Blasts Strike Two Egyptian Red Sea Towns

An image from a clip broadcast by Al Arabiya channel of the site where the missile hit in the Egyptian city of Taba (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An image from a clip broadcast by Al Arabiya channel of the site where the missile hit in the Egyptian city of Taba (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Blasts Strike Two Egyptian Red Sea Towns

An image from a clip broadcast by Al Arabiya channel of the site where the missile hit in the Egyptian city of Taba (Asharq Al-Awsat)
An image from a clip broadcast by Al Arabiya channel of the site where the missile hit in the Egyptian city of Taba (Asharq Al-Awsat)

 Projectiles hit two Egyptian Red Sea towns on Friday injuring several people, sources and officials said, showing the risk of regional spillover from the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The explosions hit Taba on the border with Israel and Nuweiba about 70 km (43 miles) further away, two Egyptian security sources told Reuters, saying they were still gathering more information.
There was no claim of responsibility, but Egypt's state-linked Al-Qahera News said the missile that hit Taba appeared to be connected to fighting between Hamas militants and the Israeli military around Gaza, about 220 km (137 miles)miles away.
Egypt's health ministry said six people were injured in Taba, with four already discharged from hospital, after an ambulance facility and residential building were hit.
Witnesses in both places, who asked not to be named, confirmed explosions and smoke rising. Israel's military said it was aware of a security incident outside its borders.
Taba and Nuweiba, both in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, are popular with tourists.

Last weekend, several Egyptian border guards were also injured after being accidentally hit by fragments of a shell from an Israeli tank. Israel apologized for the incident.
 



US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
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US Defers Removal of Some Lebanese, Citing Israel-Hezbollah Tensions

Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)
Smoke billows from a site targeted by Lebanon's Hezbollah, along the northern Israeli border with Lebanon on July 25, 2024, amid ongoing cross-border clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters. (AFP)

The United States is deferring the removal of certain Lebanese citizens from the country, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon amid tensions between Israel and Hezbollah.

The deferred designation, which lasts 18 months, allows Lebanese citizens to remain in the country with the right to work, according to a memorandum Biden sent to the Department of Homeland Security.

"Humanitarian conditions in southern Lebanon have significantly deteriorated due to tensions between Hezbollah and Israel," Biden said in the memo.

"While I remain focused on de-escalating the situation and improving humanitarian conditions, many civilians remain in danger; therefore, I am directing the deferral of removal of certain Lebanese nationals who are present in the United States."

Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah have been trading fire since Hezbollah announced a "support front" with Palestinians shortly after its ally Hamas attacked southern Israeli border communities on Oct. 7, triggering Israel's military assault in Gaza.

The fighting in Lebanon has killed more than 100 civilians and more than 300 Hezbollah fighters, according to a Reuters tally, and led to levels of destruction in Lebanese border towns and villages not seen since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war.

On the Israeli side, 10 Israeli civilians, a foreign agricultural worker and 20 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from both sides of the border.