Netanyahu says Hezbollah prepared ‘invasion’ of Israel

A photo taken from the southern Lebanese area of Marjayoun shows smoke billowing over the village of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel following Israeli bombardment on Oct. 23, 2024. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 23 October 2024
Follow

Netanyahu says Hezbollah prepared ‘invasion’ of Israel

  • “A hundred meters, two hundred meters from the border we found tunnels, tunnels that were preparing an invasion of Israel,” Netanyahu said
  • “An attack even greater than on October 7”

PARIS: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday Israel had uncovered a plot by Hezbollah to attack his country via underground tunnels involving jeeps and missiles.
He told French broadcasters CNews and Europe 1 that had the plan succeeded such an assault would have been more damaging than the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.
“A hundred meters, two hundred meters from the border we found tunnels, tunnels that were preparing an invasion of Israel, an attack even greater than on October 7,” Netanyahu said, according to a simultaneous translation provided by the networks.
“With jeeps, with motorbikes, with rockets, with missiles. They were planning an invasion.”
Netanyahu had told French daily Le Figaro earlier this month that the Israeli army found Russian cutting-edge military hardware in Hezbollah arms caches.
Since Israel last month escalated its bombing in Lebanon before sending ground troops across the frontier, the war has killed at least 1,552 people, according to an AFP tally of Lebanese health ministry figures, though the real toll is likely higher.


World Government Summit 2026 set to be largest ever

Updated 52 min 59 sec ago
Follow

World Government Summit 2026 set to be largest ever

  • 35 world leaders confirmed, says WGS’ Mohammad Al-Gergawi
  • ‘Because the challenges of the future cannot be tackled alone’

DUBAI: This year’s World Government Summit will be the largest in the event’s history, said Mohammad Al-Gergawi, the WGS foundation’s chairman, on Friday.

Speaking at an event at the Museum of the Future, Al-Gergawi said 35 heads of state and government officials have confirmed their attendance, including Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Switzerland’s President Guy Parmelin.

The WGS is an annual event held in Dubai which explores governance, and focuses on harnessing innovation and technology to solve universal challenges facing humanity.

Al-Gergawi said 24 side events would take place during the summit including forums on artificial intelligence, education, and sustainability.

Over 35 ministerial meetings are on the program including the Ministerial Roundtable with Arab Youth Ministers, Future of Tourism Roundtable, and Sustainable Development Goals Global Council Launch.

Al-Gergawi said four honors would be awarded during the summit, for best minister, most reformed government, sustainability, and best teacher.

He added that the world’s largest global gathering of Nobel laureates would take place during the summit.

“The World Laureate Summit aims to host a platform for laureates to present scientific solutions for problems governments are facing and will invite 50 laureates from various disciplines,” he explained.

Al-Gergawi said the WGS aims to play a key role in boosting collaboration between the private and public sectors.

“The success of the summit depends on the presence of governments, international organizations and the sector that shapes the future, the private sector,” he said.

“The success of the summit is directly linked to partnerships. Each partnership and initiative launched contributes to overcoming challenges in the future,” he added.

“The World Government Summit gathers everyone because the challenges of the future cannot be tackled alone,” Al-Gergawi said.

The summit takes place at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah from Feb. 3 to 5.