GAZA -- Hamas confirmed on Thursday that it would continue implementing the ceasefire agreement with Israel as signed, including the exchange of Palestinian prisoners and Israeli hostages according to the agreed timetable.

In a statement, Hamas said its delegation had held talks in Cairo with mediators to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the prisoner-for-hostage exchange, especially in the wake of what it described as "the successive Israeli violations" of the deal. (Gaza-Hamas-Hostage Exchange)

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BEIRUT -- Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri voiced on Thursday Lebanon's "absolute rejection" of Israel's demand to hold five locations in southern Lebanon beyond the ceasefire deadline on Feb. 18, according to Lebanon's official National News Agency.

"I refused to discuss any extension of the withdrawal timeline. It is the Americans' responsibility to enforce the withdrawal; otherwise, they would be causing the biggest setback for the government," Berri told reporters in the Lebanese village of Ain al-Tineh after meeting with U.S. General Jasper Jeffers, head of a five-member monitoring committee on the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Lisa Johnson. (Lebanon-Israel-Withdrawal Delay)

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CAIRO -- U.S. Navy aircraft carrier "Harry Truman" collided with a merchant vessel in the Mediterranean Sea near Egypt, with no injuries recorded, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV channel said Thursday, citing the U.S. military.

The report said the U.S. carrier collided with the ship Besiktas-M late Wednesday night while operating in the Mediterranean Sea near Egypt. (Egypt-U.S. Carrier-Collision)

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SANAA -- Yemen's Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi said Thursday that his group "will launch attacks against the United States and Israel" if U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to force Palestinians out of Gaza is imposed.

"If the Americans and Israelis try to implement Trump's plan by force or agree with the Arab regimes to implement it, we will intervene by military force," al-Houthi said in a televised speech aired by his group's satellite TV channel, al-Masirah. (Yemen-Houthis-Warning) Enditem

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