Eurasia Press & News

The secretary-general blamed Hezbollah for triggering the crisis and accused it of holding Lebanon hostage with its campaign against Israel.

Asked at a U.S. Senate hearing about reports that Iranians witnessed the July 4 tests, Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill, the chief U.S. negotiator with Pyongyang, replied: “Yes, that is my understanding” and it is “absolutely correct” that the relationship is worrisome.

BEIRUT (CNN) — Israeli bombing in Lebanon during the past week has crippled the country’s economy, reversing what had promised to be a boom year, the nation’s finance minister said Thursday.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said earlier that up to 500,000 people had been forced from their homes by Israeli airstrikes that began last week after Hezbollah guerrillas seized two Israeli soldiers in cross-border raid.

Tony and Monika Esseily and their three children were winding up a vacation in Lebanon when Israeli airstrikes began July 12.

A standoff between Malta and Spain over the fate of some 50 African migrants has been resolved.

While thousands of Westerners have been bussed, flown and shipped out of Lebanon as Israel continues to bomb the country, some are struggling to get out.

Israeli troops were reportedly fighting Hezbollah militants in two locations near the border.

CAIRO (AFP) — Israel’s crushing offensive in Lebanon prompted calls by Egyptian opposition groups Wednesday for peace deals with the Jewish state to be revoked and oil and gas exports to be frozen.

CAIRO — Arab governments disagree on who to blame for starting the Middle East violence of the past week but, unlike Israel and the United States, they agree at least that the bombings should end immediately and talks should begin.