Israel Hezbollah War Highlights: Israel targets border villages in southern Lebanon

An Israeli strike in Lebanon early on Tuesday targeted Mounir Maqdah, commander of the Lebanese branch of the Palestinian Fatah movement's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, according to two Palestinian security officials.

Maqdah's fate was unknown.

The strike hit a building in the crowded Ain al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near the southern city of Sidon, the sources said.

It marked the first strike on the camp, largest of several Palestinian camps in Lebanon, since cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel broke out nearly a year ago.

(Reuters)

Smoke rises over Beirut's southern suburbs after a strike, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon, October 1, 2024. (REUTERS)

The United Kingdom is chartering a commercial flight for its nationals stuck in war torn Lebanon and who want to leave the country, the UK government announced on social media.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the United Kingdom said in a post on X, “The UK government is chartering a flight to help British nationals who want to leave Lebanon. If you are a British national in Lebanon, you should register your presence to receive the latest updates.”

According to BBC, the UK government will pay to charter the flight, which will depart from Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, but British nationals will be expected to pay a fee of £350 per seat.

According to media reports, a loud explosion was heard in the southern part of Lebanon’s capital Beirut amid Israel Defense Forces ordered the residents to evacuate three areas in southern Beirut "immediately".

As per the BBC’s ground reporters in Beirut, three long boom rumbling kind of noises of explosion have been heard till now. The IDF has also started its ground incursion of the southern Lebanon region.

The Israeli military has started targeted ground raids in southern Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

The Israel Defense Forces shared the development on X and said, “The IDF began limited, localized, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah terrorist targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon. These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”

The plan for a temporary ceasefire by the United States led allies has fallen flat as Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu has clearly stated his plans to counter Iran’s ‘axis of resistance’.

In a statement issued by the Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group, it said that it targeted Israeli troop movements across from Lebanese border towns, news agency Reuters reported.

The Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Iran-backed Hezbollah’s office in Tehran “to pay tribute” to the militant group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah who was killed in an air strike by Israeli forces.

Israel has reportedly suggested to its army that the IDF will be going ahead with a possible ground incursion which will be limited but targeting Hezbollah’s military and other infrastructure.

Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed that Hezbollah leader Nasrallah’s death “will not be in vain,” according to Arab News.

The UN peacekeepers in Lebanon have been unable to patrol the border areas due to heavy air strikes and artillery fire from Israeli forces and Beirut based Hezbollah militant group.

Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said that 10,000 UN peacekeeping forces remain in position in Lebanon but they are unable to patrol the areas due to "the intensity of the rockets going back and forth.”

Dujarric says some civilian staff "have been moved north" as a precaution and "we're looking at the situation hour by hour".

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been stationed in Lebanon since 1978, according to BBC.

Amid reports of a possible Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon to attack the Hezbollah militant group, the Israeli Defense Forces have ordered the citizens for an “immediate” evacuation of three areas in southern Beirut.

In a social media post, IDF's Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee said, “You are located near interests and facilities belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah, and therefore the IDF will act against them forcefully.”

IDF’s Adraee further added “For your safety and the safety of your family, you must evacuate the buildings immediately, starting at a distance of no less than 500 meters.”

Israel has reportedly told the United States that it plans to launch a limited ground incursion into Lebanon to target the Hezbollah militant group, according to BBC.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s deputy leader has said that the militant group is ready for the Israeli ground offensive as Tel Aviv continues to strike Lebanon.

Israel's Defence Minister Yaov Gallant earlier said the Israeli army was preparing for a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces targeted Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group’s top commander Eid Hassan Nashar in airstrikes and killed him. According to Israel Defense Forces, “Eid was a veteran commander in Hezbollah and served a significant role in the unit's day-to-day operations.”

“In the past, he served as the Commander of the Surface-to-Surface Rocket Unit and Deputy Commander of the Badr Unit. Additionally, the commander, deputy commander and other commanders of Hezbollah's Precision Missile Unit were eliminated. Just last week, this unit was responsible for firing towards central Israel,” the IDF stated in a post on X.

The Israeli offensive also targeted the infrastructure of Hezbollah in Lebanon and destroyed a missile depot, located near the Beirut airport, according to news agency ANI.

Iran’s foreign ministry has said that the country will not deploy forces in Gaza or Lebanon to counter Israel, as Tel Aviv has been targeting its allies in the Middle East region.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani said, “There is no need to send extra or volunteer forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and that Lebanon and fighters in the Palestinian territories “have the capability and strength to defend themselves against the aggression.”

An Israeli airstrike in Lebanon’s capital Beirut killed Hezbollah militant group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah. Israel has been striking the Middle East region against the “axis of resistance,” a network of Iran-aligned militant groups in the region, including in Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

Amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare direct message to the Iranian people on Monday, stating that Israel stands with them as it fights the proxies of Tehran, like Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group.

In a message relayed on YouTube and other channels, PM Netanyahu said, “Every day, you see a regime that subjugates you and makes fiery speeches about defending Lebanon, defending Gaza. Yet every day, that regime plunges our region deeper into darkness and deeper into war.”

