The Lebanese death toll from Israeli strikes has risen to 2,969 since March 2, Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said on Saturday, as fresh violence continued despite a fragile ceasefire between the two sides.
Another 9,112 people have been wounded since March 2, according to the center.
An Israeli military officer was killed in southern Lebanon on Friday by an explosive-laden drone launched by Hezbollah, as confirmed by the Israeli military. The officer, 24-year-old Maoz Israel Recanati, was a commander in the Golani Infantry Brigade. Another soldier was slightly wounded in the attack near the Litani River.
Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck around 100 Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon, including observation posts, weapon storage facilities and other infrastructure. The IDF said it also killed two Hezbollah members at a rocket launch site. Meanwhile, Hezbollah responded with hostile aircraft, mortar shells and drones targeting Israeli troop concentrations and positions.
Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Israeli strikes on Saturday hit several areas in southern Lebanon, including Tyre and Nabatieh, causing multiple casualties.
The latest escalation came despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 16-17, which was later extended by three weeks and then by another 45 days following U.S.-mediated talks. However, both sides have continued to trade fire, with 20 Israeli soldiers now reported killed in southern Lebanon since the wider conflict with Iran erupted on February 28.
Lebanese death toll from Israeli strikes rises to 2,969 since March 2
As the United States prepares to review the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) amid renewed tariff pressures and rising political tensions with its North American neighbors, a Washington-based apparel entrepreneur says small businesses are being squeezed by higher costs across the regional supply chain, urging policymakers to consider the impact of trade decisions on firms that form the backbone of the U.S. economy.
JC Smith's T-shirts and hats couldn't be more Washington D.C., celebrating and poking fun at the U.S. capital. But his supply chains are anything but local.
"So, yes, right now we get them from U.S. companies, but they say they are U.S. made, assembled in the Central American countries, Nicaragua, Honduras, things like that. But they are technically U.S.-made companies," said Smith, founder of DC-based Bailiwick Clothing Company.
What Smith is describing is the North American supply chain.
His merchandise comes across the U.S. border with Mexico, the United States' biggest trading partner to the south.
This year, the trade agreement, once known as NAFTA - renamed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in 2020, is up for renegotiation.
The review comes at a fraught time. The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on Mexico and its neighbor to the north Canada, even suggesting Canada should become part of the U.S.
Behind the geo-political positioning, small businesses have been caught in the crossfire.
"In the past few years with some tariffs, whatnot, yes, prices have been going up, the cost of everything, raw materials and then transportation as well. And so yeah, we have some decisions to make as far as pricing goes and knowing that we are going to have to potentially raise prices," said Smith.
As the U.S. president returned to Washington after his meetings in China, accompanied by some very high-profile business leaders, Smith's message to the administration is to think of the smaller firms, the small businesses that, with a bit of a break, could become bigger and continue to power the economy.
"There are more small businesses out there than big businesses, right? It's the heartbeat of America. So, think about the little guy when they make their decisions and think about the cost of gas, cost of transportation, cost of raw materials that all squeezes us. And yes, they want to help the economy, the best way is to help small businesses," said Smith.
US small business owner warns tariffs, rising costs squeeze supply chain
