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Three Palestinians Shot Dead by Israeli Soldiers in West Bank

Israeli soldiers argue with a demonstrator holding a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israeli settlements in Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank June 6, 2022. Picture taken June 6, 2022. (Reuters)
Israeli soldiers argue with a demonstrator holding a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israeli settlements in Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank June 6, 2022. Picture taken June 6, 2022. (Reuters)
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Three Palestinians Shot Dead by Israeli Soldiers in West Bank

Israeli soldiers argue with a demonstrator holding a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israeli settlements in Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank June 6, 2022. Picture taken June 6, 2022. (Reuters)
Israeli soldiers argue with a demonstrator holding a Palestinian flag during a protest against Israeli settlements in Jordan Valley in the Israeli-occupied West Bank June 6, 2022. Picture taken June 6, 2022. (Reuters)

Three Palestinian gunmen were shot dead after they fired at Israeli soldiers in the northern occupied West Bank near Nablus, the Israeli army said on Sunday.

The military said that “armed gunmen opened fire” on soldiers at an army position near the Jit junction west of Nablus, with the soldiers responding with “live fire.”

“Three armed gunmen were neutralized during the exchange of fire and an additional armed gunman surrendered himself to the forces and was apprehended,” the army said in a statement, AFP reported.

Violence intensified last year but has worsened in the West Bank since Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office in December in a governing coalition with ultra-Orthodox Jewish and extreme-right allies.

Since the start of the year, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has claimed the lives of 81 Palestinian adults and children, including militants and civilians.

Twelve Israeli civilians, including three children, and one policeman, as well as one Ukrainian civilian have been killed over the same period, according to an AFP tally based on official sources from both sides.

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Arab World

UN Peacekeepers Say Came Under Fire in Southern Lebanon

United Nations Spanish UNIFIL forces inspect chalets after the Israeli army booby-trapped and blew them up at dawn, on the outskirts of the town of al-Khiam, southern Lebanon, Jan. 31, 2026. (AFP)
United Nations Spanish UNIFIL forces inspect chalets after the Israeli army booby-trapped and blew them up at dawn, on the outskirts of the town of al-Khiam, southern Lebanon, Jan. 31, 2026. (AFP)
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UN Peacekeepers Say Came Under Fire in Southern Lebanon

United Nations Spanish UNIFIL forces inspect chalets after the Israeli army booby-trapped and blew them up at dawn, on the outskirts of the town of al-Khiam, southern Lebanon, Jan. 31, 2026. (AFP)
United Nations Spanish UNIFIL forces inspect chalets after the Israeli army booby-trapped and blew them up at dawn, on the outskirts of the town of al-Khiam, southern Lebanon, Jan. 31, 2026. (AFP)

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Tuesday that one of its patrols came under fire in the country's south, without saying who was responsible.

The force, whose mandate in Lebanon expires at the end of this year, said the patrol "was fired upon with about a dozen rounds" near Wadi Jilu and returned fire, after which the shooting stopped.

It reported no casualties and called for an investigation.

"We reiterate the obligation under international law for all actors to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel and property at all times," it said.

UNIFIL has served as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon since 1978, but its presence has been unable to prevent several rounds of conflict, including the latest between Israel and Hezbollah, which broke out in March amid the wider Middle East war.

Despite a patchy ceasefire and recent direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, Hezbollah still refuses to disarm and Israeli troops continue to occupy parts of the south.

Under US pressure, the UN Security Council last year voted to end UNIFIL's mandate on December 31, 2026.

Lebanese officials have called for it to be extended.

At a meeting in Paris on Tuesday, G7 foreign ministers agreed on "the need to avoid a security void" in Lebanon after UNIFIL withdraws, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.

But he acknowledged there had been no breakthrough on what should replace the force, which numbers around 7,500 personnel from nearly 50 countries.

Arab World

Iraqi Ex-Lawmaker Found Strangled to Death in Beirut

Former Iraqi lawmaker Ahmed al-Alwani. (INA)
Former Iraqi lawmaker Ahmed al-Alwani. (INA)
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Iraqi Ex-Lawmaker Found Strangled to Death in Beirut

Former Iraqi lawmaker Ahmed al-Alwani. (INA)
Former Iraqi lawmaker Ahmed al-Alwani. (INA)

Former Iraqi lawmaker Ahmed al-Alwani was found strangled to death in a Beirut apartment, a Lebanese judicial official told AFP on Tuesday, adding one of three suspects had been arrested.

"The security services found the body of the former lawmaker on Monday night, and confirmed his identity on Tuesday," the official said on condition of anonymity.

His family had previously reported him missing to Lebanese authorities, according to the source.

Alwani was sentenced to death in Iraq in 2014 for the murder of two soldiers, but was ultimately released from prison last year.

Alwani arrived in Beirut last week, according to the judicial official, who said that surveillance cameras showed him "voluntarily arriving with two other people at the building where his body was found".

Preliminary findings of the investigation indicate that he was strangled in the apartment.

A Lebanese national suspected of involvement has been arrested, and authorities are looking for two Syrians suspects still at large, the official said.

He added that the suspects had taken Alwani from the airport to his hotel when he arrived in Beirut last week.

Arab World

Syria Says Killed Leader of Armed Cell in Tartus

Members of Syria's Internal Security Forces. (SANA)
Members of Syria's Internal Security Forces. (SANA)
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Syria Says Killed Leader of Armed Cell in Tartus

Members of Syria's Internal Security Forces. (SANA)
Members of Syria's Internal Security Forces. (SANA)

Syrian authorities said on Tuesday that they had killed the leader of an armed cell linked to the former government and wounded another member during an operation in the countryside of Tartus.

In a statement, the Internal Security Forces said they had carried out a "carefully planned ambush" after monitoring the four-member group, which was allegedly planning to carry out "terrorist attacks and armed robberies".

The forces said the ensuing clash resulted in the "neutralization of the cell's leader" and the wounding of another member.

The forces confirmed that specialized units are continuing intensive sweep and pursuit operations across the surrounding rural areas to locate and apprehend the remaining fleeing members of the cell.

State security authorities reiterated their commitment to maintaining public order, eliminating remnants of illegal armed groups, and safeguarding civilian lives and property across all Syrian provinces.