Israel-Iran latest: Beirut rocked by huge explosions with blast close to airport as civilians flee

Beirut has been rocked by huge explosions with a Lebanese government source claiming least one Israeli strike had come close to the city’s airport.

Civilians have been fleeing amid the series of massive blasts in Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday night, with the country’s state-run National News Agency reporting there were more than 10 consecutive airstrikes.

Witnesses reported seeing smoke near Beirut’s international airport while a source in Lebanon’s ministry of transport and public works said an Israeli strike had come down outside the perimeter early on Friday.

Citing an Israeli source, news website Axios reported that senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, who is widely regarded as the heir of killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was a target of the blasts.

Earlier, at least nine people were killed and 14 wounded after Israel launched an airstrike on Beirut, targeting a building near the parliament, in what was the closest an air assault had come to the central downtown district.

The attack comes after Israel launched a ground operation in Lebanon on Monday night, which was followed by a missile offensive by Iran on Israel on Tuesday night. US President Joe Biden said on Thursday he would not back Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities.

Key Points

• Israeli strike hits outside perimeter of Beirut airport, transport ministry source says

• Israeli strike on Beirut targets senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, Axios reporter says

• Biden says US ‘discussing’ Israeli oil field strikes

• Death toll from strike on Beirut rises to nine

• Israeli millitary says it ‘eliminated’ head of Hamas government in Gaza

• Israel fires at Lebanese army post and Lebanese forces ‘fire back for first time’

US backs Israel's operations in Lebanon despite risk of expanding conflict

Friday 4 October 2024 00:00 , Tara Cobham

The Biden administration believes it is appropriate for Israel to continue with its ground and air attacks on Hezbollah for now, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Thursday, even as he acknowledged the risk of the operation in Lebanon expanding beyond Israel's current aims.

Israel sent troops into southern Lebanon on Tuesday after two weeks of intense airstrikes in a worsening conflict that has drawn in Iran and risks sucking in the United States.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Miller said the nature of all conflicts was "fluid" and "unpredictable" and therefore it was impossible to say how long it would take Israel to achieve its stated goal of clearing Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, allowing it to return Israelis displaced from their homes across the border by months of rocket fire.

"We do ultimately want to see a ceasefire and diplomatic resolution, but we do think it's appropriate that Israel, at this point, is bringing terrorists to justice," Miller said.

Washington has repeatedly warned Israel against escalating the conflict, but a three-week ceasefire proposal put forward by the US and other countries last week was quickly dismissed by Israel in favor of intensified operations.

More than 1.2 million Lebanese have been displaced by Israeli attacks, and nearly 2,000 people have been killed since the start of the Israeli attacks on Lebanon over the last year, most of them in the past two weeks, Lebanese authorities said.

The United States has continued to provide Israel with arms despite tensions during the past year over the conduct of its war in Gaza, which started when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on 7 October, 2023.

Washington has raised concerns about the civilian toll of that conflict and at times urged Israel to restrain its forces to calm international outrage.

Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill 37 in past 24 hours, health ministry says

Thursday 3 October 2024 23:20 , Tara Cobham

Israeli strikes on Lebanon have left 37 people dead and 151 wounded in the past 24 hours, the Lebanese health ministry said in a statement early on Friday.

Israeli strike on Beirut targets senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, Axios reporter says

Thursday 3 October 2024 23:18 , Tara Cobham

An Israeli strike on Beirut targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said in a post on social media platform X early on Friday, citing an Israeli source.

Safieddine is the man widely regarded as the heir of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Reuters could not confirm the information in the social media post and there was no immediate official statement from any side.

Pentagon says it's talking to Israel about response to Iran's attack

Thursday 3 October 2024 23:15 , Tara Cobham

The Pentagon said on Thursday that it was in discussions with Israeli officials about their possible response to Iran's missile attack earlier this week but declined to offer more details on those talks.

"We are certainly talking to them about their response, but what their response might be, I'm just not going to speculate further on. But we do continue to engage with them," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh.

Israeli military says it killed head of Hamas network in West Bank's Tulkarm

Thursday 3 October 2024 22:41 , Tara Cobham

The Israeli military said early on Friday it killed the head of the Hamas network in a strike on West Bank's Tulkarm.

In a statement, the military identified the Hamas operative as Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi.

Israeli strike hits outside perimeter of Beirut airport, transport ministry source says

Thursday 3 October 2024 22:31 , Tara Cobham

At least one Israeli strike hit outside the perimeter of Beirut's international airport early on Friday, according to a source in Lebanon's ministry of transport and public works.

A series of loud explosions were heard near Lebanon's Beirut airport, with smoke seen nearby after jets were heard overhead, Reuters witnesses said.

Israel’s ambassador to UN: ‘We have a lot of options with Iran'

Thursday 3 October 2024 22:30 , Tara Cobham

Israel has a lot of options when it comes to striking back at Iran in response to its missile attacks earlier this week, the country's ambassador to the United Nations told CNN on Thursday.

"We have a lot of options ... so it's (up to) us to decide where and when we want to attack, but they are vulnerable. They know that," said Danny Danon.

G7 statement renews calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Thursday 3 October 2024 21:45 , Tara Cobham

The G7 statement renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the leaders vowed to "continue to be in close contact with all actors" to seek to restore peace and stability.

It added: "We are also deeply concerned about the situation in Lebanon. We recall the need for a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible to create space for a diplomatic solution along the Blue Line, consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

"This is the only path to durably de-escalate tensions, stabilise the Israel-Lebanon border, fully restore the sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability of Lebanon, and return displaced citizens to their homes with safety and security on both sides.

"We urge all actors to protect civilian populations. We are committed to providing humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of civilians in Lebanon."

At least 14 killed in Israeli strike on Tulkarm in West Bank, Palestinian Health ministry says

Thursday 3 October 2024 21:39 , Tara Cobham

At least 14 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on the Tulkarm refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said on Thursday.

The Israeli military earlier said in a statement that it had conducted a strike on Tulkarm, without providing more details.

The Palestinian Red Crescent, separately, said that at least five people were killed in the strike on Tulkarm.

