Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Tyre, Lebanon September 25, 2024. (Reuters Photo)
Journalism of Courage
Israel Hezbollah Conflict: Lebanon’s health minister reported that 51 people were killed and 223 wounded on Wednesday due to Israeli strikes. Hezbollah on Wednesday launched a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv, in a further escalation after a two-day bombing campaign by Israel resulted in over 560 deaths in Lebanon. The Israeli military said it intercepted the surface-to-surface missile in the morning, but there were no reports of casualties or damage. Meanwhile, the military said it struck the site in southern Lebanon from which the projectile was launched.
The Israeli military claimed yesterday that it has killed Ibrahim Muhammad Qabisi, a top commander with Hezbollah’s missile and rocket unit in an airstrike in Beirut. “Qabisi was struck alongside additional central commanders of Hezbollah’s missiles and rockets force,” the military said in a statement. They further said that Qabisi had joined Hezbollah in the 1980s and had held several significant military roles within the organisation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a recorded message, urged Lebanese civilians to heed their calls to evacuate, ahead of its widening air campaign against Hezbollah, news agency AP reported.
How did the recent strikes begin? Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have been escalating for the past 11 months. Hezbollah has fired rockets, missiles, and drones into northern Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza and its ally, Hamas. In response, Israel has conducted heavy airstrikes and targeted killings of Hezbollah commanders, threatening a broader operation. Last week, a series of attacks in Beirut involved explosions from pagers and walkie-talkies. About 50 people were killed, and around 3,500 were injured.
Smoke billows over southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Tyre, Lebanon September 25, 2024. (Reuters Photo)
The Pentagon has said that the Israeli military’s decision to ready itself for a ground incursion of Lebanon doesn’t appear to be “imminent”.
Pentagon’s spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters, “In terms of a ground incursion or a ground invasion, that is really for the Israelis to speak to. We certainly don't want to see any action taken that could lead to further escalation in the region,” as quoted by BBC.
Singh further added that the US is inclined to witness a truce between the warring factions through a diplomatic resolution which could prevent the war.
Singh clarified that the US military is not providing any intelligence input to the Israeli counterparts in its tactical operations in Lebanon.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has urged the United Nations Security Council to put pressure on Israel and call for an ‘immediate ceasefire’ on all fronts.
In a response to a Reuters question if a ceasefire can be reached soon, PM Mikati said “Hopefully yes”. Lebanon has witnessed over 600 deaths since Israel started its offensive against the militant group Hezbollah which is based in Lebanon.
Addressing the UNSC, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “The United States is committed to counter or at least adapt to rising sea levels that pose an existential threat to many coastal communities around the world.”
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday said that Lebanon should not become another Gaza and called for an immediate end to the hostilities between Israel and militant group Hezbollah.
Guterres, while briefing the 15-member UN Security Council, said “Let us say in one clear voice, stop the killing and destruction. Turn down the rhetoric and threats. Step back from the brink. An all-out war must be avoided at all costs.”
The offensive by Israel in Lebanon has claimed more than 600 lives while over 1,600 remain injured. The Israeli military is also planning a ground incursion of Lebanon after Hezbollah targeted capital city Tel Aviv in its recent spate of counter offensive.
The newly formed UK government has announced that it will be sending £5 million to Lebanon as part of a humanitarian aid to support the response efforts, the country’s foreign office has informed.
The UK government has also reopened its "register your presence" portal, where nationals can fill the form and register their location in Lebanon in order to inform the government about their presence in the violence hit country.
Development minister Anneliese Dodds announced that the humanitarian aid will go to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) “to support civilians who have been displaced and are facing a humanitarian emergency".
Dodds further added, “We need to see an immediate ceasefire from both sides to prevent further civilian casualties and ensure that displaced people can return to their homes,” as reported by BBC.
The US President Joe Biden has claimed that an all out war between Israel and Lebanon based Hezbollah militant group is possible but an opportunity was still in play to come to a settlement and strike a ceasefire deal between the two warring factions.
The White House said that President Biden later on met with French President Emanuel Macron at the United Nations General Assembly and discussed plans to negotiate a truce between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi has reportedly told the military to prepare for a possible ground incursion of Lebanon to target Hezbollah militant group.
