Massive forest fire continues for second day in northern Lebanon
July 30, 2021, 4:11 am

Massive forest fire continues for second day in northern Lebanon

Fires in Lebanon

According to the Xinhua, a Lebanese local news reported on Thursday that the massive fire that broke out in Lebanon's northern village of Qoubaiyat is continuing to rage in the region for the second day.

The Xinhua said the state-owned National News Agency reported that the massive fire has engulfed large swathes of the area, causing residents to collect water tanks to help to extinguish the fire.

Meanwhile, the country's fire brigade and army are trying to control the fires fanned by a strong wind.

Local people look at smoke caused by a wildfire in Akkar, northern Lebanon, on July 29, 2021. The massive fire that broke out in Lebanon's northern village of Qoubaiyat is continuing to rage in the region for the second day, a local news outlet reported on Thursday. (Photo by Khaled/Xinhua)

Started on Wednesday, the fire has killed two people and caused many residents to evacuate.

It should be noted that for the past few years, fires have become more frequent across Lebanon during summer heatwaves, imposing threats to residents' life and properties, according to Lebanon's local media.

Source: xinhua
Image source: xinhua

UK government approves plan to build Holocaust museum Britain's car production in the first half of 2021 slumps driven by COVID-19

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.