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Marxist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake officially entered office as the president of Sri Lanka on Monday.

Dissanayake, 55, defeated President Ranil Wickremesinghe, whose party was accused of leading the country into an economic crisis. The new leader's party is the People's Liberation Front, a Marxist group that launched two armed insurrections during the 1970s and 1980s.

"We have deeply understood that we are going to get a challenging country," Dissanayake said during his swearing-in ceremony. "We don’t believe that a government, a single party or an individual would be able to resolve this deep crisis.

Chinese president Xi Jinping congratulated Dissanayake on his victory, saying on Monday that China looks forward to working together "to jointly carry forward our traditional friendship." The U.S. and India previously congratulated Dissanayake.

SRI LANKAN LAWMAKERS FIGHT OVER PM DISPUTE

Located to the south of India, many voters in the Buddhist majority country of 22 million people — approximately the same size as West Virginia — say they felt disgruntled with the country's political culture as the nation climbs slowly out of its economic crisis.

CHINA'S BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE PLAGUED BY CORRUPTION AND POLITICAL BACKLASH

Reuters reports that inflation rose as high as 70% after the 2022 collapse due to a severe shortage of dollars. Inflation has since cooled, however, and the nation's GDP is expected to grow "for the first time in three years."

Dissanayake's inauguration is the first standard transfer of power in Sri Lanka since 2022, when rioters forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign and flee the country. Wickremesinghe then replaced him in the fallout.

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Dissanayake's first major challenge will be to act on his campaign promise to ease austerity measures imposed by his predecessor Wickremesinghe under a relief agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which is the nation's largest creditor.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report

JERUSALEM — Israel secured long-overdue justice for the family members of American military and diplomatic personnel murdered by Hezbollah, including the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut.

The initial lack of alleged enthusiasm from the Biden administration and Democratic lawmakers for the targeted killings of senior Hezbollah mass murderers sparked criticism among top counter-terrorism experts. 

Take the example of Israel’s elimination on Friday of Ibrahim Aqil, who was wanted by the United States for both the bombing of the U.S. embassy, which killed 63 people, and the Marine barracks bombing in Beirut in 1983, when 241 U.S. military personnel were killed by the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah.

IRAN OFFICIAL ADMITS COUNTRY’S ROLE IN TERROR BOMBING THAT KILLED 241 US MILITARY MEMBERS: REPORT

The U.S. had a $7 million bounty on Aqil’s head, who was the commander of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force. In July, Israel assassinated Hezbollah military Chief of Staff Fuad Shukr, who, like Aqil, was involved in the 1983 Beirut bombings. 

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrote on X" The families of the Marines killed in Beirut have waited decades for justice. I’m thankful Israel helped deliver it by taking out one of the world’s most vicious terrorists—Ibrahim Aqil. Let this be a message to Iran and Iran’s proxies everywhere."

A Washington Post report cited Ryan Crocker, whose office was on the fourth floor of the embassy when the blast went off, as commenting on Aqil's death, "It is still a source of some satisfaction that he finally got it." Crocker went on to serve as U.S. ambassador to Syria, Iraq and several other nations. 

Max Abrahms, a leading expert on counter-terrorism and a tenured professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Fox News Digital that, "Targeted killings have been a cornerstone of U.S. counterterrorism since the 9/11 attacks. And yet, Israel killing Hezbollah terrorists with American blood on their hands has been rebuked by Democrat leaders."

He added "The fact that even targeted killings of terrorists with American blood stained hands get rebuked unmasks the Democratic leadership, which spent the last year pretending that it objected to the Gaza campaign after 10/7 because of its negative impact on the Palestinian population. As we have seen, the Democratic leadership opposes all Israeli measures to counterterrorism, even ones perfectly executed that eliminate any civilian harm."

Criticism of the Biden administration’s initial lackluster response to the killing of Aqil on Friday appeared to prompt a response from U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who called Aqil’s death "a good outcome" on Saturday.

HEZBOLLAH BIGGER CHALLENGE THAN HAMAS TO ISRAEL: ‘CROWN JEWEL IN THE IRANIAN EMPIRE OF TERROR’

"That individual has American blood on his hands and has a Reward for Justice price on his head," Sullivan said. He added "He is somebody who the United States promised long ago we would do everything we could to see brought to justice."

White House National Security Council communications adviser John Kirby told "Fox News Sunday with Shannon Bream" that "Nobody, including Secretary Austin, is shedding a tear over the death of Mr. Aqil, who does have American blood on his hands. I think the world's better for not having him walking around on the planet anymore. But that doesn't mean we want to see a full out war. We don't believe again, that that's in the best interest of the Israeli people."

David Wurmser, a former senior adviser for nonproliferation and Middle East strategy for former Vice President Dick Cheney, told Fox News Digital that, "The success of Israel’s aims is a multi-faceted American interest. First, the demise of so many prominent Hezbollah leaders involves the death of many who are on the American wanted lists, on many of whom the United States has placed hefty bounties. Despite the bounties, however, it was clear the United States had long ago abandoned any effort to bring any of these killers of American servicemen, diplomats and intelligence officers to justice. Their wholesale demise in a matter of two or three days by Israel only further highlights the gap between the lofty rhetoric of a half century of the American foreign policy establishment and the more dishonorable reality."

He added "That the U.S. is now taking a de-escalatory position – which creates equivalence between our democratic ally and the terrorists that have the blood of thousands of Americans on their hands, is simply disgraceful. At least now, albeit at Israel’s hands rather than ours, our sacred servicemen have been avenged."

Wurmser noted that "In the Middle East, we are fortunate to have a powerful and loyal ally that shares our values, Israel, that is attracting a collection of other friendly states to begin to forge a local regional alliance to challenge the region’s forces of instability, foremost among them being Iran’s regime."

Matthew Levitt, the director of the Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at The Washington Institute, told Fox News Digital that, "Over a short period of time, Israel recently eliminated Hezbollah terrorists who were there from the beginning and played hands on rolls and attacks against Americans in the 1980s. U.S. intelligence has been tracking these people for decades."

ISRAEL DEGRADES IRAN-BACKED HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS IN SPECTACULAR PAGER EXPLOSION OPERATION: EXPERTS

He added "But these strikes also have very current implications, given that Fuad Shukr and Ibrahim Aqil, together with Ali Karaki, have been jointly running as well as Islamic Jihad organization as a triumvirate since the death of Mustafa Badreddine in Syria several years ago. They were foot soldiers in the 1980s and rose to the highest ranks of the organization."

Lisa Daftari, an Iranian-American expert on the Islamic Republic and editor-in-chief of the Foreign Desk, told Fox News Digital that, "In eliminating Ibrahim Aqil, Israel has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to combating global terrorism—a fight that serves the interests of all nations dedicated to opposing radical extremism."

She added, "The Biden administration should openly commend Israel's efforts and provide robust support, rather than calling for restraint. It’s crucial to recognize that if groups like Hezbollah and Hamas cease their hostilities, we may achieve peace. But if Israel halts its operations now, it will continue to endure relentless terrorism, similar to the attacks witnessed on October 7. Our collective security hinges on Israel's resolve to dismantle these threats."

Retired Marine Corps Sergeant Major Steve Aitken, who was stationed on a boat offshore as the injured were transferred to ships for medical treatment following the terrorist attack, told the Washington Post that Aqil's death was "God’s judgment," adding, "You might get away, but you’re not going to get by … Our memory is long. Israel’s is even longer."

