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Syria’s Homs-Damascus Highway Temporarily Cut Off after Israeli Strike, SANA Says

A man rides a motorbike past damaged buildings in Homs, Syria November 7, 2024. (Reuters)
A man rides a motorbike past damaged buildings in Homs, Syria November 7, 2024. (Reuters)
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Syria’s Homs-Damascus Highway Temporarily Cut Off after Israeli Strike, SANA Says

A man rides a motorbike past damaged buildings in Homs, Syria November 7, 2024. (Reuters)
A man rides a motorbike past damaged buildings in Homs, Syria November 7, 2024. (Reuters)

Syria's main Homs-Damascus highway was temporarily cut off after an Israeli strike targeted an aid gathering center for displaced Lebanese south of the city of Homs, the Syrian state news agency SANA reported on Monday.

SANA said earlier there were initial reports of an Israeli attack on the Chenchar area in Homs' southern countryside in central Syria.

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Arab World

Israel Military Says Its Tank Fire Hit UN Lebanon Base, Regrets Incident

United Nations peacekeepers with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) drive past a destroyed healthcare center building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese town of Burj Qalawiya on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
United Nations peacekeepers with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) drive past a destroyed healthcare center building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese town of Burj Qalawiya on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
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Israel Military Says Its Tank Fire Hit UN Lebanon Base, Regrets Incident

United Nations peacekeepers with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) drive past a destroyed healthcare center building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese town of Burj Qalawiya on March 14, 2026. (AFP)
United Nations peacekeepers with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) drive past a destroyed healthcare center building in the aftermath of an Israeli strike in the southern Lebanese town of Burj Qalawiya on March 14, 2026. (AFP)

Israel's military on Wednesday acknowledged that its tank fire hit a UN position in southern Lebanon on March 6, wounding Ghanaian peacekeepers, an incident that underscores the growing risks as Israeli operations expand.

Initial findings by an internal UN inquiry had suggested Israel was behind the attack, a Western military source had told Reuters on Tuesday.

The UN peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel - an area that is at the heart of clashes between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.

The mission, which will be halted at the end of 2026, has been sporadically caught in the crosshairs of both Israel and Hezbollah over the last couple of years, but with Israel considering a broader ground operation, the risks could be greater in the coming weeks.

In a statement to Reuters, Israel's military acknowledged its troops were behind the incident, but said they had responded to ‌anti-tank missile fire ‌from Hezbollah, which had moderately wounded two of its soldiers.

"A comprehensive investigation concluded in ‌recent ⁠days determined that the ⁠fire that hit the UNIFIL personnel was mistakenly carried out by the Israeli troops that misidentified the UNIFIL troops as the source of the anti-tank fire moments earlier," it said.

"The Israeli army regrets the incident and has conveyed its apologies through the appropriate channels to Ghana and the United Nations. The findings of the investigations have been disseminated within the army to prevent recurrence of similar incidents."

Lebanon was pulled into the war in the Middle East when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel that ignited a new Israeli offensive against the group.

THREE SHELLS FIRED FROM ISRAELI TANK

According to the Western source, the preliminary conclusions led by UNIFIL’s Force Commander Reserve with support ⁠from explosive ordnance disposal specialists indicated that three strikes at the al-Qawzah base were direct ‌hits from the main gun of an Israeli battle tank.

They were fired using ‌120-mm M339 HE-MP-T shells, the source said.

"Israeli involvement in the attack against UNIFIL is undeniable, given that these munitions are manufactured by Israel ‌Military Industries (IMI)," the source said.

The findings of UNIFIL's probe have not been previously reported. UNIFIL had said on March ‌6 that Ghanaian peacekeepers were wounded amid heavy firing and called the incident "unacceptable," but did not say at the time who was responsible.

"That investigation is not yet complete. Once it is finalized, it will be shared with the parties, per usual practice," said UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel.

"Nonetheless, we reiterate the obligation of all actors to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and avoid harm to civilians. Any ‌deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a violation of resolution 1701."

The Lebanese prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request ⁠for comment.