Netanyahu added that there’s no place in the Middle East where Israeli forces can’t reach and that “puppets of Iran” were being eliminated in Israel’s offensive. He further said, ”There is nowhere we will not go to protect our people and protect our country.”

Netanyahu’s statement comes after Israel Defense Forces killed Iran-backed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah in airstrikes in Lebanon’s capital Beirut, which also killed a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps official.

(Read more from the report here)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, emphasizing the importance of preventing further escalation in the West Asia region.

“Terrorism has no place in our world. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages,” PM Modi stated in a post on X. He reiterated India’s commitment to supporting efforts for a swift restoration of peace and stability.

This conversation follows Israel’s intensified attacks on Hezbollah targets in Beirut and strikes on power plants and the Hodeidah port in Yemen, raising tensions across the Middle East.

Hezbollah announced on Monday that it had launched an attack on Israel using a "Nour Missile," which sources familiar with the group indicate is a ballistic missile, according to Reuters.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Monday that the next phase of the war along the southern border of Lebanon is imminent. This comes as reports from at least two US newspapers suggest that special forces may have already conducted brief incursions. Gallant stated during a meeting with local council leaders in northern Israel, "The next stage in the war against Hezbollah will begin soon." He emphasized that this phase aims to facilitate the return of evacuated residents to their homes. (Reuters)

US President Joe Biden urged for a ceasefire on Monday in response to reports that Israel is planning a limited ground invasion of Lebanon in its conflict with Hezbollah militants, according to a Reuters report. When asked if he supported Israel's actions, Biden stated, "I'm comfortable with them stopping."

Hezbollah's interim leader, Naim Kassem, vowed on Monday to continue fighting Israel, asserting that the militant group is ready for a prolonged conflict despite the recent loss of much of its top command, including Hassan Nasrallah. In his first speech since Nasrallah’s death, Kassem emphasized that Hezbollah's military capabilities remain intact, with deputy commanders already in place to fill any gaps. He stated, “Israel was unable to impact our capabilities,” and noted that the group is prepared for a lengthy battle. Kassem, a founding member and longtime deputy of Nasrallah, will serve in his acting role until a new leader is elected. (AP)

Lebanon's Hezbollah deputy chief on Monday said that they will choose a new Secretary-General for Hezbollah "at the earliest opportunity, based on the mechanism within Hezbollah," news agency Reuters reported.

"The choice will be easy because it is clear and with one heart," Reuters reported.

Lebanon's Hezbollah deputy chief on Monday alleged that the United States supports Israel in committing "massacres" with "limitless support," news agency Reuters reported.

He also underlined the efforts of Lebanon against Israel's attacks, and said, "We continued despite pager attacks, loss of commanders and Nasrallah. We will win, just as we won in our confrontation with Israel in 2006. We are following the leadership, management of war, based in Hezbollah's structure."

(Reuters)

A general view of a building damaged in an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Kola, central Beirut, Lebanon September 30, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS)

Members of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces walk past a debris-strewn street following an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Kola, central Beirut, Lebanon September 30, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS)

Displaced people take shelter on the street at a square after fleeing the Israeli strikes, amid ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in central Beirut, in Lebanon September 30, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS)

Police officers work at the site of an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, in Kola, central Beirut, Lebanon September 30, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS)

Smoke rose from Beirut's southern suburbs after a suspected Israeli strike, witness told Reuters on Monday. (Reuters)

Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Monday that its leader in Lebanon Fateh Sherif Abu el-Amin was killed along with some of his family members in an Israeli strike in the south of the country, news agency Reuters reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed a former rival, Gideon Saar, as a member of his Cabinet on Sunday, expanding his coalition and strengthening his hold on office, news agency AP reported.

Under their agreement, Netanyahu said Saar would serve as a minister without portfolio and serve in the Security Cabinet, the body that oversees the management of the ongoing war against Israel's enemies across the Middle East, the report stated.

Saar (57) had hoped to replace Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, another rival of Netanyahu's. But a deal to become defence minister fell through several weeks ago after fighting intensified with Hezbollah along Israel's northern border, leaving the popular Gallant in office for the time being. (AP)

The body of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was recovered from the site of an Israeli air attack on Beirut on Sunday, a medical and security source told news agency Reuters.

While Hezbollah's statement on Saturday confirming Nasrallah's death did not say how exactly he was killed nor when his funeral would be, the two sources said his body had no direct wounds and that it appeared the cause of death was blunt trauma from the force of the blast. (Reuters)

In a matter of weeks, Israel has decimated the senior and mid-level ranks of Hezbollah and left the group reeling.

The Israeli air force launched attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen on Sunday. In a statement, the Israeli military said that its attacks included strikes on Yemen’s power plant and sea port used to import oil, Reuters reported.

Earlier, sources had said that air strikes had been launched at Yemen’s Hodeidah port, as per Reuters.

