Morning Briefing: Oct. 16, 2024

ISTANBUL

Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday with, including Israel's deadly airstrikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, UN chief warning against Israeli attacks on peacekeepers in Lebanon, and UK imposing sanctions on settlers for violence in West Bank.

TOP STORIES

• 23 killed, 31 injured in Israeli airstrikes on southern, eastern Lebanon

At least 23 people were killed and 31 injured late Tuesday in a series of violent airstrikes on several towns and regions in southern and eastern Lebanon, according to official figures.

Lebanon’s official news agency reported that the strikes in the south targeted the districts of Nabatieh, Bint Jbeil and Marjaayoun, as well as Tyre and Jezzine.

In eastern Lebanon, the airstrikes hit the districts of Zahle and West Bekaa. Israel has mounted a huge air campaign in Lebanon against what it claims are Hezbollah targets since Sept. 23, killing more than 1,500 people and displacing more than a million people.

• UN chief says targeting peacekeepers 'may constitute war crime' amid Israeli attacks

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned against targeting peacekeepers amid Israel’s ongoing attacks in Lebanon, saying that it "may constitute a war crime."

Sounding the alarm on Israeli army targeting UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) personnel and positions, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference that the UN premises have been impacted on at least 20 occasions since Oct. 1.

"The Secretary General (Guterres) reiterates that UNIFIL personnel and its premises must never be targeted," Dujarric said, adding that "attacks against peacekeepers are in breach of international law, including international humanitarian law. They may constitute a war crime."

UNIFIL was established as interim force decades ago, in 1978, to help restore peace in the region and as a confirmation of Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.

• UK imposes new sanctions on illegal Israeli settler outposts over West Bank violence

The UK government on Tuesday announced new sanctions targeting three illegal Israeli settler outposts and four organizations supporting violence in the West Bank.

The move comes in response to a significant rise in attacks against Palestinian communities by extremist Israeli settlers.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy revealed the measures as part of a broader effort to address the escalating violence, which has devastated Palestinian communities.

"The Israeli government must crack down on settler violence and stop the legalization of settler outposts," Lammy said in a statement, urging Israeli authorities to take action against growing settler extremism.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Türkiye's president asked how the UN can defend the rights of others amid Israel's attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, when it is unable to protect the rights of its own personnel.
• Hezbollah claimed evening that its fighters destroyed three bulldozers and two tanks belonging to the Israeli army on the outskirts of Ramyah town in southern Lebanon, resulting in casualties.
• Israeli army began suspending dozens of reservists who declared they would refuse to continue military service unless a deal is reached for the return of Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip, the Haaretz newspaper reported.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told French President Emmanuel Macron that Israel would not agree to a unilateral cease-fire in Lebanon or a settlement that would allow Hezbollah to rearm, according to a statement.
• Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem said that his group has imposed a “new equation” on Israel, saying a Gaza cease-fire is the key to ending the current conflict.
• The situation for children in Gaza is "worsening" with each passing day, with growing food, water, and medicine shortages compounded by ongoing Israeli attacks and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid, a UNICEF spokesperson warned.
• The BBC announced cuts totaling £24 million as part of a broader effort to save £700 million annually, with significant changes set to affect its news services.
• Israeli forces killed one Palestinian and injured six others during a raid into the city of Jenin and its refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank evening, said a report.
• Pan-African activist Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, popularly known as Kemi Seba, has been arrested in France, judicial sources confirmed.

SPORTS

• Baskonia topple Spanish rivals Real Madrid 76-72 in Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz beat their Spanish rivals Real Madrid 76-72 in a Tuesday game for their second win in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season that started earlier this month.

Baskonia secured a home victory in the final seconds in an intense Round 3 match at Vitoria-Gasteiz's Buesa Arena.

Markus Howard, who played less than 18 minutes, scored 15 points to lead Baskonia. Nigerian center Chima Moneke racked up 14 points.

• Defending champions Spain beat Serbia 3-0 to secure place in UEFA Nations League quarterfinals

Defending champions Spain qualified for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals after shutting out Serbia 3-0 on Tuesday on matchday four.

The Spanish trio of Aymeric Laporte, Alvaro Morata and Alex Baena scored in the Group A4 match at Cordoba's Nuevo Arcangel.

Spain, the group leaders, have 10 points to book their place at the Nations League last eight, joining Germany in the next stage.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• China urges ‘jointly’ creating safe environment for cooperation with Pakistan

China underscored Tuesday the need and urgency to “jointly” create a safe environment for cooperation between the two countries, reiterating that relations with Pakistan were a ‘priority’ in its foreign relations.

It was expressed in a joint statement released in Islamabad after Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Li is on a four-day visit to Pakistan where he will attend a two-day summit of government leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states.

• Railway project on 3rd Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul attracts lenders: Turkish transport minister

The railway project on the Third Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, also called the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, as a part of the Development Road project, which aims to connect Asia to Europe, is gaining traction among international lenders.

Speaking at the International Road Federation (IRF) World Congress 2024 in Istanbul on Tuesday, Turkish Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated the World Bank has shown keen interest in the railway project, among others.