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., also stressed the significance of Israel’s assassination of Aqil writing on X, "Ibrahim Aqil was a vicious terrorist mastermind who helped murder hundreds of Americans. On behalf of the families of the Marines killed in the Beirut bombings—and on behalf of all Americans—I’m grateful justice has finally been served to this killer."

Aqil also oversaw Hezbollah’s operations in Syria, where he enabled Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad to wipe out hundreds of thousands of his own Arab citizens. 

Israel’s military says an "extensive" wave of airstrikes has hit more than 300 Hezbollah targets Monday as residents of southern Lebanon reportedly are receiving text messages warning them to stay away from buildings where the terrorist group is storing weapons. 

The strikes are in response to Hezbollah launching around 150 rockets, missiles and drones into northern Israel on Sunday following Israeli military operations that resulted in the deaths of multiple top Hezbollah commanders. 

"If you are in a building housing weapons for Hezbollah, move away from the village until further notice," reads a text message in Arabic that residents of Lebanon have been receiving, according to local media reports cited by the Associated Press. 

The Lebanese Health Ministry is asking hospitals in southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley to postpone surgeries that could be done later. The ministry said in a statement that its request aimed to keep hospitals ready to deal with people wounded by "Israel’s expanding aggression on Lebanon." 

HEZBOLLAH LAUNCHES ROCKETS AT ISRAEL: ‘OPEN-ENDED BATTLE’ 

Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said Monday’s strikes from Israel hit a forested area in the central province of Byblos, about 81 miles north of the Israeli-Lebanese border, for the first time since the exchanges between the two sides began in October, according to the AP. No injuries were reported there. 

Israel also bombed targets in the northeastern Baalbek and Hermel regions, where a shepherd was killed and two family members were wounded, the National News Agency said. It added that a total of 30 people were wounded in the strikes. 

The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that "[s]o far over 300 Hezbollah targets have been struck today," and that it is "currently conducting extensive strikes on terror targets belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon." 

"I repeat and reiterate: Israel does not seek war. But we have the right and the duty to defend our people," Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote on X, sharing a video he claims "shows how Hezbollah stores and launches missiles in civilian areas and homes." 

UN CHIEF DEFENDS UNRWA, SAYS ONLY ‘A FEW ELEMENTS’ PARTICIPATED IN OCT. 7 ATTACK 

"Thousands and thousands of long-range rockets are kept in houses, living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens, and then launched with the sole intention of killing our people. Would you accept this in your or your neighbor’s home?" Herzog asked. "What nation would accept its citizens living under such a threat from its neighbors?" 

The latest escalation between Israeli forces and Hezbollah comes as Lebanon is still reeling from a series of explosions that hit pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah members on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. The explosions killed at least 37 people and wounded about 3,000, according to local officials. The attacks were widely blamed on Israel, which has not confirmed or denied responsibility. 

Hezbollah's deputy leader, Naim Kassem, said Sunday's rocket attack against Israel was just the beginning of what is now an "open-ended battle." 

Hezbollah first began firing into Israel a day after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack, in what it said was an attempt to pin down Israeli forces to help Hamas in Gaza. 

Fox News’ Yael Rotem-Kuriel, Bradford Betz and the Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Hezbollah fired more than 100 rockets into northern Israel on Sunday in response to a series of Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, pushing both sides closer to the brink of full-scale war.  

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) airstrikes targeting Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon killed dozens, including one of the group’s top commanders, Ibrahim Akil.

Hezbollah's deputy leader, Naim Kassem, said Sunday's rocket attack was just the beginning of what's now an "open-ended battle" with Israel.

At Akil’s funeral, Kassem vowed Hezbollah would continue military operations against Israel but also warned of unexpected attacks "from outside the box," pointing to rockets fired deeper into Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would take whatever action was necessary to restore security in the north and allow people to return to their homes.

"No country can accept the wanton rocketing of its cities. We can't accept it either," he said.

Israel's military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, told reporters the army is prepared to increase pressure on Hezbollah in the coming days, adding, "We have many capabilities that we have not yet activated."

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES CONTINUE ON TERRORIST TARGETS, ROCKET LAUNCHERS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

The Israeli military said it struck about 400 militant sites, including rocket launchers, across southern Lebanon in the past 24 hours, thwarting an even larger attack.

"Last night, hundreds of thousands of Israelis woke up to rocket sirens as Hezbollah launched over 20 rockets towards northern Israel that left communities in ruins," IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani said. "This attack could have caused much more damage, but we were able to minimize their attack with a preemptive strike on rocket launchers across southern Lebanon."

The latest tit-for-tat between Israeli forces and Hezbollah comes as Lebanon is still reeling from a wave of explosions that hit pagers and walkie-talkies belonging to Hezbollah members on Tuesday and Wednesday. The explosions killed at least 37 people and wounded about 3,000. The attacks were widely blamed on Israel, which hasn't confirmed or denied responsibility.

Israeli forces have been trading fire with Hezbollah fighters almost daily since Oct. 8, the day after Hamas militants stormed into Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people and taking another 250 as hostages. Hezbollah leadership has said its attacks on Israel are in solidarity with its ally Hamas in Gaza.

IDF SAYS KEY HAMAS OPERATIVE KILLED IN GAZA, FOLLOWING CRIPPLING STRIKE ON HEZBOLLAH

The low-level fighting has killed dozens in Israel, hundreds in Lebanon and displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the frontier. But the fighting has intensified in recent weeks, with Israel shifting its focus from Gaza to Lebanon. Some have expressed concerns that the fight against Hezbollah will strain resources and complicate prospects for an already elusive cease-fire deal.

Retired Army Brig. Anthony Tata told "Fox & Friends" that the conflict would only grow and chided the Biden administration for what he deemed a lack of "moral clarity." 

"It’s critical that Netanyahu keeps his eye on the main fight, which is Hamas, and he eliminates Hamas," Tata said. "The main effort is still Hamas. And I think what they have to do is hold what they’ve got and hold off Hezbollah until they finish up Hamas, and then they can move to the north and … destroy Hezbollah. You can’t do two things at once equally well."

Asked Sunday if he was worried about rising tensions in the Middle East, President Biden said, "Yes, I am."

"But we’re going to do everything we can to keep a wider war from breaking out. And we’re still pushing hard," Biden added. 

Hamas is still holding around 100 captives from its attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, a third of whom are believed to be dead. More than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants. 

Meanwhile, the Israeli military said Sunday it intercepted multiple aerial devices fired from the direction of Iraq after Iran-backed militant groups there claimed to have launched a drone attack on Israel.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres defended the UNRWA's operations in Gaza on Sunday, saying only "a few elements" of the organization were affiliated with Hamas.

Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon claimed last week that the UNRWA, or United Nations Relief and Works Agency, is completely taken over by Hamas. Guterres has admitted that Hamas "infiltrated" the organization, but said during a Sunday appearance on CNN that there is no evidence behind Israel's claims.

"The fact is there was an infiltration with a few elements that indeed participated in the 7th of October," Guterres said, condemning the action.

"A lot of things have been invented that do not correspond at all to the truth," he continued. "Of course there are tunnels below the premises of UNRWA, as there are tunnels everywhere in Gaza. But there has never been any commitment of UNRWA in general to provide any kind of support to Hamas."

ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER: 'DOZENS' OF UNRWA STAFF TOOK PART IN HAMAS’ OCT 7 MASSACRE

Meanwhile, Israel has doubled down on its accusations regarding UNRWA. Danon accused Guterres and the U.N. of "burying its head in the sand" on the issue. Danon himself was defending an Israeli airstrike that hit the UNRWA al-Jaouni school in a Gaza refugee camp last week.

DOSSIER REVEALS INFORMATION USED TO EXPLAIN UN AGENCY'S DEEP TIES TO HAMAS IN GAZA

"Those who were killed in the IDF strike were nine terrorists with blood on their hands, and some of them participated in the barbaric massacre on October 7. In case there are still any doubts, there are the names of the Hamas terrorists who were at the school compound disguised as ‘local UNRWA employees,'" he Danon said.

The school, which was not operational, was being used as a Hamas command and control center, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

Just last month, Fox News Digital reported that UNRWA was forced to fire nine employees because of their likely involvement in Hamas’s slaughter of nearly 1,200 people on Oct. 7 in southern Israel.

The U.S. suspended funding to UNRWA because of the role some of its employees played in the Oct. 7 massacre. President Biden had initially restarted aid to the controversy-hit agency upon assuming office after former President Trump's decision to defund the organization in 2018.

Fox News' Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report

The former top security head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) warned on Thursday that U.S. bases in the Middle East could become overwhelmed by Iranian missile fire. 

Retired Gen. Kenneth "Frank" McKenzie, now a Hertog senior fellow with the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), is sounding the alarm in a report this week that argued U.S. bases in the Arabian Gulf have become vulnerable to Iranian assault with Tehran's developments in its weapons capabilities. 

"Our basing strategy is outdated and poorly positioned to meet the central threat in the region: Iran," McKenzie said. "By developing a flexible western basing network for America’s air assets, we will complicate Iran’s ability to target our forces and raise the cost of aggression."

TOP RUSSIAN OFFICIAL LANDS IN IRAN AMID US, UK CONCERNS OVER ALLEGED NUCLEAR DEAL

In a call with reporters this week, McKenzie explained that some of the U.S.’s top bases in countries like Qatar, UAE and Bahrain – located near Iran and which once served as a deterrent against malign actors – now sit as weak points in the U.S.'s force posture in the region.  

As technology and missile development have modernized, base placement needs to be rethought, he argued, noting that Iran is loaded with short-range missile capabilities, while its medium- to long-range abilities are lacking.

"They have spent vast amounts of money and resources in building very capable ballistic missile capabilities – theater range ballistic missiles, land attack cruise missiles and drones," McKenzie said. "Those three capabilities are relatively new capabilities at scale in the region, and they pose new threats. 

"They can throw more weapons into the fight than we can defend, even with highly capable systems like patriot and other systems that exist," he added. 

The retired general, who sat as CENTCOM commander for three years between March 2019 and April 2022 before retiring from the Marine Corps after 42 years of service, argued the U.S. needs to start seriously working with regional allies like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman and Egypt to relocate bases farther away from Iran. 

ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER TELLS US ONLY ‘MILITARY ACTION’ CAN RETURN PEOPLE TO HOMES AMID HEZBOLLAH THREAT

He said bases should also be identified "as far to the west as possible where [the U.S.] can deploy aircraft, maintenance capabilities, refueling capabilities, and weapons," but which are out of reach of Iran.

When pressed by Fox News Digital over the willingness of these Middle Eastern nations to allow for the relocation of bases, McKenzie said his proposal has already been addressed with partnering countries in the region.

"This is something that we talked about while I was the CENTCOM commander at the middle to middle level, there's interest in it," he said. "Here's the thing to remember, let's just pick one country as an example, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – improvements to these bases in the west of the country benefit the Saudis more than anyone else. 

"These are going to be dual-use bases," McKenzie explained. "We're basing there under certain conditions to actually assist in the defense of Saudi Arabia, and it actually increases their own self-defense capabilities."

The former CENTCOM commander also pointed out that the direct security threat that Iran poses not only comes from Tehran, it also comes from its use of terrorist groups to fight its proxy wars in the Middle East. 

"Deterrence is only obtained by a credible demonstration of will and the capability to fight and win if needed," McKenzie argued in his report. "Deterrence must be continuous; in the Middle East, it can have a very short half-life unless it is refreshed systematically."

WARNING: This article contains graphic details

British officials recently determined the shocking and tragic way that a Welsh man died last year.

The Western Telegraph reported that Barry Griffiths, 57, died after accidentally knifing himself while separating frozen burgers in June 2023. Officials announced the results of the investigation at a coroner's court hearing on Monday. 

Griffiths, a resident of Llandrindod Wells, had been trying to separate the frozen burgers with a knife when he stabbed himself in the stomach. During Monday's hearing, coroner Patricia Morgan said Griffiths had reduced mobility in one of his arms after a stroke, which likely led to the freak accident.

Tragically, Griffiths' body remained in his apartment for several days after his death. Morgan noted that Griffiths "[had a] relatively private life with limited contact with others," which was why it took over a week for police to conduct a wellness check.

WOMAN LEFT WITH KIDNEY DAMAGE AFTER VISITING HAIR SALON

Griffiths' body was found in his bed on July 4, 2023. According to the Western Telegraph, his phone was last active on June 23, and his laptop was used on June 24.

Griffiths also suffered from atherosclerosis, which meant that his arteries were clogged with plaque. That condition, which restricted blood flow to his heart, also contributed to his death, according to Morgan.

Officials initially thought that his death might be a suicide or murder. According to Deputy Chief Inspector Jonathan Rees, officials eventually came to the conclusion that the cause of death was "an accident solely involving Mr. Griffiths."

3-YEAR-OLD BOY FOUND DEAD AFTER FALLING INTO SEPTIC TANK WHILE PLAYING OUTSIDE: POLICE

"The bottom drawer of the freezer had been left open and pulled forward in a position to access food items," Rees explained, per the Western Telegraph. "On the work surface in the kitchen adjacent to the fridge freezer were two uncooked burgers, a knife and a tea towel."

"The wound to the abdomen would have been approximately the height of the work surface," he added. "My hypothesis at that stage was that Mr Griffiths was attempting to separate frozen burgers using a knife."

During the hearing, Morgan told Griffiths' family members that she understood that the "evidence is difficult to hear and traumatic."

"Thank you for your patience while the investigation was ongoing," Morgan was quoted as saying. "I express my condolences at this difficult time."

Fox News Digital reached out to the South Wales Central Coroner's Office for additional information.

The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday morning it was conducting retaliatory strikes against the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

This comes after the IDF says Hezbollah launched about 115 aerial attacks towards civilian areas in northern Israel over the span of a few hours.

The IDF said its defensive arrays are deployed in northern Israel and are on high preparedness to thwart threats targeting the area. Air defense systems had intercepted multiple projectiles over Haifa, Israel.

ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES CONTINUE ON TERRORIST TARGETS, ROCKET LAUNCHERS IN SOUTHERN LEBANON

The military said strikes will continue and will intensify against Hezbollah.

The IDF also said the Israeli Air Force conducted a precise strike on Hamas terrorists in a compound in the northern Gaza Strip.

Before the strike, the IDF says numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance and additional intelligence information.

HEZBOLLAH IDENTIFIES SECOND TOP COMMANDER KILLED IN ISRAELI AIRSTRIKE IN LEBANON

Israel's Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant spoke with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin several times over the weekend about developments in northern Israel.