Highlighting the concerns surrounding ⁠UN peacekeepers, UNIFIL said on Sunday that another group of peacekeepers were likely fired upon earlier that day on three separate occasions in southern Lebanon, "likely by non-state armed groups." It said no peacekeepers were injured.

UNIFIL ABILITY TO CARRY OUT MISSION TESTED

The M339 HE-MP-T round can be used in anti-personnel, anti-helicopter, anti-materiel, anti-armor and anti-structure roles.

The shots were fired within a five-minute window, indicating repeated fire rather than a single stray round, the source said, adding that the base’s location and coordinates were well known to all parties operating in the area, raising serious concerns over the safety of UN personnel.

Three Ghanaian soldiers were wounded, according to the Ghanaian army.

"This escalation, far from being isolated, is part of a worrying dynamic, severely testing UNIFIL’s ability to carry out its peacekeeping mission," the source said.

The Israeli military occupies five posts within Lebanon and despite a ceasefire last year had frequently carried out airstrikes in the country's south that it says are targeting Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

UN Security Council Resolution 1701, among other provisions, states that no armed forces should be operating in southern Lebanon except the UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese military.

Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah of trying to rearm and the Lebanese armed forces of failing to disarm the group.

Arab World

Iraqi Security Official Says Drone Hits US Embassy in Baghdad

Smoke and fire rise during reported drone and rocket strikes at the US embassy, according to Iraqi security sources, in Baghdad, Iraq, in this still image obtained from a social media video released March 17, 2026. Social Media via REUTERS
Smoke and fire rise during reported drone and rocket strikes at the US embassy, according to Iraqi security sources, in Baghdad, Iraq, in this still image obtained from a social media video released March 17, 2026. Social Media via REUTERS
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Iraqi Security Official Says Drone Hits US Embassy in Baghdad

Smoke and fire rise during reported drone and rocket strikes at the US embassy, according to Iraqi security sources, in Baghdad, Iraq, in this still image obtained from a social media video released March 17, 2026. Social Media via REUTERS
Smoke and fire rise during reported drone and rocket strikes at the US embassy, according to Iraqi security sources, in Baghdad, Iraq, in this still image obtained from a social media video released March 17, 2026. Social Media via REUTERS

An explosion was heard in Baghdad early Wednesday, an AFP journalist said, as Iraqi officials reported a drone and rocket attack targeting the US embassy.

The latest explosion came hours after multiple blasts were heard across the Iraqi capital, where a witness told AFP he saw detonations likely caused by air defenses intercepting projectiles over the embassy.

Diners at a restaurant in the city seemed undisturbed by the initial sounds of the blasts.

Another witness saw a fire on the edge of the embassy grounds from her balcony, and a security official said the blaze was caused by a drone.

"The embassy was the target of a drone and rocket attack," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

A general view of the US embassy in the Green Zone of Baghdad, Iraq, 17 March 2026. EPA/Ceerwan Aziz

Another drone, targeting a US diplomatic and logistics center at Baghdad's airport, was shot down, according to another security official.

Hours later, an AFP journalist heard another explosion, with a security official saying "a drone directly hit the embassy".
The official did not specify whether there had been any casualties or damage.

Arab World

Hamas Holds Consultations in Cairo to Revive Gaza Agreement

Palestinians shop at a market in preparation for Eid al-Fitr in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday. March 17, 2026. (AP)
Palestinians shop at a market in preparation for Eid al-Fitr in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday. March 17, 2026. (AP)
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Hamas Holds Consultations in Cairo to Revive Gaza Agreement

Palestinians shop at a market in preparation for Eid al-Fitr in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday. March 17, 2026. (AP)
Palestinians shop at a market in preparation for Eid al-Fitr in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Tuesday. March 17, 2026. (AP)

Hamas Holds Consultations in Cairo to Revive Gaza Agreement

With Israel preoccupied with the war on Iran, Hamas has kicked off consultations in Cairo to overcome obstacles in implementing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

The second phase was supposed to start in mid-January, but has since stalled for various reasons, including the war on Iran.

Experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hamas officials are seeking new ways forward that would set the agreement on the right path, put a stop to Israeli violations and reach solutions to daily crises caused by the Israeli siege on the enclave.

Hamas officials held a series of meetings with Egyptian intelligence members and United Nations envoy Nikolay Mladenov that tackled political and field developments in Gaza, reported Egyptian and Qatari media. Egypt and Qatar have played the role of mediator in reached the ceasefire.

Two sources close to Hamas told Asharq Al-Awsat that the movement’s delegation was led by Nizar Awadallah and includes leading Hamas member Ghazi Hamad.

They discussed the Israeli violations, efforts to merge Hamas members with the police, operating the Rafah border crossing and the Gaza committee that is supposed to take over control of the enclave from Hamas.

The sources revealed that Hamas’ disarmament was on the table, but discussions over it will be resumed once Palestinian police and international stabilization forces are deployed in Gaza.

A member of the committee told Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday that it did not meet with the Hamas delegation, declining to name the reason.

‘Board of Peace’

Three sourced told Reuters on Monday that envoys from US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" have met representatives of Hamas in Cairo in an effort to safeguard the Gaza ceasefire, under serious strain since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran.

The weekend meeting is the first publicly reported since the start of the Iran war between the movement and the board, a new international body personally headed by Trump, which has been tasked with overseeing post-war Gaza.

Following the meeting, Israel announced on Sunday that it would soon reopen the sole crossing for pedestrians between Gaza and Egypt, shut since the Iran bombing campaign began. One of the sources said he believed the Israeli announcement was a direct result of the meeting between Hamas and the board.

Prior to the war in Iran, Trump's plan for Gaza was his flagship initiative for ‌the Middle East.

The ‌sources said the Hamas representatives warned the board that the movement ‌could ⁠back away from ⁠its previous promises under the Gaza ceasefire if Israel maintains new restrictions on Gaza imposed during the Iran war.

Israel shut Gaza's borders after the war's launch on February 28, saying crossings could not be operated safely. It later resumed the limited flow of goods and aid but kept shut the sole crossing for pedestrians into Egypt, at Rafah on Gaza's southern edge. On Sunday it announced it would reopen the crossing later this week following a "security assessment".

Reuters has previously reported that talks on the disarmament of Hamas - meant to be a focus of the next phase of Trump's plan - have been ⁠on hold since the start of the Iran war.

Further meetings expected this week

One ‌of the sources said Trump's board was represented at the talks with ‌Hamas by Aryeh Lightstone, an American aide to Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff. The other two sources said meetings that included ‌Lightstone were on the agenda although they were unable to confirm whether Lightstone had attended yet.

Further meetings ‌were expected this week. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

A US official said that Lightstone had attended Gaza-related meetings in Cairo in the past several days, without confirming whether he met with the Hamas delegation. US negotiators were continuing to meet with regional partners to fulfil Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza, the US official added.

Israel's ‌government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether its decision to reopen the Rafah crossing was a result of the Cairo meeting. ⁠Hamas declined to comment.

Continued Israeli strikes on Gaza

Trump's plan for Gaza began with an October ceasefire that left Israel controlling more than half the enclave's territory, with nearly all its more than 2 million people crammed into a narrow strip of land under Hamas control.

The initiative had appeared to gain momentum in the month leading up to the war with Iran, including new pledges for reconstruction and the reopening of Rafah.

Israel's military has continued to strike Gaza during the broader regional war, including attacks on Sunday that killed 12 people, including nine police officers. The military has cited threats or fire by Hamas for its attacks.

A Palestinian official with knowledge of the Cairo talks said that Hamas believed Israel was exploiting the war on Iran to slip away from its obligations under Trump's plan. Israel rejects this.

Trump's Gaza plan has hinged in part on whether Hamas fighters would lay down their arms in exchange for amnesty, a step intended to pave the way for reconstruction and further Israeli military withdrawals.

None of the sources said whether disarmament would be discussed in Cairo talks this week.