Israel Hezbollah War Live: Series of explosions heard over southern Beirut, reports AFP
Early Saturday, a series of explosions were reported in the southern suburbs of Beirut, according to AFP correspondents. This came after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders for parts of the area. The correspondents in the Lebanese capital reported hearing loud blasts, and AFP footage showed smoke rising near the airport, following a warning from Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee for residents to evacuate.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Israeli military reports sirens sounded in southern Israel
On Saturday, the Israeli military announced that sirens were activated in Ein HaShlosha and Kissuf in southern Israel.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Trump says Israel should ‘hit’ Iran’s nuclear facilities
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated on Friday that he believes Israel should target Iran’s nuclear facilities in response to the recent missile attacks from the Islamic republic. Speaking at a campaign event in North Carolina, Trump referenced a question posed to Democratic President Joe Biden earlier this week regarding Israel’s potential actions against Iran’s nuclear program. “When they asked him that question, the answer should have been, hit the nuclear first, and worry about the rest later,” Trump said.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Biden says he doesn’t know whether Israel is holding up peace deal to influence 2024 US election
President Joe Biden expressed sharp concerns to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, indicating uncertainty about whether the Israeli leader was delaying a Middle East peace agreement to sway the outcome of the 2024 US presidential election. “No administration has helped Israel more than I have. None. None. None. And I think Bibi should remember that,” he said, referring to the Israeli leader by his nickname. “And whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know, but I’m not counting on that,” he said.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Hamas confirms death of commander in Israeli strike on West Bank
Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, announced the death of its commander Zahi Yaser Oufi, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Tulkarm, along with seven other fighters. The Israeli military confirmed the attack, stating that Oufi was the head of the Hamas network in the area.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Biden warns Israel against Iran oil strikes as war fears mount
President Joe Biden urged Israel to refrain from attacking Iran’s oil facilities, emphasizing his efforts to unite the international community against the looming threat of widespread conflict in the Middle East. In a surprise appearance in the White House briefing room, he reminded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the ongoing US support for Israel as decisions about the next steps are made.
Following Biden’s remarks, oil prices saw a noticeable increase.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Here’s what Biden said on Israel-Iran conflict
“The Israelis have not concluded how or what they’re going to do in terms of a strike, that’s under discussion. I think, if I were in their shoes, I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields,” he said.
“What I know is the plan that I put together received the support of the UN Security Council, the vast majority of our allies around the world, as a way to bring this to an end. The Israelis have every right to respond to the vicious attacks on them, not just from the Iranians, but from everyone from Hezbollah, the Houthis… But the fact is that they have to be very much more careful about dealing with civilian casualties,” he added.
“There’s a lot we are doing. The main thing we can do is try to rally the rest of the world, our allies into participating like the French are, in Lebanon and other places to tamp this down. But when you have proxies as irrational as Hezbollah and the Houthis, it’s a hard thing to determine.”
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Netanyahu should remember that no administration has helped Israel more, says Biden
Meanwhile, strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities could temporarily hinder Tehran’s progress toward developing a nuclear weapon. However, since Iran’s nuclear program is dispersed across numerous sites—many of which are underground—an attack may not be entirely effective.
A significant assault on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure could lead to serious repercussions, potentially triggering a rapid effort by Iran to pursue nuclear armament. The US has indicated it would not endorse such military action by Israel.
French minister heads to Middle East, Israel amid worsening crisis
France’s Foreign Minister will head to Saudi Arabia on Friday evening, beginning a four-day trip that will end in Israel and the West Bank as Paris seeks to revive stalled diplomatic efforts in the region.
Jean-Noel Barrot will be in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan over the weekend before arriving in Israel ahead of Oct. 7 when Israel will mark a year since Palestinian Islamist group Hamas attacked the country, a French diplomatic source said.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: 180 rockets fired from Lebanon at northern Israel, says IDF
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that approximately 180 rockets were launched from Lebanon targeting northern Israel. No injuries or significant damage were reported as a result of the attacks.