Gallant briefed Austin on the precise operation conducted by the IDF to take out the head of Hezbollah's operations unit and commander of the Radwan Forces, Ibrahim Aqil, who is a senior Hezbollah leader and planner of several terror attacks against Israel and who is also wanted by the U.S. for the killing of its citizens. 

The minister also talked about Israel's defensive position and operations against the ongoing strikes by Hezbollah against northern cities and civilian areas in Israel. He said the goal is to ensure Israel's northern communities can return to their homes.

Gallant additionally told Austin about the IDF's ongoing activities in Gaza against Hamas and emphasized his commitment to freeing the more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas.

He expressed his appreciation to Austin and U.S. leadership for reaffirming their commitment to Israel.

Fox News' Yael Kuriel contributed to this report.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday said it was continuing to extensively attack terrorist targets in southern Lebanon for a second day after detecting that Hezbollah was preparing to fire on Israeli territory. 

"Dozens of Israeli Air Force aircraft are currently striking terrorist targets and rocket launchers to remove the threat to Israeli civilians," IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Saturday in a translation of a press briefing. 

The strikes have killed at least two top Hezbollah commanders and more than a dozen members of the group. 

ISRAELI'S WAR FRONT SHIFTS DRAMATICALLY TO NORTH AGAINST IRA-BACKED HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS

"We are methodically targeting and degrading Hezbollah’s launching capabilities, eliminating commanders and terrorists, as we did throughout the day," Hagari said. "Overall, today we struck approximately 400 Hezbollah launchers, including thousands of rocket launcher barrels."

Hagari said to Israelis: "Rockets and other threats may be launched toward Israeli territory in the near future. We ask you to strictly follow the Home Front Command’s defensive guidelines. We are in the midst of a time of warfare, so it is important to remain vigilant and alert."

IDF SAYS HAMAS OPERATIVE, OTHER TERRORISTS KILLED AS IT CARRIES OUT ‘INTELLIGENCE-BASED’ STRIKES IN GAZA 

On Friday, he said the IDF killed Ibrahim Aqil, head of Hezbollah's Operations Unit, along with 15 commanders of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Unit.

Ahmed Wahbi, who oversaw the military operations of Hezbollah’s Radwan special forces unit until early 2024, was also killed in the attack. 

"They met to plan terror attacks and infiltrations into Israeli territory, but we knew where they were, and preempted them - eliminating them in a precise and powerful operation conducted by the Intelligence Directorate and the Israeli Air Force," Hagari said. 

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also called for an emergency meeting Saturday night of the special Security Cabinet at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv over the Lebanon strikes.

Fox News Digital's Ben Evansky contributed to this report. 

Oktoberfest is open.

Mayor Dieter Reiter officially started Oktoberfest at noon Saturday when he inserted the tap into the first beer keg, signaling the 189th start of the festival. Thousands of beer lovers celebrated in the Munich fairground as the first to clink their mugs during the world’s largest folk festival.

ORIGINAL FESTIVAL BEER FOR OKTOBERFEST FOUND ONLY IN USA EVEN AS MUNICH TAPS FIRST KEG OF 2024

Servers immediately began ferrying trays — each carrying up to 8 glass mugs — to tables. Revelers started clinking their mugs and taking deep gulps of beer in the stuffy heat of the tent.

The celebration runs through Oct. 6 in 18 large tents covering the Theresienwiese fairground.

This year’s festival includes stepped-up security in the wake of a deadly knife attack in Solingen, a city roughly 470 kilometers (292 miles) northwest of Munich. The violence on Aug. 23 left three people dead and eight more wounded, and the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, without citing evidence. As a result, organizers added metal detectors to the security lineup for the first time in Oktoberfest’s history, but said there were no concrete threats.

Tens of thousands of people lined the streets early Saturday to watch the opening parade as others raced to claim tables inside the tents. They gossiped, played cards and walked around the fairgrounds to check out the food options and amusement park rides to kill time before they could start drinking.

Revelers sprinted through the fairgrounds at 9 a.m. as soon as the entrances opened, despite security officers’ attempts to keep the procession orderly. They laughed despite the morning chill — someone could be heard shrieking "why are we running!" — and raced to get in line again, but this time to be first inside the tents.

Some 6 million visitors are expected over the festival's 16 days — up to 600,000 each day — and can expect to shell out between 13.60 and 15.30 euros ($15.12 to $17.01) for a 1-liter mug of beer (33 fl oz). This year's prices are roughly 3.87% more than in 2023.

Mikael Caselitz, 24, was born and raised in Munich and has attended Oktoberfest for years. He said everyone should travel to Munich for the festival at least once in their lives.

"It can get really crowded and disgusting when people puke on the side of the road," he joked, "but overall it’s a really fun experience."

Ollie Standen woke up at 6 a.m. to get in line early for Oktoberfest, where the beer starts flowing at noon. The 21-year-old from England is in Munich this year for a university exchange program and a local friend told him he had to join the festivities. He said he’s looking forward to trying different German beers that aren’t usually found in the United Kingdom.

"It’s a great German tradition, and I’m excited to be here," he said.

The event was skipped in 2020 and 2021 as authorities grappled with COVID-19, but returned in 2022.

The first Oktoberfest was held Oct. 17, 1810, to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Theresa of Saxony. The venue, a meadow on the edge of Munich at the time, was called "Theresienwiese" to honor the bride. While that name remains, the start date has moved up to September, when the temperatures in Bavaria are usually warmer.

The United States should resist the proposed United Nations' (U.N.) "Pact for the Future," which aims to recenter the global forum as a driving force on issues that it has, thus far, failed to effort any change, according to an expert. 

"The Summit of the Future, where U.N. member states are expected to endorse the Pact for the Future, is an attempt by the Secretary-General to ‘reinvigorate global action’ and ‘further develop the frameworks of multilateralism so they are fit for the future’," Brett Schaefer, research fellow in International Regulatory Affairs in the Heritage Foundation's Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, said. 

"He should instead be calling for reassessment, retrenchment, and refocus," argued Schaefer, who served on the U.N.’s Committee on Contributions between 2019 and 2021. "The international response to COVID-19, for example, was highly flawed; peacekeeping is in retreat; negotiations flounder on divergent priorities; and human rights violators hold sway in the Human Rights Council and General Assembly."

The Summit for the Future will take place ahead of the High-Level week at the United Nations General Assembly. Schaefer argued that U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres worked toward this summit over the past three years through his annual reports, which focused on climate and pollution issues.

UN RESOLUTION DEMANDING ISRAEL EXIT ‘OCCUPIED TERRITORIES’ CAN HURT ‘HIGHLY VOLATILE’ SITUATION, EXPERT SAYS

The pact would expand that scope and focus on "global shocks," such as "disrupting activity in cyberspace" or "disruptions to global flows of goods, people or finance." 

The pact also seeks to change the way nations discuss wealth and productivity, proposing the development of new measures beyond GDP and decentralizing financial governance and voting power from organizations such as the IMF and World Bank to help scale up developing nations. 

Guterres showed great concern and interest for how the world will govern "global commons," such as the high seas, the atmosphere, Antarctica and outer space, as well as global public goods, namely initiatives of shared interests between nations. 

Schaefer warned that these initiatives, while seeming altruistic, would instead prove too much for the organization to handle – citing its lack of success with such initiatives in the past – and would instead end up handing the U.N. another tool to browbeat dissenting nations such as the United States. 

