Israel Strikes Lebanon, West Bank Violence Flares, Global Tensions Rise
Twelve people, including two infants, were killed in Israeli nighttime airstrikes on southern Lebanon, reported the Lebanese National News Agency on Monday. The Israeli military stated the strikes were aimed at "eliminating threats" posed by Hezbollah amid a significant escalation.
In the West Bank, Israel threatened "total war" against the Palestinian Authority if it prepares attacks against Israeli forces or settlements. Meanwhile, Palestinians mourned a young man killed during an attack by settlers on the village of Haja, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. The Israeli military claimed it opened fire during "violent riots."
Nikolaj Mladenov, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned at the Heli Forum in Abu Dhabi that a lack of progress in Gaza, coupled with rising West Bank violence, makes a two-state solution "impossible."
The Pacific island nation of Nauru opened its embassy in occupied Jerusalem, joining a small group of countries supporting Israel's declared sovereignty over the city.
In Yemen, the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of targeting several provinces with airstrikes and cruise missiles amid escalating clashes with government forces.
Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majid Al-Ansari, stated at the Heli Forum that Gulf states must enhance their independence rather than solely relying on the U.S. and other international alliances for security.
Iran's Foreign Ministry warned South Korea against deploying military forces or involvement in U.S. operations in the Strait of Hormuz, citing "grave consequences."
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed deep shock after his conservative party's heavy defeat in local elections to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, vowing to continue reforms. The AfD claimed Merz had become a "great burden" on the country. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned of increasing "extremist danger" globally following the AfD's win, with French Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad calling it a "dangerous moment."
Germany asked the International Court of Justice to dismiss Nicaragua's case accusing it of facilitating genocide in Gaza by supporting Israel. Volkswagen announced one of its factories will be repurposed to produce defense equipment for Israel's Rafael Group.
Russia and North Korea inaugurated their first joint road bridge across their shared border, strengthening ties between the two sanctioned nations. The Kremlin has not ruled out resuming talks with Kyiv, mediated by Washington, to resolve the Ukraine war.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pledged to transform his country's navy into a nuclear-armed force, coinciding with new military drills by U.S. allies.
In the U.S., the average diesel price reached a new record high, driven by the war on Iran, according to the American Automobile Association. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for accountability for deaths in U.S. migrant detention centers and warned that artificial intelligence poses an "existential threat to humanity."
In Ethiopia, Tigray regional authorities deemed the African Union's special envoy, Olusegun Obasanjo, as lacking neutrality in efforts to de-escalate tensions with the federal government.
Nepal observed a national day of mourning for victims of devastating floods, with hopes for survivors trapped in hydropower tunnels.
In Belgrade, large crowds gathered to bid farewell to former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladić, convicted of genocide and war crimes, ahead of a controversial funeral.
