Category World News

Some guests expressed concern for the G20’s future, while the hosts welcomed the group.

Only two days after the president of Lebanon announced that Israel had begun a pressure campaign against Beirut and agreed to hold talks, Israel launched an attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut.

In an alleged attack on Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah’s chief of staff, in the city’s Haret Hreik neighborhood, Israel on Sunday killed five people and injured 28 others, according to Lebanon’s Ministry of Health.

Hezbollah is being allegedly regrouping and rearming, according to Israeli officials and the media, who have been warning of a recent escalation against Lebanon. Israel’s government has also been under pressure from its main supporter, the United States, as both nations urge Lebanon to act more quickly to disarm Hezbollah and arrange direct meetings with Israeli leaders.

Israel “has the upper hand,” according to the statement.

Even though the country’s leaders were opposed to indirect negotiations with Israel, the country’s leadership had pushed for them. President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon addressed the issue just two days before Israel launched an attack on the suburb of Beirut.

Any agreement that would put a framework in place for a permanent end to transnational aggressions, according to Aoun from Tyr, a southern city that suffered significant damage last year, is open to negotiation with the Lebanese state under the UN, US, or joint international sponsorship.

Aoun did not specify in detail whether or not the discussions would be direct. However, analysts claimed that Israel’s recent rise in attacks suggests it is not looking to negotiate.

According to Nicholas Blanford, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council, Israel “has the upper hand militarily at the moment, and they don’t seem to be interested in negotiating in earnest.”

“Lebanon is doing everything they can under the circumstances, but I don’t think they have a willing interlocutor in the Israelis at this point,” they said. “They’re quite happy sniping away at Hezbollah on a daily basis.

Israel has recently increased its attacks in the south of Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley despite a feigned ceasefire. Israel’s attack on Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp last week left at least 13 people dead, making it the highest death toll in a single strike since a ceasefire was reached in November of last year. Mostly children were killed in the attack.

Approximately 127 civilians have been killed by Israel in Lebanon since then, according to the UN. Despite the ceasefire, which stated Israel would withdraw its troops from Lebanese territory, it continues to occupy at least five locations in south Lebanon.

Israel’s lack of interest in negotiations is the root of the issue. According to Kassem Kassir, a Lebanese journalist close to Hezbollah, it wants to oust the organization or provoke a clash with the Lebanese army.

Israel “escalates its aggression” whenever Aoun or Prime Minister Nawaf Salam discuss a possible agreement.

Israel “should exhibit good faith,” according to the statement.

If Tabatabai’s assassination is confirmed, it will be the highest-ranking Hezbollah target to be killed since the ceasefire, and Sunday’s attack is the first in southern Beirut’s suburbs in a few months. The attack comes a week before Pope Leo XIV’s scheduled visit to Lebanon, which also comes on a day after the country’s muted celebration of its 82nd independence day.

Lebanon has been warned by US and Israeli officials that if it does not disarm Hezbollah sooner, it will intensify. A plan to have Hezbollah’s weapons brought under the control of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) was approved by Lebanon’s cabinet in August. The organization claims that the move benefits Israel, and that Hezbollah has renounced its weapons.

Some US officials have criticized the Lebanese army for disarming Hezbollah too slowly, despite this. According to analysts, the Lebanese government has also been criticized for failing to reach a political consensus on the contentious subject.

However, analysts claim that Israel’s actions are putting strain on the efforts of the Lebanese government. US Special Envoy Tom Barrack traveled to Israel to try to get its military to stop attacks and remove troops from the Lebanese territory after the cabinet’s plan to disarm Hezbollah was approved. He returned empty-handed.

Rodolphe Haykal, the head of Lebanon’s army, recently announced that the US had canceled a trip to Washington, DC following the LAF’s statement criticizing Israel. Prior to that time, Haykal had suggested that LAF operations would be stopped until Israel stops its attacks.

Israel should show good faith if it actively wants to enter and succeeds in negotiations, and the best way to do that would be to at least lessen attacks on Lebanese territory or to withdraw from some areas in the south. According to David Wood, the senior analyst for Lebanon for the International Crisis Group, “they could create a positive dynamic to create a consensus.”