As the US and France are working upon a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah, army chief Halevi has said that Israeli strikes in Lebanon could pave the way for the soldiers to enter the Lebanese territory and target Hezbollah militants.
The development came after Israel informed that it shot down a missile launched by Hezbollah towards the capital Tel Aviv. More than 600 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes since Monday, the Lebanese health ministry says.
French President Emmanuel Macron has urged Israel to halt its military "escalation" in Lebanon and called on Hezbollah to cease rocket attacks on Israel. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday, Macron stressed, “There cannot be, must not be war in Lebanon.”
Macron’s appeal comes amid rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, as the French leader firmly called for an end to the violence on both sides. He announced that France's newly appointed foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, would travel to Lebanon this week in a bid to prevent further conflict.
France, which has longstanding historical ties with Lebanon, has been collaborating with the US on diplomatic efforts to end the fighting and encourage dialogue, according to diplomats cited by Reuters.
The US has imposed new sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah.
In a statement on X, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller announced that the sanctions involve one individual and four entities, along with the blocking of nine vessels. These actions are part of efforts to combat illicit activities that financially support Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and Hezbollah.
Israel's military chief informed troops on Wednesday that air strikes in Lebanon would persist to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure and pave the way for a potential ground operation by Israeli forces.
General Herzi Halevi told soldiers stationed at the Lebanese border, "You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day. This is aimed at preparing the ground for your possible entry while continuing to degrade Hezbollah."
Lebanon's health minister reported that 51 people were killed and 223 wounded on Wednesday due to Israeli strikes. This toll adds to the previous count of 564 deaths and over 1,800 injuries over the past two days, which included approximately 150 women and children.
Health Minister Firas Abiad did not provide specifics on the number of women and children wounded on Wednesday.
The Israeli Air Force claim fighter jets hit 280 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon today.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Wednesday that at least 90,530 people have recently been displaced in Lebanon. Of these, nearly 40,000 are currently seeking refuge in 283 shelters across the country.
The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that it is activating reserve troops in response to escalating tensions with Hezbollah. This move signals that Israel is preparing for more intense actions against the Lebanese militant group, following Hezbollah's missile launch toward Tel Aviv earlier in the day.
The army stated that it is calling up "two reserve brigades for operational missions in the northern arena," adding that this will "enable the continuation of combat against the Hezbollah terrorist organization."
The United States has expressed deep concern over reports of a Hezbollah rocket attack targeting Israel's intelligence service, while still holding hope that diplomacy can help reduce tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Wednesday.
In an interview with CNN, Kirby described the situation as "deeply concerning," stating, "This is further evidence that Israel is confronting a legitimate threat from a terrorist organization backed by Iran."
He reiterated the US's support for Israel's right to defend itself, saying, "No nation should be forced to live with such threats right on their doorstep." (Reuters)
The death toll from Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday has risen to 22, according to a Reuters count based on statements from Lebanon’s health ministry. Earlier, Health Minister Firass Abiad told Al Jazeera Mubasher TV that Israeli attacks since Monday had killed 569 people, including 50 children, and wounded 1,835 others. This brings the total death toll in Lebanon to 591.
Pope Francis called Israeli strikes on Lebanon a "terrible escalation" of the Middle East conflict at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican, which went ahead two days after he cancelled meetings over mild flu.
The pope said the attacks, in which Israel says it has been striking targets affiliated with the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, were "unacceptable" and urged the international community to do everything possible to halt the fighting.
Francis did not specifically identify Israel, but said he was "saddened by news from Lebanon in recent days that bombardments have caused much destruction and many victims".
In light of the rising cross-border attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that targeting key members of Hezbollah will not weaken the organization.
A strike on Wednesday hit the Lebanese Shi'ite town of Maaysrah, state media said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The town is located in the Christian-majority Keserwan region.
It was the first time the area was struck in recent hostilities between the Israeli military and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Kremlin spokesperson on Wednesday urged Russian nationals to leave Lebanon as soon as possible for their safety on commercial flights.
Hezbollah said its fighters had fired a rocket targeting the Mossad spy agency headquarters near Tel Aviv on Wednesday, an escalation in the conflict with Israel that moved the arch-foes closer to full-fledged war.