This comes hours after Hezbollah confirmed the death of its senior commander Ali Karaki, after the killings of its chief Hassan Nasarallah and another prominent figure Nabil Kaouk in Israeli strikes on Beirut.

Following this, the Israeli military said that it had conducted a “precise strike” in the Dahyieh area of Beirut. (Reuters)

After killing senior Hezbollah leaders in air strikes on Lebanon, and launching attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen, an Israeli airstrike killed three Palestinian leaders early Monday, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said in a statement, news agency Reuters reported.

The strike hit the upper floor of an apartment building in the Kola district of Lebanon’s capital, Reuters witnesses said.

Israel's increasing frequency of attacks against the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and the Houthi militia in Yemen have prompted fears that Middle East fighting could spin out of control and draw in Iran and the United States, Israel's main ally. (Reuters)

After Israel launched its air attack campaign against Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group, more than 1,000 people have died and over 6,000 have been injured. Now, the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR has said that over 70,000 people have fled the country.

The UNHCR, in a post on X, said “The situation is dire for civilians devastated by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. More than 70,000 people have fled the country so far.”

Talking about the displaced issue, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati had earlier said that there could be close to 1 million internally displaced people in Lebanon who have fled Israeli attacks, according to an Al Jazeera’s report.

The Public Health Emergency Operations Center of Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health has said that at least 105 people died in Lebanon on Sunday in Israel’s air attack campaign.

The ministry added that around 359 people were injured in multiple attacks across the country. The health ministry further stated that attacks were carried out “on towns and villages in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa, Baalbek-Hermel, and the southern suburbs of Beirut.”

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has condemned the military warfare being carried out by Israel saying it is encouraging a large-scale war in the Middle East region.

In a post on X, Bruno spoke against the United States’ support to Israel. He further said, “We reiterate that the only solution to the conflict is to recognize an independent Palestinian State with borders prior to 1967.”

People and rescue teams search for victims after an Israeli airstrike hit two adjacent buildings, in Ain el-Delb neighbourhood east of the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo)

In a statement by the Gulf Cooperation Council, a ceasefire has been called upon in the violent hostilities in Lebanon being carried out by Israel since the past week.

Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, the secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said that a ceasefire must be enforced in Lebanon. The Gulf Cooperation Council, whose member countries include United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait have together issued the statement and said they are “continuously backing for Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and stability.”

Secretary Albudaiwi of the GCC said that there needs to be an “immediate ceasefire” and the “importance of avoiding military escalation” must be adhered to. Ascertaining that civilians remain safe and restraint is exercised, Albudaiwi said to refrain from, “Engaging in regional conflicts to prevent the expansion of the dispute in the region.”

Hassan Nasrallah, whom Israel killed in an air strike last week, led Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, for more than 32 years.

Known for his charismatic oratory and strong organisational skills, Nasrallah transformed Hezbollah into Israel’s most formidable non-state adversary. This is his story.

Nasrallah, the eldest of nine children, was born in 1960 and grew up in Beirut’s eastern Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood, where impoverished Christian Armenians, Druse, Palestinians, and Shiites lived. His father Abdul Karim, a seller of fruits and vegetables, came from Bazouriyeh, a small Shia village in southern Lebanon.

The family was not particularly devout, but Nasrallah became interested in religion as a teen. He was influenced by the teachings of Musa al-Sadr, an Iranian-Lebanese cleric revered by Lebanon’s Shias, and the founder of a Shia party called Amal.

Nasrallah said later that he spent long hours meditating before al-Sadr’s portrait, and praying to God to “make him like Sayyid Mūsā some day”, wrote Aurélie Daher in Hezbollah: Mobilisation and Power (2014).

Read more from the report here

As Israel widens its air strike campaign against Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group, news agency Reuters witnesses claim that an apartment building in Beirut was hit by an Israeli airstrike on Monday.

It is being seen as the first attack by Israel within the city limits of Beirut. The strike damaged the upper floor of the apartment building in Kola district of Lebanon's capital.

Israel’s increasing frequency of attacks against Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi militants has raised fear of a full blown war being carved out of it as Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to bog down for any ceasefire deal.

According to Lebanon's health ministry, more than 1,000 people have been killed while over 6,000 remain injured in the attacks by Israel in the past two weeks.

Amid the ongoing hostilities between Israel and militant group Hezbollah, the latter announced that it targeted various sites in northern Israel, including military bases and villages of Tel Aviv.

In response to recent Israeli airstrikes in at least five Lebanese villages, the militant group targeted two places of Israel, namely Shtula and Safed.

Hezbollah further added that it also targeted Israel’s Elyakim army base which is based in the northern part of the country.

The Lebanese health ministry has said that fresh strikes by Israel have led to the death of five individuals in Bint Jbeil, which falls under the southern Lebanon region.

According to the state-run National News agency, the reported incident also led to the injury of 10 people across multiple towns in the district. Bint Jbeil, in south Lebanon, is at the border of Israel.