Before Hezbollah, options

Hezbollah has only responded to Israeli attacks once since the ceasefire in November last year. The organization has largely displayed restraint under the leadership of its new Secretary-General, Naim Qassem.

Still, the group’s potential change of tactics is a concern in Lebanon.

According to Blanford, “there is definitely a mood to rebel against the Israelis,” not just from the attack of today but in general. No one in Lebanon will be thankful to Hezbollah for doing that, according to them, but they are well aware that if they do, the Israelis will escalate.

Hezbollah and the Lebanese state have few options because of Israel’s military superiority and US support. The Lebanonian government’s ongoing discussions over disarmament between Israel and Hezbollah are contentious.

Despite the government’s stated desire to engage in indirect negotiations, similar to Israel and Lebanon’s maritime agreement from 2022, many people in the nation vehemently oppose direct negotiations, according to analysts.

Many Lebanoneers, including those who support Hezbollah, claim they are open to seeing Israel leave southern Lebanon and establish a border wall. Few people approve of a freshening aggression, which suggests diplomacy is a preferred method.

However, according to analysts, doing so would require Israel to adhere to all agreements it enters, including the numerous ceasefire agreements it has repeatedly broken.

In a 4-1 defeat of Tottenham in the north London derby, which boosted the Premier League leaders’ title defense, Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze delivered a brilliant hat-trick.

Leandro Trossard and Eze scored the opening goal for Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but Mikel Arteta’s side were too strong for the timid Tottenham.

Eze struck once more in the second half, spurning Tottenham’s attempts to move to Arsenal in the final few weeks of the season.

Eze’s superb treble put the Gunners six points clear at the top, but Richarlison’s incredible long-range goal reduced the deficit.

After Ted Drake, Terry Dyson, and Alan Sunderland, the most recent derby hat-trick came in 1978, making it the fourth north London derby hat-trick.

Sunderland’s late equalizer before the international break ended Arsenal’s 10-game winning streak.

However, Eze’s best performance since his £60 million (£78 million) departure from Crystal Palace ended that bitter end as Tottenham battled it out once more at the Emirates.

In 33 home games against bitter rivals from the other end of Seven Sisters Road, The Gunners have lost just once in their last seven north London derbies, going unbeaten.

The perfect start to a crucial season, which included a visit from Bayern Munich on Wednesday before a trip to second-placed Chelsea the following weekend, was Arsenal’s biggest win over Tottenham since 2012.

Arsenal’s 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions enabled them to capitalize on Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle on Saturday.

Arsenal have a fantastic chance to win their first English title since 2004 now that City is raging and champions Liverpool are in turmoil.

Tottenham’s best away record came with the Premier League, but the sluggish conclusion of their five-game unbeaten run on the road rekindled concerns about Thomas Frank’s anti-social philosophy.

It was noted that Tottenham might have a potential weakness if they didn’t get to use Gabriel Magalhaes, an injured Arsenal player.

Tottenham’s approach to the Arsenal penalty area was hardly ever enough to refute that theory.

In the absence of Viktor Gyokeres who was injured, Mikel Merino was once more used as Arsenal’s makeshift striker, but the Spain midfielder plunged deep into a more familiar territory to give Trossard the lead in the 36th minute.

Trossard was picked out by Merino after a sublime pass was made over the Tottenham rearguard. Kevin Danso, who was agitated, played him onside.

Trossard made a smart turn and found a shot that deflected past Guglielmo Vicario from 10 yards.

Eze would be turning out for Tottenham if Tottenham had their way in the summer, but Arsenal brokered a deal with Palace to sign the England star at the eleventh hour.

Who is Eze, Frank joked? when questioned about the failed move this week.

In the 41st minute, Eze took Declan Rice’s pass in stride and drilled a fine low finish past Vicario.

At the end of the game, Frank sent Xavi Simons to Danso, but it was irrelevant whether Tottenham had signed Xavi or Eze instead.

Tottenham’s flat-footed defense was punished by Eze’s predatory finish with a predatory finish just inside the area just 35 seconds after half-time.