Violence has surged in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, with almost daily sweeps by Israeli forces that have involved thousands of arrests and regular gunbattles between security forces and Palestinian fighters.

Israeli military conducts strike on Tulkarm in Occupied West Bank, statement says

Thursday 3 October 2024 21:01 , Tara Cobham

The Israeli military said in a statement on Thursday that it has conducted a strike on the West Bank city of Tulkarm.

G7 leaders warn of ‘dangerous cycle of attacks’ leading to ‘uncontrollable escalation’ in Middle East

Thursday 3 October 2024 20:57 , Tara Cobham

G7 leaders warned of a "dangerous cycle of attacks" leading to "uncontrollable escalation" in the Middle East as conflict spirals in the region.

In a joint statement released on Thursday, they expressed "deep concern" about the deteriorating situation and called for a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.

"We, the leaders of the G7, express deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and condemn in the strongest terms Iran's direct military attack against Israel, which constitutes a serious threat to regional stability," it said.

"We unequivocally reiterate our commitment to the security of Israel. Iran's seriously destabilising actions throughout the Middle East through terrorist proxies and armed groups - including the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas - as well as Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq, must stop. Yesterday we discussed co-ordinated efforts and actions to avoid escalation in the area.

"A dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks fuelling uncontrollable escalation in the Middle East, which is in no-one's interest. Therefore, we call on all regional players to act responsibly and with restraint. We encourage all parties to engage constructively to de-escalate the current tensions. International humanitarian law must be respected."

As he pursues a fight on five fronts, does Netanyahu even want peace?

Thursday 3 October 2024 20:30 , Tara Cobham

One year on from the invasion led by Hamas terrorists that has been called the greatest trauma in Israel’s history, in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 taken hostage, Benjamin Netanyahu’s government claims sudden success.

For much of the past year, it has been accused by Israelis of failing to defeat Hamas, capture its leaders or return the hostages. The 7 October attacks left the reputation of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the intelligence agencies in tatters. Israel’s subsequent assault on Gaza, which has led to the deaths of more than 40,000 Palestinians, has shredded its international reputation.

In just two weeks, Israel has killed the Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, destroyed the communications network of the group, and now, sent forces into southern Lebanon. Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate for Iran’s missile strikes on 1 October (which were, in turn, retaliation for the assassination of Nasrallah).

Bronwen Maddox writes:

As he pursues a fight on five fronts, does Netanyahu even want peace?

Israel orders evacuation of Lebanese communities north of UN buffer zone

Thursday 3 October 2024 19:45 , Tara Cobham

The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of villages and towns in southern Lebanon that are north of a United Nations-declared buffer zone established after the 2006 war.

The warnings issued on Thursday signalled a possible broadening of Israel's incursion into southern Lebanon, which until now has been confined to areas close to the border.

Israel has told people to leave Nabatieh, a provincial capital, and other communities north of the Litani River, which formed the northern edge of the border zone established by the UN Security Council after the 2006 war in a resolution that both sides accuse the other of violating.

Just after the warning, the Lebanese Red Cross said an Israeli strike wounded four of its paramedics and killed a Lebanese army soldier as they were evacuating wounded people from the south.

It says the convoy near the village of Taybeh, which was accompanied by Lebanese troops, was targeted on Thursday despite co-ordinating its movements with UN peacekeepers.

It came after Lebanon's health ministry has said that at least nine people had been killed in an Israeli strike in central Beirut.

It also said it is running DNA tests on remains they have obtained to identify others.

Civilians bear brunt in 'catastrophic' Lebanon conflict, UN official says

Thursday 3 October 2024 19:05 , Tara Cobham

Civilians are bearing the brunt of a "truly catastrophic" situation in Lebanon, a senior UN official said, urging respect for the rules of war nearly two weeks since Israel launched a major offensive against the armed group Hezbollah.

With around 1 million people in Lebanon impacted, Imran Riza, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, said the pace of displacement since Sept. 23 had exceeded worst case scenarios, and too much damage was being done to civilian infrastructure.

"What we saw from 23 September on is truly catastrophic," Riza said in an interview with Reuters on Thursday. He was referring to the day when Israel dramatically ramped up airstrikes in Lebanon, killing more than 500 people in a single day, according to Lebanese government figures.

"The level of trauma, the level of fear amongst the population, has been extreme," he said.

Israel says its campaign against the heavily armed, Iran-backed Hezbollah aims to secure the return home of Israelis evacuated from areas near the Lebanese border as a result of nearly a year of Hezbollah fire into northern Israel.

The Lebanese government says around 1.2 million people have been displaced by Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley, the southern suburbs of Beirut and other parts of the country. Some have been killed in Israeli strikes after having been displaced.

"You've got people being displaced from one place to another, thinking they were going to a safe place, and then that being struck," Riza said.

Riza said 97 medical and emergency workers had been killed - the majority of them in the last 10 days. There has been too much damage to civilian infrastructure, and civilians have been "bearing the great brunt of what's been going on", he said.

He noted that international humanitarian law requires that humanitarians be allowed to access people in need, and that civilian infrastructure and water systems be protected.

"This is what we call for when we're saying respect the rules of war in this," he said. "Unfortunately, we are seeing a situation where we have to go back to everybody and advocate for these basics in terms of protecting civilians."

Israeli soldier killed in combat in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, Israeli military says

Thursday 3 October 2024 18:17 , Tara Cobham

An Israeli soldier was killed in combat in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, the Israeli military has said.

Full story: Israeli strikes on Beirut kill at least nine as military calls for more Lebanon evacuations

Thursday 3 October 2024 18:15 , Tara Cobham

Strikes by Israel on Beirut have killed at least nine as the military called on citizens in southern Lebanon to evacuate more than 20 more towns in a sign of a potential expansion of its ground and air assault on Hezbollah.

The latest warnings took the number of southern towns subject to evacuation calls to 70 and included the provincial capital Nabatieh, suggesting another Israeli military operation was imminent, further stoking fears of an all-out regional war.

Into Thursday, Israel bombed central Beirut in an attack the Lebanese health ministry said killed nine people. A Hezbollah-linked civil defence group said seven of its staff, including two medics, were killed in the Beirut attack. In response, Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy accused Israel of a possible breach of humanitarian lae: “Not only civilians are victims of attacks, including in densely populated areas, but they are deprived of emergency care. I condemn this violation of IHL [international humanitarian law],” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Israel denies all such accusations.

Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew and International Editor Chris Stevenson report:

Israeli strikes on Beirut kill 9 as military calls for more Lebanon evacuations

Russian deputy foreign minister and Israeli envoy discuss situation in Middle East in Moscow

Thursday 3 October 2024 17:40 , Tara Cobham

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov held a meeting with the Israeli envoy to Moscow Simona Halperin on Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said Bogdanov and Halperin discussed the situation in the Middle East, including Gaza and Lebanon, but provided no details.

Islamic Resistance in Iraq says it attacked target in southern Israel

Thursday 3 October 2024 17:34 , Tara Cobham

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has said it has attacked a target in southern Israel in a statement issued on Thursday.

Israeli military says it intercepts drone in southern Israel

Thursday 3 October 2024 17:20 , Tara Cobham

The Israeli military has said it has intercepted a drone in southern Israel.

It added that no injuries have been reported.

In pictures: Israel launches airstrikes on Lebanon

Thursday 3 October 2024 17:00 , Tara Cobham

Watch: Girl, 9, calls for end to violence from hospital bed in Lebanon

Thursday 3 October 2024 16:40 , Tara Cobham

Girl, 9, calls for end to violence from hospital bed in Lebanon

Biden says US ‘discussing’ Israeli oil field strikes

Thursday 3 October 2024 16:33 , Tara Cobham

US President Joe Biden has said “we are discussing that” when asked whether he would support Israel striking Iran’s oil facilities.

Reporters put the question to Biden as he left the White House on Thursday, with the US president appearing to hesitate at the end of his answer.

The BBC reports Biden’s words caused the price of crude oil to surge 5 per cent to $77 a barrel.

Dozens of health workers killed in Lebanon over past day, WHO says

Thursday 3 October 2024 16:20 , Tara Cobham

At least 28 on-duty medics have been killed in the past 24 hours in Lebanon, where Israel has launched airstrikes and sent troops to fight Hezbollah in an escalating conflict, the World Health Organization chief said on Thursday.

"Many (other) health workers are not reporting to duty and fled the areas where they work due to bombardments," Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told an online press briefing, calling for stronger protections for health workers.

"This is severely limiting the provision of mass trauma management and continuity of health services," he said.

The global health agency will not be able to deliver a large planned shipment of trauma and medical supplies to the country on Friday due to flight restrictions, he added.

WHO's representative in Lebanon Dr Abdinasir Abubakar told the briefing that all of the healthcare workers killed in the past day had been on duty, helping with the wounded.

A total of nearly 2,000 people have been killed, including 127 children, and 9,384 injured since the start of Israeli attacks on Lebanon over the last year, the country's health ministry said.

"Hospitals have been already evacuated. I think what I can say for now is the capacity for mass casualty management exists, but it's just a matter of time until the system actually reaches its limit," said the WHO's Abubakar.

Israel fires at Lebanese army post and Lebanese forces ‘fire back for first time’

Thursday 3 October 2024 16:08 , Tara Cobham

Israel has fired at a Lebanese army post in southern Lebanon, with Lebanese forces reportedly firing back for the first time.

The Israeli fire in the town of Bint Jbeil on Thursday killed a Lebanese soldier, raising to two the number of members of the Lebanese military killed.

The Telegraph reported a military official told AFP this was the Lebanese army’s first response to Israeli fire since last October and came about because the post was “directly” hit.

The Lebanese army said in a statement that troops "open fire at the source of" the attack. It did not elaborate.

A Lebanese security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of regulations, said that the army post was hit by artillery fire.

Rockets, missiles and the Iron Dome: who calls the shots in the Middle East?

Thursday 3 October 2024 16:00 , Holly Evans

Escalating retaliatory strikes signify the severity of the situation between Israel and Iran. Tuesday’s strike was more aggressive than the April response by Iran to the Israeli strike on their consulate in Damascus, which killed Mohammed Zahedi, the IRGC commander of the Quds Force.

April’s attack consisted of 300 drones, which were largely neutralised by Israel’s Iron Dome, the joint US-Israeli aerial protection system that shoots down rockets. Tuesday night’s attack consisted of approximately 180 ballistic missiles delivering a more devastating payload, albeit countered in part by the Iron Dome.

Even Iran could not have anticipated the vehemence with which Israel would respond to the 7 October attacks. Israel’s latest switch to focus on the systematic dismantling of Hezbollah’s senior leadership in a single week has left Iran’s quest for regional hegemonic control in tatters. But whilst Hezbollah’s leadership is wounded, the force should not be underestimated.

Read the full analysis from Mike Crofts here:

Rockets, missiles and the Iron Dome: who calls the shots in the Middle East?

Hezbollah says it targeted Israeli military industries base in Haifa Bay

Thursday 3 October 2024 15:49 , Tara Cobham

Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah group said on Thursday it targeted Israel‘s “Sakhnin base” for military industries in Haifa Bay with a salvo of rockets.

Israeli military says it has struck 200 Hezbollah targets

Thursday 3 October 2024 15:40 , Holly Evans

The Israeli military has said that it had struck around 200 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities and observation posts, killing at least 15 Hezbollah fighters.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said its fighters detonated a roadside bomb when Israeli forces entered the Lebanese border village of Maroun el-Ras, kiling and wounding soldiers. It was not possible to independently confirm the claims made by either side.So far, ground clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants have been confined to a narrow strip along the border. But hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes, as Israel has warned people to evacuate from dozens of villages and towns in the south.

Black smoke rises from Lebanon's Beirut skyline

Thursday 3 October 2024 15:20 , Holly Evans

UAE flight delays: How is the unfolding Middle East conflict affecting international flights?

Thursday 3 October 2024 15:05 , Holly Evans

The late afternoon Emirates flight from London Heathrow to Dubai has an advertised connection to Bangkok of just one hour. Normally 60 minutes is sufficient for extricating passengers (and, separately, their checked baggage) from the world’s biggest passenger plane, the A380, and enabling them to board another SuperJumbo at a different gate at the airport that handles more international travellers than any in the world, all in the early hours of the morning.

