Space Travel News
WAR REPORT
Top Iraqi Shiite cleric warns of Middle East escalation
Top Iraqi Shiite cleric warns of Middle East escalation
by AFP Staff Writers
Baghdad (AFP) Aug 10, 2024

Iraq's top Shiite Muslim cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani warned Saturday of the risk of a regional escalation with potentially "catastrophic consequences" following the killing of two Iran-backed militant leaders.

Sistani also urged an end to the "genocidal war" in Gaza, where the civil defence agency said an Israeli air strike Saturday on a school housing displaced Palestinians killed more than 90 people.

"Once again, the Israeli occupation army has committed a huge massacre... adding to its series of ongoing crimes" in Gaza, Sistani said in a rare statement since the start of the 10-month-old war.

The recent high-profile killings of two leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah increased the danger of "major clashes" that could have "catastrophic consequences" for the region, he warned.

"We once again call on the world to stand against this terrible brutality," Sistani said, urging Muslims "to unite in order to press for an end to the genocidal war" in Gaza.

On July 31, Palestinian militant group Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an attack, blamed on Israel, in the Iranian capital.

It came hours after Israel killed Hezbollah senior military commander Fuad Shukr in a strike on the Lebanese group's stronghold in south Beirut.

The assassinations, which prompted vows of retaliation by Iran and Hezbollah, are among the most serious in a series of tit-for-tat attacks that has heightened fears of a regional conflagration stemming from the Gaza war.

Most of Gaza's 2.4 million people have been uprooted by the war triggered by Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel.

Gaza's civil defence agency said Saturday's strike on a school housing displaced Palestinians killed 93 people. Israel's military accused militants of using the building as a command centre.

AFP could not independently verify the toll which, if confirmed, would appear to be one of the largest from a single strike during the Gaza war.

Related Links
Space War News

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
WAR REPORT
France urges Kosovo to stop 'actions' irking Serbs
Paris (AFP) Aug 9, 2024
France on Friday urged the Kosovo authorities to end "unilateral actions" that could contribute to increasing tensions with Serbs. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has called for the opening of a flashpoint bridge, prompting protests, and authorities this week raided post offices long used by residents who maintain funds in Serbia. "France firmly condemns the multiplication of unilateral actions from the Kosovo authorities in the north of the country that are affecting the daily life of the Ser ... read more

WAR REPORT
WAR REPORT
NASA Trains Machine Learning Algorithm for Mars Sample Analysis

A Yellow Jacket on Mars

One year on 'Mars': Inside NASA's ultra-realistic isolation study

Has NASA found evidence of ancient life on Mars

WAR REPORT
Engineering Students Invited to Enter NASA's 2025 Lunabotics Challenge

Astrobotic Wins NASA Contract for Large Lunar Solar Array Development

Scientists pin down the origins of the moon's tenuous atmosphere

Graphene Discovered in Lunar Soil Sample from Chang'e 5 Mission

WAR REPORT
Ariel's Carbon Dioxide Indicates Potential Subsurface Ocean on Uranus' Moon

Spacecraft to swing by Earth, Moon on path to Jupiter

A new insight into Jupiter's shrinking Great Red Spot

Queen's University Belfast Researchers Investigate Mysterious Brightening of Chiron

WAR REPORT
AI Competition Targets Exoplanet Atmospheres

Study Highlights Potential Dangers to Habitable Planets Around Red Dwarfs

Why advanced Technosignatures could evade detection

Astronomers use AI to Detect Stars Consuming Planets

WAR REPORT
NASA to make decision on Starliner astronauts by end of month

One SpaceX launch scrubbed, another still a go

Northrop Grumman Completes Static Test of Digitally Engineered Rocket Motor

Rocket Lab Plans Next Electron Launch Eight Days After Recent Mission

WAR REPORT
Astronauts on Tiangong Space Station Complete Fire Safety Drill

Shenzhou XVIII Crew Conducts Emergency Drill on Tiangong Space Station

Beijing Unveils 'Rocket Street' to Boost Commercial Space Sector

Shenzhou XVII Crew Shares Post-Mission Insights with Media

WAR REPORT
NASA Concludes NEOWISE Mission After Over a Decade of Asteroid Monitoring

Good viewing conditions expected for peak of this week's Perseid meteor shower

Hera mission sparks new discoveries about target asteroids

DART reveals insights on binary asteroid system

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.