Diary

ISTANBUL (AA) - Here are the main topics Anadolu's English Desk plans to cover on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 (coverage may change depending on developing/breaking stories)

Israeli aggression against Lebanon

Israel continues to pound Lebanon with relentless airstrikes amid border clashes between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah group.

At least nine people were killed on Friday in Israeli airstrikes targeting towns in southern and eastern Lebanon.

The Lebanese official news agency reported that four Lebanese people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in the southern town of Jebchit in the Nabatieh region.

Five people were killed and two others wounded in an Israeli airstrike targeting a house in the eastern Baalbek-Hermel region, the agency added.

Hezbollah, for its part, announced on Friday several attacks against the Israeli army's sites and soldiers, including two attacks against groups of Israeli soldiers in the Shomera and Ya'ra settlements.

Due to Israeli attacks on Lebanon, which started on Sept. 23, at least 1,351 people have been killed so far, over 3,800 injured, and 1.2 million others displaced, according to Lebanese authorities.

According to Israeli media, 70 rockets were fired from Lebanon towards northern Israel since early morning of Friday, triggering activation of sirens in dozens of towns and settlements in northern Israel.

In the past 48 hours, 4 UN peacekeepers in Lebanon were injured by the Israeli army's shelling on their posts in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL described such attacks on its posts as a "serious development."

Politically, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Friday that the country's Foreign Ministry will submit a request to the UN Security Council for a complete and immediate cease-fire and for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Israeli forces' continued genocide in Gaza

More than a year after the ongoing genocide in Gaza began, Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave continue, killing more people and destroying more infrastructure and buildings.

The Israeli army on Sunday started a military offensive in the northern Gaza Strip, denying fuel trucks from reaching hospitals and risking a total shutdown of medical services in less than a day.

The attack particularly targeted the Jabalia area, aiming to expel Palestinians who have refused to comply with evacuation orders, resulting in severe humanitarian conditions.

The situation at Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip has reached a "catastrophic" level, with many children's lives in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at risk, the Gaza government's media office warned on Friday.

On Friday, at least 16 Palestinians, including children and women, were killed and several others injured in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

The humanitarian situation is declining daily for Palestinians as a result of ongoing attacks and a suffocating siege preventing aid from entering Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army on Friday announced one more soldier was killed in fighting in the southern Gaza Strip.

Anticipated Israeli attack on Iran

Potential Israeli military response to Iran’s missile attack on Israel on Oct. 1.

The situation remains on high alert in Iran, as it vowed a “crushing response” to any Israeli attacks against the country.

The American Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday Iran has threatened to target US-allied Middle Eastern countries if they allow Israel to use their military bases or airspace in an announced "retaliatory" strike.

Tehran has sent out warnings through diplomatic channels that it will retaliate against any Arab state that facilitates a potential retaliatory strike by allowing the use of its territory and airspace, the WSJ reported, citing Arab officials.

West Bank raids

Israeli military raids on Palestinian cities and towns in the occupied West Bank have killed at least 749 people since October last year, including 160 children, and injured over 6,200 others, with over 11,200 taken into custody.

On Friday, the Israeli army prevented Palestinians in Hebron, in the southern West Bank, from performing weekly Friday prayers and continued to close the Ibrahimi Mosque to the Muslim faithful, leaving it open only to illegal Israeli settlers for the third consecutive day.

Red Sea tensions

Red Sea tensions and the possible exchange of attacks between Israel and Yemen’s Houthi group.

Continued Houthi attacks on commercial ships suspected of having links with Israel in the Red Sea and US-led coalition airstrikes on the group's positions in Yemen.

Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops continues in Kursk, Donetsk

Russia and Ukraine continue fighting in the border region of Kursk, where Kyiv began incursion last month, and in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow continues claiming advances on multiple fronts.

Outrage as South African prosecutors drop case against president

Some opposition parties are threatening to pursue private prosecution against President Cyril Ramaphosa after public prosecutors announced they will not pursue criminal charges against him in a case related to a controversial robbery at his private game ranch in 2020.

Haitian prime minister continues official visit to Kenya

Haiti's Prime Minister Garry Conille continues his official visit to Kenya, where he held talks with President William Ruto on Friday.

China's premier to meet Laos leader

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is likely to meet the Laos leader on Saturday before concluding his 4-day visit. Premier Li arrived in Laos' capital Vientiane on Wednesday to participate in the 27th China-ASEAN Summit, the 27th ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit.

Asia-Pacific countries' reaction to Israeli attack on UNIFIL headquarters

Israeli forces carried out an attack on the UN Interim Force (UNIFIL) headquarters in southern Lebanon on Friday. Asia-Pacific nations are likely to react to this latest attack on the UN facility.

SPORTS

UEFA Nations League

Spain to face Denmark in UEFA Nations League’s League A Group 4 duel at Murcia’s Estadio Nueva Condomina. Denmark are at the top spot of the standings with 6 points, while Spain are in the 2nd spot with 4 points.

⁠World Superbike 2024

The 1st race to be held in 11th leg of 2024 Superbike World Championship in Portugal, where Turkish motorcyclist Toprak Razgatlioglu will compete.

SPECIAL REPORT

'No Going Back': How Palestinian struggles turned an Irish comedian into a global activist

By Aysu Bicer

London – Report on Irish comedian Tadhg Hickey's evolution from satire to activism regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The story outlines Hickey’s transition from using comedy to expose political hypocrisy to becoming a prominent activist focused on Irish complicity in the oppression of Palestinians. It highlights his growing involvement in organizing rallies and protests, particularly targeting Shannon Airport for its role in facilitating US military stopovers, which Hickey views as symbolic of Ireland’s involvement in foreign conflicts.

The report features insights from Hickey on his personal transformation, his connection to Palestinian activists, and his critique of Western double standards in response to global crises.