But the remarkable, unrelenting choreography that allows millions of passengers to connect every day at Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and many other hubs is under severe strain as a result of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.

Read the full article here:

UAE flight delays: How is the Middle East conflict affecting international flights?

Ministers of Gulf states and Iran discuss de-escalation, say sources

Thursday 3 October 2024 14:50 , Holly Evans

Ministers from Gulf Arab states and Iran attending a meeting of Asian nations hosted by Qatar have discussed de-escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran, three sources told Reuters on Thursday.

The Gulf Arab states sought to reassure Iran of their neutrality in the conflict on the back of concerns that a wider escalation in violence could threaten Gulf oil facilities, two of the sources said.

What are Israel and Iran’s attack and defence capabilities?

Thursday 3 October 2024 14:38 , Holly Evans

Fears are rising of an all-out war across the Middle East in the wake of lran launching almost 200 ballistic missiles in an attack on Israel, marking a major escalation in the conflict between the two bitter enemies.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said the missiles were launched in response to Israeli military troops military campaign against the Tehran-backed Hezbollah, including a ground invasion into Lebanon..

On 17 September, a series of exploding device attacks saw Hezbollah walkie talkies and pagers detonate, injuring more than 2,300 people and leading to a major escalation between the two countries.

Read the full article here:

What are Israel and Iran’s attack and defence capabilities?

Nearly 2,000 people killed in Lebanon, says health minister

Thursday 3 October 2024 14:29 , Holly Evans

A total of 1,974 people, including 127 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon in the last year, the Lebanese health minister has said.

Some 9,384 have been injured, Firass Abiad added.

Border crossings under monitoring in Lebanon

Thursday 3 October 2024 13:59 , Holly Evans

Lebanon’s transport minister Ali Hamieh said on Thursday has said that all border crossings were under government monitoring.

This follows Israeli accusations that Hezbollah was smuggling weapons from Syria through the Masnaa border crossing.

Civilians north of UN buffer zone in southern Lebanon urged to evacuate

Thursday 3 October 2024 13:33 , Holly Evans

The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of villages and towns in southern Lebanon that are north of a United Nations-declared buffer zone established after the 2006 war.

The warnings issued on Thursday signalled a possible broadening of Israel’s incursion, which until now has been confined to areas close to the border.

Israel has told people to leave Nabatieh, a provincial capital, and other communities north of the Litani River. This area formed the northern edge of the border zone established by the UN Security Council after the 2006 war.

Just after the warning, the Lebanese Red Cross said an Israeli strike wounded four of its paramedics and killed a Lebanese army soldier as they were evacuating wounded people from the south.

It says the convoy near the village of Taybeh, which was accompanied by Lebanese troops, was targeted on Thursday despite co-ordinating its movements with UN peacekeepers.

Israel kill Hamas militant previously jailed for lynching Israeli reservists

Thursday 3 October 2024 13:18 , Holly Evans

Israel has killed Abdel-Aziz Salha, a West Bank Hamas militant who had been jailed for life for taking part in the lynching of two Israeli reservists in Ramallah in 2000 but later deported to Gaza in a prisoner swap, Hamas media and medics said.

Salha was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a tent inside Al-Aklouk School, which shelters displaced Palestinians, in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip earlier on Thursday, medics said.

There was no immediate Israeli comment on Salha’s death or whether he had been deliberately targeted.

Hezbollah says it has detonated bomb against IDF

Thursday 3 October 2024 12:49 , Holly Evans

Militant group Hezbollah says it has detonated a bomb against Israeli forces infiltrating a southern Lebanese village.

Iran rejects G7 statement on Iran's attack against Israel as 'biased'

Thursday 3 October 2024 12:46 , Holly Evans

Iran has accused the G7 of being “biased and irresponsible” after the group condemned its attack on Israel, a foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Iran launched more than 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday in what it said was retaliation for the killings of militant leaders and aggression in Gaza and Lebanon.

Abbas Nilforoushan, a deputy commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was also killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut a week ago that killed Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah.

In a statement on Wednesday, Group of Seven (G7) leaders condemned Tehran’s attack. They expressed “strong concern” over the crisis in the Middle East but said a diplomatic solution was still viable and a region-wide conflict was in no one’s interest.

Watch: British man takes shelter as air-raid sirens sound near Tel Aviv in Israel

Thursday 3 October 2024 23:15 , Tara Cobham

British man takes shelter as air-raid sirens sound near Tel Aviv in Israel

Russia begins evacuating citizens from Lebanon

Thursday 3 October 2024 12:22 , Holly Evans

Russia has started evacuating citizens from Lebanon and a special flight left Beirut on Thursday with the family members of Russian diplomats, Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov said.

About 60 people will arrive in Russia from Lebanon on Thursday, his ministry said.

“The evacuation is carried out on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin,” the ministry said.

Russia often also helps evacuate citizens from other former Soviet republics in such situations.

Second evacuation flight scheduled for Thursday afternoon

Thursday 3 October 2024 11:57 , Simon Calder

A second UK government evacuation flight is on its way to Beirut. Up to 180 British citizens and their dependents are likely to board the charter jet to Birmingham via Bucharest.

Flight DN9999 will repeat the pattern of Wednesday’s first flight, and uses the same plane, belonging to the Romanian airline, Dan Air. It is a 15-year-old Airbus A320 – a standard low-cost jet equipped with 180 seats. After an overnight stop in Birmingham, it is heading back empty nonstop to Beirut.

On Thursday afternoon it is scheduled to depart from Beirut at 3.40pm, Lebanese time, with another technical stop at Bucharest to refuel and change crew.

More evacuation flights are planned. The government says they “will continue for as long as the security situation allows”.

Death toll from Beirut strike rises to nine

Thursday 3 October 2024 11:45 , Holly Evans

Lebanon’s health ministry have said that at least nine people were killed in an Israeli strike in central Beirut.

DNA tests on remains are currently ongoing to identify those killed, while people were injured in the strike on an amartment building. Hezbollah said that seven paramedics and rescue workers from its medical arm the Islamic Health Committee were killed in the strike that hit its office in Bashoura.

