BEIRUT, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and nine others injured in 184 Israeli airstrikes across areas north of the Litani River in Lebanon during the first half of January, Lebanese sources said Friday.The sources told Xinhua that Israel has intensified deep strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, citing the targeting of Hezbollah infrastructure, weapons depots, and rocket-launching platforms as its reason.Over the past 24 hours, about 26 Israeli strikes hit locations in the western Bekaa, Baalbek, Hermel, and Nabatieh regions. According to the sources, an Israeli strike on Thursday night on a car in Nabatieh's town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyah killed a Hezbollah member named Walid Olleik. Hours later, another Israeli strike on Friday morning on a car near Tyre, southern Lebanon, wounded a civilian.The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said in a Thursday statement that peacekeepers encountered an explosive device during a patrol near Adaisseh, southern Lebanon, and shortly after, a drone dropped a hand grenade near their position.UNIFIL urged Israel to cease actions endangering peacekeepers and civilians, noting they violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701.A ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel has been in effect since Nov. 27, 2024, but Israel continues to have occasional strikes, claiming they aim to remove Hezbollah threats. Israeli forces also maintain positions at five main points along the Lebanese border.

TEHRAN, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday thanked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for Russia's support at the United Nations in a phone conversation, according to the Iranian president's office.Pezeshkian praised Russia's position in support of Iran's rightfulness at the UN and other international organizations, stressing that his administration's domestic policy approach is people-based, involving all-out efforts to hear the people's demands and reduce the problems resulting from the cruel sanctions imposed on the country, said a statement on the presidency's website.Pezeshkian briefed Putin on the recent events in Iran, highlighting the direct role and interventions of the United States, Israel and certain European states in the incidents.Meanwhile, the Iranian president emphasized the two countries' very good interactions and cooperation across sectors, including economy, investment, transportation, and energy. He noted that the cooperation projects are progressing very well, and no problem has been reported.Putin, for his part, said Russia follows Iran's developments with care and sensitivity, adding that what had unfolded in Iran over the past days resembled color revolution scenarios.The Russian president denounced the actions perpetrated by the rioters in Iran, such as invading government, public and religious places as well as carrying out violent attacks against security and law enforcement forces with foreign support, expressing hope that Iran's economic situation would improve on the back of the Iranian government's measures.Putin said Russia is making diplomatic efforts to elaborate on Iran's circumstances and positions and prevent escalation at the international level.He said Russia always welcomes further expansion of relations with Iran, expressing satisfaction with the progress in cooperation projects.Protests erupted since late December in several Iranian cities over the sharp depreciation of the rial. ...

RAMALLAH, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- A 14-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli army fire on Friday during a military raid in the village of al-Mughayyir, east of Ramallah in the West Bank, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said in a brief statement.The ministry identified the boy as Mohammed al-Nassan, saying he was hit by live ammunition fired by Israeli soldiers. Local sources and eyewitnesses told Xinhua that Israeli forces stormed the village before Friday prayers, opened fire, and later fired tear gas and stun grenades at worshippers leaving a mosque.The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that its soldiers were dispatched to al-Mughayyir after receiving a report of individuals throwing stones toward Israelis, burning tires, and blocking roads.It said one terrorist was seen running toward soldiers while holding a rock, posing an imminent threat, and was shot after warning shots were fired.The West Bank has seen increased violence since the Gaza war began in October 2023. According to a UN report, 240 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank in 2025, including 55 children, whereas Palestinians killed 17 Israelis in the territory during the same period.

Zelensky announced on the 16th that a Ukrainian delegation would soon meet with representatives of Trump in the United States

Iran's Pezeshkian thanks Putin for Russian support at UN in call: presidency