2 Lebanese Soldiers Killed in Israeli Airstrike

A photo taken from the southern Lebanese city of Tyre shows smoke rising from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Qlayleh on November 17, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
A photo taken from the southern Lebanese city of Tyre shows smoke rising from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Qlayleh on November 17, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
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2 Lebanese Soldiers Killed in Israeli Airstrike

A photo taken from the southern Lebanese city of Tyre shows smoke rising from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Qlayleh on November 17, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)
A photo taken from the southern Lebanese city of Tyre shows smoke rising from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Qlayleh on November 17, 2024, amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah. (Photo by Kawnat HAJU / AFP)

The Lebanese army said an Israeli strike on Sunday hit a military center in southeastern al-Mari, killing two soldiers. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

"The Israeli enemy directly targeted an army center" in al-Mari in the Hasbaya area, causing "the death of one of the soldiers and the wounding of three others, one of whom is in critical condition," the army said in a statement.

A separate statement shortly afterwards said "a second soldier" had died of his wounds.

Israeli fire has killed more than a dozen Lebanese soldiers since all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in September.

Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and drones into Israel the day after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack ignited the war in Gaza. Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes in Lebanon and the conflict steadily escalated, erupting into war in September. Israeli forces invaded Lebanon on Oct. 1.

Hezbollah has continued to fire dozens of projectiles into Israel daily and has expanded their range to central Israel.



ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Hamas Officials

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem. Monday Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem. Monday Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
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ICC Issues Arrest Warrants for Netanyahu, Hamas Officials

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem. Monday Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem. Monday Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the war in Gaza and the October 2023 attacks that triggered Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory.

The decision turns Netanyahu and the others into internationally wanted suspects and is likely to further isolate them and complicate efforts to negotiate a cease-fire to end the 13-month conflict. But its practical implications could be limited since Israel and its major ally, the United States, are not members of the court and several of the Hamas officials have been subsequently killed in the conflict.
Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders have condemned ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan’s request for warrants as disgraceful and antisemitic.

US President Joe Biden also blasted the prosecutor and expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas. Hamas also slammed the request.

But the ICC said Thursday that Israel's acceptance of the court's jurisdiction was not required.

Israel launched its war against Hamas after militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year.

Health officials in the Gaza Strip said Thursday the death toll from the 13-month-old war has surpassed 44,000.

The Israeli offensive has also caused heavy destruction across wide areas of the coastal territory and displaced 90% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million people.