Israeli military has said that its struck dozens of Hezbollah "terror" targets in Lebanon in the past dozen hours, including launchers aimed toward Israel.
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Israel Hezbollah Conflict Highlights: The Israeli military has started its targeted ground raids in southern Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) 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.”
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Earlier in the day, 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,” 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.
A day earlier, the Israeli air force launched attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen. 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 Nasrallah 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.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues: Fighting on the Israel-Lebanon border continued overnight, with Lebanon launching a projectile in the West Bank after the deadly Israel strikes. Heavy bombing has killed more than 700 people and displaced about 118,000 since it began, reported The Guardian. On Friday, at least 11 people were killed and 108 were injured in airstrikes in Beirut, marking the largest blast to hit the Lebanese capital in the past year.
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.
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.
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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.
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."
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