Prior to the attack, the ministry said that 55 people were killed and 156 others were wounded in Israeli strikes over Lebanon on Wednesday.

Israeli military warns more southern Lebanon residents to evacuate

Thursday 3 October 2024 11:29 , Holly Evans

The Israeli military have warned citizens in 25 more areas in southern Lebanon to evacuate and head north.

In a new update on social media, the Israel Defence Forces’ Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee urged civilians to “save your lives”.

Netanyahu knows Western allies can do little about his Lebanon invasion – it is up to him how far this goes

Thursday 3 October 2024 11:25 , Holly Evans

Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the UN General Assembly in New York last Friday was a bombastic defence of Israel’s war in Gaza and the cross-border exchanges of fire with Hezbollah since 7 October.

The starkest message Netanyahu wanted to send was to Iran, Israel’s bitter enemy and supporter of both Hamas and Hezbollah. The Israeli leader warned that there was nowhere in Iran or across the Middle East at large that Israel’s military could not reach. It was a message that he would repeat on Monday just hours ahead of his forces crossing Israel’s northern border – the beginning of the first invasion into Lebanon since the 2006 war with Hezbollah.

But that UN speech would have sent an equally stark message to Washington. Less than 48 hours before his address, US officials were briefing that America, alongside a number of other allies, had thrashed out a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire. Washington felt secure enough to go public with it, with officials suggesting it would be a case of when, not if, both Israel and Hezbollah signed on.

Read the full analysis here:

Netanyahu knows Western allies can do little about his Lebanon invasion

UK government charters more flights to help UK nationals

Thursday 3 October 2024 11:15 , Holly Evans

The UK government have chartered more flights to help UK nationals leave Lebanon, a day after an evacuation flight left Beirut.

The government said in a statement that the flights will continue as “long as the security situation allows” and that it’s working to increase capacity on commercial flights for British nationals.

Defence secretary John Healey visited a British military base on Cyprus on Wednesday, where around 700 troops, Foreign Office staff and Border Force officers have been deployed to help with evacuation plans.

British nationals and their spouses, partners and children under the age of 18 are eligible. Dependents who aren’t British nationals will need a valid visa granting a maximum six-month stay in the U.K.

Watch live: Lebanese refugees fleeing Israeli strikes arrive in Turkey

Thursday 3 October 2024 11:03 , Holly Evans

Watch live: Lebanese refugees fleeing Israeli strikes arrive in Turkey

At least 41,788 killed in Gaza, says health ministry

Thursday 3 October 2024 10:52 , Holly Evans

At least 41,788 Palestinians have been killed and another 96,794 wounded by Israeli military action in Gaza since Oct. 7, the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry have said.

Ninety-nine Palestinians have been killed and 169 wounded in the past 24 hours, the ministry said in a statement.

Medics said scores of people were killed a day before in an Israeli strike that hit a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City, while another struck the Al-Amal Orphan Society, which also houses displaced persons.

Consultant to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard killed in Damascus

Thursday 3 October 2024 10:42 , Holly Evans

A consultant working for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has died after an Israeli air attack on the Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday, Iranian media has reported.

Iran’s Student News Network identified the advister as Majid Divani.

The attack appeared to be the same as one reported by Syrian state media, which said on Tuesday that three civilians were killed and nine others injured in the strike.

Syrian air defences intercepted “hostile targets” over the vicinity of Damascus three times in a row in one night, following explosions that were heard in the capital, state media said on Tuesday.

When asked about the reported attack, the Israeli military said on Tuesday that it does not comment on foreign media reports.

300 civilians take shelter inside Beirut nightclub

Thursday 3 October 2024 10:32 , Holly Evans

Lebanon’s prime minister Najib Mikati said about 1.2 million Lebanese had been displaced by Israeli attacks.

More than 300 of those displaced have taken shelter in a Beirut nightclub, once known for hosting glitzy parties and where staff are now using their guest-list clipboards to register residents.

“We’re trying to keep strong,” said Gaelle Irani, who was formally in charge of guest relations at Skybar, taking a brief break from finding people a corner to live in.

“Its just overwhelming. So overwhelming and sad. But just as this was a place for people to come enjoy themselves, it’s now a place to shelter people and we are doing everything we can to help and be there for them.”

US Army testing roll out of gun-mounted robot dogs in Middle East

Thursday 3 October 2024 10:16 , Holly Evans

The US Army is testing robot dogs mounted with AI-enabled rifles at a military facility in the Middle East amid rising tensions in the region, according to newly released images.

Photos shared by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) show one such four-legged robot going over “rehearsals” at the Red Sand Dunes area near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which has a joint military research facility.

The quadrupedal unmanned vehicle can be seen mounted with what appears to be an AR-15/M16-pattern rifle on a rotating turret and resembles the robot system the US Army tested at Fort Drum, New York in August.

Read the full article here:

US Army testing roll out of gun-mounted robot dogs in Middle East

Breaking: Israeli millitary says it ‘eliminated’ head of Hamas government in Gaza

Thursday 3 October 2024 10:12 , Holly Evans

The head of the Hamas government in Gaza was “eliminated” three months ago, the Israeli military have said.

The IDF have said that Rawhi Mushtaha was killed along with senior security officials Sameh al-Siraj and Sami Oudeh in strikes earlier this summer.

They added that the three commanders had taken refuge in a fortified underground compound in northern Gaza that served as a command and control centre.

Mushtaha was a close associate of Yahya Sinwar, the top leader of Hamas who helped mastermind the 7 October attack. He is still believed to be alive and hiding inside Gaza.

Hamas has not immediately responded.

Seven health and rescue workers ‘killed in Beirut strike'

Thursday 3 October 2024 09:58 , Holly Evans

Seven health and rescue workers were killed in the overnight airstrike in Beirut, an Islamic health organisation has said.

The Hezbollah-linked Islamic Health Authority said in a statement that seven of its staff, including two medics, had died as a result of the air assaut. The airstrike in the residential Bashoura district targeted an apartment in a multi-story building that houses an office of the Health Society.

It was the closest strike to the central downtown district of Beirut, where the United Nations and government offices are located.

