ISTANBUL

Here's a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Sunday, including Israel launching massive strikes on southern Lebanon, Turkish President Erdogan stressing the importance of a ‘strong, effective' navy to protect the peace, Russia and Ukraine exchanging prisoners of war, with 115 personnel on each side.

TOP STORIES

• Israel launches massive strikes on southern Lebanon

The Israeli army announced launching strikes on southern Lebanon in response to Hezbollah's preparations for a large-scale assault on Israel.

Army spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that a short while ago, missiles and rockets were launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory. Consequently, sirens were activated across the affected areas in Israel.

Israeli warplanes launched more than 40 strikes targeting around 17 areas and towns in southern Lebanon in the most intense attack since the clashes began on Oct. 8, 2023.

• Turkish President Erdogan stresses importance of ‘strong, effective' navy to protect peace

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the need to maintain a "strong and effective navy" to safeguard Türkiye's peace and security, both within its territorial waters and in far-flung regions.

“We are aware that to live peacefully in our lands, we must have a strong and effective navy both in our Blue Homeland and in distant regions,” said Erdogan, using a phrase to denote Turkish territorial waters.

Stating that Ankara has done revolutionary work on the defense industry for the last 22 years, during the Justice and Development (AK) Party's decades in power, he said Türkiye plans to commission two submarines over the next two years.

• Russia, Ukraine exchange prisoners of war, with 115 personnel on each side

Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war with 115 military personnel from each side, mediated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A statement by the Russian Defense Ministry said that the 115 Russian servicemen captured by Ukrainian forces in the border region of Kursk were returned from territory under Kyiv's control.

All released Russian military personnel are currently in neighboring Belarus, the statement said, adding that they will be transferred to Russia and will receive treatment and rehabilitation in medical institutions run by the Defense Ministry.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Lebanese group Hezbollah announced that it had launched drone and missile attacks deep into Israel in response to the assassination of its leader, Fuad Shukur.
• Israeli warplanes launched more than 40 strikes targeting around 17 areas and towns in southern Lebanon in the most intense attack since the clashes began on Oct. 8, 2023.
  
  
• US President Joe Biden is "closely monitoring events in Israel and Lebanon," the White House said Saturday night after Israel launched a massive series of airstrikes in Lebanon in response to what it said were Hezbollah's preparations for a large-scale assault.
• Israel's security Cabinet is set to convene to discuss the massive strikes launched against Lebanon Sunday morning.
• Jordanian Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Yousef al-Huneiti and his US counterpart Gen. Charles Q. Brown discussed cooperation and joint coordination between the two countries.
• A Palestinian infant and her mother were killed and several other people injured by Israeli artillery shelling that targeted their home in the central Gaza Strip.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed into law a ban on religious organizations tied to Russia.
• The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Ministerial Meeting kicked off in Japan's capital Tokyo.
• At least two Palestinians were injured by Israeli gunfire during an army raid on several towns in the West Bank, while illegal settlers attacked Palestinians and their properties in various other areas of the West Bank.
• Japan's prime minister said that his government will support the fishery industry, which has been hit by a Chinese ban on Japanese seafood imports.
• Ukraine said that nine people were killed in the country's Donetsk and Kharkiv regions due to Russian airstrikes.
• Although the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared mpox a global health emergency, physicians and public health experts in the US believe the viral disease is unlikely to cause school closures.
• The Russian southwestern Voronezh region bordering Ukraine declared a state of emergency in three settlements after shooting down five drones launched from across the border overnight.
• Approximately 100,000 displaced Palestinians in the eastern part of Deir al-Balah city in Gaza have no place to seek refuge from Israeli forces' extensive bombardment, as Israel destroyed 20 shelter centers over the last two days after issuing evacuation orders, the city municipality said.
• Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that whatever Moscow brought to the country - the ongoing conflict - "has now returned to their home," as Ukraine celebrates Independence Day amid an incursion into Russia's Kursk region.
• A Hamas delegation is expected to arrive in Cairo afternoon to resume talks on a hostage swap and a cease-fire in Gaza, which have been stalled due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's refusal to give up control of the Philadelphi Corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border and the Rafah crossing.
• At least three people were killed and several others were injured in a knife attack in Germany's western city of Solingen.

SPORTS

• Arsenal beat Aston Villa to seal back-to-back wins in Premier League

Arsenal defeated Aston Villa 2-0 to secure back-to-back wins in the second week of the English Premier League.

Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the first half at Birmingham's Villa Park but Arsenal's Leandro Trossard made a close-range finish in the 67th minute.

The Gunners doubled the lead after Thomas Partey sent a long-range shot in the 77th minute, assisted by Bukayo Saka.