The Israeli military said a single surface-to-surface missile was intercepted by air defence systems after it was detected crossing from Lebanon.
Hezbollah on Wednesday launched a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv, in a further escalation after a two-day bombing campaign by Israel resulted in over 560 deaths in Lebanon. The Israeli military said it intercepted the surface-to-surface missile in the morning, but there were no reports of casualties or damage. Meanwhile, the military said it struck the site in southern Lebanon from which the projectile was launched.
It is Hezbollah’s deepest strike yet into Israel. Hezbollah said it fired a Qader 1 ballistic missile targeting the headquarters of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.
It blames Israel for a recent string of targeted killings of its top commanders and for an attack last week in which explosives hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies killed dozens of people and wounded thousands, including many Hezbollah members.
The Israeli military said it was the first time a projectile fired from Lebanon had reached central Israel.
Britain is moving troops to Cyprus to help its nationals leave Lebanon. Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that the escalation in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah was pushing the region towards the brink.
The government said in a statement late on Tuesday that 700 troops would travel to Cyprus, bolstering its presence in the area where it already has two Royal Navy ships, aircraft and transport helicopters.
"Events in the past hours and days have demonstrated how volatile this situation is, which is why our message is clear, British nationals should leave now," said Defence Secretary John Healey.
Protesters in several US cities demonstrated on Tuesday against American military support for Israel, amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Activists called for an arms embargo on the US ally.
In New York City, dozens gathered in Herald Square, holding banners that read "Hands off Lebanon now" and "No US-Israeli war on Lebanon." The protests were organized by the ANSWER Coalition, which stands for "Act Now to Stop War and End Racism."
Chanting slogans like "Hands off the Middle East," "Free Palestine," and "Biden, Harris, Trump, and Bibi; none are welcome in our city," the protesters voiced their opposition to US leaders and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
European Union's foreign policy chief has said that the escalation between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah is almost a full-fledged war.
"If this is not a war situation, I don't know what you would call it," Borrell told reporters, citing the high number of civilian casualties.
According to a Reuters report, the Lebanese Foreign Minister said that the number of people displaced by the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in southern Lebanon is probably approaching one-half million.
A recent two-day bombing campaign by Israel resulted in over 560 deaths in Lebanon, forcing thousands in the south to flee the escalating conflict.
Families that fled southern Lebanon flocked to Beirut and the coastal city of Sidon, sleeping in schools turned into shelters, as well as in cars, parks and along the beach.
Some sought to leave the country, causing a traffic jam at the border with Syria.Issa Baydoun fled the village of Shihine when it was bombed and drove to Beirut with his extended family.
Israeli jets conducted a targeted strike in Beirut, the Israeli military said on Tuesday, giving no details, Reuters report stated.
The Israeli military said on Wednesday that its air defense systems intercepted a missile detected crossing from Lebanon.
No damage or casualties were reported and the military said there was no change to civil defence instructions.
The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting on Lebanon for Wednesday at France's request.
Lebanon has voiced disappointment with US President Joe Biden’s remarks about the crisis with Israel and said they hoped Washington could intervene to help.
"It was not strong. It is not promising and it would not solve this problem," Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib said of Biden's speech at the United Nations earlier in the day.
"I (am) still hoping. The United States is the only country that can really make a difference in the Middle East and with regard to Lebanon," Bou Habib said in New York during a virtual event hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
The Lebanese health ministry has claimed that the death toll from Israel’s offensive in the country has risen to 564 and has injured over 1,600 people.
The Israeli military meanwhile has said that it will do whatever is needed to push the militant group Hezbollah away from Lebanon's border with Israel and reinstate its citizens who have been displaced by Hezbollah’s recent attacks in the northern region.
The Israeli military claimed that Hezbollah launched close to 100 projectiles towards Tel Aviv on Tuesday in its counter offensive which is giving rise to speculation of a full blown war between Israel and Iran backed Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah on Tuesday confirmed the death of one of its top commanders, Ibrahim Kobeisi, who was killed in an Israeli strike in a southern Beirut suburb.
