Lebanese state bans Hezbollah military activities: PM
The Straits Times
Israel then launched intense retaliatory strikes on Beirut and dozens of villages in south Lebanon. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Follow our live coverage here.
BEIRUT – The Lebanese government decided on the “immediate ban” of Hezbollah’s military and security activities and to “oblige” the group to surrender its weapons to the state, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced on March 2.
The government’s unprecedented move targeting Hezbollah, which is represented in both the government and parliament, came hours after the Iran-backed party announced it had launched rockets and drones towards Israel early on March 2, to avenge the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks Saturday.
Israel then launched intense retaliatory strikes on Beirut and dozens of villages in south Lebanon, killing at least 31 people and wounding at least 149 according to the health ministry.
After an emergency cabinet meeting, Mr Salam said: “The Lebanese state declares its absolute and unequivocal rejection of any military or security actions launched from Lebanese territory outside the framework of its legitimate institutions.”
“This necessitates the immediate prohibition of all of Hezbollah’s security and military activities, considering them to be outside the law, and obliging it to hand over its weapons”.
AMSTERDAM, March 17 - The Netherlands is investigating whether Iran was involved in the attack on a Rotterdam synagogue on Friday, Justice Minister David van Weel has said, adding that the suspects apprehended for the attack had most likely been recruited. Read more at straitstimes.com.
MOSCOW, March 17 - Russia said it had unwavering solidarity with Cuba on Tuesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected to have the honour of \"taking Cuba\" and that \"I can do anything I want\" with the Communist-run island republic. Read more at straitstimes.com.
WASHINGTON, March 17 - The head of the National Counterterrorism Center resigned on Tuesday, becoming the first and most senior member of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to resign over the war in Iran, saying Tehran posed no imminent threat to the United States. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Meningitis is an infection affecting the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The US-Israeli war against Iran cut off critical nitrogen fertiliser supplies to the world's farmers. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BRUSSELS, March 17 - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pushed back on Tuesday against a call by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to normalise relations with Moscow and regain access to cheap Russian energy. Read more at straitstimes.com.
ROME, March 17 - Celebrated Russian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova has been excluded from a dance gala beginning in Rome this month, organisers said, in the latest political dispute over the participation of Russian artists in cultural events in Italy. Read more at straitstimes.com.
MADRID, March 17 - The upcoming report by Spain's antitrust and energy watchdog CNMC on the massive blackout that hit the Iberian Peninsula last year will not assign blame for the outage, the watchdog's chief said on Tuesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
GENEVA, March 17 - Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings, displaced people and healthcare workers in Lebanon raise concerns under international law and may amount to war crimes, the United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
GENEVA, March 17 - Medical supplies to clinics dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Sudan could run out within two weeks unless shipments are rapidly rerouted after disruptions due to the conflict in the Middle East, the charity Save the Children said. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The scam involves suspects posing as customers placing bulk orders for Hari Raya treats. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BRUSSELS, March 17 - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called on the United States and Israel on Tuesday to end their war with Iran and said the EU was consulting with governments in the Middle East about how to bring the conflict to a conclusion. Read more at straitstimes.com.
PARIS, March 17 - Paris will choose a new mayor on Sunday, with one unlikely issue dominating campaigns alongside all the partisan acrimony - dogs. Read more at straitstimes.com.