When Richarlison lobbed David Raya with a sensational effort from 35 yards in the 55th minute, the crowing Arsenal fans were briefly silenced.

Tottenham’s first shot of the game came on that occasion, and Eze’s blistering strike from 12 yards in the 76th minute put a fitting seal on his masterwork.

After the game, Eze revealed to Sky Sports that he had prayed for a hat-trick.

“I appreciate this,” I said. For this, I put in a lot of effort. He said, “That was my prayer today for a hat-trick.”

“My entire family is present.” It becomes even more unique as a result.

Vicario, the goalkeeper for Tottenham, thanked the fans and said his team did not show enough fighting.

“We need to fight every day and every duel.” We didn’t play our game in that regard, he told Sky Sports.

A report from the Reuters news agency on Saturday claimed that the United States is “poised to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days.” Four US officials, who were contacted anonymous, were named in the report. According to two of the officials, “covert operations” will likely be the first step in this “new action” against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Given that more than a month ago, US President Donald Trump himself declared that he had authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, which is unusual since one doesn’t typically broadcast events that are supposed to be, um, secret, one would expect this to be surprising news.

Anyway, it’s no secret that the US has been operating a massive military presence in the area, with about 15, 000 US troops stationed there under the pretense of battling “narcoterrorism.” Trump has also ordered the bombing of what he claims are drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea as a result of his prejudicial presidency in the area since early September.

The strikes have produced little other than terrifying local fishermen, which is in violation of both international and US law.

Given the numerous opportunities the entire drug-war narrative offers for wreaking havoc on the world, militarizing the Western Hemisphere, criminalizing poor Americans, and other good things, the US has never met a&nbsp, “war on drugs” it didn’t love.

Never mind that US financial institutions have long enjoyed profits from the global drug trade, as a claim in an article from The New York Times website.

It should come as no surprise that the president, who fought to keep the US out of wars and promptly bombed Iran, has now found another embarrassment in the process. The justification for aggression against Venezuela is illogical, as is customary in US imperial belligerence.

For instance, the Trump administration has tried to blame Maduro for the US fentanyl crisis. However, Venezuela doesn’t even produce the synthetic opioid in question, which is a minor issue.

Venezuelan drug cartels are focused on exporting cocaine to Europe, not fentanyl to the US, as NBC News and other less radical outlets have pointed out.

However, on November 13, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth – pardon, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth – took to X to assure his audience that the massive US military construction off the coast of Venezuela is a mission that “defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people” (see pardon, by wikipedia).

Of course, this administration was the same one that threatened to starve the poor by denying them essential food assistance, which suggests that “our people’s well-being isn’t really of the utmost concern.

In a nation where mass shootings&nbsp have become a way of life, take into account the fact that Trump cut federal funding for gun violence prevention programs. Massacres in elementary schools are obviously “killing our people” in a way that is unrelated to Venezuela.

But, isn’t it much fun to blame Maduro for everything, right?

Both the domestic pharmaceutical sector and poverty itself, in America, are major culprits (forget about opioids). None of these major crises, however, have erred from the valiant defenders of the homeland in any way.

Maduro has long been a thorn in the US empire’s side, like his predecessor Hugo Chavez, and this has contributed to the current campaign to discredit him as a “narcoterrorist” and allowing for regime change. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is known for being the primary architect of Washington’s war plans in Venezuela, and he is also a favorite target. Rubio is aiming to win the presidency in three years in Florida, where there are staunchly right-leaning Venezuelan and Cuban diaspora voters.

Two of the US officials consulted told the news agency that “the options under consideration included attempting to overthrow Maduro,” according to a Reuters report on the upcoming “Venezuela-related operations.” Rubio would join the long list of US politicians who have waged deadly wars abroad in an effort to win political favors abroad if the plans are successful.

Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported on Saturday that Maduro had been pressured by the White House by suggesting that US military aircraft drop leaflets over Caracas in a psychological exercise.

Sounds like something from an old Israeli military playbook, or at least a leaflet.

And such hemispheric recklessness won’t protect neither the US homeland nor anyone else’s as the Trump administration continues to pursue its not-so-covert plans for Venezuela.