Lebanese Red Cross Reports 18 Fatalities from Israeli Airstrike in Aito
October 14, 2024, 5:27 pm

Lebanese Red Cross Reports 18 Fatalities from Israeli Airstrike in Aito

قوات إسرائيلية

The Lebanese Red Cross announced on Monday that 18 individuals have been killed and others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the predominantly Christian region of Aito in northern Lebanon. Rescue operations and debris removal are still underway.

As tensions continue to escalate in southern Lebanon, a series of earlier Israeli airstrikes targeted the towns of "Ali al-Nahri," "Masa," and "Brital" in the Bekaa Valley. These attacks follow a surge in hostilities, with Hezbollah declaring on Monday that it launched missiles at a military barracks in central Israel and carried out a "qualitative" missile strike on a naval base near Haifa, following a drone attack which resulted in the deaths of at least four soldiers.

Hezbollah stated in a press release that its fighters executed a "qualitative missile barrage on the Stella Maris naval base northwest of Haifa," just hours after threatening further attacks if Israel continued its "aggression against our people."

Additionally, Hezbollah reported on Monday that it targeted Israeli soldiers within the border town of Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon, where Israel has been conducting "limited" ground operations since late September.

In a statement, Hezbollah indicated that its fighters struck "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers in southern Maroun al-Ras with artillery shells," following prior announcements regarding their targeting of soldiers and countering "infiltration attempts" at various border locations.

Earlier, correspondents from "Al Arabiya" and "Al Hadath" reported rocket fire towards Haifa and its vicinity. The Israeli military confirmed that it detected a rocket launched from Lebanon towards Haifa, which landed in an open area, while Hezbollah asserted that it targeted an Israeli force during an infiltration attempt into southern Lebanon.

While the Lebanese news agency reported a series of airstrikes on the towns of Yahr al-Shuqif and Ma'aroub in the south, "Channel 12" in Israel reported intercepting rockets launched from Lebanon towards the Galilee, with some landing in open areas.

Before these developments, our correspondent reported intense clashes between Hezbollah fighters and the Israeli army in the Markabah area of southern Lebanon. He noted that Hezbollah fighters also foiled infiltration attempts by units of the Israeli army in areas including Labouna and Khalat al-Tafah, using missiles and heavy weaponry, as per a statement issued following the clashes.

The Israeli military announced the deaths of four soldiers resulting from a drone attack that originated from southern Lebanon, targeting a military base near Benyamina, south of Haifa. An Israeli military spokesperson revealed that there are seven individuals with severe injuries.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.