In pictures: Latest from Beirut as airstrike kills at least six people

Thursday 3 October 2024 09:32 , Holly Evans

Around 15 Hezbollah members killed in attack, says IDF

Thursday 3 October 2024 09:25 , Holly Evans

The Israeli military has claimed that around 15 Hezbollah members have been killed in an attack in southern Lebanon.

The IDF said that the fighters were killed in a muncipality building in Bint Jbeil.

In a statement on Telegram, they said the militant group had been operating and storing large quantities of weapons inside the building.

UK charters more flights to help British nationals to leave Lebanon

Thursday 3 October 2024 09:14 , Holly Evans

More than 150 British nationals and dependants were on the first UK Government-chartered flight out of Lebanon on Wednesday, the Foreign Office said.

A “limited number” of further flights from Beirut will take place from Thursday, continuing as long as the security situation allows.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Recent events have demonstrated the volatility of the situation in Lebanon.

“The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our number one priority. That’s why we are announcing additional chartered flights to help those who want to leave.

“I urge all British nationals still in Lebanon to register with the FCDO (Foreign Office) and leave the country immediately.”

‘Anxiety and fear are omnipresent’ in Beirut, says UN official

Thursday 3 October 2024 09:04 , Holly Evans

Israel’s strike on a building in the Bachoura district near the Lebanese parliament makes it the closest air assault they have launched to the city’s central downtown district.

A photo circulating on Lebanese WhatsApp groups, which has not yet been verified, showed a heavily damaged building with its first floor on fire.

“Another sleepless night in Beirut. Counting the blasts shaking the city. No warning sirens. Not knowing what’s next. Only that uncertainty lies ahead. Anxiety and fear are omnipresent,” UN special coordinator in Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said on X on Thursday.

Watch live: Smoke over Beirut as at least six dead in Israeli airstrike on Lebanon

Thursday 3 October 2024 08:48 , Holly Evans

Watch live: Smoke over Beirut as at least six dead in Israeli airstrike on Lebanon

Countries organise transport to help their citizens leave Lebanon

Thursday 3 October 2024 08:39 , Holly Evans

The first charter flight carrying British citizens out of Lebanon landed in Birmingham on Wednesday amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Foreign secretary David Lammy said earlier on Wednesday that more charter flights have been arranged for this week, while other nations follow suit.

On Thursday. Japan dispatched two Self Defence Force (SDF) planes to prepare for a possible airlift of Japanese citizens from Lebanon.

Two C-2 transport aircraft are expected to arrive in Jordan and Greece on Friday, Japan NHK national television reported.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Thursday her government had booked 500 seats on commercial aircraft for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families to leave Lebanon on Saturday.

The seats are available to 1,700 Australians and their families known to be in Lebanon on two flights from Beirut to Cyprus, Ms Wong said.

Israel-Hezbollah-Hamas conflict timeline: Everything that’s happened since 7 October

Thursday 3 October 2024 08:07 , Namita Singh

Israel has launched a ground offensive in Lebanon as fears of an all-out regional war in the Middle East continue to grow. A spokesperson for Israel said “limited” raids are being carried out in the south after months of conflict.

The raids come after the Israeli military launching fresh strikes on Lebanon in late September, causing the highest number of casualties for a single day since at least 2006.

The Independent takes a look at the recent timeline of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and an ally of Hamas in Gaza.

Israel-Hezbollah conflict timeline: Everything that’s happened since 7 October

Is it safe to travel to Dubai right now?

Thursday 3 October 2024 08:06 , Namita Singh

British holidaymakers in the UAE have been issued a new warning regarding potential risks stemming from escalating tensions in the region.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has highlighted the ongoing conflict involving Lebanon and Israel, warning that “ongoing hostilities between Israel and Lebanon could escalate quickly and pose risks for the wider region.”

The FCDO has advised travellers to closely monitor updates on the situation, encouraging them to follow FCDO travel on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. They can also sign up for email notifications regarding changes to travel advice.

The FCDO offers guidance for those caught in crises abroad, detailing what constitutes a crisis, the assistance they can provide, and how travellers can prepare for emergencies.

Britons urged to leave Lebanon now – but what are their travel options after most flights cancelled?

Thursday 3 October 2024 08:05 , Namita Singh

As Israel attacks targets in central Beirut, the UK Foreign Office has run the first evacuation fliight from Lebanon to help British citizens, their spouses and children under 18 to leave the country. The plane from Beirut touched down at Birmingham airport on Wednesday evening.

It is nine weeks since the foreign secretary, David Lammy, first urged UK nationals to leave Lebanon while they could. Sir Kier Starmer reiterated the call last month.

The preferred method is by a commercial flight. But options are extremely limited, with almost all airlines cancelling flights in and out of the capital, Beirut, writes our travel correspondent Simon Calder:

Lebanon: Travel advice on flights and border crossings after Britons told to leave

Uncertainty lies ahead, says UN after Israel’s deadly strike on Lebanon

Thursday 3 October 2024 07:54 , Namita Singh

Israel bombed Beirut early on Thursday, killing at least six people, after its forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front in a year of clashes with Iran-backed Hezbollah.

“Another sleepless night in Beirut. Counting the blasts shaking the city. No warning sirens. Not knowing what’s next. Only that uncertainty lies ahead. Anxiety and fear are omnipresent,” UN special coordinator in Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said on X on Thursday.

Three missiles also hit the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week, and loud blasts were heard, Lebanese security officials said.

Iran's UN ambassador says Tehran has 'consistently pursued peace and stability'

Thursday 3 October 2024 07:23 , Namita Singh

Iran’s UN ambassador says Iran had to launch a barrage of missiles at Israel to “restore balance” after escalating Israeli violence in the region.

Amir Saeid Iravani told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday that the missile attack on Tuesday was “a necessary and proportionate response to Israel’s continued terrorist aggressive acts over the past two months.”

He says Iran has “consistently pursued peace and stability” and that Israel sees Iranian restraint “not as a gesture of goodwill but as a weakness to exploit.”

“Each act of restraint taken by Iran has only emboldened Israel to commit greater crimes and more acts of aggression,” Iravani said.