The latest Israeli strikes in Lebanon villages have killed at least 57 people and injured 105 others, according to statements from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

The ministry further stated that out of the deceased, 31 people were killed in Ain el-Delb while 21 people passed away in Lebanon’ Baalbek-Hermel. The health ministry further added that four people were killed in Anqoun, a town near Sidon in Lebanon.

Giving another bad news for Lebanon, the health ministry said that 14 paramedics were also killed in Israeli strikes in the past two days, according to NBC News.

Sirens were sounded in Israel’s Haifa as reports suggested that militant group Hezbollah has fired a barrage of missiles towards northern Israel.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed about the development on X and stated that millions of Israelis are “running for shelter” amid attacks by Hezbollah.

The IDF posted on X, “Once again, more than a million Israelis are running for shelter after Hezbollah fired missiles at Haifa and northern Israel.”

Protests erupted in Pakistan’s Karachi on Sunday after the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Israeli strikes in Lebanon. The protesters clashed with police as they were marching towards the US Consulate in Karachi.

The protest, which was being headed by Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen, was dispersed by the law enforcement agencies by implementing lathi charges, tear gas shelling, and even aerial firing, according to news agency ANI.

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement said, “Nasrallah was not just another terrorist, he was the terrorist. He was the axis of the axis, the main engine of Iran's axis of evil. He and his people were the architects of the plan to destroy Israel. He was not only operated by Iran, he also frequently operated Iran.”

Saudi Arabia has said that it stands with the people of Lebanon in its conflict against Israel, as it is the first instance that Saudi has made any statement since Israel's killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.

In a statement, the Saudi foreign ministry pressed on the sovereignty of Lebanon and that it must be preserved and respected.

The Saudi’s foreign ministry further added that the country will be sending medical and relief aid to the people of Lebanon.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on Sunday he would be talking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but did not say when. "I'll tell you what I say to him when I talk to him," he told reporters. Asked whether all-out war in the Middle East could be avoided, he replied: "It has to be. We really have to avoid it."

Israel said it bombed Houthi targets in Yemen on Sunday in response to missile fire by the Iran-aligned militants at Israel over the past two days, marking another front in fighting in the Middle East.

The Israeli strikes killed at least four people and wounded 29, the Houthi-run Health Ministry said in a statement, and residents said the bombing had caused power outages in most parts of the port city of Hodeidah.

Israel's military said in a statement that dozens of aircraft, including fighter jets, had attacked power plants and a sea port in Hodeidah and the port of Ras Issa.

It was the second such Israeli attack on Yemen in just over two months. In July, Israeli warplanes struck Houthi military targets near Hodeidah after a Yemeni drone hit Tel Aviv and killed one man. (Reuters)

Israel's military chief of staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said on Sunday that Lebanon's armed group Hezbollah had lost weapons, operatives and its leader in Israeli strikes and that Israel needs to keep hitting it hard.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that Israel should not be allowed to attack the Iran-aligned nations of "Axis of Resistance" in a successive manner.

Israel, which was successful in killing the leader of Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group Hassan Nasrallah, has started its offensive against Iran and Yemen based Houthi militants.

As the violence widens in the Middle East, the efforts by United States led aligned countries to strike a temporary ceasefire for Israel has fallen flat as Tel Aviv has been attacking Lebanon, Gaza, Yemen and Iran consecutively.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, said that the country condemns the attack by Israeli military in Yemen's Hodeidah port on Sunday, stating that they targeted a power plant and fuel tanks, according to Reuters.

The tensions in the Middle East have peaked as fear of a full scale war between Israel and Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group, Iran, Yemen’s Houthi militants have skyrocketed and a negotiation between any warring party is on a backseat.

An Israeli attack on the city of Ain Deleb in southern Lebanon killed 24 people, wounding 29 others, as per a preliminary toll released by Lebanon's Health Ministry, Reuters reported.

Pope Francis, when asked about Israeli air strikes in Lebanon on Sunday, responded with criticism on attacks that he said go "beyond morality", Reuters reported. He further said that countries cannot go "over the top" when using military forces. "Even in war there is a morality to safeguard," he said. "War is immoral. But the rules of war give it some morality," the pontiff added.

Israel will not be able to facilitate the safe return of people back to their homes in the north of the country by waging an all-out war with Hezbollah or Iran, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday, news agency Reuters reported. Kirby added that the White House support for Israel's security is iron clad and that is not going to change.

The body of Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has been recovered from the site of an Israeli air strike on Beirut's southern suburbs and is intact, a Reuters report quoted a medical source and a security source as saying. The two sources said his body had no direct wounds, while adding that it appeared that the cause of death was blunt trauma from the force of the blast, the report stated.

Lebanon's Information Minister Ziad Makary, during a cabinet session on Sunday, said that diplomatic efforts for ceasefire with Israel are underway, Reuters reported. "It is certain that the Lebanese government wants a ceasefire, and everyone knows that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu went to New York based on the premise of a ceasefire, but the decision was made to assassinate Nasrallah," Makary said.

The statement after the Israel military killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasarallah in a Beirut airstrike, as well as prominent Hezbollah figure Nabil Kaouk.

