Middle Orient

The Islamic force has seized control of a strategic township near the Ethiopian border from Somalia’s puppet “transitional government”, further expanding their territory, officials and residents say.  

Hizbollah declares victory as thousands of refugees rush back to blitzed villages in south  BEIRUT (Reuters) — A fragile UN-ordered truce took hold in Lebanon on Monday after Israel’s monthlong war with Hizbollah fighters, prompting thousands of refugees to rush back to blitzed villages in the south.

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told parliament Monday that he took full responsibility for the conduct of the battle with Hizbollah and “shortcomings”, as Israel’s wartime unity collapsed and opposition politicians began criticising the monthlong fight against the Lebanese fighters.

BEIRUT — Hizbollah said on Monday it had scored a “divine victory” in its conflict with Israel while the Jewish state claimed the upper hand, saying the group now cannot “do what it likes in Lebanon”.

CAIRO (Reuters) — Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Monday praised the way Hizbollah held out against Israel for over four weeks but faulted the Islamist group for possible carelessness.

WASHINGTON — U.S. President George Bush said the United Nations resolution to halt the fighting between Israel and Lebanon will stop Hezbollah from acting as a “state within a state” and deal a severe blow to the efforts of Syria and Iran to exert influence in the Middle East.

DAMASCUS,(SANA) – Syrian Arab Red Crescent on Sunday was handed humanitarian aid from the Turkish government to the Lebanese incomers who fled their country due to the Israeli brutal aggression on Lebanon.

DAMASCUS, Aug. 13 (SANA)- The Israeli savage onslaught on Lebanon came in accordance with pre-made schemes and backgrounds for carrying out an agenda that Israel couldn’t implement through the 1559 UNSC resolution, Information Minister said Sunday.

Jordan says truce vote first step to end bloodshed BEIRUT (Reuters) — Israeli forces battled Hizbollah fighters in a push deeper into Lebanon on Saturday and up to 17 Israeli soldiers were reported killed, as both sides said they would obey a UN resolution on a truce — but not …

AMMAN (AFP) — Key Middle East players were hopeful Saturday that a UN Security Council resolution would bring an end to the Lebanon conflict, even as Israel expanded its military offensive.