International
Israel Warns Beirut Residents to Flee as Iran Conflict Spreads
The escalating war involving Iran, Israel, and regional allies has widened, with Israel ordering residents to evacuate parts of southern Beirut while Azerbaijan reported drone strikes on its territory.
The Israeli military on Thursday issued an urgent warning to residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs, commonly known as Dahiyeh, to leave the area immediately ahead of anticipated airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions. The neighbourhood is considered a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
The evacuation order affects several densely populated districts, including Burj al-Barajneh, Hadath, Haret Hreik, and Chiyah. Israeli military officials urged civilians to move north or east of the Lebanese capital for their safety as operations intensify.
The warning triggered panic across the city, with thousands of residents fleeing their homes, causing heavy traffic and chaos on major roads as families attempted to escape the area before possible bombardment.
The development comes as the conflict between Iran and Israel entered another intense phase, with both sides exchanging missile and drone attacks across the region. Hezbollah, which backs Iran, has also launched rockets and drones into northern Israel, prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes across southern Lebanon and Beirut’s suburbs.
Lebanese authorities say the violence has already killed dozens of people and displaced tens of thousands since fighting intensified earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, the conflict has begun spilling into neighbouring countries. Azerbaijan said two drones struck its western exclave of Nakhchivan, with one hitting the airport terminal and another landing near a school in a nearby village. Azerbaijani officials accused Iran of launching the drones from its territory, although Tehran denied responsibility.
Global concerns are growing that the conflict could spread further across the Middle East and beyond, drawing in more regional and international actors and threatening global energy supplies and security.
A coalition of two dozen U.S. states has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump over a newly imposed 10 percent tariff on imports from around the world, escalating the legal battle over the administration’s aggressive trade policies.
The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, was spearheaded by Democratic attorneys general from Oregon, New York, California and Arizona.
In their court filing, the states argued that the president overstepped his constitutional authority by imposing the sweeping tariff, which they described as an unlawful tax on global imports.
According to the lawsuit, the states contend that Trump lacked the legal power to introduce the measure and attempted to bypass the authority of the Supreme Court of the United States.
The legal challenge follows a major setback for the administration last month when the Supreme Court struck down an earlier set of sweeping tariffs introduced by the president as part of his broader trade crackdown.
The new case is expected to reignite the legal dispute over the scope of presidential powers in trade policy and the legality of the administration’s ongoing tariff-driven trade strategy.
United States President Donald Trump has announced the replacement of Kristi Noem as Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security after more than a year in the role.
Trump disclosed the decision on Thursday through a social media post, stating that Noem would be succeeded by Markwayne Mullin.
Noem had overseen several controversial initiatives during her tenure, including the administration’s aggressive push to remove undocumented immigrants from the United States. She was also involved in efforts aimed at dismantling the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The president did not immediately provide detailed reasons for the leadership change but confirmed that Mullin, a Republican senator representing Oklahoma, would take over the position.
U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing forward with a sweeping redesign of the White House and parts of Washington, D.C., a move that has sparked both support and criticism across the United States.
The plan includes the construction of a massive ballroom on the White House grounds, replacing the historic East Wing that was demolished in 2025. The new structure, estimated to cost about $400 million, is expected to cover roughly 90,000 square feet and host large state events and receptions.
According to reports, the project forms part of one of the most extensive physical changes to the presidential residence in decades. The ballroom would significantly expand the White House’s capacity for official gatherings, something the administration says is necessary for hosting foreign leaders and major diplomatic events.
Beyond the ballroom project, Trump has also introduced several changes inside the White House itself. The Oval Office has been redesigned with additional gold accents, while the historic Rose Garden lawn has been replaced with a paved stone patio similar to one at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
In Washington, more broadly, the administration is pursuing ambitious architectural projects aimed at reshaping the capital’s landscape. One proposal includes a 250-foot triumphal arch known as the Independence Arch to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026.
Trump has also pushed for major renovations at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, placing allies in leadership positions and proposing significant upgrades to the cultural complex.
Supporters say the projects will modernize the White House and strengthen the symbolic image of the American presidency. Critics, however, argue that some of the changes could damage historic architecture and alter the character of the nation’s capital. Public opinion has also been divided, with preservation groups warning that historic structures and traditions could be lost.
Despite the controversy, construction and planning for several of the projects are already underway, marking a bold effort by the Trump administration to leave a lasting architectural legacy in Washington.