Palestinians Say One Dead in Israeli West Bank Raid

 Palestinians remove shattered glass from their apartment that was damaged by the demolition of the apartment upstairs by the Israeli army, that belongs to Palestinian Khaled al-Kharouf, during an overnight army raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians remove shattered glass from their apartment that was damaged by the demolition of the apartment upstairs by the Israeli army, that belongs to Palestinian Khaled al-Kharouf, during an overnight army raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP)
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Palestinians Say One Dead in Israeli West Bank Raid

 Palestinians remove shattered glass from their apartment that was damaged by the demolition of the apartment upstairs by the Israeli army, that belongs to Palestinian Khaled al-Kharouf, during an overnight army raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP)
Palestinians remove shattered glass from their apartment that was damaged by the demolition of the apartment upstairs by the Israeli army, that belongs to Palestinian Khaled al-Kharouf, during an overnight army raid in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (AP)

Palestinian official media said Israeli troops shot a man dead in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday during a raid to demolish the apartments of two detained Palestinian suspects, while the military reported it had opened fire to quell a riot.

"The occupation soldiers fired bullets and tear gas, killing a young man who was hit in the chest," the Palestinian official news agency, Wafa, reported.

The military said in a statement to AFP: "During the demolition, a violent riot was instigated in the area, during which terrorists hurled rocks at the (Israeli) forces who responded with live fire.

"A hit was identified."

The Israeli troops had stormed Ramallah, seat of the Palestinian Authority, to demolish the apartments of two Palestinians who are in custody on suspicion of carrying out an attack in the city earlier this year.

"Suddenly, they arrived and surrounded the neighborhood and then entered the house," Ahmed al-Barghouthi, brother of one of the detainees, told AFP.

"They told us that the house was going to be destroyed with explosives and ordered us to leave even though I'm ill and we have two elderly people in our family."

The Israeli military identified the two detained suspects whose apartments were targeted for demolition as Khaled al-Kharouf and Aysar Barghouthi.

It said the two men had killed Lara Tannous and Amer Mansour in a "terror attack adjacent to the town of Silwad" on January 7.

Israel routinely demolishes the homes of Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks, arguing that such measures act as a deterrent, while critics say they amount to collective punishment.

Violence has surged in the West Bank since war broke out between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on October 7. At least 619 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops or settlers, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian official figures.

During the same period at least 18 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the territory, according to Israeli official figures.



Iraq PM Pledges to Blinken to Protect International Coalition Advisors

PM Sudani meets with heads of security agencies in Baghdad. (Government media)
PM Sudani meets with heads of security agencies in Baghdad. (Government media)
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Iraq PM Pledges to Blinken to Protect International Coalition Advisors

PM Sudani meets with heads of security agencies in Baghdad. (Government media)
PM Sudani meets with heads of security agencies in Baghdad. (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani reiterated on Monday his country’s commitment to protecting advisors from the US-led International Coalition.

He made his remarks hours after reports said security forces had released suspects held in attacking the Ain al-Asad base that houses American troops and advisors.

Sudani received late on Monday a telephone call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was set to visit the Middle East but delayed it over “uncertainty” in the region, according to Axios on Tuesday.

Sudani and Blinken discussed the heightened tensions in the region. A statement from the PM’s office said he “underlined Iraq’s initial position over the real reasons for the instability, which is [Israel’s] ongoing aggression against Gaza.”

He called on “major countries and United Nations agencies to assume their full responsibilities in putting a stop to the crimes being committed against the Palestinian people.”

He also called for violators of international law to be held accountable and tried for crimes against humanity. He demanded an end to “this terrible barbarity and an end to violations of the sovereignty of regional countries.”

Moreover, the PM underscored Iraq’s “commitment to preventing any action that may undermine stability or expose the International Coalition advisors to any danger.”

Sudani underlined the ongoing communication between Baghdad and Washington to end the mission of the coalition in Iraq and establish bilateral security relations that would bolster security and stability.

The State Department said Blinken and Sudani “discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to advance stability in the region and the importance of preventing escalation.”

“Blinken reiterated the importance of Iraq’s responsibility to protect Coalition military advisors from attacks by Iran-aligned militias,” it added.

The officials “committed to continuing to consult one another on issues in the region and to advance the US-Iraq relationship.”

The region has been on edge in anticipation of an attack by Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon against Israel in retaliation to the assassination of Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and top Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut last month.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has held direct contacts with American officials to avert an escalation and prevent Iraq from being dragged into the conflict after the so-called “Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee” declared that it would retaliate to any American attack against Iran that uses Iraqi airspace.

Meanwhile, aide to Sudani, Dr. Hussein Allawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the “strategic contacts between Iraq and the US demonstrate the deep relations between them when it comes to exchanging views on regional affairs.”

“Iraq believes that a ceasefire is key to ending the crisis in Gaza and restoring stability,” he added.

“Iraq is working on preventing itself from getting dragged into an open conflict in the Middle East,” he went on to say, stressing that it was committed to protecting diplomatic missions and International Coalition advisors.

Moreover, he stressed that Iraq is keen on developing its ties with Washington in economic, political, educational, technological, climate and renewable energy fields.

Separately, media reports said security forces released five suspects held over the attack on the Ain al-Asad base in the Anbar province.

Security officials from the Joint Operations Command did not respond to Asharq Al-Awsat requests for a comment.