“Consequently, Iran’s response was necessary to restore balance and deterrence.”He also accused the United States of complicity “in Israel’s crimes” by helping to arm the nation after the 7 October attacks by Hamas in southern Israel.

Israel's UN ambassador calls Iran a 'danger to the world'

Thursday 3 October 2024 07:20 , Namita Singh

Israel’s UN ambassador said on Wednesday that the “the time for empty calls for de-escalation is over”.

Danny Danon told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that “Iran’s true face is one of terror, death and chaos”.

“This is no longer a matter of words,” he said. “Iran is a very real and present danger to the world, and if they are not stopped, the next wave of missiles will not be aimed solely at Israel,” he said.

He called Iran’s missile barrage aimed at Israel on Tuesday “a cold-blooded attack against 10 million civilians” and “an unprecedented act of aggression.”

Mr Danon stressed that Israel will not stop until all of the hostages taken by Hamas and other militants are back in Israel.“Let the world understand: Israel will defend itself, and we will do so with justice and strength,” he said.

What are countries doing to get nationals out of Lebanon?

Thursday 3 October 2024 06:49 , Namita Singh

Australia has organised hundreds of airline seats for its citizens to leave Lebanon, and has flown military aircraft to Cyprus as part of a contingency plan. Its contingency plans could include evacuation by sea, though authorities have urged an estimated 15,000 citizens in Lebanon to leave while Beirut airport remains open.

Belgium’s foreign ministry has advised citizens to leave as soon as possible, the Belga news agency said.

China has safely evacuated more than 200 Chinese citizens, reported Xinhua news agency.

Canada will co-operate with Australia in evacuating nationals by sea. The plan involves contracting a commercial vessel to ferry out 1,000 people a day, reported the Toronto Star.

Cyprus has asked Greece to provide an aircraft to help evacuate its nationals who wish to leave. There are an estimated 1,000-1,500 Cypriots in Lebanon, though the number wishing to leave is estimated at far lower.

France has not issued an evacuation order, despite having had plans for several months. Present contingency plans centre on Cyprus and Beirut airport, while it is also discussing evacuations via Turkey. France has a warship in the region, while a French helicopter carrier will arrive in the eastern Mediterranean in the coming days and take up position in case a decision is taken to evacuate foreign nationals from Lebanon.

Germany has evacuated non-essential staff, families of embassy workers and German nationals who are medically vulnerable from Lebanon and will support others trying to leave, the foreign and defence ministries said in a joint statement on Monday.

Greece has urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and avoid any travel there, with a frigate on standby in case assistance is needed.

Italy has cut diplomatic staff and beefed up security personnel at its Beirut embassy. Foreign minister Antonio Tajani has repeatedly urged nationals to leave the country and sought assurances from Israel over the safety of Italian peacekeepers in the area.

The Netherlands will send a military plane to repatriate nationals from Lebanon with two flights on 4 October and 5 October, the Dutch ministry of defence said on Wednesday. The flights to the military airbase in Eindhoven will also be available for people from other countries if there is enough room to accommodate them, it said.

Poland will limit staff numbers at its Beirut embassy, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday, adding that Warsaw would organise transport for citizens wanting to leave Lebanon.

Portugal’s prime minister Luis Montenegro has advised against travel to Lebanon, which assisted in the evacuation of a small number of Portuguese citizens living there.

Spain plans to send two military aircraft to evacuate as many as 350 citizens from Lebanon as early as Thursday .

Turkey is ready for a possible evacuation of Turks from Lebanon via air and sea, and is working with about 20 countries for a possible evacuation of foreign nationals via Turkey. About 14,000 Turkish citizens were registered at the consulate in Lebanon, but the number was not definitive.

Britain has urged nationals to leave immediately. It has moved about 700 troops to Cyprus, bolstering its military assets, including two Royal Navy ships. It also has two military bases on the island. Britain chartered a flight on Wednesday for its nationals, and additional charter flights are to follow, diplomatic sources said.

The United States has ordered dozens of troops deployed to Cyprus to help prepare for scenarios such as an evacuation of Americans from Lebanon. It is working with airlines to add flights out of Lebanon, with more seats for Americans, the State Department said on Tuesday.

UN responds to Israel banning its chief Antonio Guterres and declaring him ‘persona non grata’

Thursday 3 October 2024 06:46 , Namita Singh

The United Nations on Wednesday called Israel’s ban on secretary-general Antonio Guterres entering the country a political statement by its foreign minister and stressed that the world body’s contacts with Israel will continue “because they have to”.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz deeming the UN chief “persona non grata” is also “one more attack on the United Nations staff that we’ve seen from the government of Israel”.

Report:

UN responds to Israel banning its chief Antonio Guterres

Air France passengers endure eight-hour trip to nowhere as Iran attack on Israel sparks flight diversion chaos

Thursday 3 October 2024 05:57 , Namita Singh

Tens of thousands of airline passengers are waking up where they did not expect to be after carriers diverted many planes in response to Iran’s overnight attack on Israel.

The normal flightpath from Europe and North America to the Gulf and south Asia is to fly to the southeast corner of Turkey and then head southeast over either Iran or Iraq.

But as missiles were fired from Iran over Iraq towards Israel, the airspace of both countries was closed. Jordan’s skies were also closed temporarily.

The most extreme response was Air France flight AF218 from Paris to Mumbai – in which the passengers endured an eight-hour trip to nowhere.

Report:

Air France passengers endure eight-hour flight to nowhere after Iran attacks Israel

Iran’s UN ambassador criticises US as he defends Tehran's attack

Thursday 3 October 2024 05:56 , Namita Singh

Iran’s UN ambassador accused the United States, along with the United Kingdom and France, of cynically attempting “to justify Israel’s heinous crimes under the guise of self-defence, shifting the blame onto Iran.”

Amir Saeid Iravani told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council Wednesday that the United States, which has continued to arm Israel since Hamas’ 7 October attacks on its south, is complicit “in Israel’s crimes.”

Iravani called Iran’s missile barrage targeting Israel on Tuesday “a necessary and proportionate response to Israel’s continued terrorist aggressive acts over the past two months.”