UN AMBASSADOR CRITICIZES ISRAELI MILITARY, CALLS FOR ‘FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES’

"The Pact would bestow additional responsibilities on an organization that cannot handle its current remit instead of focusing on areas like humanitarian assistance where the U.N. can make unique and valuable contributions," Schaefer said. 

"The Pact for the Future will join a long list of U.N. declarations that have served as diplomatic and rhetorical cudgels with which to attack the United States," he added. "The prudent path for the U.S. would be not to support the Pact for the Future in the upcoming Summit."

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield raised concerns about the pact during a press conference on Wednesday, when she warned that member states still have concerns about the pact. 

"We have seen the entire U.N. Member State system engage over the course of the past few months in putting together a Pact for the Future that all can agree to, and I do know that we’re not quite there yet," Thomas-Greenfield said. 

IT'S ABOUT TIME THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TAKES ACTION AGAINST IRAN: DANNY DANON

"As I noted, the negotiations are still taking place as we speak," she said. "I think we’ve accomplished a lot and brought a lot of common priorities together on the table. There are still some major differences."

Thomas-Greenfield warned that no agreement that requires consensus will ever lead to "100% happy" members, and the pact will contain elements "that we all disagree with," which she believed members would raise during the vote on the pact itself. 

"I am still hopeful that we will get there," she said, noting that the U.S. was "disappointed that some countries broke silence on a number of issues yesterday because we were so close."

"The G77 had agreed not to break silence," she revealed. "The E.U. agreed not to break silence. We agreed not to break silence. But unfortunately, there are a few others who are still trying to put things into the pact that they know will be difficult to achieve."

"I think you’re probably aware that the Russians broke silence on probably 15 different issues," she said. "They don’t like, of course, any reference to sanctions. I understand Saudi Arabia broke silence on issues related to climate, that others broke silence on issues related to IFI reform."

"We had issues on that language, but we were able to come to a place that we could accept the language, although we didn’t think it was perfect, so all of those negotiations are continuing right now," she added.

The Irish government is dropping parts of its controversial hate speech laws which have been criticized by free speech advocates around the world, including X owner Elon Musk who vowed to fight the legislation in court.

Irish Justice Minister Helen McEntee says that components of a proposed hate speech bill that deals with incitement to hatred or violence have been removed, per RTÉ News.

The measure would have allowed for the jailing of citizens for merely possessing material that criticizes certain protected characteristics, ranging from gender identity to national origin. Some critics have compared it to the concept of punishing people for "thoughtcrime," a term popularized by George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984." 

HERE'S WHY IRELAND IS AT A BOILING POINT OVER MASS IMMIGRATION

The move comes as a general election in Ireland looms large, with the current coalition government rapidly approaching the end of its current five-year term. A date for an election has yet to be announced. 

The legislation, the Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences bill, has already passed through the Dáil, Ireland's lower chamber, but it had stalled in the Senate, the upper chamber. 

McEntee says that most controversial provisions of the bill are being removed and that legislation aimed at bringing forward tougher sentences for physical hate crimes under the bill will proceed.

"The incitement-to-hatred element [of the bill] does not have a consensus, so that will be dealt with at a later stage," McEntee told RTÉ News. 

"This will send a very pure message, if you attack a person, if you commit a crime against a person or a group of people, simply because of who they are, the color of their skin, where they have come from that there will be a tougher sentence, a harsher sentence at the end of the day," McEntee said.

"I am adamant that hate crime legislation will be enacted," she said.

The scrapping of the incitement measured in the bill is being viewed as a partial victory for free speech advocates. 

The hate speech bill had faced mounting criticism even from government backbenches and some of those in opposition. Ireland's main opposition party Sinn Féin voted in favor of the bill but later called for it to be scrapped. 

According to many online users, the legislation was kept intentionally vague and suggests that people could be jailed for having certain memes saved to their phones or for merely being found in possession of books or videos deemed politically offensive. 

IRELAND ANTI-HATE LAW PUSHED IN WAKE OF DUBLIN RIOTS COULD CRIMINALIZE MEMES, POSES FREE SPEECH CONCERNS

Musk had helped shine a global spotlight on the legislation and promised to fund the legal fees of Irish citizens who wanted to challenge the bill.

The billionaire said that X had standing in Ireland, given that its European headquarters is located in Dublin, the nation’s capital. Musk’s group of investors bought Twitter for $44 billion in 2022 and took the company private. 

"You have to be able to speak your mind within the context of the law: without that you don’t have a real democracy," Musk told Irish media outlet Gript. "We'll make sure that if there is an attempt to suppress the voice of the Irish people that we do our absolute best to defend the people of Ireland and their ability to speak their mind."

Irish MMA fighter Conor McGregor backed Musk’s efforts. 

"We, the people of Ireland, will never tolerate any draconian/corruptible bills being passed into law here. We will not tolerate the attempted removal of our freedom to speak our minds and engage in fair, honest debate," McGregor said.

"A silly and weak attempt to silence opposition opinion is what this is and WE SAY NO! We will fight this all the way if it is attempted to be pushed forward. We will fight it and we will win. Thank you Elon, as we say in Ireland, fair play!"

Senator Pauline O’Reilly of the Green Party, a coalition partner in the government, sparked fury when she said the hate speech bill was about restricting freedom "for the common good." A video of her speech went viral. 

"You will see throughout our constitution, yes, you have rights, but they are restricted for the common good. If your views on other people's identities go to make their lives unsafe, insecure and cause them such deep discomfort that they cannot live in peace, then I believe that it is our job as legislators to restrict those freedoms for the common good."

The Irish government said it felt emboldened to act on the hate speech legislation following riots in Dublin in November. The riots were sparked after an Algerian-born man was arrested and accused of stabbing a woman and three children outside a primary school in the city. The stabbing came amid concerns over migrant-related crime in the country.

Paul Coleman, executive director of ADF International and author of the book "Censored," said, "It is the responsibility of governments to protect, not squash, free speech."

"In any democracy, there must be space for disagreement. Ireland’s draconian proposal to ban 'hate speech' — something the government refuses to define — will have severe implications for the basic human right to free expression in the public square," Coleman said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"It’s clear that where ‘hate speech' laws have been introduced, the result is a severe crackdown on peaceful expression." 

Coleman argued his point, citing a case in Finland, for example, where parliamentarian and grandmother Paivi Rasanen faced a four-year legal battle and three criminal charges for voicing her faith-based beliefs about human sexuality and posting a Bible verse on X that supported her views. 

Fox News’ Brianna Herlihy, Danielle Wallace and Alexander Hall contributed to this report.

A New Zealand pilot has been freed from captivity after being abducted early last year upon landing at a remote Indonesian airport, where separatist rebels set his small plane on fire.  

Phillip Mehrtens, a 38-year-old working for Indonesian aviation company Susi Air at the time of his abduction in Papua on Feb. 7, 2023, told reporters on Saturday, "Today I finally got out. … I am so happy to be back home with my family soon." 

"Thank you to everyone who helped me get out safely and healthy," Mehrtens added during a news conference in the mining town of Timika, which is located west of the remote airstrip in Paro where he had been taken captive. 

Television news earlier showed an emaciated, long-haired Mehrtens, wearing a dark-green shirt and black shorts, sitting in a room surrounded by police officers and local officials, according to The Associated Press. He sobbed while talking to his family via video and an officer tried to calm him down by patting his back. He was later flown to Jakarta to be reunited with his family. 