Israel's killing of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Deputy Commander Abbas Nilforoushan in Lebanon "will not go unanswered", the country's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said in a statement Sunday, as per news agency Reuters.

The Israeli military said on Sunday that it killed senior Hezbollah figure Nabil Kaouk amid an ongoing exchange of strikes between the two sides, as per news agency Reuters.

Hezbollah has not yet commented on Kaouk's fate, but supporters have been posting mourning messages for him since Saturday.

Israel navy has intercepted a projectile approaching Israel from the area of the Red Sea and other eight projectiles coming from Lebanon have fallen in open areas, a statement said, reports Reuters.

Reuters is reporting that China's foreign ministry has expressed concern over the escalation of tensions and said that it opposes any violation of Lebanon's sovereignty.

Israel continued its onslaught on Lebanon on Sunday and hit dozens of Hezbollah’s ‘terror targets’, a day after Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in south Beirut.

Hassan Nasrallah's assassination not only deepens the risk of an all-out war in the Middle East, but also represents a pivotal moment for the Lebanon-backed militant organisation, which is now left to deal with a leadership vacuum.

With his death, the question now remains: who will step into the shoes of a revered and reviled leader? We take a look.

As Israel continues its strikes on Lebanon, the UK is securing extra flights to evacuate its citizens from the crisis-stricken country.

“Our advice is clear, British nationals should register their presence, book the first available flight and leave now,” said a Foreign Office official.

Hours after an Israeli strike in south Beirut killed Hezbollah supremo Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a word of caution of Iran as well — “To the Ayatollah regime, I say, whoever hits us, we will hit him. There is no place we will not reach.”

Stating that Israel has achieved its goal, the Irael PM was quoted as saying by The Times of Israel: “As long as Nasrallah was alive, he would have quickly rehabilitated Hezbollah’s capabilities. Those who strike at us, we will strike at them.”

He added: “There is nowhere in Iran or the Middle East beyond the reach of the long arm of Israel, and today you know how true that is.” Netanyahu further said that he decided to order the strike after concluding that Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah until that point were not sufficient.

With Hezbollah’s operations chief Ibrahim Aqil and top commander Fuad Shukr, both killed in similar airstrikes by Israel’s military, the Iran-backed group has now turned its attention to Hashem Safieddine, a close associate of Nasrallah and widely regarded as his potential successor.

Safieddine, who reportedly survived the Israeli attack, currently heads Hezbollah’s Executive Council and is a member of the group’s Jihad Council. Read more here

Israeli military has said that its struck dozens of Hezbollah "terror" targets in Lebanon in the past dozen hours, including launchers aimed toward Israel.

United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres expressed grave concern over the latest escalation in the conflict, and urged all sides to stop the "cycle of violence."

Sharing a post on X, Guterres said, "I'm gravely concerned by the dramatic escalation of events in Beirut in the last 24 hours. This cycle of violence must stop now. All sides must step back from the brink... The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, as well as the wider region, cannot afford an all-out war."

Meanwhile, UNICEF sounded the alarm over the strikes in Beirut, condemning the recent escalation that has claimed thousands of lives.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared five days of mourning over Hassan Nasrallah’s killing. Lebanon is also observing three days of mourning.

Hezbollah has suffered a debilitating setback, but much will depend on how Iran — its main backer and the arch rival of Israel — reacts now. For Hezbollah, which is said to have about 100,000 members in Lebanon who are backed, trained, and equipped by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, this is probably a moment to lie low and try to rearm and regroup, writes Indian Express' Shubhajit Roy.

Massive protests erupted in Kashmir following the death of Hezbollah supremo Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli air strike in Lebanon.

Former Chief Minister and president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti and senior National Conference leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi called off their election campaign to condole the killing of the Hezbollah leader.

Read here

Given his unparalleled prominence in the pantheon of Iranian resistance leaders, Nasrallah’s killing is arguably a bigger loss to Iran than even Major General Qassem Soleimani of the Revolutionary Guards, in 2020, and Hamas’ political chief Ismail Haniyeh earlier this year.

We explain more here.

Iran has called for United Nations Security Council meeting on Israel's actions in Lebanon and elsewhere in the region. It also warned against any attacks on its diplomatic facilities and representatives, reported Reuters.

"Iran will not hesitate to exercise its inherent rights under international law to take every measure in defense of its vital national and security interests," it said in a letter to the 15-member body.

A lot happened on the war-front yesterday. In case you missed it, here's a recap of the latest developments:

📌 Lebanon’s Hezbollah on Saturday confirmed that its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in south Beirut. The Israeli military reported that the airstrike was precise and targeted Hezbollah’s leadership meeting at their headquarters in Dahiyeh.

📌 Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed that Nasrallah’s death “will not go unavenged”, signaling the possibility of a full-scale war breaking out.

📌 Khamenei was transferred to a “secure location” inside the country with heightened security measures in place.

📌 Israel’s security forces were also put on high alert for possible retaliation.

📌 Later in the day, Iran called for United Nations Security Council meeting on Israel's actions in Lebanon and elsewhere in the region. It also warned against any attacks on its diplomatic facilities and representatives.

