Middle East
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Israel's wars are expensive, paying the bill could force tough choices

On top of the grievous toll in human life and misery, Israel's war against Hamas and Hezbollah has been expensive, and the painfully high financial costs are raising concerns about the long-term effect of the fighting on the country's economy.

Military spending has ballooned, and growth has stalled, especially in dangerous border areas that were evacuated. Economists say the country could face declining investment and higher taxes as the war strains government budgets and forces tough choices between social programs and the military.

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Iran says Hezbollah behind drone attack on Netanyahu's residence

Iran's United Nations mission said that Lebanon's Hezbollah, armed and financed by Tehran, was behind a drone attack on the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Netanyahu says Iran and proxies to pay 'heavy price' for trying to 'assassinate' him

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday accused Iran and its "proxy Hezbollah" of trying to kill him and his wife, vowing that they would pay "a heavy price," after his office reported a drone targeted his residence in Caesarea.

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US, Germany, UK, France see 'immediate necessity' to end Gaza war

U.S. President Joe Biden and the German, French and British leaders have stressed the "immediate necessity" for ending the more than year-old war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Biden, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer in a joint statement said they agreed on "the immediate necessity to bring the hostages home to their families, for ending the war in Gaza, and ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians."

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Pro-Iran protesters storm office of Saudi TV channel in Iraq

Supporters of pro-Iran armed groups in Iraq stormed and ransacked the offices of a Saudi television channel in Baghdad early Saturday, a security source said, after the broadcaster aired a report referring to Iran-backed commanders as "terrorists."

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Khamenei says Hamas will survive after Sinwar death

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that Hamas was alive and will survive despite the death of its leader Yahya Sinwar in an Israeli military operation in Gaza.

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Biden says it may be easier to reach a cease-fire in Lebanon than Gaza

U.S. President Joe Biden has suggested that negotiating a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hezbollah could be easier than forging one between Israel and Hamas.

Biden said he discussed the way ahead to end the Middle East conflict following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza when he met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Friday.

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Hamas says will not release hostages until Gaza war ends

Top political leader of Hamas, Khalil al-Hayya, on Friday confirmed the death of the group’s leader, Yahya Sinwar.

Al-Hayya, in a televised statement, reiterated the Palestinian militant group’s stance that it will not release Israeli hostages captured in the group’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel until there is a cease-fire in the yearlong war in Gaza.

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Kremlin concerned about 'human catastrophe' in Gaza, Lebanon after Sinwar killing

The Kremlin said Friday it was more concerned about the "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza and Lebanon, when asked about Israel's killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar.

"For us, the main thing is the consequences for civilians that we are seeing... The humanitarian catastrophe that is observed both in Gaza and in Lebanon is the subject of our serious concern," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

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Israeli soldiers wounded in gunfight with militants who crossed from Jordan

Israel’s military said that two soldiers were injured in a gunfight with militants from Jordan who crossed into Israel Friday.

At least two militants crossed into Israeli territory south of the Dead Sea Friday morning, before being shot dead by Israeli troops. The two soldiers were injured during the exchanges of fire, the military said. It added that troops were searching the area for another militant who may have infiltrated.

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