Morning Briefing: Feb. 18, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday with, including Israel strikes on southern Lebanon ahead of ceasefire deadline, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's statements on Europe's willingness to step up for Ukraine, and a Delta Airlines plane crash at Toronto Pearson airport that left multiple people injured.

TOP STORIES

• Israel strikes on southern Lebanon ahead of deadline for withdrawal

Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes Monday night on the villages of Tayr Harfa and Aaichiyehin in the Jezzine district, as well as two explosions in the border town of Odaisseh in the Marjayoun district, continuing breaches of the ceasefire in southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese National News Agency reported that the Israeli air force launched two strikes targeting the course of the Litani River between the Lahed Bridge and Mahmoudiyeh in Aaichiyehin, Jezzine.

These airstrikes come just before the Tuesday deadline for Israel to withdraw from towns it occupied in southern Lebanon during its recent military operation, while insisting on maintaining its forces at five border points, most of which are strategic hills overlooking Israeli settlements.

• Europe 'ready and willing' to step up for Ukraine, says NATO chief

Europe is "ready and willing" to step up for Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Monday.

"Ready and willing. That’s my take from today’s meeting in Paris," said Rutte on X following an emergency meeting in the French capital.

"Europe is ready and willing to step up. To lead in providing security guarantees for Ukraine. Ready and willing to invest a lot more in our security," he wrote. "The details will need to be decided but the commitment is clear".

An emergency meeting on Ukraine called by French President Emmanuel Macron kicked off in Parison Monday afternoon.

• Delta Airlines plane crashes upon landing at Toronto Pearson, multiple injuries reported

At least 18 people were injured when a Delta Airlines plane crash-landed and flipped upside down at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada on Monday.

"A total of 18 injured passengers were transported to hospitals," the airport said on X, adding the airport remains open.

The cause of the crash is under investigation and being led by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, it added.

Earlier, Toronto Pearson CEO Deborah Flint told reporters that the plane, which took off from the US city of Minneapolis, was carrying four crew and 76 passengers, including 22 Canadians.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday in the capital Ankara, according to a Turkish official.
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Monday it was not the right time to discuss deploying peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, emphasizing that no discussions should proceed without Kyiv's involvement.
• British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday called on the US to provide a security “backstop” to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine, ahead of his high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump next week.
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed Monday following an emergency summit in Paris that Europe is fully committed to supporting Ukraine with military aid.
• South Korean police raided the home and offices of former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min on Tuesday over his alleged role in President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law, according to media reports.
• US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem launched a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign Monday to warn those who want to enter the country illegally.
• Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group declared a 72-hour "armed strike" in the country’s Choco region effective Tuesday.
• The Sudanese army continued its advance in the capital Khartoum and the city of Bahri to its north, seizing control of several neighborhoods.
• Officials from Yemen’s Houthi group and Iran held talks Monday in Oman’s capital Muscat focusing on the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza, Yemen’s Al-Masirah TV reported.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Israel confiscates additional $90M in Palestinian tax revenues

Israel has decided to confiscate an additional $90 million from the Palestinian Authority's tax revenues and transfer the money to the families of Israelis allegedly killed in attacks by Palestinians, according to a report Monday by TV7 Israel News.

The report said the Israeli Finance Ministry took the decision to prevent the Palestinian Authority from “continuing to reward terrorists and murderers” and to redirect the funds to “terror victims” and their families.

In a post on his X account, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich argued that the decision to redirect the funds to “victims of terror” was fair and moral.

• European stock markets close higher, driven by defense-sector surge

European stock markets gained on Monday, led by defense companies' surge amid geopolitical tensions, with the Stoxx 600 reaching a new record high.

Defense stocks climbed following discussions at the Munich Security Conference, with investors closely monitoring developments around the Ukraine-Russia war, including remarks on ending the conflict.

Germany’s Renk Group and Rheinmetall grew by 16.57% and 14%, respectively, as Swedish defense manufacturer Saab gained 16.17% and the UK’s BAE System soared 7.9%.