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Arab World

Israel Says it Will Test Bullet that Killed Abu Akleh, Palestinians Disagree

People light candles during a vigil in memory of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed during an Israeli raid, outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, May 16, 2022. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
People light candles during a vigil in memory of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed during an Israeli raid, outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, May 16, 2022. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
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Israel Says it Will Test Bullet that Killed Abu Akleh, Palestinians Disagree

People light candles during a vigil in memory of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed during an Israeli raid, outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, May 16, 2022. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
People light candles during a vigil in memory of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed during an Israeli raid, outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, May 16, 2022. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma

Israel said on Sunday it would test a bullet, which killed Palestinian-American journalist and Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh on May 11, to determine whether one of its soldiers shot her and said a US observer would be present for the procedure that could deliver results within hours.

The Palestinians, who on Saturday handed over the bullet to a US security coordinator, said they had been assured that Israel would not take part in the ballistics.

The Palestinians accuse the Israeli military of killing the journalist deliberately. Israel denies this, saying Abu Akleh may have been hit by errant army fire or by one of the Palestinian gunmen who were clashing with its forces.

"The (ballistic) test will not be American. The test will be an Israeli test, with an American presence throughout," said Israeli military spokesman Brigadier-General Ran Kochav.

"In the coming days or hours it will be become clear whether it was even us who killed her, accidentally, or whether it was the Palestinian gunmen," he told Army Radio. "If we killed her, we will take responsibility and feel regret for what happened."

Akram al-Khatib, general prosecutor for the Palestinian Authority, said the test would take place at the US Embassy in Jerusalem.

"We got guarantees from the American coordinator that the examination will be conducted by them and that the Israeli side will not take part,” Al-Khatib told Voice of Palestine radio, adding that he expected the bullet to be returned on Sunday.

An embassy spokesperson said: "We don't have anything new at this time."

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Arab World

Attack on Iraqi Intelligence HQ Ends Opportunities for Dialogue between Govt, Armed Factions

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visits the intelligence HQ in Baghdad on Sunday after Saturday's attack. (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visits the intelligence HQ in Baghdad on Sunday after Saturday's attack. (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office)
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Attack on Iraqi Intelligence HQ Ends Opportunities for Dialogue between Govt, Armed Factions

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visits the intelligence HQ in Baghdad on Sunday after Saturday's attack. (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani visits the intelligence HQ in Baghdad on Sunday after Saturday's attack. (Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani slammed on Sunday the attack by a “cowardly” armed faction against an intelligence headquarters in Baghdad.

His position effectively puts an end to opportunities to hold dialogue between his government and the factions to stop their attacks on various US interests in Iraq and Kurdistan in solidarity with Iran in its war with Washington and Tel Aviv.

One officer was killed and other intelligence personnel were wounded in Saturday’s drone attack.

Sudani called on the political forces to take a “clear and frank” stance against the attacks on state institutions, a reference to some members of the pro-Iran Shiite Coordination Framework that have yet to make their position clear about the attacks.

The factions continue to target the US embassy in Baghdad and have struck a diplomatic logistics support base affiliated with the embassy at Baghdad airport and the US consulate in the Kurdistan Region capital Erbil.

Sudani visited the intelligence headquarters on Sunday, urging the concerned agencies to investigate the “heinous terrorist” attack.

He called on them to not hesitate in exposing the truth and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

“The perpetrators are a cowardly group that have violated Iraqi blood and state institutions. Whoever dares to do so does not represent Iraq. There can be no justification for this crime,” he added.

“The government is acting wisely and responsibly, but it will not stand idly as the country’s higher interests are violated,” he went on to say.

Sudani called on the political forces to “assume their responsibilities and issue clear and frank statements against the violations that are gambling with the future of the country.”

“Some party gave itself the right to control decisions of war and peace. We declare that this decision is the state’s alone. It alone sets and protects Iraq’s interests,” he stressed.

