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Israel carried out airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Wednesday evening, the first such attack there since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Lebanon took effect on 16 April, according to the Lebanese broadcaster al‑Jadeed.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said an Israeli warship fired three missiles at a residential apartment in the Haret Hreik area, causing heavy damage and sending ambulances to the scene. It also reported intensive low‑altitude flights by Israeli military drones over Beirut and its southern suburbs.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed the strike in a joint statement, saying it targeted Malki Blout, a Commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force, in what they described as an attempt to neutralise him. They accused Blout of directing fire at Israeli communities and targeting Israeli soldiers.
Israel’s state‑owned Kan TV reported that Israeli security officials believe Blout was killed in the attack, which they said was coordinated with the United States.
According to the National News Agency, Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire on Wednesday killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens more across southern and eastern Lebanon, including a village mayor and three members of his family. Hezbollah said it carried out retaliatory attacks against Israeli military vehicles and troop gatherings.
The escalation came despite a ceasefire that took effect between 16 and 17 April and was extended on 23 April for a further three weeks.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry Emergency Operations Centre said Israeli strikes between 2 March and 6 May have killed 2,715 people and injured 8,353 others.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Wednesday it was “still premature” to discuss any potential meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu. He said any high‑level meeting with Israel would require extensive preparations, adding that Lebanon was not seeking normalisation but peace.
Nawaf Salam said consolidating the ceasefire would be the basis for any future negotiations, which could take place in Washington and that Lebanon’s minimum demand was a timetable for Israel’s withdrawal alongside steps to restrict weapons to state control.
Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti, citing an unnamed diplomatic source, reported that a third round of talks between Lebanon and Israel is expected to be held in Washington next week.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran wanted to negotiate and make a deal in comments to reporters on Wednesday (6 May). But earlier, he warned Washington would ramp up attacks if no agreement was reached.
Trump said the U.S. and Iran were making progress in peace talks, though direct negotiations remain premature. Meanwhile, Israel, reportedly, struck senior Hezbollah and Hamas figures and tensions over Hormuz and Tehran’s nuclear programme continue.
Argentinian authorities are reconstructing the journeys of Dutch citizens who presented with symptoms of deadly hantavirus after visiting Argentina and Chile as part of a luxury cruise trip, the country's Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday (6 May)
The United Arab Emirate said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second day in a row on Tuesday (5 May), despite denials from authorities in Tehran who threatened a "crushing response" if the UAE retaliated.
The 61st Venice Biennale has opened under grey skies and political tension, with disputes over Russia and Israel, resignations on the jury, and protests marking the start of one of the art world’s most high-profile events.
Approximately $8 billion worth of contracts are expected to be signed at SAHA Expo 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye. The major international defence, aerospace and space industry exhibition is being held over five days from 5 - 6 May.
Türkiye and Armenia should expect gradual improvements in relations following Turkish-Vice President Serdar Kılıç’s meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan on Monday (4 May), a regional expert has said.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s planned visits to Yerevan and Baku framed the 8th European Political Community summit on 4 May, as European leaders focused on fragile South Caucasus peace efforts and rising geopolitical tensions.
The 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank concluded in Samarkand with new renewable energy agreements, discussions on economic resilience and the release of a major policy report on global value chains.
Central Asian countries are stepping up investment in renewable energy as governments across the region seek to strengthen energy security and prepare for mounting environmental pressures.
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