📌 All this while, fighting continued in Lebanon, with Israel striking Beirut's southern suburbs throughout the early evening on Saturday, according to a Reuters live broadcast, sending large clouds of smoke over the city.

📌 While US President Joe Biden called Nasrallah's killing a 'measure of justice', reaffirming his support for Israel, he also stressed that a ceasefire in Lebanon and putting an end to the violence is important.

📌 Hezbollah said in a statement that it would continue its battle against Israel "in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defence of Lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people".

Good morning! Welcome to our blog. Stay tuned as we update you with the latest news on the spiraling conflict in Israel and Lebanon.

A Grad rocket fired from southern Lebanon landed in a remote desert area in Muwaqqar, Jordan, without causing any damage or casualties. The Jordanian army confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the rocket fell in an uninhabited region.

No human or material damage was reported. The incident highlights the regional tensions and potential spillover from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

(with inputs from Reuters)

President Joe Biden has urged for a ceasefire in Lebanon, emphasizing that it's time to put an end to the violence.

When questioned about the possibility of an Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon, Biden stressed the need for a ceasefire. This comes amid escalating tensions in the region, with the potential for further conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

Regarding the recent missile attacks on US warships in the Red Sea, Biden assured that the United States is taking action, stating "We're responding".

(with inputs from Reuters)

Canada has pledged $10 million in humanitarian aid to support Lebanese civilians affected by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. This move reflects Canada's deep concern about the escalating violence and its impact on innocent civilians .

The Canadian government is urging all parties involved to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, from harm and has reiterated its call for a 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border. (Reuters)

A projectile launched from Lebanon landed in the West Bank on Saturday, igniting fires, according to the Israeli military.

Earlier, air raid sirens were activated on the outskirts of Jerusalem and in the occupied West Bank, with Israeli alert apps indicating that the alarms were triggered by “a launch from Lebanon towards Israeli territory.”

“The projectile was identified in the Mitzpe Hagit area,” the military stated.

“Israeli Fire and Rescue services are currently on-site to extinguish the fires caused by the projectile.”

As of now, it is unclear whether there were any casualties, as reported by Reuters.

Approximately one million Lebanese have been displaced due to Israeli attacks, with hundreds of thousands forced to flee since yesterday alone, Nasser Yassin, the minister overseeing the government’s crisis response, told Reuters on Saturday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Saturday that the killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah marked a historic turning point, potentially altering the balance of power in the Middle East, though he cautioned of "challenging days" ahead.

"Nasrallah wasn’t just a terrorist; he was the terrorist," Netanyahu said in a statement. "His killing was a necessary move toward achieving our objectives—ensuring the safe return of northern residents to their homes and reshaping the region’s balance of power for years to come."

US Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris has released a statement following the Israeli airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, calling him a terrorist with "American blood on his hands." Harris emphasised that Nasrallah's leadership of Hezbollah had destabilised the Middle East for decades, resulting in the deaths of many innocent people in Lebanon, Israel, Syria, and around the globe. She added, "Today, Hezbollah’s victims have a measure of justice."

Reaffirming her commitment to Israel’s security, Harris stated, "I will always support Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis."

While acknowledging the importance of Israel’s self-defense, Harris also stressed the need for diplomacy to prevent further escalation in the region. She highlighted the efforts of the Biden administration to pursue a diplomatic solution along the Israel-Lebanon border, stating that diplomacy remains the best way to protect civilians and achieve lasting stability.

Lebanon’s government declares three days of mourning for the death of Hassan Nasrallah, starting on Monday.

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday announced five days of public mourning after Israel killed Hezbollah’s General-Secretary Hassan Nasrallah.

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Saturday that his country was facing the threat of danger after an Israeli airstrike on Friday killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Mikati was speaking at an emergency cabinet meeting that he convened upon returning from the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mikati also announced that all state-run institutions would be closed on Monday.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The US Department of State on Saturday ordered some employees at its embassy in Beirut and their eligible family members to leave Lebanon amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah by Israel.

"US Embassy Beirut personnel are restricted from personal travel without advance permission," the State Department said in a statement. "Additional travel restrictions may be imposed on US personnel under Chief of Mission security responsibility, with little to no notice due to increased security issues or threats."

(Reuters)

In a statement, US President Joe Biden called the Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah's chief as a "measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians."

He added, "The United States fully supports Israel's right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis, and any other Iranian-backed terrorist groups."

(With inputs from AP)

The Israeli military announced it killed a senior Hezbollah intelligence official, Hassan Khalil Yassin, in a strike in southern Beirut on Saturday.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has declared five days of mourning for Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in south Beirut on Friday, according to Reuters.

In a statement, Khameini vowed that "Nasrallah's blood will not go unavenged," in response to the Hezbollah chief's death.

Khamenei was transferred to a “secure location” inside the country with heightened security measures in place following Israel’s announcement of Nasrallah’s death.

