Source: Al Arabiya & The Associated Press
Security & Justice
Panic Grips Lebanon Amid Evacuation Call Hoax: Who’s Behind the Fear Campaign?
Lebanon witnessed a wave of panic on Friday as residents across various regions received alarming phone calls from foreign numbers warning of imminent Israeli strikes and urging them to evacuate their homes. These warnings, which extended even to areas far from conflict zones, have raised questions about the credibility of the messages and concerns over potential Israeli access to Lebanon's telecommunications infrastructure.
Sunday, November 24, 2024
With Destruction at Lebanon Border, Israel Could Seek Buffer Zone
Israel appears to be trying to create a buffer zone in south Lebanon to remove the threat from Hezbollah but its effectiveness in preventing cross-border attacks remains to be seen, observers say.
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Opinion
Power Vacuum Enables Speaker Berri’s Unchecked Negotiation Role
Ceasefire negotiations between Hezbollah and Israel, spearheaded by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, have ignited a storm of controversy among political circles, with critics accusing Berri of overstepping constitutional bounds.
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Lebanon's Economy—Not Battlefield—May Have the Final Word
Time and again during this most recent war in Lebanon, we hear the phrase, “The battlefield has the final word”. It has become the sole and wholly unsatisfactory refrain of Hezbollah and the so-called 'Axis of Resistance'.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Sports
Israel Face France in Paris Football Match Under Tight Security
Israel face France in a Nations League football match in Paris on Thursday surrounded by a huge security operation to prevent a repetition of the attacks on Israeli fans in Amsterdam last week.
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Alcaraz Beats Rublev to Open ATP Finals Account
Carlos Alcaraz opened his account at the ATP Finals on Wednesday with an entertaining 6-3, 7-6 (10/8) win over Andrey Rublev which boosted his hopes of reaching the semifinals.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Wednesday 11 September 2024 15:03:10
France Says Foiled Three Attack Plots Targeting Paris Olympics
French authorities foiled three plots to attack the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris and other cities that hosted the summer events, the national counterterrorism prosecutor said on Wednesday.
Olivier Christen said the plots included plans to attack “ Israeli institutions or representatives of Israel in Paris” during the July 26 to Aug. 11 Olympic competition.
The prosecutor told broadcaster France Info that “the Israeli team itself was not specifically targeted.” He did not give further details.
In all, five people, including a minor, were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the three foiled plots against the Summer Games, which were held against the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The suspects are facing various terrorism-related charges while they remain in pre-trial detention, the prosecutor said.
France was on its highest security alert in the months ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics, which wrapped up last week. During preparations for the Games, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin repeatedly warned that security threats included those from extremist groups, violent environmental activists, far-right groups and cyberattacks from Russia or other adversaries.
In May, members of the General Directorate of Internal Security arrested an 18-year-old man from Chechnya on suspicion of being behind a plan to attack Olympic soccer events that were held in the southern city of Saint-Etienne.
The planned attack was to target “bar-type establishments around the Geoffroy stadium,” the prosecutor said. The suspect is accused of planning “a violent action” on behalf of the ISIS group’s extremist ideology.
Terrorist threats dominated the foiled plots and 80 percent of legal proceedings against suspects include the extremist ideology that still influences France’s youth, the prosecutor said. ISIS continues to “spread propaganda,” he added.
Preventive measures included increased house searches and house arrests before the start of the Olympics, the prosecutor said, adding that police and other security personnel conducted 936 house searches so far in 2024, compared to 153 last year.