In a tragic incident, a Lebanese journalist named Hadi Al-Sayed was killed when an Israeli airstrike targeted his hometown in southern Lebanon, according to Al-Mayadeen, the network he worked for.
The attack in the journalist's hometown occurred during an Israeli offensive in Lebanon which has already claimed over 500 lives and injured another 1,500.
The news outlet Al-Mayadeen mourned the tragic loss and posted its condolences on X, stating “Al-Mayadeen Media Network mourns our colleague at Al-Mayadeen Online Hadi Al-Sayed, who was martyred in an Israeli airstrike that targeted his home in southern Lebanon yesterday, Monday.”
According to news agency Reuters, since October last year when the Israel’s offensive began against Iran backed Hezbollah and Hamas militant group, four journalists have been killed in Lebanon.
Smoke rises behind a destroyed house following an Israeli airstrike on Khiam village, as seen from Marjayoun town, south Lebanon, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo)
Britain has asked its nationals who are present in Lebanon to leave the country as soon as possible and also urged its citizens to avoid traveling to Beirut amid violent escalation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon based militant group Hezbollah.
The Foreign Office of Britain said, “Around 700 UK troops will move to Cyprus in the coming hours, as the government continues to prepare its contingency plans following significant escalation between Israel and Lebanon in recent days.”
Israel’s attack on Lebanon has killed close to 600 people and injured over 1,500 others as the conflict has given rise to speculations that another full blown war might break out between the two countries. Israel has already been in a war with Gaza based militant group Hamas since last year.
An Israeli strike hit the Lebanese seaside town of Jiyyeh for the first time early on Wednesday, 75 kilometers north (roughly 46 miles) of the border with Israel, two security sources said. (Reuters)
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib expressed his disappointment over the comments made by the US President Joe Biden on the ongoing Israel-Lebanon’s violent escalation.
The ongoing hostilities between the two nations flared up after Beirut witnessed pager and walkie talkie device blasts and Lebanon based militant group Hezbollah blamed it on Israel.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib has still expressed his hope that the United States would intervene to strike a ceasefire. It was President Biden's farewell speech at the UNGA.
“It was not strong. It is not promising and it would not solve this problem. I (am) still hoping. The United States is the only country that can really make a difference in the Middle East and with regard to Lebanon," Habib said in response to President Biden’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
The Secretary General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres has expressed his concern over the growing violent hostilities between Israel and the Lebanon based militant group Hezbollah.
After the pager and walkie talkie devices blast in Beirut, the Hezbollah group blamed it on Israel and started its offensive against them. Israel, which has already been in a warfare with Gaza based Hamas militant group since past one year, has upped its ante against Hezbollah.
According to Lebanon's health ministry data, close to 600 people have been killed in the attack by Israel, while over 1,500 have been injured.
UN’s Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a post on X said, “The situation in Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it. Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza.”
The United Nations Security Council has announced that it is poised ton Wednesday at 10pm GMT on the escalation in fighting and tensions in the Middle East’s Lebanon between Israel and militant group Hezbollah.
The message for the meeting was conveyed by the United Nations Security Council’s Slovenia, the president of the 15-member council for September.
Syrian air defences intercepted what were believed to be Israeli missiles aimed at the coastal city of Tartous, according to Syrian military sources cited by Reuters. Witnesses in the area reported hearing multiple explosions during the attack.
Israel aims for its military campaign against Hezbollah to be as brief as possible but is prepared for it to extend if necessary, military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Tuesday.
During a briefing, Hagari presented footage showing a strike on a house concealing rocket launchers, along with another strike on a building that triggered secondary explosions.
"We will continue to expose what Hezbollah has been doing for the past 20 years," Hagari stated. "They have transformed thousands of civilian homes across southern Lebanon, and beyond, into terror strongholds, effectively turning southern Lebanon into a combat zone."
Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant criticised the United Nations on Tuesday, accusing it of failing to meet its responsibilities in stopping Hezbollah's rocket attacks on Israel.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gallant responded to remarks made by UN Secretary General António Guterres, who had warned that Lebanon was at risk of becoming another Gaza, describing the crisis as a "non-stop nightmare" with the potential to destabilise the entire region.
