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Year: 2024

‘He was like a father to us’: Hezbollah supporters mourn Hassan Nasrallah

‘He was like a father to us’: Hezbollah supporters mourn Hassan Nasrallah

Beirut, Lebanon – On Friday evening, Mariam* was in her apartment with her teenage daughter and mother when her building began rumbling and shaking. Agonising screams and the buzzing of Israeli warplanes soon followed. Israel had just launched a major air attack that killed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as an unknown number of civilians in Dahiyeh, the southern suburb of Lebanon’s capital Beirut. Shortly after the strike, Israel called on thousands of civilians to “evacuate” from Dahiyeh, claiming they were living near Hezbollah operation centres. Mariam quickly packed a few bags of clothes and fled to downtown Beirut, where she is now sleeping on the steps of a mosque with hundreds of other people displaced from her community. But while Israel has upended her life, she said that nothing compared to the anguish of losing Nasrallah. “When I first heard the news, I thought it was a lie. I thought, ‘It can’t be true’,” she told Al Jazeera, holding back her tears. “Nasrallah was our brother and we always felt safe with him. Now, we don’t know what will be our fate.” A tent installed by the scouts on Beirut’s Ramlet el-Bayda beach hosts people displaced by Israeli air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs [Philippe Pernot/Al Jazeera] A brother, a father Nasrallah became Hezbollah’s leader after Israel assassinated his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, in 1992. Al-Musawi, his wife and five-year-old son were killed by an air strike on their home. Once Nasrallah took over, he quickly began expanding Hezbollah from a rebel movement to one of the most powerful armed groups in the world as well as a formidable bulwark against Israeli aggression. Under his stewardship, Hezbollah liberated south Lebanon from Israel’s 18-year occupation, lending him the status of a hero throughout the region. His charisma and shrewdness made him one of the most respected  – and feared – leaders in the Middle East. He then became a polarising figure – in Lebanon and the region –  after Hezbollah intervened in Syria’s civil war to rescue President Bashar al-Assad from a pro-democracy uprising that quickly turned into an armed conflict after al-Assad’s forces turned their guns on protesters, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands. Throughout the war,  the Syrian government and Hezbollah committed atrocities, according to news reports and rights groups. These reports damaged Nasrallah’s popularity across the region but his most fervent supporters stood by him out of fear that nobody else would be able or willing to protect Lebanon from Israel. Many Lebanese Shia Muslims are now mourning a man they call a “brother” and even a “father” to their people. In downtown Beirut, displaced families from Dahiyeh described Nasrallah as a “martyr” who gave his life to stand up to Israel. “I just want to listen to his voice again. He was like a father to us. He wasn’t just a politician,” said Nivine, a Hezbollah supporter and Dahiyeh resident who has been uprooted by the strikes. “But we will continue on [Nasrallah’s path]. We will continue to fight to bring down Israel, which was always his wish,” she told Al Jazeera. Nivine, who has fled Israeli air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, distributes Lebanese manakish to other displaced people at Beirut’s central Al-Amin Mosque [Philippe Pernot/Al Jazeera] Lack of protection? With Nasrallah gone and Hezbollah reeling from losing scores of senior commanders in recent days, many Lebanese Shia Muslims fear they have nobody to protect them. “Don’t you see all the crimes of Israel? They are bombing and destroying everything, killing women and children. And no Arabic or Western country is intervening to stop it,” Nivine said. But Nivine, like other residents from Dahiyeh, believes that Hezbollah will ultimately survive the recent blows from Israel. Hassan, 25, spoke matter-of-factly about Nasrallah and the “resistance” – a term commonly referring to Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned armed groups that oppose Israel and the US role in the region. “We will continue and the movement will continue. People will be martyred, but [the resistance] will continue,” he told Al Jazeera. Hassan added that he was particularly upset about Nasrallah’s death because he was such a major symbol of defiance. In his view, Nasrallah was the only world leader to help Palestinians in Gaza by opening a “support front” against Israel from southern Lebanon. Hezbollah has said that its aim is to relieve pressure on Hamas, which is fighting for its survival after launching an attack on southern Israel on October 7, which killed 1,139 people. Israel responded by attacking Gaza and killing more than 40,000 people since October. Nasrallah’s decision to support Hamas cost him his life. “He stood up for Gaza,” Hassan said with resignation on the steps of a mosque. “I know he died. But he’s in a better place now than the one we are all living in.” Children play on their family’s luggage in Beirut’s central Al-Amin mosque, where they found refuge from Israeli air strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs [Philippe Pernot/Al Jazeera] Uncertain future Mohamad, a Syrian national who has been living in Lebanon since 2009, said that he fled from south Lebanon to Dahiyeh after Israel and Hezbollah began to exchange fire on October 8, 2023. He said the bustling neighbourhood welcomed him, his daughter and his wife to the community soon after they arrived. He, too, is mourning Nasrallah. ‘I was in shock when I heard the news. We will remember him as the one that stood up to the Zionists and went to war with Israel,” he told Al Jazeera. “But now that he’s gone, there is fear and uncertainty. We don’t know what will happen. Will there be more bombing now across Beirut? Will the situation get worse? Or will it stop? Nobody knows.” Mariam, who fled with her mother and daughter, expressed the same ambivalence about her life and the fate of Lebanon. Everything dear to her has been torn apart due to Israel’s relentless bombing of Dahiyeh in the last 24 hours, she said.