PHILIPPINES DEPLOYS NEW COAST GUARD SHIP TO SABINA SHOAL, DEFYING CHINA’S DEMANDS FOR WITHDRAWAL 

"I’m grateful Phillip Mehrtens has been released after more than 19 months in captivity," New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon wrote on X. "My appreciation to all those in Indonesia and New Zealand who have supported this positive outcome for Phillip and his family." 

The AP reports that rebels have used violence to try to achieve independence as the security situation deteriorates in Indonesia’s easternmost region of Papua, a former Dutch colony in the western part of New Guinea that is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia. 

Papua was incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 under a United Nations-sponsored ballot that was widely seen as a sham, the news agency adds. Since then, a low-level insurgency has simmered. The conflict spiked in the past year, with dozens of rebels, security forces and civilians killed. 

NORTH KOREA LAUNCHES FRESH WAVE OF ‘TRASH’ BALLOONS TOWARD SOUTH KOREA 

At the time of his abduction, rebel spokesperson Sebby Sambom was quoted as saying that "we will never release the pilot we are holding hostage unless Indonesia recognizes and frees Papua from Indonesian colonialism." 

However, on Tuesday, leaders of the West Papua Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, issued a proposal for freeing Mehrtens that outlined terms including news media involvement in his release, according to the AP. 

Indonesian police spokesperson Bayu Suseno said Saturday that Mehrtens’ release was the result of hard work from a small task force team that had been communicating with the separatists through a local church and community leaders as well as youth figures. 

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters also said that a wide range of government agencies had been working with Indonesian authorities and others to secure the release of Mehrtens for the past 19 1/2 months. Officials were also supporting Mehrtens’ family, Peters said. 

"This was through a very long negotiation process and our patience not to do it repressively," added Indonesia President Joko Widodo. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

The Kremlin’s top doctor this week encouraged all Russians to engage in a "sex-at-work" scheme in a move to back President Vladimir Putin’s attempts to counter a growing population crisis.

Despite cash incentives, tax breaks, a nationwide push to discourage abortions and Putin’s years-long attempt to encourage procreation across the country, Russia saw its lowest birth rate in the last quarter-century for the first six months of 2024, reports said following UN findings on worldwide population rates.

Speaking during a Eurasian Women’s Forum on Wednesday, Putin encouraged women’s role in the workplace, but he also reiterated his push for higher birthrates.

RUSSIA SEES HISTORIC POPULATION DROP SPURRING DEMOGRAPHIC CRISIS AMID WAR IN UKRAINE

"Proper conditions are being created for women to succeed professionally while remaining guardians of the hearth and lynchpins of large families with many children," he said, according to report by Newsweek.

The Kremlin chief reportedly said that women can cope with the load of being both a career-woman and a mother because they "possess a secret that men are unable to fathom."

When pressed by a female reporter about when women are supposed to find the time to manage a family, Russia’s Health minister Dr. Yevgeny Shestopalov said, "Being very busy at work is not a valid reason, but a lame excuse."

RUSSIA PLANS DIGITAL DRAFT AFTER THOUSANDS DODGE MILITARY SERVICE, FLEE COUNTRY

"There are people who work 12 to 14 hours – when do they make babies?" Shestopalov was asked, according to a report by Metro. 

"You can engage in procreation during breaks," he replied before adding, "Life flies by too quickly."

Female Russian lawmakers, including politicians Anna Kuznetsova and Zhanna Ryabtseva joined in on the push by encouraging women to maximize their childbearing years by starting families once they turn 18. 

One Russian Member of Parliament, Tatyana Butskaya, even encouraged employers to monitor the birth rates of their female staff members, reported Sky News Australia. 

Women in Moscow between the ages of 18 and 40 are also being encouraged to receive fertility testing.

"This new push for more Russian babies is consistent with the Russian government’s previous initiatives to improve demographics and increase the size of the future workforce,"  former DIA intelligence officer and author of "Putin’s Playbook," Rebekah Koffler, told Fox News Digital. "While the Kremlin portrays Russia’s declining birth rates in Russia as ‘disastrous,’ in reality Russia’s demographics is not much different from those of most industrial countries."

The UN estimates that Russia’s population, which currently sits around 140.8 million, will fall by 10 million by 2054.

The United States Census Bureau reports that the number of children per woman in Russia is currently 1.5, though a birth rate of 2.1 is needed to sustain its current population rate, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, as reported by Newsweek.

The Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah announced Saturday that another one of its top commanders was killed in Friday’s targeted Israeli airstrike on the country’s capital of Beirut. 

Ahmed Wahbi, who oversaw the military operations of Hezbollah’s Radwan special forces unit until early 2024, is among the 16 members of the group who were eliminated in the strike, Reuters cited Hezbollah as saying. 

The development comes as the Israel Defense Forces said it was carrying out more airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon on Saturday. 

Friday’s strike also killed Ibrahim Aqil, another commander of the Radwan special forces who served on Hezbollah’s highest military body, the Jihad Council, according to the U.S. State Department. 

ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES CONFIRM ‘TARGETED STRIKE’ ON BEIRUT, KILLING TOP HEZBOLLAH OFFICIAL 

"During the 1980s, Aqil was a principal member of Hezbollah’s terrorist cell the Islamic Jihad Organization, which claimed responsibility for the bombings of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in April 1983, which killed 63 people, and the U.S. Marine Corps barracks in October 1983, which killed 241 U.S. personnel," the State Department says. 

Hezbollah released a statement describing Aqil as "one of its top leaders" who was killed in a "treacherous Israeli assassination," Reuters reports. 

Israel said Friday following the airstrike in southern Beirut that "We can now confirm that Ibrahim Aqil was eliminated together with other senior terrorists in Hezbollah’s Radwan Forces." 

The overall death toll from the airstrike is 31, including seven women and three children, Lebanon's health minister said on Saturday. 

IDF SAYS HAMAS OPERATIVE, OTHER TERRORISTS KILLED AS IT CARRIES OUT ‘INTELLIGENCE-BASED’ STRIKES IN GAZA 

The airstrike reportedly knocked out an eight-story building that had 16 apartments and damaged another one adjacent to it. The missiles destroyed the first building and cut through the basement of the second where a meeting of Hezbollah officials was being held, according to an Associated Press journalist at the scene. 

Health Minister Firass Abiad told reporters 68 people were also wounded of whom 15 remain in the hospital, adding that search and rescue operations were still ongoing, with the number of casualties likely to rise. 

The Minister of Public Works and Transport Ali Hamie told reporters at the scene that 23 people are still missing. 

Fox News’ Yael Kuriel and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

JERUSALEM - Signs of a third full-blown war between Israel and the U.S.-designated terrorist movement, Hezbollah, which runs a state-within a state in Lebanon, are rapidly solidifying. Israel has fought two previous wars against terrorist forces embedded in Lebanon, in 1982 and 2006, and a third war appears to be looming. 

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) re-deployed its elite and battle-tested 98th Division from the southern war theater in Gaza against Hamas to the north, in a possible prelude to what some say could be a ground invasion to root out Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon.

IDF Reserve Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi told Fox News Digital, that war in the north against Hezbollah is around the corner. "A few weeks ago it was clear that due to the fact that Israel had destroyed most of Hamas' forces, Hamas does not pose a serious threat to Israel anymore. This was a moment to decide to change the strategy and move the center of gravity from the south to north." 

ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES CONFIRM 'TARGETED STRIKE' ON BEIRUT

The rapid-fire movements unfolding in Israel—a country the size of New Jersey—come amid the Jewish state’s foreign intelligence service, Mossad, allegedly detonating Hezbollah operatives’ electronic devices in a scene out of a John le Carré espionage novel. Hundreds of pagers used by Hezbollah members exploded on Tuesday, killing 12 people, including two children, and wounding some 2,800 others.

Another wave of electronic devices detonated on Wednesday, killing at least 25 and wounding more than 450. Hezbollah officials said the devices included walkie-talkies and solar equipment.

HEZBOLLAH BIGGER CHALLENGE THAN HAMAS TO ISRAEL: ‘CROWN JEWEL IN THE IRANIAN EMPIRE OF TERROR’

Israel and Hezbollah have engaged in heavy aerial warfare over the last 48 hours. Israel’s war cabinet declared the return of as many as 100,000 Israelis who were forced to flee the north because of Hezbollah attacks as a key war objective.

Avivi, who is the head of the Israel Defense and Security Forum, noted that there is no way to bring back the displaced Israelis safely to their homes in the north "without pushing Hezbollah out of south Lebanon and hitting Hezbollah hard—all of their capabilities all throughout Lebanon." 

He said the chances of securing a diplomatic solution are "extremely low due to lack of international pressure and unwillingness of the U.S. to pose a credible military threat against Iran and Hezbollah."

The United Nations has failed to enforce U.N. Security Council resolution 1701 that required Hezbollah to be disarmed after its 2006 war against the Jewish state. 

ISRAEL DEGRADES IRAN-BACKED HEZBOLLAH TERRORISTS IN SPECTACULAR PAGER EXPLOSION OPERATION: EXPERTS

In another devastating setback for Hezbollah, an IDF strike on Friday took out members of the elite Hezbollah Radwan force in Beirut.

IDF spokesman Nadav Shoshani announced on Friday on X  that, "We eliminated Ibrahim Aqil earlier today in a precise strike in Beirut, Lebanon. At the time of the strike, Ibrahim Aqil, and the approx. 10 Radwan commanders who were eliminated with him, gathered underground—under a residential building in the heart of the Dahiyah neighborhood, hiding among Lebanese civilians—using them as human shields."

Aqil was a wanted global Islamist terrorist with the blood of American military personnel on his hands. He was wanted by the United States for his alleged role in the bombing of a U.S. Marines barracks in Beirut in 1983. He is also believed to be linked to the taking of American hostages in Lebanon during the 1980s.

Shoshani added "They were in the middle of planning more terror attacks against Israeli civilians. Terror attacks like the 200 rockets fired today at Israeli civilians and many more. These commanders also planned Hezbollah’s "Conquer the Galilee" attack plan, in which Hezbollah intended to infiltrate Israeli communities and murder innocent civilians."

Hezbollah attacked Israel on October 8—a day after its ally Hamas invaded Israel and slaughtered nearly 1,200 people. Hezbollah’s attacks have killed more than 40 people in Israel, including 12 Israeli Druze children on packed soccer field in July.

Jonathan Conricus, a former IDF spokesman told Fox News Digital "Had Israel wanted to launch a full-blown offensive against the Iranian proxy in Lebanon, it wouldn’t have waited more than 11 months to do so. The IDF is striking launchers and military infrastructure in Lebanon, after having delivered a stunning and demoralizing blow by causing communication devices to explode, in what perhaps is the last effort by Israel to apply pressure on Hezbollah to agree to a diplomatic deal that can prevent a war."

Conricus, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, added "If Hezbollah cares about the future of Lebanon, it would do right by withdrawing from the Israeli border and ceasing its aggression against Israel, and decouple its artificial connection with Hamas’ war against Israel. At the end of the day, the Israeli authorities are obliged to facilitate the safe return of evacuated Israelis to their homes, either by a diplomatic deal or by military action."

Rami Mortada, Lebanon’s ambassador to the U.K., told The Times of London that an Israeli invasion "is a doomsday scenario for everyone. It’s definitely a doomsday for Lebanon." He warned that Lebanon will not suffer alone in a fresh war.

Israeli war planners have spent 17 years since the last war against Hezbollah in 2006 preparing for the doomsday conflict in the north. 

Fox News' Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.

SRI LANKA — Following a major economic crisis in Sri Lanka marked by protests that culminated in the overthrow of the government in 2022, voters in the island nation go to the polls Saturday to choose among 38 candidates for president.

Located to the south of India, many voters in the Buddhist majority country of 22 million people — approximately the same size as West Virginia — feel disgruntled with the country's political culture as the nation climbs slowly out of its economic crisis. 

Reuters reports that after the 2022 collapse due to a severe shortage of dollars, the economy is one of the biggest issues, with inflation reaching as high as 70%. It added that inflation has since cooled and growth in GDP is forecast "for the first time in three years."

"Across the island," there was a "lot of confusion" and people are "uncertain" who to vote for. 

SRI LANKAN LAWMAKERS FIGHT OVER PM DISPUTE

"Entire segments don’t even want to vote," Vinod Moonesinghe, a voter, told Fox News Digital. 

He predicted "turnout could be lower" than in previous years due to disillusionment with many factors — dynasty politics, the candidates being surrounded by corrupt figures themselves and a general distrust toward the political class after years of corruption and empty promises. 

The top candidates in the field of 38 include incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the UNP; a right-leaning party opposition leader Sajith Premadasa of the newly created SJB party; Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the socialist, Marxist-leaning NPP; and nationalist Namal Rajapaksa of the SLPP.

The current government, headed by Wickremasinghe has been in power since 2022 and negotiated with creditors and secured an extended fund facility (EFF) program with the country’s major debtor, the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

Namal Rajapaksa, son of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa from the SLPP (Sri Lanka Podujana Perumana) told Fox News Digital, "We are the only party that is nationalistic in orientation this time." 

When asked how he will overcome the challenges associated with his party’s history, he replied, "We will continue where my father’s term ended in 2015." 

He dismissed criticism his party was pro-China as a global security concern. 

"Nobody will use Sri Lanka’s land air or sea to launch an attack on another country," Rajapaksa said, predicting U.S.-Sri Lankan trade will boom if he wins.

CHINA'S BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE PLAGUED BY CORRUPTION AND POLITICAL BACKLASH

Rohan Gunaratna, professor of security studies at Nanyang Technology University in Singapore, said ties with the U.S. would remain strong regardless of the outcome. 

"The U.S.- Sri Lanka [partnership] will not be affected by whatever candidate or party that will come to power. Sri Lanka’s foreign policy is multidirectional and will work with the East and the West to build Sri Lanka."

Presidential candidate Dilith Jayaweera, media mogul and businessman head of the newly formed Mawbima Janatha Party (MJP) told Fox News Digital "Sri Lanka’s landscape [has] completely changed". He said that "traditional politicians" lack "management skills." 

He believes voters want a new approach to politics, including new candidates. He noted the popular chant of protesters to "reject all 225," the number of seats in parliament, hinting that people wanted fresh new political figures. 

Another voter, Usama Ibrahim, told Fox News Digital, "We stood in [lines] for hours during our worst economic crisis in 2022 and, yes, Ranil Wickremasinghe has got us out of it, but he restructured the debts to pay off later. But will we get back to square one if the winner of this election does not have a solid long-term plan".