Gallant stated that Hezbollah had "taken Lebanon hostage" and pointed to the UN resolution calling for the disarmament of the militant group. He added that the UN is neither acknowledging Hezbollah's actions nor fulfilling its key duty of preventing attacks and enforcing resolution 1701.
Lebanon's Health Minister, Firass Abiad , told Al Jazeera Mubasher TV on Tuesday that at least 569 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon the previous day. The death toll includes 50 children and 94 women.
Hezbollah in a statement says it targeted Israel's Atlit navy base south of Haifa with drones. (Reuters)
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant announced on Tuesday that Israel will persist with its strikes on Iran-backed Hezbollah targets in Lebanon until the objective of securing the safe return of northern Israeli residents is met. Speaking to troops, Gallant confirmed that further strikes were imminent.
“Hezbollah is no longer the same force it was a week ago," Gallant stated. "It has endured significant blows to its command and control systems, its fighters, and its military capabilities. These have been devastating hits." (Reuters)
Several international airlines have announced the suspension of flights to Lebanon following the ongoing Israeli bombardment. The conflict, which began on Monday, has resulted in the tragic loss of hundreds of lives.
Emirates, based in the United Arab Emirates, has temporarily halted its flights to Beirut on Tuesday and Wednesday. Its sister airline, flydubai, has also cancelled services to the Lebanese capital during the same period.
Qatar Airways, which operates two daily flights to Beirut, has suspended its services for two days. Air France has extended the suspension of its Beirut flights until October 1, citing the ongoing security situation. Flights to and from Tel Aviv, however, have resumed normal operations.
Lufthansa, Germany's national airline, has extended the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv and Tehran until October 14, in response to the escalating tensions. EgyptAir has also announced the suspension of all flights to Beirut until the situation stabilizes.
The Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission has suspended Royal Jordanian Airlines flights to Beirut until further notice.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday called for restraint and de-escalation on the border between Lebanon and Israel, as Israel struck the Hezbollah-controlled area of the Lebanese capital for a second consecutive day.
"I call again for restraint and de-escalation at the border between Israel and Lebanon in the Middle East today. I call again for all parties to step back from the brink," Starmer said in a speech at the Labour Party's conference in Liverpool, northwest England.
--Reuters
United Nations Human Rights Office on Tuesday said it was "extremely alarmed" by sharp escalation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, news agency Reuters reported.
According to Palestinian officials, Israel’s strikes early Tuesday killed at least seven people in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis, news agency AP reported.
At least 15 others, including women and children, were injured in the strikes, they said. (AP)
On Monday, Turkish President Erdogan met the leaders of Greece, Germany, Iran, and Kuwait, as well as the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), at the UN General Assembly in New York, the Turkish Presidency said, adding he had discussed the war in Gaza in the meetings.
President Erdogan told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that steps toward peace should be taken in response to Israel's hostility, his office said, adding that the Turkish leader also told chief prosecutor Karim Khan that Israel needed to be held accountable and that an ongoing genocide case against Israel at the ICC must be concluded.
He told Khan that Netanyahu's government "did not hesitate to trample international law and human rights", and that it was under the illusion that there is no power to stop it, it added. (Reuters)
Turkey slammed Israel's recent attacks on Lebanon as "efforts to drag the region into chaos" on Monday, calling for international measures against them and a halt to support for Israel, news agency Reuters reported.
In a statement late on Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said countries that "unconditionally support Israel" were helping Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "shed blood for his political interests".
"It is imperative that all institutions responsible for maintaining international peace and security, especially the United Nations Security Council, as well as the international community, take the necessary measures without delay," it said. (Reuters)
Israel's military said on Tuesday it struck dozens of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon overnight, a day after it launched a wave of airstrikes against the Iran-backed group's sites in Lebanon, news agency Reuters reported.
Hezbollah Tuesday morning said it had attacked several Israeli military targets, including an explosives factory 60 km (37 miles) into Israel, with the Fadi series of rockets, Reuters stated.
It said it attacked the explosives factory around 4 am (0100 GMT) and the Megiddo airfield three separate times overnight. (Reuters)
The Israel-Lebanon border has seen almost daily exchanges since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7. Before Monday, the exchanges had killed around 600 people in Lebanon – mostly fighters but also about 100 civilians — and about 50 soldiers and civilians in Israel, according to news agency PTI.