DOJ sues Alabama, state’s top election official for allegedly purging noncitizen voters too close to election

DOJ sues Alabama, state’s top election official for allegedly purging noncitizen voters too close to election

The Department of Justice sued the State of Alabama and its top election official, alleging that they had removed voters who had previously been issued noncitizen identification numbers from its election rolls too close to election day. Noncitizen identification numbers are a tax-processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to ensure that people—including undocumented immigrants—pay taxes. Along with paying taxes, noncitizen identification numbers can provide legal migrants with securing a driver’s license and providing proof of residency. After being sworn into office in January, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen got to work to identify and remove 3,251 individuals who are registered to vote in Alabama who have been issued noncitizen identification numbers by the Department of Homeland Security. “I have been clear that I will not tolerate the participation of noncitizens in our elections,” Allen previously said in a release. “I have even gone so far as to testify before a United States Senate Committee regarding the importance of this issue. We have examined the current voter file in an attempt to identify anyone who appears on that list that has been issued a noncitizen identification number.”   ALABAMA ELECTION OFFICIALS SAYS BIDEN EXECUTIVE ORDER GIVES ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ‘MECHANISM’ TO REGISTER TO VOTE Now, the DOJ is pushing back and has filed a lawsuit against Alabama and Allen. The agency argued that Allen violated the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), which requires states to complete any changes to the voter registration lists no later than 90 days before federal elections. Allen implemented the changes 84 days before, the DOJ alleged. “The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a statement. “As Election Day approaches, it is critical that Alabama redress voter confusion resulting from its list maintenance mailings sent in violation of federal law. ALABAMA SECRETARY OF STATE ALLEN ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL FROM VOTER REGISTRATION GROUP The DOJ also alleged that Allen’s removal of voter registration also impacted natural-born citizens who were incorrectly identified as potential noncitizens. The Justice Department seeks injunctive relief that “would restore the ability of impacted eligible voters to vote unimpeded on Election Day,” the department said in a statement. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “The department also seeks remedial mailings to educate eligible voters concerning the restoration of their rights and adequate training of local officials and poll workers to address confusion and distrust among eligible voters accused of being noncitizens,” the agency said. Fox News Digital has reached out to Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen for comment.

Vance not allowed to campaign in Pittsburgh culinary landmark — despite Harris event at same restaurant chain

Vance not allowed to campaign in Pittsburgh culinary landmark — despite Harris event at same restaurant chain

Vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance missed out on a Pittsburgh culinary landmark after he was apparently kicked out from meeting with supporters inside — despite the same restaurant chain allowing the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz campaign to meet its supporters there. A source familiar with the campaign told Fox News Digital that when the vice presidential campaign stopped by Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, their planned visit to excited supporters was cut short when they were promptly kicked out by employees. The source noted that Primanti Bros. management was aware that the Trump-Vance campaign was planning on stopping by. An employee told the campaign that this was “not a campaign stop” and that “JD’s not allowed in,” the source said, adding that the manager threatened to call the police if they didn’t leave. Trump-Vance supporters shot back, booing the employees as they were ushered to the exit, the source said. PITTSBURGH DINERS FUME OVER ‘STAGED’ HARRIS CAMPAIGN STOP AS POPULAR RESTAURANT CLEARED: ‘MIND-BOGGLING’ The Trump campaign’s frosty reception at the restaurant chain contrasts how the Harris-Walz campaign was treated just a month earlier when they visited a Primanti Bros. location in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. Harris’ campaign made a stop at the Primanti Bros. location on Aug. 18 – much to the chagrin of locals, who were kicked out of the restaurant. “I wanted to watch some sports and enjoy an afternoon lunch,” Mark Dodson previously told Fox News Digital. “Around 3:30, the bartender, she goes, ‘It’s last call’ – what do you mean last call?” Employees informed the Pennsylvania native that the restaurant was closing early for a private event. FOX NEWS TO SIMULCAST THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE The private event was the arrival of the Harris campaign’s entourage, with videos from inside the event showing Harris and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff greeting patrons. Outside, kicked-out patrons and Trump supporters protested the event. Others verbally accused the campaign of employing “actors” – as video captured by ABC News of Harris’ visit itself depicted a full dining room with people enjoying their food. “Holy hell, all these actors in these vans,” a man was heard shouting among the anti-Harris demonstrators. Despite the Vance campaign being kicked out of the local establishment on Saturday, the campaign met with supporters outside the restaurant. Photos from the impromptu outside event showed Vance greeting excited patrons. WHAT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POWER RANKINGS SHOW IN THE 2024 ELECTION Before leaving, Vance addressed the crowd of supporters that had gathered outside the establishment. “We paid for everybody’s food, we gave them a nice tip and, of course, when I gave a nice tip, I said no taxes on tips,” Vance said, referring to a Trump proposal.  “It’s all right, don’t hold it against [the worker],” he said. “She just got a little nervous, but it’s a great local business. Let’s keep on supporting it.” WATCH: Exclusive video obtained by Fox News Digital showed Vance talking with Primanti Bros employees following the run-in. “I don’t think they paid for their food, so we’ll cover it,” Vance is heard telling an employee. “I appreciate that, thank you,” the employee is heard saying. “And keep the change,” Vance said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a fair amount in there. And, ya know, no taxes on tips. That’s one of things that we’re trying to hammer.” “Yes, we’re rooting for that!” the employee is heard saying. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital reached out to Primanti Bros.’ main office in Pittsburgh, and was directed to a representative’s email address. That representative did not immediately respond. Fox News Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Trump visits Wisconsin town shaken by migrant crime: ‘Crossed Kamala’s wide-open border’

Trump visits Wisconsin town shaken by migrant crime: ‘Crossed Kamala’s wide-open border’

Former President Trump campaigned in the Wisconsin town of Prairie du Chien on Saturday, making migrant crime a core part of his speech after a rape suspect was arrested in the small, rural community. The rally, which was supposed to take place outside, but was moved indoors due to a Secret Service staffing shortage, focused on migrant crime. During the speech, Trump referenced the arrest of assault suspect Alejandro Jose Coronel Zarate, 26, who is an alleged member of Venezuela’s violent Tren de Aragua migrant gang.  Earlier this month, Zarate was charged with sexual assault, battery, strangulation and suffocation, in addition to false imprisonment, child abuse and disorderly conduct, according to WXOW. The suspect, who is accused of sexually assaulting a mother and abusing her daughter “under particularly brutal circumstances,” was arrested in Prairie du Chien on Sept. 6.  WHITE HOUSE MUM AMID OUTRAGE OVER DATA SHOWING HOW MANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMINALS ARE IN US “Just this month, right here in this beautiful town, police arrested an illegal alien member of a savage Venezuelan prison gang known as Tren de Agua,” Trump described. “These are really bad ones. This vile monster was charged with holding a mother and daughter captive against their will and sexually assaulting them again and again and again.” The Republican presidential candidate also took aim at his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been criticized for her border policies. “This animal crossed Kamala’s wide open border, along with hundreds of thousands of others that are worse than him, that are worse than him,” Trump continued. “He was arrested and released in the sanctuary city of Minneapolis.” WALZ ROASTED AFTER DECLARING ‘WE CAN’T AFFORD FOUR MORE YEARS OF THIS’ AT RALLY “And by the way, I’m going to end all sanctuary cities immediately upon taking over,” he added. Last week, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R–Wis., told Fox News Digital that the community of Prairie du Chien was shaken by the arrest. Van Orden’s grandchildren live less than a mile away from the house where the mother and daughter were abused. “Why should a town of 5,500 people… be afraid of letting their kids play in their front yard?” the politician said. “It wasn’t like this three years ago.” Van Orden noted that Wisconsin’s farming industries rely on migrant labor, but stressed the need to enact immigration reform for the sake of public safety. “I’ve been to the border three times….They let a guy in the country with gang tattoos, and you get a medical screening before you come over the border. They give them a medical exam, because they don’t want people coming over with tuberculosis,” the Republican congressman said incredulously. Fox News Digital’s Christina Coulter contributed to this report.