Israeli attack in southern Lebanon, at least 4 dead reported
Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have caused at least four casualties overnight, according to Lebanese state media.
One of the strikes targeted an apartment in the coastal city of Sidon, killing one person and causing a fire in the building.
Footage from the scene showed extensive damage to the third floor of the building, as the Lebanese army cordoned off the area and rescue teams worked to put out the flames.
Residents of the area took to the streets in alarm, many of them taking their personal belongings with them. Similar strikes have been recorded several times this week in Sidon, forcing many families to flee their homes. The attacks come as Israel continues operations against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.
Iran accuses Ukraine of involvement in war over drones
Tensions between Iran and Ukraine have risen after Tehran accused Kiev of indirect involvement in the conflict. The head of Iran's parliamentary committee on national security, Ebrahim Azizi, declared that Ukraine had become "effectively part of the war" by providing drone support to Israel.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 11 countries have asked Kiev for help to protect themselves from Shahed drones . He stressed that Ukraine is ready to help only countries that support its defense and the country's independence.
According to him, some requests have already been approved and concrete decisions on support have been made. Ukraine has previously also sent interceptor drones and experts to help protect US military bases in Jordan.
France votes in local elections, focus on citizen participation
French citizens headed to the polls today for the first round of local elections in over 35,000 municipalities. Some 48.7 million voters are eligible to vote in these elections, which are taking place across the country, from small villages to large cities.
Polling stations opened at 08:00 on French territory and in Corsica. The first results are expected to be published after 20:00, when the centers in the largest cities close.
Analysts are paying particular attention to voter turnout, as the 2020 elections were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and saw low turnout. However, polls show that mayors remain among the most trusted political figures in the country.
Dust storm covers Gaza, authorities urge residents to stay indoors
A thick cloud of orange dust blanketed the Gaza Strip on Saturday, further worsening an already difficult situation for residents. Emergency teams urged citizens to stay home, especially those suffering from respiratory problems.
Residents were also advised to secure their tents to prevent them from being blown over by strong winds. The war between Israel and Hamas has left most of Gaza's roughly 2 million residents displaced from their homes.
Many of them live in tents or damaged buildings, with little protection from the weather. Dust storms are making life even more difficult in the conflict-affected territory.
