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Israel Says Stopped Surface-to-air Missile Launched from Lebanon

A picture taken from Lebanese town of Marjeyoun shows smoke billowing in the contested border area of Shebaa Farms on October 14, 2023, during a cross-border exchange between Lebanon and Israel. (AFP)
A picture taken from Lebanese town of Marjeyoun shows smoke billowing in the contested border area of Shebaa Farms on October 14, 2023, during a cross-border exchange between Lebanon and Israel. (AFP)
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Israel Says Stopped Surface-to-air Missile Launched from Lebanon

A picture taken from Lebanese town of Marjeyoun shows smoke billowing in the contested border area of Shebaa Farms on October 14, 2023, during a cross-border exchange between Lebanon and Israel. (AFP)
A picture taken from Lebanese town of Marjeyoun shows smoke billowing in the contested border area of Shebaa Farms on October 14, 2023, during a cross-border exchange between Lebanon and Israel. (AFP)

Israel's military said on Saturday it had stopped a surface-to-air missile fired from Lebanon at one of its drones.

The Israeli army and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon have exchanged fire on a daily basis since the start of the Gaza conflict three weeks ago, the biggest flare-up on the Lebanese-Israeli frontier since the two sides fought a war in 2006.

Israel's military said on Saturday it had "thwarted a surface-to-air missile that was fired from Lebanon" towards an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It said the military had responded by "striking the origin of the missile's fire".

According to Reuters, there was no immediate comment from Hezbollah, which has said that, as of Friday, 47 of its fighters had been killed in clashes along the frontier.

Israel's army said earlier this week seven of its soldiers had been killed since the Oct. 7, when Palestinian group Hamas launched a deadly attack on Israeli soil and Israel responded with heavy strikes on Gaza.

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Barzani in Baghdad for ‘Decisive Settlement’ after ‘Exceptional Welcome'

Baghdad shows great interest in Barzani’s visit (government media)
Baghdad shows great interest in Barzani’s visit (government media)
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Barzani in Baghdad for ‘Decisive Settlement’ after ‘Exceptional Welcome'

Baghdad shows great interest in Barzani’s visit (government media)
Baghdad shows great interest in Barzani’s visit (government media)

The Iraqi government and the Coordination Framework parties welcomed the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, with an exceptional reception, as shown in photos published by official websites.
Barzani arrived in Baghdad, ending a 6-year rupture imposed by the deep disputes between Erbil and the federal government, over a wide range of fundamental matters.
At the beginning of his visit, Barzani met with Prime Minister Mohammad al-Sudani, before holding talks with a large number of officials and leaders of political parties and blocs.
“My visit to Baghdad aims to strengthen the efforts made by the Prime Minister which led to a real breakthrough between the federal government and the region,” he said during his meeting with Sudani and other Iraqi officials.
He pointed to “constructive” dialogue and “identical views” regarding internal and regional issues.
For his part, Sudani emphasized the importance of Barzani’s visit to Baghdad.
“We held a constructive and purposeful dialogue on various internal issues and regional developments,” he stated.
Barzani also met with the head of the Judicial Council. A press statement said the two officials “discussed important legal and judicial files related to developing the work of the judiciary in the Kurdistan region.”
Later on Wednesday, the Iraqi prime minister threw a banquet in honor of Barzani, a government statement said. Footage published by government media showed the presence of prominent leaders in the Coordination Framework, including Nouri al-Maliki and Ammar al-Hakim.
For its part, the Coordination Framework welcomed Barzani’s visit. Coalition member Ayed Al-Hilali said that the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party came to Baghdad carrying “many solutions,” local media reported.
“Barzani’s visit at this time is very important for resolving the outstanding problems between Baghdad and Erbil... and for bringing viewpoints closer on many disputed issues,” he remarked.
Relations between Baghdad and Erbil have witnessed relative improvement since May, when the Federal Court overturned a previous ruling to abolish the “quota” for minorities in the regional parliament elections and paved the way for the return of the Kurdistan Democratic Party to the electoral race.
Meanwhile, the media advisor to the leader of the Democratic Party, Kifah Mahmoud, stressed that the relationship between Erbil and Baghdad was never interrupted, as mutual visits between the two sides took place throughout this period.
However, he told Asharq Al-Awsat: “The relationship was marred by serious complications that reached their peak after Baghdad used the armed forces in the political conflict with the region, as happened in the invasion of Kirkuk and the rest of the disputed areas in 2017.”
Mahmoud agreed that Barzani’s visit would constitute a “decisive settlement” by the Kurdish leader with the political officials in Baghdad, and would pave the way for addressing outstanding problems regarding the Nineveh Provincial Council, regional elections and security conditions.