The worsening state of Lebanon

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Dahieh, in southern Beirut, on October 3. EPA

With regard to Nada Maucourant Atallah's article Relentless Israeli air strikes turn Lebanon's Dahieh into ghost town (October 2): Lebanon faces a critical juncture as Israeli aggression continues and internal crises threaten to boil over. The absence of a president and no real government paralyses the state's ability to respond effectively. Under these circumstances, the declaration of a state of emergency has become an absolute necessity to safeguard national sovereignty and security.

Joyce Maroun, Beirut

How can the people who start these wars not feel accountable for all the human suffering their actions create? Do they not see the lives, the buildings and neighbourhoods that take years to build but are destroyed in seconds, all the innocent people who die? It's enough. The playing with human lives must end.

Mazin Ghanam, Beirut

This is all so familiar to many of us. The strikes in the south of Lebanon in which the paramedics were killed. First they hit the healthcare infrastructure so that there is no place for the injured people to go. Then the attack on news agencies, then the schools. When will a rogue state be held accountable for its actions?

V Abugattas, New Jersey

Ukraine's route out of the war

With reference to Jihan Abdalla and Ellie Sennett's report Zelenskyy visits White House as Biden unveils $8bn in military aid for Ukraine (September 26): While US President Joe Biden spoke about strengthening Ukraine's defences, former US president Donald Trump said last week that Ukraine should reach a settlement with Russia. He said, “Ukraine is gone. It’s not Ukraine anymore. You can never replace those cities and towns, and you can never replace the dead people... Any deal, even the worst deal, would have been better than what we have right now.”

The Ukraine-Russia war has become absolutely attritive. Thousands of young men have died in both countries. There is misery and hardship. Ukraine cannot win this war on its own. It is ceaselessly relying on western countries for arms and ammunition and running short of motivated soldiers. It is getting impoverished and losing its youngsters. Ukraine should negotiate with Russia to end this bitter, protracted war.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

The languages we speak

Regarding Leila Aboulela's weekend essay The struggle to pass Arabic on to my children (September 27): Interesting perspective, but parents can make sure their children speak both languages. We just have to reinforce the native language when speaking at home.

Anna M, Dubai

As Arabs, we like to teach our children our mother tongue no matter where we live, so that when they grow up they're comfortable across cultures.

Reem El Sabbagh, Abu Dhabi