The Israeli military reported that the airstrike was precise and targeted Hezbollah’s leadership meeting at their headquarters in Dahiyeh. Nasrallah had led Hezbollah for over thirty years. “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world,” the Israeli military said in a post on X on Saturday.

Iran was continuously communicating with Hezbollah and other regional proxy groups to decide their next move following Israel’s announcement of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s death, according to a Reuters report.

The sudden death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike has left the powerful Lebanese militant group grappling with a leadership crisis. Nasrallah, who led Hezbollah for three decades, was killed in a Friday attack that targeted a Beirut suburb.

With Hezbollah’s operations chief Ibrahim Aqil and top commander Fuad Shukr, both killed in similar airstrikes by Israel’s military, the Iran-backed group has now turned its attention to Hashem Safieddine, a close associate of Nasrallah and widely regarded as his potential successor. Safieddine, who reportedly survived the Israeli attack, currently heads Hezbollah’s Executive Council and is a member of the group’s Jihad Council.

Read more on Hassan Nasrallah

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to Israel on Saturday after the United Nations General Assembly. An Israeli official said he will hold security consultations later today.

Shortly after his arrival, air raid sirens were sounded across central Israel, including the Tel Aviv International Airport.

The Israeli military said a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted shortly after the sirens were heard. There were no reports of injuries.

(With inputs from AP)

The Israeli military said on Saturday that it conducted a strike in the Dahiyeh area of Beirut, as quoted by news agency Reuters.

Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel on Saturday - including Tel Aviv - and large bangs were heard after a missile was fired from Yemen and intercepted, according to the Israeli military, news agency Reuters reported.

Taking to X, the Israel Defence Forces, said, "A missile was launched yet again by the Houthis in Yemen toward Israel, endangering civilians across central Israel. Today, the IDF Aerial Defense Array successfully intercepted the missile outside of Israeli territory."

Air raid sirens sounded across central Israel, including at the Tel Aviv International Airport, shortly after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed after a trip to the US.

The Israeli military said a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted shortly after the sirens were heard. There were no reports of injuries.

It was not immediately known if the missile strike was aimed at Netanyahu's flight.

Netanyahu cut short his trip to the US to deal with the growing crisis in Israel's battle against Hezbollah militants.

(AP)

The Defence Secretary of the United States, Lloyd Austin spoke twice with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday regarding the airstrikes in Lebanon, expressing strong support for Israel's right to defend itself against Iranian-backed terrorist groups.

"The US remains postured to protect its forces and facilities in the region and committed to the defence of Israel," Austin said, news agency Reuters reported, quoting a Pentagon spokesperson.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday said that the US "cannot deny complicity" in Nasrallah's killing, news agency Reuters reported.

Taking to X, Pezeshkian offered condolences for Nasallah's death, and said, "The international community will not forget that the order for this terrorist attack was issued from New York and the Americans cannot absolve themselves from collaborating with the Zionists."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israeli forces would continue to strike Lebanon with “full force” until the Shiite militant group Hezbollah stops firing rockets at Israel. On Friday, the AP reported that Israeli military vehicles were transporting tanks and armoured vehicles toward the northern border with Lebanon, indicating an imminent escalation of hostilities.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed 700 people in the last week alone, and the exchange of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, which began soon after the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas in southern Israel, has led to the displacement of thousands.

The Israel-Hezbollah conflict has deep roots in the history of southern Lebanon.

Read more about the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday condemned Israel's recent attacks in Lebanon as part of what he called an “Israeli policy of genocide, occupation, and invasion," urging the UN Security Council and other organizations to take action against Israel.

Following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Erdogan, in an X post, said, "I once again condemn Israel's inhumane attacks against Lebanon; I wish Allah's mercy upon all our Lebanese brothers who lost their lives in the attacks and a speedy recovery to the wounded."

"We call on all structures whose duty is to ensure global peace, stability, and security, especially the United Nations Security Council, and all human rights organizations to take swift action," the post said.

The Houthi movement in Yemen mourned the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday, their ally in the Iran-backed coalition against Israel.

"The resistance will not be broken, and the Jihadist spirit of the Mujahideen brothers in Lebanon and on all fronts of support will grow stronger and bigger," the group said in a statement, as quoted by Reuters.

Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday, and stated that the fight against Israel will continue.

Both Hezbollah and the Houthis are part of the Axis of Resistance, an alliance formed over the years with Iranian support to counter Israel and US influence in the Middle East.

Israeli military spokesperson on Saturday said that Hezbollah leader Nasrallah as well as other commanders of the Iran-backed group were “legitimate military targets under international law.”

In an X (formerly Twitter) post, the Israel Defence Forces listed the commanders that the Israel Defense Forces have killed. It said, “ We searched “dismantled” on the internet, this is the picture that came up."

Israel's war is not with the people of Lebanon, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Saturday after confirming Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday.

"He (Nasrallah) was the murderer of thousands of Israelis and foreign citizens. He was an immediate threat to the lives of thousands of Israelis and other citizens," Gallant said. "To the people of Lebanon, I say: Our war is not with you. It's time for change," as quoted by Reuters.

