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In Lebanon's rugged south, the army works to dismantle Hezbollah's fortifications

Deep in a rugged valley of southern Lebanon, a cave complex offers a small picture of the subterranean infrastructure Hezbollah relied on near the Israeli border, along with the difficult task the country's army faces as it seeks to disarm the group.

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Ultra-Orthodox military conscription row reignites in Israel

A new draft law on conscripting ultra-Orthodox Jews, whose support is crucial for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, has sparked uproar in Israel, with the opposition denouncing it as a special privilege for "draft-dodgers".

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Ukrainian team headed to US for talks on plan to end war

A team of Ukrainian negotiators was on Saturday headed to the United States for talks on Washington's plan to end the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

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Ukraine behind attacks on Black Sea tankers

Ukraine was responsible for attacks on two oil tankers in the Black Sea that it believed were covertly transporting sanctioned Russian oil, a Ukrainian security source said.

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Syria calls deadly Israeli operation a 'war crime'

Syria on Friday condemned an Israeli military operation in southern Syria that killed 13 people overnight as a "war crime".

"Syria denounces... the criminal aggression" of the Israeli army in the village of Beit Jin, the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that such acts aim to "ignite the region" in conflict.

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Human washing machine goes on sale in Japan

After wowing World Expo visitors, a human washing machine is now on sale in Japan, a company spokeswoman said Friday.

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Putin says Russia will fight on unless Ukraine cedes land

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he would end his Ukraine offensive if Kyiv withdrew from territory Moscow claims at its own -- otherwise his army would take it by force.

The Russian army has been slowly but steadily grinding through eastern Ukraine in costly battles against outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian forces.

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Iran to boycott 2026 World Cup draw due to US visa restrictions

Iran is to boycott next week's World Cup finals draw in Washington because the United States refused to grant visas to several members of the delegation, the Iranian football federation announced on Friday.

"We have informed FIFA that the decisions taken have nothing to do with sports and the members of the Iranian delegation will not participate in the World Cup draw," the federation's spokesperson told state television.

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Tunisia media says opposition figures sentenced to up to 45 years in prison

Dozens of Tunisian political figures were sentenced on appeal to up to 45 years in prison for plotting against the state, local media reported Friday, in a trial rights groups have condemned as politically motivated.

"The Court of Appeal in Tunis issued a final ruling early Friday against the defendants in what is known as the conspiracy against the state case," said radio station Mosaique FM, citing an official source, adding the terms ranged from five to 45 years.

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Israeli forces kill 13 in southern Syria operation

Israeli forces killed 13 people on Friday in an operation in southern Syria, saying they targeted an Islamist group, in Israel's deadliest attack on the country since Bashar al-Assad's overthrow last year.

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