Military Space News
WAR REPORT
'Where to go' next? as Israel strikes Lebanon-Syria border crossing
'Where to go' next? as Israel strikes Lebanon-Syria border crossing
by AFP Staff Writers
Beirut, Lebanon (AFP) Nov 2, 2024

UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said an Israeli air strike hit "humanitarian structures" Saturday at a border crossing between Lebanon and Syria that was previously hit last month.

The crossing, known as Jousieh on the Syrian side, became a key escape route for those fleeing the Israel-Hezbollah war after the main border crossing between the two countries was hit.

But it was put out of service late last month when an Israeli strike created a large crater that blocked vehicle traffic.

"A new Israeli air strike hit the border post of Jousieh, where many Lebanese and Syrians cross from Lebanon to Syria," Grandi said on social media platform X.

"Humanitarian structures were also struck," he said, adding that "even fleeing and taking care of those who flee are becoming difficult and dangerous as the war continues to spread."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said two Israeli strikes hit the Jousieh crossing on Saturday.

The raid came after the main crossing between Beirut and Damascus, known as Masnaa on the Lebanese side, was forced to close by an Israel strike on October 4.

There are six official crossings between Lebanon and Syria, although there are many unofficial routes across the porous border.

Israel has repeatedly accused Hezbollah of transporting weapons to Lebanon from Syria through the crossings.

'Where to go?': In east Lebanon, Israeli strikes displace thousands
Deir Al-Ahmar, Lebanon (AFP) Nov 2, 2024 - In the Christian town of Deir al-Ahmar, Hassan Noun has pitched his tent in a church courtyard after fleeing Israeli air strikes in the eastern Lebanese region of Baalbek.

"We need shelter -- soon there will be snow and rain. Where will these children find refuge?" said the grey-bearded father of five.

Uprooted from Baalbek, he is one of around 30,000 people seeking safety in and around Deir al-Ahmar, one of the Christian towns so far spared from the Israeli bombing of Hezbollah strongholds, which are predominantly in traditionally Shiite Muslim areas.

"We gather in front of churches and schools, which no longer have the capacity to accommodate us," Noun said, referring to schools now serving as shelters.

Behind him on an old church bench, his family placed their teapot and kitchen utensils. A plastic mat was spread on the stone floor.

Everywhere, the thin foam mattresses used by the displaced were set aside, some propped up against the door of the church perched atop a hill overlooking Bekaa Valley farms.

Towels and sweatshirts dried alongside other laundry, draped over a wall or hung from ropes strung between the church columns.

Inside a minibus, the few possessions of a family were piled up on worn leather seats -- more mattresses, water bottles and backpacks stuffed with belongings.

- 'No heating' -

Fatima, 17, fled her village of Chaath "because of the bombardments".

At school in Bechouat, near Deir al-Ahmar, her family camps under an improvised tent -- several desks pushed together and topped with blankets for a semblance of privacy.

"There's no heating, we don't have warm clothes," said the teen, her face framed by a black headscarf.

"We are losing our school year. We can't study because of the war."

Randa Amhaz expressed gratitude to the school for opening its doors, but she also had her concerns.

"Children need warm clothes, and the elderly need medicine," she said.

Since September 23, Israeli strikes have killed more than 1,900 people in Lebanon, according to an AFP tally based on figures from Lebanon's health ministry.

On Friday alone, 52 people were killed in Israeli strikes on the Baalbek-Hermel region of eastern Lebanon, the ministry said.

More than 78,000 people have been displaced from their homes in the district, according to the International Organization for Migration.

- Sleeping rough -

Deir al-Ahmar and the surrounding villages initially hosted 12,000 displaced, mainly settled "in homes, church annexes and some still on the roads", said Rabih Saade, a member of the local emergency committee.

This week when Israel intensified its strikes on Baalbek, a "second wave of displaced people" arrived: 20,000 people, "the majority of whom slept in public places", he said.

He called on the state "to continue supporting us: we don't know if the crisis will end in a week or two or in three or four months".

In a schoolyard, women mostly dressed in black and children basked in the sun. The shouts of the youths echoed in the hallways.

"We left our homes. We don't know where to go, we don't know what to do," said a woman who wanted to remain nameless, sitting on the floor by the bed of her elderly mother.

Due to lack of space, she lay on a foam mattress in a passage between two doors.

Related Links
Space War News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WAR REPORT
Colombia government, ELN guerillas to meet in Caracas
Caracas (AFP) Nov 1, 2024
Delegations from the Colombian government and the left-wing ELN guerilla group will gather from Friday in neighboring Venezuela for a meeting that seeks to restart peace negotiations and resume a ceasefire. Colombian President Gustavo Petro suspended the peace talks in September after an attack by the National Liberation Army (ELN) - the country's biggest active armed group - on a military base left three soldiers dead and 28 wounded. In a statement released this week by Colombia's presidency, ... read more

WAR REPORT
PAC-3 missile engages target in test for US Army

Millennium Space Systems secures contract for additional Missile Track Custody satellites

Advanced US missile system 'in place' in Israel: Pentagon

RTX Raytheon SM-3 Block IIA missile reaches full-rate production

WAR REPORT
Most UN Security Council members urge NKorea to give up missiles

Taiwan says it receives first high-tech rocket systems from US

Hezbollah commander killed in Lebanon strike; Israel drafts 7,000 ultra-Orthodox members

Zelensky says Ukraine needs to use long-range missiles in Russia in face of N.Korean troop presence

WAR REPORT
Taiwan students design drones for mock battle, as China threat looms

HAPS Alliance Releases First Reference Architecture: Cell Towers in the Sky

US drone maker says China sanctions to hit supply chain

Sceye works with NASA and USGS to monitor climate change from the stratosphere

WAR REPORT
Gilat secures $5M in US Defense SATCOM orders

Gilat secures $4M contract with DoD

SDA Selects AST SpaceMobile and Muon Space for HALO Program to Enhance Proliferated LEO Capabilities

Eutelsat Group launches 20 OneWeb satellites to expand LEO Network

WAR REPORT
Elbit Systems Secures $127 Million Contract to Equip U.S. Bradley Vehicles with Iron Fist APS

Croatia pledges to buy up to 50 Leopard tanks from Germany

Northrop Grumman advances airborne deep sensing and targeting for US Army

Lockheed Martin and Altera complete key electronic warfare demonstration for DoD

WAR REPORT
China's Xi urges military to curb corruption; US Navy contractor 'Fat Leonard' jailed for 15 years

New EU defence chief says must spend more due to Putin, not Trump

US expands oversight on property deals near military sites

French court overturns ban of Israeli companies at defence trade fair

WAR REPORT
World leaders praise Trump as he claims US election win

China straps in for 'mercurial' Trump's second term

Asia-Pacific allies congratulate Trump on presidential win

NATO chief congratulates Trump, says will keep alliance 'strong'

WAR REPORT
New Technique Enables Mass Production of Metal Nanowires

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.