According to Iranian media, Abbas Nilforoushan, Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also knows as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, was killed in Israeli strikes in Beirut last night, news agency Reuters reported.

Israeli military spokesperson on Saturday said that Hezbollah leader Nasrallah as well as other commanders of the Iran-backed group were "legitimate military targets under international law."

"Nasrallah was among the biggest-ever enemies of Israel," the spokesperson said, as quoted by Reuters.

The spokesperson said that Israel is focused on securing the return of hostages and ensuring border safety, without seeking "wider escalation" of the war.

An X (formerly Twitter) post by the Israel Defence Forces said, “Sirens are sounding all over northern Israel. We will keep operating against Hezbollah until all of our civilians can safely return home.”

The spokesperson further said that they are currently targeting Hezbollah infrastructure, which has been developed over the years and backed by Iran.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The Israel Defense Forces killed Hassan Nasrallah, the longtime leader of Hezbollah — the Iran-backed armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon — in Friday’s strikes on Beirut.

Nasrallah, who avoided public appearances out of concern that he would be assassinated by Israel, remained in charge of Hezbollah for more than 32 years. He played a key role in building the group into the potent force it is today and was one of the most influential and best-known figures in the Middle East.

Read more about Hassan Nasrallah

In a statement on Saturday, Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and stated that the fight against Israel will continue.

The statement said Nasrallah “has joined his fellow martyrs, ” adding, it "vows to continue the holy war against the enemy and in support of Palestine.”

(With AP inputs)

Israeli airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs are ongoing, news agency Reuters quoted witnesses on Saturday, adding smoke was visible rising from the affected area.

Following Israel’s announcement of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s death in an airstrike in south Beirut on Friday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been transferred to a "secure location" inside the country with heightened security measures in place.

Khameini, in a statement, after the Israeli army said it had killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, said, "The fate of this region will be determined by the forces of resistance, with Hezbollah at the forefront," adding, "Lebanon will make the invading, wicked, and discredited enemy regret their action," news agency Reuters reported.

He called on Muslims on Saturday "to stand by the people of Lebanon and the proud Hezbollah with whatever means they have and assist them in confronting the wicked regime of Israel."

(With Reuters inputs)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been transferred to a "secure location" inside the country with heightened security measures in place following Israel’s announcement of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s death in an airstrike in south Beirut on Friday, news agency Reuters reported quoting sources.

The Israeli military reported that the airstrike was precise and targeted Hezbollah’s leadership meeting at their headquarters in Dahiyeh. Nasrallah had led Hezbollah for over thirty years. “Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorise the world,” the Israeli military said in a post on X on Saturday.

Iran was continuously communicating with Hezbollah and other regional proxy groups to decide their next move following Israel's announcement of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah's death, according to a Reuters report.

Israeli military spokesperson on Saturday said that Hezbollah leader Nasrallah terrorised Israel for decades and termed him as one of the world’s most influential terrorists.

“Under his (Nasrallah’s leadership, Lebanon became an armed base,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson further said that Hezbollah had plans to infiltrate Israeli communities, and murder and kidnap Israeli citizens.

He said that Nasrallah was with other senior commanders & the strike was conducted while the senior chain of command was operating against Israel.

On Saturday, Israel launched a new wave of airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and other areas of Lebanon. This came just a day after a major attack on the southern suburbs known as Dahiyeh.

The Israeli military "eliminated ... Hassan Nasrallah, leader of the Hezbollah terrorist organization," Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee wrote in a statement on X.

"Hassan Nasrallah will no longer be able to terrorize the world," the Israeli military said in a post on X on Saturday.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, has not yet released any statement regarding the status of Nasrallah, who has led the group for 32 years.

The Israeli military said on Saturday it had killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on the group's central headquarters in the southern suburbs of Beirut a day earlier.

Israel's military said on Saturday it has mobilised three reserve battalions to bolster its Central Command defence amid escalating conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

A missile from Lebanon was fired at central Israel and fell in an open area, the Israeli army said on Saturday. It said no sirens were sounded and added the incident was under review, but gave no other details.

Israel's military said on Saturday it was striking "terror" targets belonging to Hezbollah in Lebanon's Bekaa valley. (Reuters)

An Israeli strike hit the Lebanese mountain town of Bhamdoun, southeast of Beirut, early on Saturday, Lebanese lawmaker for the area Mark Daou told Reuters.

He said the extent of damage was not immediately clear.

The Israel-Hezbollah crisis deepened in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday as Israeli warplanes targetted residential buildings just south of Beirut in an attempt to kill Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, who was convening a leadership meeting in an underground headquarters.

According to Israeli officials who spoke with The New York Times, the initial assessment of Israeli intelligence agencies, based on the number and the size of the bombs used and information gathered from inside the militant group, is that Nasrallah has been killed.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least six people have been killed and more than 90 injured by the Israeli strikes on Friday evening, but the toll was expected to rise. Emergency workers were still searching through the rubble even as Israel struck again.