Israel-Gaza War: UN condemns Israel’s ‘unlawful air strike’ on West Bank camp which killed 18
“The strike is part of a highly concerning pattern of unlawful use of force by ISF (Israeli security forces) during military-like operations in the West Bank that have caused widespread harm to Palestinians and significant damage to buildings and infrastructure,” the United Nations rights office said in a statement.
US and Britain launch airstrikes by fighter jets and ships on Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels
The US and British militaries conducted airstrikes on more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, hitting weapons systems, bases, and equipment at several locations controlled by the Iranian-backed rebels. The strikes, targeting Houthi strongholds in areas like Hodeida, Sanaa, and Dhamar, followed Houthi threats of escalating military actions against Israel and an attack on U.S. warships last week. The Houthis have launched ballistic and anti-ship missiles, as well as drones, at US vessels in the Red Sea. Despite their claim to target ships linked to Israel, many of the vessels attacked have had no direct connection to the conflict.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Hezbollah rescuers say 11 personnel killed in south Lebanon
The Islamic Health Committee, an emergency service connected to Hezbollah, reported that Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday resulted in the deaths of 11 of its rescue workers.
According to their statement, “Direct Zionist aggression on emergency teams” at the Marjayoun governmental hospital claimed the lives of seven emergency personnel. The remaining four rescue workers were killed in two separate attacks in other parts of southern Lebanon.
Israel Iran War Live: Three Lebanese hospitals suspend services amid Israeli bombing
Three hospitals in Lebanon, including one on the outskirts of Beirut’s southern suburbs, announced the suspension of services on Friday due to Israeli bombardments.
Sainte Therese Hospital reported significant damage after Israeli airstrikes near its location, while hospitals in South Lebanon, Mais al-Jabal and Marjayoun, also ceased operations. Marjayoun’s hospital director confirmed that paramedics were killed in an Israeli strike, further exacerbating staff shortages.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for international pressure on Israel to allow rescue teams to reach bombed areas after over 40 emergency personnel were killed in recent days. Israel has intensified bombardments in South Lebanon in response to Hezbollah, with over 1,110 people killed and up to one million displaced in the region.
Hassan Nasrallah’s body to be exhumed? Hezbollah shares big update amid Israeli attacks
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Israel Hamas war: IDF confirms strike in Tulkarem killed seven terror operatives, including senior Hamas Commanders
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that at least seven terror operatives were killed during an airstrike in Tulkarem, West Bank, which targeted Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi, a senior Hamas commander involved in planning an imminent attack. The Palestinian Authority reported 18 deaths as quoted by Times of Israel, while the IDF stated that those killed include members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, among them Ghaith Radwan, a top Islamic Jihad commander. Some reports identified Radwan as part of Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades.
Israel-Gaza War: Israeli bombardment kills 29 people in Gaza, militants renew rocket fire into Israel
Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Friday killed at least 29 Palestinians, including civilians in Gaza City and Khan Younis. These strikes were in response to renewed rocket fire from Gaza militants, despite Israel’s ongoing year-long offensive in the region. The Israeli military reported that Hamas-led factions are still launching rockets, with sirens sounding in southern Israel for the first time in two months. One rocket was intercepted by Israeli air defenses.
Israel claims the strikes target Hamas combatants using residential areas as cover, while Hamas denies this. The Gaza war, triggered by Hamas’ deadly cross-border attack in October 2023, has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million population and resulted in over 41,800 deaths. Efforts led by the US to secure a ceasefire have so far failed, as Israel insists the conflict can only end with the eradication of Hamas.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: MEA says India doesn’t have evacuation process going on amid Middle-East tensions, but ‘if families …’
India has not initiated an evacuation process from Israel, Iran, and other Middle Eastern countries amid ongoing tensions, but flights remain available for those wishing to return. The Indian government emphasises restraint and civilian protection, and seeks to prevent a wider regional conflict.
