Category: Middle East

INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mourned the death of an Israeli soldier, Staff Sergeant (res.) Lidor Porat, who was killed in battle in southern Lebanon amid the ongoing military offensive against the Iran-backed group, Hezbollah.

In a statement, Netanyahu conveyed his deep condolences, as well as those of his wife, Sara Netanyahu, to the family of the fallen soldier.

“My wife and I, along with all the citizens of Israel, join in their deep grief and extend our profound condolences to the family of Staff Sergeant (res.) Lidor Porat, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon,” he said.

The Prime Minister also prayed for the speedy recovery of other soldiers injured in the operation, wishing them a swift and complete recovery.

He noted that the deceased and the injured fought with valour to protect Israeli communities from attacks by Hezbollah, and reaffirmed that Israel would continue to take all necessary measures to safeguard its citizens.

“May his memory be blessed,” the statement added.

INTERNATIONAL — 18 April 2026 (NPA) — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has expressed outrage over the killing of two drivers operating trucks contracted to deliver clean water to families in the Gaza Strip.

The organisation said the victims were killed by Israeli fire in an incident that occurred early Friday morning at the Mansoura water filling point in northern Gaza. It extended its condolences to the families of the deceased.

UNICEF noted that two other individuals were injured in the same incident, which took place during routine water trucking operations without any changes in movement or established procedures.

It further explained that the Mansoura water filling point is currently the only operational truck filling facility connected to the Mekorot water supply line serving Gaza City. The facility is used several times daily by UNICEF and its humanitarian partners to maintain critical water distribution for hundreds of thousands of residents, including children.

Following the incident, UNICEF said its contractors had been instructed to suspend on-site activities until security conditions improve.

The organisation called on Israeli authorities to immediately investigate the incident and ensure full accountability. It stressed that humanitarian workers, essential service providers, and civilian infrastructure — including vital water facilities — must not be targeted.

UNICEF also emphasised that protecting civilians and those delivering life-saving assistance is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no immediate response from Israeli authorities about the circumstances surrounding the shooting and whether an investigation into the incident has commenced.

INTERNATIONAL — 15 April 2026 (NPA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) will intensify operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.

In a televised address on Wednesday, Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to press forward with its campaign, including efforts to capture the strategic town of Bint Jbeil, which he claimed is close to falling under Israeli control. He added that Israel would continue to expand its security zone along the border.

Netanyahu also noted that the United States has been keeping Israel updated on its contacts with Iran regarding ongoing ceasefire negotiations. He stressed that Israel’s objectives are aligned with those of Washington. “In anticipation of the possibility that the fighting will resume, we are prepared for any scenario,” he said.

Meanwhile, US–Iran ceasefire talks held in Islamabad earlier this week ended without agreement. After marathon negotiations lasting more than 21 hours, US officials said Tehran refused to accept Washington’s truce terms, while Iran insisted it did not expect a deal in the first meeting. The failure has left the fragile ceasefire uncertain, with the US military warning of possible escalations, including a blockade of Iranian ports.

Consequently, US President Donald Trump ordered the blockade of Iranian ports, cutting off Tehran’s ability to export its main source of revenue and dealing a heavy blow to its economy. Iran, however, has condemned the move, describing it as an affront to international law, vowing resistance.

JERUSALEM, Israel, 11 April 2026 (NPA) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Israel has achieved “historic accomplishments” in its war against Iran and allied militant groups, citing the destruction of nuclear facilities, missile stockpiles, and the elimination of senior Iranian leaders.

In a televised address, Netanyahu told citizens that Israel had faced existential threats from Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other regional actors but had turned the tide through decisive military operations. “They threatened us with destruction, and now they are fighting to survive,” he said, stressing that Israel’s actions had fundamentally altered the balance of power in the Middle East.

Netanyahu highlighted Operation Rising Lion and Operation Roaring Lion as pivotal campaigns. He said Israeli pilots, supported by US forces, struck deep inside Iran, destroying enrichment plants, missile launchers, and heavy water facilities. According to him, these operations prevented Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and neutralized thousands of missiles that could have been launched daily against Israel.

The Prime Minister claimed that Israel’s actions went beyond halting nuclear progress. He announced that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his successor Ali Larijani, and multiple senior figures in Iran’s military and intelligence establishment had been eliminated. Strikes also crippled Iran’s petrochemical plants, steel industry, and gas production facilities, weakening the regime’s financial base. “We crushed the nuclear program. We crushed the missiles. We crushed the regime,” Netanyahu declared.

Netanyahu also pointed to successes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, noting the destruction of more than 150,000 rockets in a matter of hours and the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. He said Israel had created security zones along its northern border to prevent infiltration and protect communities. In Gaza, Israeli forces now control over half of the territory, while in Syria, operations extended to Mount Hermon and the Yarmouk Valley.

The Prime Minister argued that Israel’s show of strength had shifted regional dynamics. He revealed that Lebanon had approached Israel for direct peace talks, conditioned on Hezbollah’s disarmament. He added that other Middle Eastern and international actors were seeking alliances with Israel, drawn by its military power. “Power attracts, just as weakness repels,” he said, claiming Israel had become the strongest regional power and, in some respects, a global one.

Netanyahu credited the alliance with the United States, particularly President Donald Trump, as unprecedented in scope. He said cooperation between the IDF and US forces had reshaped the balance of power in the region. “We initiated, we acted, we attacked,” he said, noting that joint strikes with American B‑2 bombers had destroyed key Iranian facilities.

Concluding his address, Netanyahu saluted Israeli soldiers, pilots, and citizens for their resilience. He praised the sacrifices of the fallen and the wounded, and thanked the public for standing firm. “Israel today is stronger than ever,” he said, vowing to continue operations until all threats are removed and a lasting peace is secured.