Medals awarded in eight disciplines on day nine of Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
Medals were awarded in eight disciplines on Sunday as the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics continued in Italy....
The head of Hezbollah has issued a statement calling for mobilisation in support of Iran, using religious language and references to armed struggle that have raised concern among regional observers.
In a statement dated 25 January, 2026, Hezbollah Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi addressed supporters across what he described as the “East and West,” urging alignment with Iran and allied armed groups known as the Axis of Resistance.
The message framed Iran as a central pillar of regional resistance, portraying it as a long-standing supporter of causes he described as "just" and "oppressed."
"We call for a comprehensive war in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the stronghold of the nation and its honour, which for more than four decades has stood by the oppressed and all rightful causes of the nation of Muhammad (peace be upon him), without discrimination of sect, colour, or race." it said.
The statement also accused unnamed international forces of seeking to subjugate or dismantle Iran and warned that any confrontation would be met with force.
Al-Hamidawi called on allied factions to provide broad support and urged readiness for escalation should religious authorities declare jihad.
Religious references and Qur’anic verses, commonly used by militant groups as an attempt to legitimise political conflict, were frequently mentioned in the message.
The language also referred to potential battlefield engagement and so-called “martyrdom operations,” terminology widely associated with suicide attacks, a reference that has drawn scrutiny from analysts monitoring regional security risks.
"We say to our mujahideen brothers, the dear ones: prepare yourselves in the battlefield for that, and place yourselves on one of the two good outcomes, especially if the noble religious authorities declare jihad to engage in this holy war". the statement continued.
The remarks come during heightened tensions across the Middle East, where the risk of broader confrontation involving Iran and allied armed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen continues to concern international policymakers.
On Sunday (25 January), the IDF reported three separate airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, hitting Hezbollah's known weapons depot in the Bir al-Sansal area of southern Lebanon, as well as Hezbollah infrastructure in the Beqaa Valley area.
Later in the day, the military reported the third strike in the Bazouriye area of southern Lebanon.
“The activity of Hezbollah terrorists at these sites constitutes a violation of the ceasefire understandings between Israel and Lebanon and pose a threat to the State of Israel,” the IDF said in a statement.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said China has the power to bring an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, arguing that Beijing is enabling Moscow’s military campaign.
American figure skating star Ilia Malinin endured a dramatic collapse in the men’s free skate on Friday night, falling twice and tumbling out of medal contention at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Shaidorov surged to a surprise gold medal.
New Zealand declared a state of emergency in Otorohanga on Saturday (14 February) after torrential rain caused severe flooding, power outages and evacuations.
Austria’s Janine Flock won the gold medal in the women’s skeleton event at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday.
“Real security guarantees are needed before the war ends,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (14 February), warning that Russian aggression shows no sign of relenting.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani said the United States could evaluate its own interests separately from those of Israel in ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Four people were killed on Sunday evening in an Israeli drone strike targeting a vehicle in eastern Lebanon near the Lebanese-Syrian border, Lebanon’s official National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Israel’s cabinet on Sunday approved measures aimed at expanding state oversight of land in the occupied West Bank and facilitating land purchases by settlers, a move Palestinian officials described as a 'de-facto annexation.'
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that member states of the newly formed Board of Peace will announce pledges exceeding $5 billion for Gaza’s reconstruction during a gathering in Washington this week.
Iran is pursuing a nuclear agreement with the U.S. that delivers economic benefits for both sides, an Iranian diplomat was reported as saying on Sunday (15 February), days before a second round of talks between Tehran and Washington.
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