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Middle East updates: Israel sends troops to southwest Lebanon

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Israel’s army expanded ground operations to Lebanon’s southwest, as Hezbollah says it has repelled the incursion.

Israel has expanded its ground operations to Lebanon’s southwest Hezbollah says its capabilities remain ‘intact’ Major airlines cancel flights to Beirut and Tel Aviv

Here are the latest developments regarding the Israel-Lebanon escalation, Gaza and the wider Middle East region on Tuesday, October 8:

Major airlines cancel flights to Middle East

Major international airlines canceled flights to the region amid concerns over a wider conflict, with Israel’s commercial hub of Tel Aviv and Lebanon’s capital Beirut most affected.

US airline Delta, Germany’s Lufthansa and Italy’s ITA Airways all canceled flights to Tel Aviv until October 31, while low-budget UK carrier EasyJet extended its flight suspensions until March 30, 2025. Air India has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv until further notice.

The French and Dutch group Air France-KLM extended its flight suspensions to Beirut to October 26, while Turkish airline Pegasus canceled flights to Beirut until October 28. UAE’s Emirates airline canceled flights to Beirut through October 15, while others, like Algeria’s Air Algerie and Qatar Airways, suspended flights to Lebanon indefinitely.

Other cities in the vicinity of the conflict have also been affected. Qatar’s national carrier also suspended flights to Iran and Iraq, while Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling canceled flights to Amman, Jordan until further notice.

A major route connecting Iran and Lebanon has also been suspended, with Iran Air canceling all flights to and from Beirut until further notice.

Hezbollah leader says group’s capability is intact

Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Kassem, said in a televised address on Tuesday that the group’s capabilities were intact and its fighters were repelling Israeli ground incursions despite the “painful blows” the militant group suffered in recent weeks.

Kassem warned that more Israelis will be displaced as the militant group expands its rocket fire deeper into Israel.

“We are firing hundreds of rockets and dozens of drones. A large number of settlements and cities are under the fire of the resistance,” Kassem said.

But Hezbollah’s acting leader also said the group supported the efforts by Lebanon’s Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri to secure a cease-fire. He did not provide any further details on possible conditions Hezbollah demands. The group previously said a cease-fire in Lebanon would be reliant on a cease-fire in Gaza.

Kassem said that Hezbollah is expected to name a new leader to succeed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut last month, “but the circumstances are difficult because of the war.”

Israel says it began operations in southwest Lebanon

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that ground operations in southwest Lebanon had begun in a move that would expand its incursions to a new zone in its ongoing fight with the militant group Hezbollah.

Iran-backed Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by the US, Germany and several Sunni Arab countries, while the EU lists its armed wing as a terrorist group.

“Yesterday (Monday), the 146th Division began limited, localized, targeted operational activities against Hezbollah terror targets and infrastructure in southwestern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

The announcement comes after Israel’s military struck Beirut’s southern suburbs overnight, saying a senior Hezbollah official responsible for the group’s budgeting and logistics had been killed.

The Israel Defense Forces have also imposed a naval blockade stretching 60 kilometers (37 miles) along Lebanon’s southern Mediterranean coast. The IDF warned civilians that going to beaches or heading out to sea on boats is “life-threatening” until further notice.

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Gunmen k!ll President General of Ogidi community and one other in Anambra.

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Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, have k!lled a community leader and one other person in Anambra State.

The President-General of Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ikwuka Okoye, popularly known as Anumili (pictured above), was k!lled on Friday, Feb. 6.

The attack was alleged to have been carried out by members of a rival cult group in revenge for the de@th of their leader, who was arrested and k!lled by local security operatives.

During the attack, which took place at the School Field, Ogidi, another man whose identity has yet to be ascertained was also gunned down.

The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Saturday.

Ikenga said the incident is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

He said, “The Anambra State Police Command regrets the murd£r of the President-General of the Ogidi community and one other person. The incident, which occurred on the evening of February 6, 2026, at the School Field, Ogidi, is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.

“Following the report, police operatives swiftly took over the scene of the incident and commenced investigations. The command is currently working with eyewitness accounts and other available intelligence to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

“The Anambra State Police Command assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice.

“Residents are urged to remain calm and cooperate with the police as investigations continue.

“Further developments will be communicated in due course.”

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Police bust syndicate behind nude photo blackmail in Lagos

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Men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, have apprehended three suspects who allegedly run a cyber blackmail and extortion scheme in the state.

According to the spokesperson of the unit, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects get a hold of their victims explicit photos and then threaten to release them if a ransom is not paid.

He said that the suspects, two males and a female, were apprehended after a petition was filed by a complainant who reported being repeatedly threatened by unknown individuals demanding money.

“The complainant received several phone calls in which the callers threatened to release her nude photographs to the public if she failed to pay them. Acting out of fear and emotional distress, she transferred money to the suspects.

The situation escalated when the suspects demanded an additional N10 million, prompting her to formally petition the police,” he said

The police imagemaker state dthat upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives to investigate the matter.

“The investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects gained unlawful access to the complainant’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own device. Further findings indicated that he conspired with the other suspects and other accomplices currently at large to demand and receive money from the complainant in several tranches,” he said

According to him, the suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The image maker said that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover all proceeds of the alleged crime.

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Catholic Priest Collapses And D!es In Front Of Congregation While Walking To Tabernacle To Return Holy Communion

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A Catholic priest has tragically passed away after suddenly collapsing in front of the congregation during Sunday mass.

The tragic incident took place last Sunday, February 1 in Wiesmath in the district of Wiener Neustadt, Austria.

Shortly after administering Holy Communion, 59-year-old priest Raimund Beisteiner was about to return the host to the tabernacle when he “suddenly” collapsed, according to a statement from the Archdiocese of Vienna.

“Despite immediate professional assistance, he di£d in the church,” the statement said.

The mayor of Wiesmath, Erich Rasner, had also attended the Mass with many other believers and witnessed the dramatic scenes.

The shock in Wiesmath at the loss of the popular priest is great. Beisteiner had shaped the spiritual life of the parish for almost two decades and was highly regarded far beyond the community.

Rasner praised him as an “extremely conscientious, sensitive priest” and also emphasized the personal loss of a friendship that had grown over many years.

A prayer service was organized at short notice for the late priest. It was attended by numerous priests from the deanery as well as Archbishop Josef Grünwidl.

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