstances of the incident are under review," it added. "The IDF makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them." Sister Nabila Saleh, who led the Rosary Sisters School in the church compound before poor health forced her to leave the territory last year, said the Israelis "bombarded the church directly". 'There was an attack this morning and four people are hurt,' she told The National from Jordan. She spoke to a parish priest in Gaza on Thursday morning, who confirmed the strike and injuries. In the wake of the strike, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said: "Attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such behaviour.' Italy's Ansa news agency reported that six people were seriously injured, while Father Romanelli, who used to update the late pope on the war, suffered minor leg injuries. Earlier, Sister Nabila told The National that Francis used to call the church every day. On most days, Father Romanelli told CNN, the call lasted about 15 minutes, during which the pontiff would speak to church leaders and Palestinians sheltering at the church. The gesture, for Palestinians, became a daily reminder that Gaza was not forgotten. Pope Francis was unwavering in his stance on the Gaza war. He was one of the most consistent global voices calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted access for aid. The attack is the second time the church compound has been hit in Israeli attacks since the war began. 'It is a very terrible situation,' Sister Saleh told The National. 'I know the situation is bad because they don't have the possibility to respond because of the bombing.' She recalled fear among parishioners in 2023 when she lived in the church compound as Israeli snipers shot dead two women walking from the church to a convent building. 'I'm very scared and anxious,' she said. 'Every day we pray for the people in the church.' The Roman Catholic Church condemned the December 2023 attack that killed two parishioners. The Israeli army denied its snipers were involved. The Roman Catholic Church has often called for an end to the Gaza war. At least 17 people were killed in a separate incident in October 2023 when Israeli bombs hit the nearby historic Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Israeli strike hits Catholic church in Gaza city that Pope Francis called for war updates
An Israeli air strike has hit a Catholic church in Gaza city that the late Pope Francis used to call every night for updates on the conflict. Sources said there were several injuries in the attack on the Holy Family Church, including Parish Priest Father Gabriel Romanelli. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said there were no fatalities but that the church sustained damage. Official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that seven were wounded in the attack on the church, which had been sheltering displaced people. The Israeli army did not immediately comment. 'There was an attack this morning and four people are hurt,' Sister Nabila Saleh told The National from Jordan. 'This time the [Israelis] bombarded the church directly.' Sister Saleh led the Rosary Sisters School in Gaza located in the church compound before poor health forced her to leave the territory last year. She spoke to a parish priest in Gaza on Thursday morning who confirmed the attack and four injuries. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on X that 'Israeli strikes on Gaza also hit the Holy Family Church'. 'The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such behaviour,' Ms Meloni wrote. Italy's Ansa news agency earlier reported that six people were seriously injured, while parish priest Romanelli, who used to regularly update the late pope on the war, suffered light leg injuries. Father Romanelli had earlier told CNN that Francis used to call the church about 8pm every day. On most days, he said, the call lasted about 15 minutes, during which the pope would speak with the church leaders and Palestinians sheltering at the church. The gesture, for Palestinians, became a daily reminder that Gaza was not forgotten. Francis was unwavering in his stance on the Gaza war. He was one of the most consistent global voices calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted access for aid. The attack marks the second time the church compound, which had been sheltering about 400 Christians, has been hit in Israeli attacks since the war began. 'They bombarded the church. It is a very terrible situation,' Sister Saleh told The National. 'I know the situation is bad because they don't have the possibility to respond because of the bombing.' Sister Saleh recalled fear among parishioners in 2023 when she lived in the church compound as Israeli snipers shot dead two women walking from the church to a convent building. 'I'm very scared and anxious,' she said. 'Every day we pray for the people in the church.' The Roman Catholic Church condemned the December 2023 attack that killed two parishioners. The Israeli army denied its snipers were involved. The Roman Catholic Church has often called for an end to the Gaza war. At least 17 people were killed in a separate incident in October 2023 when Israeli bombs hit the nearby historic Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Two dead and many injured in Russian strike on Ukrainian shopping centre
At least two people have been killed and a further 27 injured following a Russian air strike on a shopping centre and market in the town of Dobropillia in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, officials have said. More than 50 shops, 300 apartments and eight cars were damaged in the attack on Wednesday evening, regional governor Vadym Filashkin said on Telegram. In his nightly address, President Volodymyr Zelensky described the strike as "simply horrific" and said there was "no military logic" to it. Russia has not commented. It comes as the US special envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is in Kyiv on a week-long trip to discuss US-Ukrainian co-operation with Zelensky. "The Russians have again deliberately targeted an area where there are lots of people - a shopping centre in the middle of town," governor Filashkin wrote on Telegram on Wednesday. "This time with a 500-kg (1,100-pound) air bomb." Filashkin said the bomb had been dropped at 17:20 local time (14:20 GMT) when the area was busy with people out shopping. Situated 20km (12 miles) from the frontline, and north-east of the city of Pokrovsk - a focal point of Russia's slow advance through the Donetsk region - Dobropillia has been subject to other attacks since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In March, a rocket, drone and missile attack killed 11 people in the town, including five children. Meanwhile, Moscow's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russia's defence ministry had shot down three drones flying towards the capital in the early hours of Thursday morning. He said emergency service were working at the site of the wreckage but he did not mention casualties. Ukraine has not commented on the strikes. It comes after US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Ukraine should not target Moscow with strikes, after the Financial Times reported that Trump on 4 July had privately encouraged Ukraine to escalate attacks on Russia. Russia has escalated its drone and missile strikes across Ukraine in recent weeks, killing more than 230 civilians in June, according to the United Nations - the largest number killed in a month during the three years of war. Trump has been growing increasingly frustrated that his efforts to end the war have not amounted to a ceasefire or a significant breakthrough. Following a meeting with Nato chief Mark Rutte in Washington on Monday, Trump said he was "disappointed" with Vladimir Putin and the fact that his "very nice phone calls" with the Russian president are often followed by air strikes on Ukraine. "After that happens three or four times you say: the talk doesn't mean anything," Trump said. He warned he would impose severe sanctions on Moscow if a peace deal was not reached within 50 days. The US president also announced that the US would send "top-of-the-line weapons" to Kyiv via Nato countries to ensure "Ukraine can do what it wants to do." More on this story Ukrainians unimpressed by Trump's 50-day ultimatum to Putin I'm 'disappointed but not done' with Putin, Trump tells BBC