The national intelligence agency said outlaws had carried out Saturday's “terrorist” attack.

Sudani also denied reports that he had tasked national security advisor Qasim al-Araji to hold dialogue with the armed factions to make them stop attacks on US interests and residential neighborhoods in Baghdad.

Arab World

Army Chief: Israel to 'Advance Targeted Ground Operations' in Lebanon

People inspect a crater following an Israeli airstrike that hit the Qasmiyeh Bridge near the coastal city of Tyre, Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)
People inspect a crater following an Israeli airstrike that hit the Qasmiyeh Bridge near the coastal city of Tyre, Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)
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Army Chief: Israel to 'Advance Targeted Ground Operations' in Lebanon

People inspect a crater following an Israeli airstrike that hit the Qasmiyeh Bridge near the coastal city of Tyre, Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)
People inspect a crater following an Israeli airstrike that hit the Qasmiyeh Bridge near the coastal city of Tyre, Lebanon, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammad Zaatari)

Israel's military will expand its ground operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah, its army chief said Sunday, warning that the offensive against the group was still in its early stages.

"The operation against the Hezbollah terrorist organization has only begun... This is a prolonged operation," Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said in a statement.

"We are now preparing to advance the targeted ground operations and strikes according to an organized plan," he added.

Zamir's comments came as Israel struck more targets in south Lebanon on Sunday, including a key bridge, triggering a warning from the Lebanese president that it could be launching a full ground invasion.

Destroying bridges further isolates residents from the rest of Lebanon.

The destruction of bridges and homes marks a significant escalation in Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, which was pulled into the regional war on March 2 when Hezbollah fired into Israeli territory.

Sunday's strike damaged a crossing on Lebanon's coastal highway that runs through farmland and is one of the main routes linking southern and central Lebanon.

An Israeli military spokesperson had ‌announced the army would ‌strike the Qasmiyeh bridge earlier on Sunday.

Smoke and flames rise after an Israeli strike targeting the Qasmiyeh Bridge near Tyre, in southern Lebanon, 22 March 2026. EPA/STRINGER

Israel has sent troops into Lebanon and carried out extensive airstrikes, while Hezbollah has launched rocket barrages.

"In recent weeks, we have achieved significant accomplishments: we have struck more than 2,000 targets, dozens of weapons storage facilities, and struck and eliminated hundreds of terrorists," Zamir said.

"We will not stop until the threat is pushed away from the border and long term security is ensured for the residents of northern Israel," he added.

Lebanese authorities say Israel's strikes have killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 1 million.

Arab World

Israel Probing if Own Forces Killed Civilian on Lebanon Border

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Marjayoun, Lebanon, March 22, 2026. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Marjayoun, Lebanon, March 22, 2026. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher
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Israel Probing if Own Forces Killed Civilian on Lebanon Border

Smoke rises after an Israeli strike, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Marjayoun, Lebanon, March 22, 2026. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher
Smoke rises after an Israeli strike, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Marjayoun, Lebanon, March 22, 2026. REUTERS/Karamallah Daher

Israel's military said it was investigating whether its own fire killed an Israeli civilian near the Lebanese border on Sunday, after Hezbollah claimed an attack in the same area.

Israeli emergency workers said earlier Sunday that a man was killed in a "direct hit" on his car by a rocket from Lebanon, making him the first fatality in the country's north since the latest round of fighting with Hezbollah broke out.

The Iran-backed militant group said after the incident that its fighters had attacked Israeli soldiers in the same area.

But the Israeli army later announced it was "conducting a comprehensive investigation" into the death, AFP reported.

"The possibility that the incident involved fire originating from IDF soldiers is being examined," the military said in a statement.

Lebanon was pulled into the Middle East war when Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on March 2 to avenge the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei in Israeli-US attacks.

Israel has sent troops into Lebanon and carried out extensive airstrikes in the country, while Hezbollah continues to fire rocket barrages across the border.