It has also forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate homes near the border in both Israel and Lebanon.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah promised to retaliate for the electronic device bombings. But Hezbollah also has proved wary of further stoking the crisis. The group faces a difficult balance of stretching the rules of engagement by hitting deeper into Israel in response to its brazen attacks, while at the same time trying to avoid the kind of large-scale attacks on civilian areas that can trigger a full-scale war that it could be blamed for, PTI stated.
According to the report, Hezbollah says its attacks against Israel are in support of Hamas. Last week, Nasrallah said the barrages won't end — and Israelis won't be able to return to homes in the north — until Israel's campaign in Gaza ends. (PTI)
As the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah grabs global attention, Palestinians in Gaza wonder: What will become of their plight after nearly a year of devastating war?
They are petrified that international concern has been diverted, and that a dark possibility looms: abandonment, news agency AP reported. The families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza express the same worry.
Nezar Zaqout, one of some 1.9 million Palestinians who were forced to flee their homes since the Israel-Hamas war broke out, said he fears the fighting across the Israel-Lebanon border will overtake interest in the abysmal living conditions in Gaza and efforts to negotiate a cease-fire, AP report stated.
“We have become completely forgotten," said Zaqout, who is living in Khan Younis after fleeing from Gaza City months ago. "There is no news about us in the media.”
Palestinians fret the miserable conditions in Gaza will become permanent. (AP)
A spokeswoman for United States President Joe Biden said the administration was concerned about what’s happening between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and insisted that getting a cease-fire deal between Israel and Gaza was key to easing tensions in the region, news agency AP reported.
“It’s in everyone’s interest to resolve it quickly and diplomatically,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters travelling with Biden to New York, where he is to deliver his final address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
A State Department official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss the private diplomatic efforts, said the US and numerous other countries were keen to present an “off-ramp” for both Israel and Hezbollah to reduce tensions and prevent an all-out war, AP reported.
The US has “concrete ideas” for restoring calm that it will present to allies and partners at this week's UN General Assembly, the official told AP.
He wouldn't detail what the “concrete ideas” were because he said they had yet to be presented to allies and partners for what he termed a “stress test” for their likelihood of success. (AP)
Israel’s military chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Tuesday said Israel was preparing its “next phases” of operations against Hezbollah, and that its airstrikes were “proactive,” targeting Hezbollah infrastructure built over the past 20 years, news agency AP reported.
Halevi said the goal was to allow displaced Israelis to return to their homes in northern Israel, AP report stated.
Israel's military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, according to news agency AP, said the army will do “whatever is necessary” to push Hezbollah from Lebanon’s border with Israel.
“We are not looking for wars. We are looking to take down the threats,” he said. “We will do whatever is necessary to do to achieve this mission."Hagari said Hezbollah has launched some 9,000 rockets and drones into Israel since last October, including 250 on Monday alone.
The military said Israeli warplanes struck 1,600 Hezbollah targets Monday, destroying cruise missiles, long- and short-range rockets and attack drones. According to the spokesman, many were hidden in residential areas, showing photos of what he said were weapons concealed in private homes.
“Hezbollah has turned southern Lebanon into a war zone,” Hagari told a news conference. (AP)
Israel Monday unleashed its most widespread wave of airstrikes against hundreds of Hezbollah targets, killing 492 people, including 35 children and 58 women, and wounding 1,645 by Lebanese tallies, an AP report stated.
This marked the deadliest attack in Lebanon since 2006.
The latest attacks come amid some of the heaviest cross-border exchanges of fire in almost a year of conflict, as Israel shifts its focus to its northern border, where Hezbollah has been firing rockets into Israel in support of its ally Hamas, which is fighting a war with Israel in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a recorded message, urged Lebanese civilians to heed their calls to evacuate, ahead of its widening air campaign against Hezbollah, news agency AP reported.
âIsraelâs war is not with you. Itâs with Hezbollah. For too long, Hezbollah has been using you as human shields⦠Starting this morning, the IDF has warned you to get out of harmâs way. I urge you, take this warning seriously. Donât let Hezbollah endanger your lives and the lives of your loved ones⦠Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes,â Netanyahu said.
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