Figure Close to Hamas Survives Israeli Strike in Lebanon

Lebanese army soldiers stand around a  wrecked car following a drone strike in the village of Jadra, between Beirut and Sidon, Lebanon, 10 February 2024. EPA/STR
Lebanese army soldiers stand around a wrecked car following a drone strike in the village of Jadra, between Beirut and Sidon, Lebanon, 10 February 2024. EPA/STR
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Figure Close to Hamas Survives Israeli Strike in Lebanon

Lebanese army soldiers stand around a  wrecked car following a drone strike in the village of Jadra, between Beirut and Sidon, Lebanon, 10 February 2024. EPA/STR
Lebanese army soldiers stand around a wrecked car following a drone strike in the village of Jadra, between Beirut and Sidon, Lebanon, 10 February 2024. EPA/STR

An Israeli drone strike hit a car near Lebanon’s southern port city of Sidon on Saturday, killing several people and wounding two others, security officials said.
The drone strike near the coastal town of Jadra took place about 60 kilometers from the Israeli border, making it one of the farthest inside Lebanon since violence erupted along the Lebanon-Israel border on Oct. 8, a day after Hamas' attack in southern Israel.

The strike targeted a Palestinian figure close to Hamas but he survived, four security sources said, according to Reuters.
Three other people were killed, including one Hezbollah member, the security sources also told Reuters.
One source said the person targeted was close to Saleh al-Arouri, the Hamas deputy chief killed last month in an Israeli strike on a suburb of Beirut.

There was no immediate comment from Israel, but the Times of Israel daily reported that the strike targeted Basel Salah, describing him as a recruiter for Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank.
Drone strikes in Lebanon blamed on Israel have so far killed several officials from Hezbollah as well as the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The previous farthest strike was the Jan. 2 attack that killed Arouri in Beirut.

Earlier, Hezbollah said on Saturday it had seized an Israeli Skylark drone over Lebanese airspace "in good condition.”
The Skylark is a small, unmanned aerial vehicle typically used for surveillance and produced by Israel-based weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.



Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
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Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)

Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain sparked controversy when he revealed that 50,000 Pakistanis have gone missing in Iraq over the years.

He urged the Baghdad government to immediately launch a probe into how the Pakistanis entered Iraq to visit religious sites during the month of Muharram, he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Ummat newspaper.

Islamabad is investigating how people have traveled outside Pakistan through illegal means, he remarked.

The permanent committee for religious affairs and interfaith harmony has since proposed new policies for trips to holy sites in foreign countries, including Iraq.

In Iraq, the minister’s comments drew mockery and condemnation on social media and sparked renewed debate over illegal workers in the country.

Politician Mishaan al-Juburi urged the government to make a statement over Hussain’s comments, warning that they may impact security and the labor force.

Hussain’s comments coincided with Iraqi police announcing the arrest of six Pakistanis in Baghdad on charges of theft.

Previously, military intelligence also announced the arrest of a nine-member Pakistani kidnapping and extortion gang in Baghdad. The gang had kidnapped foreigners for ransom.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi expressed his concern and condemnation over the increasing number of illegal workers in Iraq.

He said his ministry will investigate the disappearance of the Pakistanis.

He confirmed that several tourists, including Pakistanis, have flocked to Iraq in recent days, and many have taken up employment without the necessary legal permits.

He warned that this phenomenon is negatively impacting the national economy.

The ministry will not be lenient in taking the necessary legal measures against the violators, he vowed.

Iraq welcomes all tourists, whether they are here on a religious visit or otherwise, but they must respect local laws and regulations, declared Asadi.

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala.