Breaking News

US air collision: Plane collides with helicopter midair in Virginia

Thursday, January 30, 2025
A plane and helicopter collision has sparked a desperate search and rescue operation in the US state of Virginia.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said late on Wednesday that a PSA Airlines Bombardier CRJ700 jet collided with a Sikorsky H-60 helicopter while on approach to the airport in Arlington County.

News agencies are citing the US Army saying three soldiers were on board the helicopter.

At least two bodies have been recovered.

All takeoffs and landings have been stopped at Ronald Reagan National Airport.

Emergency services are at the scene.

Al Jazeera’s Shihab Rattansi joins us now live from Arlington, Virginia.
 
Keith Mackey is an aircraft accident investigator and aviation consultant. He is also a retired pilot who has flown into Reagan National Airport many times. He joins us live from Ocala in Florida to discuss the latest developments. 

Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa named president for transitional period

Thursday, January 30, 2025 
Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has been named president for a transitional period, the Syrian state news agency (SANA) has reported. Sharaa was also authorised to form a temporary legislative council for the transitional phase which will carry out its task until a new constitution is adopted, SANA reported on Wednesday, citing commander Hassan Abdel Ghani.

Al Jazeera's Osama bin Javaid joins live from Damascus.

New horrific massacre by Israeli forces in north Gaza

Saturday, October 26, 2024  
The Health Ministry says one apartment block was destroyed in northern Gaza’s Beit Lahiya town. Palestinians are trapped under the debris after Israeli air strikes and rescue operations are continuing. The attack is a “horrific massacre”, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum joins live for the latest update.

Why is the US leading calls for political change in Lebanon?

Saturday, Oct 5, 2024
Lebanon is again under attack as Israel wages war against the country's dominant political and military force - Hezbollah.

Although its primary target is the armed group, Israel's attacks have been indiscriminate, killing civilians and medical workers just as it has done in Gaza.

But the conflict is also bringing pressure to change Lebanon's fragmented political system.

So who is looking for this political change - and what might it mean?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra.
Guests:
Hala Jaber, journalist and author of books on Iraq and Lebanon including 'Hezbollah: Born with a Vengeance'.
Nadim Houry, Executive Director at Arab Reform Initiative and former director of Human Rights Watch.
David Wood, Senior Analyst with International Crisis Group in Beirut.

Israel’s recent attacks shows it infiltrated Hezbollah : Marwan Bishara

Saturday, Oct 5, 2024  
Al Jazeera’s political analyst Marwan Bishara says Hezbollah losing contact with its leader Hashem Safieddine shows that Israel is able to "deliver one blow after another" to the group.

"It is also significant that it proves there is an intelligence breach when it comes to Hezbollah, allowing Israel to locate and attack one leader after another," Marwan Bishara said.

"From the rigging and detonating of communication devices and the assassination of one Hezbollah leader to another, all the way to Hassan Nasrallah and now apparently his successor, underlines that either Israel is getting help or it has infiltrated Hezbollah in various ways digitally, electronically or perhaps with human resources," Marwan Bishara added.

Nobody benefits from such a war: Former Israeli official

Thursday, Oct 3, 2024  
At least seven people have been killed and eight wounded in Israeli air strikes targeting central Beirut overnight.

It hit a building in the area of Bachoura - just one kilometre from Lebanon's Parliament and the Prime Minister's office.

Meanwhile, more Israeli strikes have targeted Dahiyeh, the southern suburb of Beirut where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week.

Israel has hit the area several times in the past two weeks, saying it was targeting Hezbollah sites.

And in Gaza, an overnight Israeli strike has killed at least one Palestinian and injured another in Deir el-Balah, in the central part of the strip.

An Israeli helicopter gunship struck a tent housing displaced people in a school compound.

Alon Liel is a former director general at Israel's Foreign Ministry. He was also a former ambassador to South Africa.
 
He says Israel has been weakened from nearly a year of war in Gaza and the prospect of a protracted conflict in the region has its population worried.

Live: Iran has fired missiles at Israel

Tuesday, Oct 1, 2024
The Israeli military reports that missiles have been launched from Iran, as sirens sound across the country. Flares and missiles are currently visible in the Tel Aviv sky. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the missile attack underway on Israel is in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week as well as that of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh earlier this year, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.

Red alert sirens have been activated across central and southern Israel.

Israeli army says Iran has fired missiles at Israel

Tuesday, Oct 1, 2024
The Israeli military reports that missiles have been launched from Iran, as sirens sound across the country. Flares and missiles are currently visible in the Tel Aviv sky. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the missile attack underway on Israel is in response to the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah last week as well as that of the Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh earlier this year, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.

Red alert sirens have been activated across central and southern Israel.

Joining us to discuss the latest developments are political analyst Akiva Eldar from Tel Aviv and Iranian affairs specialist Tohid Asadi from Tehran.

Israel says has started targeted ground raids in Lebanon

Tuesday, Oct 1, 2024
Defying global calls for de-escalation, Israel has begun its first ground offensive into Lebanon in 18 years.

The military says its conducting quote "limited and targeted raids" against Hezbollah after killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah just days ago.

Beirut's southern suburbs have been hit multiple times and Lebanon's largest and most densely populated Palestinian refugee camp has also been attacked.

Al Jazeera’s Caley Callahan reports.

Hezbollah deputy delivers defiant message following killing of Nasrallah

Tuesday, Oct 1, 2024  #Lebanon #Hezbollah #NaimQassem
Hezbollah says it’s ready to confront the Israeli ground offensive.

The group’s deputy leader made the comments in its first public address, since the killing of Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah.

Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem reports from Beirut, Lebanon.