Israel Iran War Live: Erdogan lashes out at Israel for attack on UN chief
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey criticised Israel for its actions towards the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Erdogan stated that Israel “is shamelessly challenging UN Secretary-General Guterres” by declaring him “persona non grata” for not immediately denouncing Iran’s ballistic missile attack.
The Turkish leader made these remarks while addressing a gathering at a defense technology exhibition in Adana, a southern province of Turkey. He emphasised that the international community, consisting of “196 countries in the world will stand by the UN secretary-general” in opposition to Israel’s stance.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Two Israeli soldiers killed in combat in northern Israel, military says
Israel’s military released a statement confirming the deaths of two soldiers from the Golani Brigade during a combat operation in northern Israel. The statement also mentioned that two additional soldiers suffered severe injuries in the same incident.
The identities of the fallen and wounded soldiers were not immediately disclosed. The Golani Brigade is known for its elite infantry units and has a long history of involvement in Israel’s military operations.
Israel Iran War Live: Israeli army says more than 2,000 military sites hit during four-day south Lebanon operation
The Israeli military announced on Friday that its troops had targeted over 2,000 locations during a four-day operation in southern Lebanon, focusing on positions held by Hezbollah.
“Over 2,000 military targets have been struck,” including militants, military buildings, weapons and more, the Israeli military said in a statement.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Dutch military plane lands in Beirut to pick up civilians fleeing Lebanon
A military transport aircraft from the Netherlands touched down in Beirut during the early hours of Friday afternoon. The purpose of the flight was to evacuate Dutch citizens who were fleeing Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group.
The Dutch foreign ministry referred to the flight as a repatriation mission, and a significant number of individuals are anticipated to board the A330 aircraft.
According to the defense ministry, if there were any unoccupied seats on the plane, citizens from other nations could also be evacuated from Beirut.
In a separate development, the Japanese foreign ministry reported that 11 Japanese and 4 French citizens were successfully evacuated from Lebanon, arriving safely in Jordan on Friday.
The current situation in Lebanon has escalated since Tuesday when Israeli ground forces entered the country, engaging in clashes with Hezbollah militants along a narrow strip near the border. Additionally, Israeli jets have been conducting airstrikes within Lebanon, including a strike on Friday that severed a primary highway connecting Lebanon and Syria.
Israel Iran War Live: UN refugee agency says main Lebanon-Syria crossing closed to vehicles
Israeli airstrikes near the Masnaa-Jdaidit Yabws border crossing between Lebanon and Syria have halted traffic and closed the main route for those fleeing Lebanon into Syria, according to the UNHCR. While three other border crossings remain open, the closure affects a crucial thoroughfare. UNHCR spokeswoman Rula Amin highlighted that up to 1 million people have fled across Lebanon, with over 185,000 entering Syria. In Lebanon, nearly 900 government-established shelters are full, forcing many people, including children, to sleep outdoors. Sixty percent of those crossing into Syria are children or adolescents, some unaccompanied.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Israeli military says it has killed around 250 Hezbollah fighters in ground operation
The Israeli military spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, announced on Friday that since the commencement of the ground operation in Lebanon earlier this week, approximately 250 Hezbollah fighters have been killed, including several battalion and company commanders, according to their estimates.
Shoshani also mentioned that the military is currently evaluating the extent of the damage inflicted by the airstrikes conducted on Thursday night in southern Beirut. He said, “The military was still assessing the damage caused by airstrikes in southern Beirut on Thursday night, which he said targeted Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters.”
