TEHRAN -- Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed in a U.S.-Israeli attack on Feb. 28, will be buried in the northeastern city of Mashhad, a senior municipal official said here Tuesday.
Mohammad-Amin Tavakkolizadeh, Tehran mayor's deputy for social and cultural affairs, said Khamenei will be buried at the holy shrine of Imam Reza in accordance with his will and family's recommendation, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. (Iran-Late Supreme Leader-Burial site)
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BEIRUT -- A senior Hezbollah official said Tuesday that the group will not accept any partial ceasefire with Israel, refusing a reported U.S.-backed proposal demanding that Hezbollah halt attacks against northern Israel in exchange for Israel sparing Beirut's southern suburbs.
Mahmoud Qomati, deputy head of Hezbollah's political council, said any Israeli "aggression against" Beirut's southern suburbs could trigger "a deeper and stronger response" from Hezbollah, Lebanon's National News Agency reported, citing Qomati's written statement. (Lebanon-Hezbollah-Israel-Ceasefire)
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MANAMA -- Bahrain announced on Tuesday that its citizens would be banned from travelling to Iran and Iraq until further notice.
According to a press statement by the Bahraini Interior Ministry, the decision was made in light of the continued tensions in the current security situation and the Iranian attacks. (Bahrain-Iraq-Travel Ban)
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GAZA -- Hamas affirmed on Tuesday its readiness to hand over governance in the Gaza Strip, while accusing Nickolay Mladenov, "high representative for Gaza" of the U.S.-led "Board of Peace," of obstructing the work of the Gaza technocratic committee.
Hamas is "categorically and decisively ready to hand over all areas of governance, including security, to the national committee that was agreed upon and is still in Cairo," Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem told reporters in Gaza. (Gaza-Hamas-Governance handover) ■