The communist JVP party, which is part of the NPP coalition, seems to have garnered support, according to recent opinion polls. Nihal Fernando, a taxi driver, told Fox News Digital "the other traditional politicians have a culture of jumping sides and, as we say, playing ‘musical chairs’ or leapfrogging. So, we now view many of the mainstream parties as being different sides to the same coin. He complained that since independence in 1948, the same political families have been in power and, after three generations, "change is welcome." 

"Could things get any worse for the working class like myself?" he asked. 

Senaka Seneviratne, a Sri Lankan who has lived in the U.S. for 30 years, told Fox News Digital many in the diaspora want to see Sri Lanka prosper because they are "concerned about their family members back home." He noted the general uncertainty about the election among diaspora members is not dissimilar to those in Sri Lanka, noting that some "may return home to vote."  

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Political analyst Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, executive director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, told Fox News Digital, "Many are angry and frustrated. This anger and desperation is translating into voting for the JVP, who are the new kids on the block in terms of having never captured wholescale political power."  

He noted that the JVP has not gained traction among minorities as much as Premadasa and Wickremasinghe have. 

He noted that "Wickremasinghe restored a certain amount of political stability" during his two years in office. He said that the presidential election might go to a ‘second round’ if there is no majority.

Reutes contributed to this report.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced Saturday morning that it has killed a Hamas operative and other Hamas terrorists amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

The IDF said it used an intelligence-based strike to take out Muhammad Mansour, a Hamas operative who acted as a source of technological knowledge in Hamas' military intelligence system.

Several Hamas terrorists who led terror attacks against IDF soldiers were also killed, the IDF said.

This comes as the IDF says it continues to eliminate terrorists and strike dozens of terror infrastructure sites in the central and southern parts of the Gaza Strip.

ISRAEL REVIEWING INCIDENT OF SOLDIERS TOSSING BODIES OFF ROOFTOP IN WEST BANK

IDF troops are conducting "precise, intelligence-based operational activity" in southern Gaza, the IDF said.

Over the past day, troops discovered weaponry, killed armed terrorists and dismantled a large amount of terror infrastructure in southern Gaza, according to the IDF.

Troops are also continuing operations in central Gaza, the IDF said.

ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES CONFIRM 'TARGETED STRIKE' ON BEIRUT

The troops killed several terrorists and directed an Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft to dismantle Hamas terror infrastructure in central Gaza. 

The IAF struck roughly 20 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including terror infrastructure sites, military structures and terrorist cells, according to the IDF.

A Canadian woman was arrested after she was captured on doorbell video pretending to be interested in a Porsche and stealing the car, running over the vehicle's owner in his driveway as she fled, police said.

Sarah Badshaw, 18, was arrested on multiple charges, including dangerous operation causing bodily harm, theft of a motor vehicle, failure to remain after an accident resulting in bodily harm and driving without a license, according to Peel Regional Police. She turned herself in on Thursday as police were searching for a suspect in the case.

The incident happened at about 2 p.m. on Sept. 6 near Winston Churchill and Eglinton Avenue in Mississauga.

Video footage captured the woman ringing the victim's doorbell and saying she was interested in purchasing the 2022 Porsche Cayenne he had listed on Autotrader, police said.

POSSIBLE ANCIENT METEOR CRATER FOUND BY CANADIAN MAN PLANNING TRIP USING GOOGLE MAPS

As she was inside the vehicle to view the interior, Badshaw quickly reversed and exited the victim's driveway, hitting the victim on the way out before driving away with the stolen car, police said.

The victim had exited the passenger side door before walking around the front of the vehicle and reaching for the driver’s side handle, which appeared to be locked, video footage showed.

The car appeared to jump slightly as the victim attempted to enter the locked car before walking towards the back of the vehicle. The suspect then quickly pulled out of the driveway, running over the victim and dragging him violently into the street.

The man was injured in the incident, police said. He required medical attention after he sustained injuries to his elbow, hands and legs, he told CTV News Toronto.

HIKER MAULED BY BEAR, HOSPITALIZED WITH 'EXTENSIVE' INJURIES: OFFICIAL

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An accomplice, parked across from the victim’s home in a gray Bentley Bentayga, was also involved in the theft, police said.

The stolen Porsche was located on Wednesday after it was found abandoned in Mississauga.

Police said Badshaw has also been charged with prior fraud related offenses in the Peel region and is wanted by other GTA police agencies in connection with separate investigations.

Since the devastating fire that broke out at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France on April 15, 2019, an enormous restoration project has been underway. 

In addition to rebuilding, archaeologists have explored the site, unearthing thousands of ancient findings. 

When artifacts are discovered, answers aren't always uncovered with them. It often takes more research and investigation in order to grasp a better understanding of the story behind the find.

12-YEAR-OLD BOY STUMBLES UPON STUNNING ANCIENT FIND WHILE WALKING DOG IN ENGLAND: ‘RELATIVELY RARE’

Back in 2022, archaeologists discovered two lead sarcophagi under the transept crossing of the cathedral. Sarcophagi were containers used to hold a coffin. They were reserved for the burying of wealthy individuals and leaders. 

One of the deceased was quickly identified as Antoine de La Porte, a canon of the cathedral who died in 1710. 

The other remained unknown, but has recently been hypothesized to be the famous French poet, Joachim du Bellay, who died in 1560, according to a September 17, 2024, news release from the French National Institute for Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP).

ARCHAEOLOGISTS DISCOVER UNIQUE ARTWORK IN ENGLAND DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 2ND CENTURY

Du Bellay was believed to have been buried in the cathedral beside his uncle at the request of his family, but his grave was never found.

Éric Crubézy, professor of biological anthropology at Toulouse 3 University and research director and his team put forth the hypothesis based on evidence such as the fact that an autopsy revealed that the individual suffered from bone tuberculosis and chronic meningitis, which was rare at the time, and parallels the medical history of du Bellay. 

Additionally, the femur structure of the man was in line with someone who spent a lot of time riding horses, according to Euronews. This detail, again, is in line with the life of du Bellay. 

RARE ANCIENT CELTIC ARTIFACT UNEARTHED IN POLAND, 2,300-YEAR-OLD METAL OBJECT EXCAVATED FROM CHARCOAL PIT

"He matches all the criteria of the portrait: he is an accomplished horseman, suffers from both conditions mentioned in some of his poems, like in ‘The Complaint of the Despairing,’ where he describes 'this storm that blurs (his) mind,' and his family belonged to the royal court and the pope's close entourage," Crubézy said, per La Croix International. 

Even though there is evidence to support the hypothesis, there are still researchers who have their doubts. 

"Certain elements do not support this hypothesis: isotope analysis of the teeth indicates that the individual lived in the Paris region or Rhône-Alpes until he was 10 years old. However, we know that Joachim du Bellay grew up in Anjou," Christophe Besnier, an INRAP archaeologist and excavation leader, told the outlet. "Additionally, just because his grave wasn't found during the 1758 excavations of the Saint-Crépin chapel, doesn't mean his remains weren't there."

Since the fire of 2019, there have been more than 100 burials identified, and 80 excavated in the cathedral, according to INRAP. 

More than 50 archaeologists have been on site, working on the 14 operations that have taken place, the source notes. 

As of now, reopening of the cathedral is planned for December 2024.