Israeli troops reach deepest point in Lebanon since Oct. 1 invasion, Lebanese media say
Beirut, Nov 16: Israeli ground forces reached their deepest point in Lebanon since they invaded six weeks ago before pulling back Saturday after battles with Hezbollah group, Lebanese state media reported.
The clashes and further Israeli bombardment of Beirut's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, came as Lebanese and Hezbollah officials study a draft proposal presented by the U.S. earlier this week on ending the war.
Israeli troops captured a strategic hill in the southern Lebanese village of Chamaa, about 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the Israeli border, the state-run National News Agency reported. It said the troops were later pushed back.
The agency added that Israeli troops blew up the Shrine of Shimon the Prophet in Chamaa as well as several homes before they withdrew, but the claim could not be immediately verified.
Israel's military did not immediately respond to requests for comment but said in a statement that its troops “continue their limited, localized and targeted operational activity in southern Lebanon.”
Israeli warplanes pounded Beirut's southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh as well as several other areas in southern Lebanon including the port city of Tyre. Israel's military said its planes hit multiple sites used by the group. Residents were given advance warning by Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
Since late September, Israel has dramatically escalated its bombardment of Lebanon, vowing to cripple the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and end its barrages in Israel that the group have said are in solidarity with Palestinians during the war in Gaza. Israel said Hezbollah fired more than 60 projectiles into Israel on Saturday but gave no details.
More than 3,400 people have been killed in Lebanon by Israeli fire — 80% of them in the past eight weeks — according to Lebanon's Health Ministry. Israel has said it wants to ensure that thousands of Israelis can return to their homes near the border with Lebanon.
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Actress Kasthuri arrested by Chennai police in Hyderabad over alleged anti-Telugu remarks
Chennai, Nov 16: Actress Kasthuri, who made a remark on the Telugu-speaking people of Tamil Nadu that stoked a controversy, was arrested in Hyderabad on Saturday, police said.
Though the actress, soon after the row, withdrew her remarks, complaints were filed against her with police.
A Chennai police team traced her to a film producer's house in Hyderabad and effected the arrest.
She will be brought to Chennai to be produced before a magistrate court here, police said.
Anticipating her arrest, the actress had moved the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, recently, but the court rejected her advance bail plea.
Broadly, her allegation covers an accusation that some Telugu speaking people, who had come to the state centuries ago to serve the then rulers, were now claiming to be Tamils, while Tamil Brahmins were not considered as Tamil.
It was a portion of her recent address at a protest venue here in support of Brahmins, who were often dubbed as outsiders by some Dravidian ideologues.
