International
UN peacekeepers denounce that Israeli soldiers shot at an UNFI post
The UN peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon (UNFINUL) denounced this Friday that on October 22 a group of Israeli soldiers “shot” at a blue helmet observation post in the village of Dhayra, in southern Lebanon.
In a statement, UNFIN denounced that while Israeli soldiers were carrying out “operations to clean up homes near their post in Dhayra, they targeted the position of UN troops, who had to retreat “to prevent them from being shot.”
The UN mission denounced that the Israeli Army “has repeatedly demanded that UNFINUL vacate its positions along the Blue Line,” the dividing line between Lebanon and Israel and where the blue helmets are highlighted to monitor the border strip.
He also repeated that Israel “has deliberately damaged camera, lighting and communications equipment in some of those positions,” while insisting that, “despite the pressure exerted on the mission” the FIUL troops “continue to be in their posts and fulfilling their task.”
Subsequently, the UN mission said in another statement that on October 23 “a medical center in a FINUL position in Beit Leif was hit by a projectile or rocket of unknown origin, which caused damage to the buildings.”
Incidents “of unknown origin”
In addition, he listed a series of incidents “of unknown origin” in which “no member of the peace forces was injured.”
Since the beginning of the land invasion of Israel’s southern Lebanon, the blue helmets have observed clashes in the villages of Alma al Shaab, Aitaroun, Bint Jbeil, Hanin, Houla, Kunin, Labbouneh, Markaba, Maroun al Ras, Meiss al Jabal, Ras Naqoura and Yaroun, the note added.
“We will continue to fulfill our surveillance and information tasks,” added the mission, currently commanded by Spain, which reminded the Israeli Army and “all actors” – in reference to the Shiite group Hezbula – of their obligations to guarantee the security of United Nations personnel and property.
In addition, he insisted that “any deliberate attack against them constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law and resolution 1701” of the UN Security Council, which ended the one-month war fought in 2006 between Israel and Hezbulah.
On October 20, FINUL again accused Israel of “deliberately” demolishing an observation tower and the perimeter fence of one of its positions in the south of the country, on the border with Israel, actions that have been repeated since the Israeli Army began its land invasion at the beginning of the month.
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
International
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Ecuadorian authorities are investigating two explosions that occurred early Wednesday, one on a road in the southern part of the country and another under a bridge in Guayas province. These incidents follow the car bomb explosion in the coastal city of Guayaquil, also in Guayas, which occurred the day before and left one person dead and 30 injured.
Press reports indicate that one person was injured and several vehicles were damaged in the explosion on the Cuenca-Girón-Pasaje road in the south.
“Besides yesterday’s explosion in Guayaquil, we have received reports of explosives placed on bridges along the Guayaquil-Machala and Machala-Cuenca routes to disrupt traffic,” said Roberto Luque, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT).
On his X social media account, Luque reported that authorities have been deployed to the sites to assess the damage and determine the current condition of the structures.
“What they haven’t achieved with their call for a strike, some are trying to achieve through terrorism,” he stated, referring to the 24 days of protests organized by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) against rising diesel prices and other demands.
The protests, called at a national level, have Imbabura province as their epicenter. Roadblocks have also been reported in the northern part of Pichincha province, whose capital is Quito, while activities in the rest of the country continue normally.
International
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.
The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.
In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.
He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”
The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.
The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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