Iran’s foreign minister vows harsh retaliation if Israel strikes Iran in response to missile barrage
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, issued a stern warning to Israel during his visit to Beirut on Friday. The warning came in the wake of Iran’s launch of at least 180 missiles into Israel earlier this week, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
During his meeting with Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Araghchi emphasized that any attack by Israel on Iran would be met with a severe response. “If the Israeli entity takes any step or measure against us, our retaliation will be stronger than the previous one,” he stated, underlining Iran’s readiness to counter any aggressive actions.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Israeli Army destroys 3.5-kilometer smuggling tunnel from Syria to Lebanon
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have reported conducting airstrikes on a tunnel spanning 3.5 kilometers between Lebanon and Syria. According to the military quoted by the Times of Israel, the tunnel was utilised by Hezbollah’s Unit 4400 to transport and smuggle weapons from Iran into Lebanon.
The airstrike resulted in the destruction of the tunnel, which served as a conduit and storage facility for the weapons. Additionally, the surrounding infrastructure, including buildings and weapon depots, was also targeted and destroyed in the attack.
In a separate incident, the IDF targeted “infrastructure” at the Masnaa Border Crossing between Lebanon and Syria. This strike was prompted by intelligence indicating attempts to deliver Iranian weapons to Hezbollah through this route.
The IDF has intensified its efforts to prevent the delivery of weapons from Iran to Hezbollah via Syria. The recent killing of the commander of Hezbollah’s Unit 4400 in an airstrike on Beirut on Tuesday underscores the ongoing conflict and the IDF’s determination to disrupt the weapons supply chain.
Israel Iran War Live: Lebanon receives first UN aid plane since Israel escalation
A UN airlift delivered 30 metric tonnes of medical supplies to Beirut, Lebanon, marking the first aid shipment since the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Hezbollah. The supplies, including trauma and surgical kits, are sufficient to treat tens of thousands of people. More flights are expected to deliver additional trauma, cholera, and mental health supplies. Israeli strikes since September 23 have killed over 1,100 people and displaced more than one million in Lebanon. The aid was organized by the WHO and UNHCR, with funding from the UAE, and is crucial for hospitals treating casualties.
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Israeli military says for first time in two months, sirens sound in the south
The Israeli military reported that sirens were heard in southern Israel, close to the Gaza strip, for the first time in almost two months. “Almost a year after Oct. 7, Hamas is still threatening our civilians with their terrorism and we will continue operating against them,” the army added in a post on X.
‘Israel will not last long’: Top quotes from Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei’s rare sermon
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei defended Hamas’ attacks on Israel as legal and accused the US and its allies of supporting Israel for energy interests. He vowed continued resistance in the Middle East and emphasized regional solidarity. Khamenei honored the late Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah, urging Hezbollah youth to continue his mission.
Tensions between Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon have escalated with renewed hostilities. For the first time in nearly two months, two rockets were launched from Gaza into Israel, one of which was intercepted by the Iron Dome while the other landed near a kibbutz.
Meanwhile, air raid sirens were sounded in southern Israel as Iran launched rockets soon after Iran’s supreme leader’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sermon . Khamenei delivered a rare sermon, during which he defended Hezbollah and Hamas’ actions against Israel, calling them “legal and legitimate,” and reaffirmed Iran’s support for resistance movements in Lebanon and Gaza.
Israel has intensified its military operations in Lebanon, targeting a 3.5-kilometer smuggling tunnel used by Hezbollah to transport weapons from Iran and striking Hezbollah infrastructure at the Masnaa Border Crossing. These actions have escalated the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, resulting in numerous casualties, especially in southern Lebanon and Beirut. Later, it said that it killed around 250 Hezbollah fighters in ground operations
Amid the violence, a UN aid plane delivered 30 metric tonnes of medical supplies to Beirut, marking the first shipment since the conflict’s recent escalation.
Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, was buried in a private ceremony due to security concerns, as per AFP sources.
In India, ministry of external affairs expressed concern over the escalating violence, calling for restraint from all parties.
Meanwhile, UNIFIL peacekeepers remain stationed in southern Lebanon, attempting to maintain communication channels between Israel and Lebanon amid rising conflict.