Lebanon’s health ministry raises death toll to six from airstrike near central Beirut

Thursday 3 October 2024 05:39 , Namita Singh

Lebanon’s health ministry raised the death toll to six from an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building near the center of Beirut late Wednesday night.

It said seven people were injured in the attack.The airstrike hit near the residential Bashoura district. The previous death toll had been two with 11 people injured.

Residents reported a sulfur-like smell following the attack, and Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency accused Israel of using internationally banned phosphorous bombs.

Human rights groups have in the past accused Israel of using white phosphorus incendiary shells on towns and villages in conflict-hit southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s health ministry says two killed in Israeli airstrike in central Beirut

Australia plans evacuation flights from Lebanon

Thursday 3 October 2024 05:24 , Namita Singh

Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said on Thursday her government had booked 500 seats on commercial aircraft for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families to leave Lebanon on Saturday.

The seats are available to 1,700 Australians and their families known to be in Lebanon on two flights from Beirut to Cyprus, Ms Wong said.

“What I would say to Australians who wish to leave, please take whatever option is available to you,” the foreign minister told reporters in Geelong, Australia.

“Please do not wait for your preferred route,” she added.

UK government warns citizens to leave Lebanon as violence intensifies

Thursday 3 October 2024 05:17 , Namita Singh

In a post to X, foreign secretary David Lammy reiterated calls for British citizens in Lebanon to leave while commercial flights are still available.

The Defence Secretary John Healey also met military personnel preparing for a potential evacuation of Britons from Lebanon, as he thanked RAF personnel involved in the operation to defend Israel from Iranian missiles.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has said that any further flights in the coming days will depend on demand and the security situation on the ground.Vulnerable British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18, will be prioritised.

Two Typhoon fighter jets, supported by a tanker aircraft, were involved in the operation although the Ministry of Defence said because of the nature of the attack “they did not engage any targets”.

Mr Healey told Sky News in Cyprus: “They were part of the wider effort to prevent further escalation and to show the UK’s steadfast support for Israel’s right to self defence and to security.

“They did not engage, but they were ready to do so, and nevertheless, they were playing a part in the wider efforts to deter the further conflict, and they will continue to do so.”

Ireland cannot unilaterally withdraw from Lebanon peacekeeping duties – Martin

Thursday 3 October 2024 05:16 , Namita Singh

Ireland cannot unilaterally withdraw from peacekeeping duties in Lebanon, the Tanaiste has insisted.

There are currently 379 Irish Defence Forces personnel serving with the UN’s Unifil mission in south Lebanon.

Micheal Martin said the troops were currently bunkered down in camps amid the intensification of hostilities after incursions across the border by Israeli forces.

Report:

Ireland cannot unilaterally withdraw from Lebanon peacekeeping duties – Martin

Plane evacuating Britons from Lebanon lands in UK as blasts heard in Beirut

Thursday 3 October 2024 04:55 , Namita Singh

More British nationals are expected to be airlifted out of Lebanon on Thursday as further blasts hit Beirut.

An apparent Israeli airstrike hit an apartment building near the centre of the Lebanese capital on Wednesday, marking the second time Israel has struck the city this week.

The airstrike hit not far from the United Nations headquarters, the prime minister’s office and parliament and no warning was issued ahead of the blast, with the number of casualties unclear.

Report:

Plane evacuating Britons from Lebanon lands in UK as blasts heard in Beirut

Israel's PM pledges to defeat 'Iran's axis of evil' amid escalating conflict

Thursday 3 October 2024 04:19 , Namita Singh

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged victory in the country’s conflict with Hezbollah, following the deaths of eight soldiers in Lebanon.

“I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the families of our heroes who fell today in Lebanon, may God avenge them, and may their memories be a blessing,” Mr Netanyahu said, paying tribute to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers.

Mr Netanyahu emphasised that Israel is engaged in a “tough war against Iran’s axis of evil.” He reassured the nation, saying, “this will not happen. Because we will stand together, and with God’s help, we will win together.”

His remarks come as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah continue to escalate, with the Lebanese-based militant group posing a significant challenge to regional stability.

China urges UN Security Council to de-escalate Middle East crisis

Thursday 3 October 2024 03:59 , Namita Singh

China called on the United Nations Security Council to take “urgent actions” to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East as Israel launched fresh air strikes in Lebanon.

China’s permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, said during a Security Council briefing on Wednesday, that it needed to make clear and unequivocal demands to stop the cycle of violence over the Israeli-Lebanon conflict.

“The Security Council bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security,” the official Xinhua news agency reported Mr Fu as saying, noting that all parties concerned “must return to the track of political and diplomatic solutions”.

Israel’s latest missile strikes in central Beirut come after Iran fired more than 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday. Israel has also sent infantry and armoured units into Lebanon with reports of fighting with the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

Iran said on Wednesday its missile volley - its biggest ever assault on Israel - was over barring further provocation, but Israel and the United States promised to hit back hard.

Iran’s missile attack and Israel’s pledge of retaliation have raised concerns that the oil-producing Middle East could be caught up in a wider conflict.

Warning that the current situation is “hanging by a thread,” Xinhua cited Mr Fu as saying that any “passive procrastination would be irresponsible, and any rhetoric of condoning further military adventurism would send a wrong message”.

Mr Fu said the spreading Middle East conflict had already caused an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, with Gaza having become a “hell on earth,” and over 1.2 million people displaced in Lebanon.

Hezbollah says it fired surface-to-air missiles at an Israeli helicopter

Thursday 3 October 2024 03:00 , Tara Cobham

Hezbollah says it fired surface-to-air missiles at an Israeli military helicopter flying over Beit Hillel in northern Israel, forcing it to retreat.

The Lebanese militant group didn't say if the helicopter was hit in the attack Wednesday, and there was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. It is the first time the group has said it fired a missile at a helicopter since hostilities between the two sides escalated two weeks ago.

Hezbollah and the Israeli military have clashed in southern Lebanese border towns since Israel launched its ground operation against Hezbollah.

Hezbollah earlier said it destroyed three Israeli Merkava tanks heading towards Maroun al-Ras, and detonated an explosive device hidden in an abandoned building on the outskirts of Kfar Kila after Israeli soldiers entered.