Israel Hezbollah War Highlights: Israel military official says 'preparing response' to Iran attack

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Macron says 88 Francophone countries call for 'immediate' ceasefire in Lebanon

The French President, Emmanuel Macron, announced on Saturday that the 88 member states of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), which includes France and Canada, have collectively called for an "immediate and lasting" ceasefire in Lebanon. This declaration was made at the conclusion of the "Francophonie" summit.

President Macron further stated, "We have unanimously expressed ourselves in favour of an immediate and lasting ceasefire and have stated our commitment to de-escalating tensions in the region." He also revealed that France plans to organize an international conference in October to support Lebanon during this critical time.

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: West Asia conflict cause of great concern, deep worry, says S Jaishankar

External affairs minister S Jaishankar expressed his deep concern over the escalating conflict in West Asia during an interaction following his delivery of the Sardar Patel Lecture on Governance at the IC Centre for Governance. He emphasized that in today's interconnected world, a conflict in one region inevitably creates challenges globally.

Jaishankar's comments come amidst the heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. He pointed out that the conflict is expanding, with recent developments including terrorist attacks, retaliatory responses, the situation in Gaza, and the exchanges between Israel and Iran in Lebanon. Additionally, the Houthis have been firing in the Red Sea, further exacerbating the situation.

The minister stressed that the notion of remaining neutral in a conflict and reaping benefits is no longer applicable. The repercussions of the conflict are far-reaching, with increased shipping and insurance rates, disruptions to export foreign trade, and rising oil prices. He cited the recent example of the markets plummeting following an Iranian missile attack, highlighting the immediate economic impact of the conflict.

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Israel military official says 'preparing response' to Iran attack

An anonymous Israeli military official informed news agency AFP on Saturday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are devising a plan to retaliate against the unparalleled Iranian missile attack targeting Israeli civilians earlier this week. The official emphasized the unlawful nature of the attack.

"The IDF (Israeli military) is preparing a response to the unprecedented and unlawful Iranian attack on Israeli civilians and Israel," the official stated, requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter and their lack of authorization to publicly comment on the situation.

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Those who harm us will pay a very heavy price, says Israel

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Israel strikes Lebanon, hitting Beirut suburbs and the north

Israel intensified its air campaign against targets in Lebanon on Saturday, launching a dozen strikes on the southern outskirts of Beirut and targeting a Palestinian refugee camp situated in the country's far north for the first time in the conflict.

According to a statement released by Hamas, the attack on the Beddawi refugee camp, located near the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, resulted in the deaths of a Hamas military wing official, his spouse, and their two young children. The strikes on Tripoli mark a significant expansion of Israel's operational range, as most of its previous attacks have focused on southern Lebanon and the capital, Beirut.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October of the previous year, Israel has targeted and eliminated several high-ranking Hamas officials in Lebanon, in addition to successfully neutralizing a majority of Hezbollah's top leadership.

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Two senior terrorists in Hamas’ military wing in Lebanon were eliminated in two joint IDF and ISA operations, says Israel

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Israel strikes Lebanon, hitting Beirut suburbs and the north

Israel intensified its air campaign against targets in Lebanon on Saturday, launching a dozen strikes on the southern outskirts of Beirut and targeting a Palestinian refugee camp situated in the country's far north for the first time in the conflict.

According to a statement released by Hamas, the attack on the Beddawi refugee camp near the northern city of Tripoli resulted in the deaths of a Hamas military wing official, his spouse, and their two young children. The location of this strike is significant, as Tripoli lies considerably further north than the majority of Israel's previous attacks, which have primarily focused on southern Lebanon and the capital city of Beirut.

Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October of the previous year, Israel has targeted and eliminated several high-ranking Hamas officials in Lebanon, in addition to successfully neutralizing a significant portion of Hezbollah's top leadership.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday that it conducted a military operation in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and personnel.

Soldiers from the Commando Brigade and the elite Yahalom Unit were involved in the mission, IDF said.

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: UK confirms final flight out of Lebanon for British nationals as conflict escalates

The British government announced on Saturday that it will be sending its final chartered flight to evacuate UK citizens from Lebanon, as the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel continues to worsen and regional tensions rise. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, reiterated his plea to British nationals remaining in Lebanon to come forward and be evacuated.

During a visit to Cheshire on Friday, Starmer addressed the public, saying, "To everybody listening who may be in that position: now is the time to leave, we have got the plans in place. So please come forward and we can make sure that they are evacuated."

The decision comes after a series of sabotage attacks in Lebanon involving exploding communication devices, which Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group, blamed on Israel. The airline said that any "such items found in passengers' hand luggage or checked baggage will be confiscated by Dubai Police."

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: The IDF is preparing for the retaliation strike in Iran, says Israel war room

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Nasrallah's presumed successor Hashem Safieddine killed in Israeli strike in Beirut

Hashem Safieddine, the expected successor to former Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, was killed along with his companions in an Israeli strike in southern Beirut on Friday, according to a report by Saudi news outlet Al Hadath on Saturday morning.

Israel allegedly tried to eliminate Safieddine in the Dahieh suburb in Beirut, Israeli media reported overnight between Friday and Saturday, citing Lebanese reports.

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Hezbollah battles troops on border as Israel pounds Lebanon

Hezbollah said Saturday its fighters were confronting Israeli troops in Lebanon's southern border region, where the Israeli military said it struck militants from the Iran-backed movement at a mosque.

Rapidly escalating violence in recent days saw intense Israeli strikes on Hezbollah strongholds across Lebanon as ground troops conducted raids near the border, transforming nearly a year of cross-border exchanges into full-blown war.

In the first reported Israeli air strike on the northern Tripoli region in the current flare-up, Palestinian militant group Hamas said "Zionist bombardment" of the Beddawi refugee camp killed a commander, Saeed Attallah Ali, as well as his wife and two daughters on Saturday.

Major Hezbollah ambush in Lebanon; IDF suffers 20 casualties in lethal explosion

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Israel strikes Hezbollah command center hidden in mosque at south Lebanon

The Israeli military said Saturday its forces struck Hezbollah fighters inside a south Lebanon mosque overnight, the first such strike since clashes erupted between Israel and the militants last year.

"Overnight, with the direction of IDF (army) intelligence, the IAF (air force) struck Hezbollah terrorists who were operating within a command centre that was located inside a mosque adjacent to the Salah Ghandour Hospital in southern Lebanon," the military said in a statement.

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: More than 200 Chinese citizens evacuated from Lebanon, foreign ministry says

More than 200 Chinese citizens have been safely evacuated from Lebanon, China's foreign ministry said on Saturday.

"These people, who have been evacuated in two batches, include three Hong Kong residents and one Taiwan compatriot," the ministry said in a statement in response to a Reuters query on the situation.

"The Chinese Embassy in Lebanon remains firm in Lebanon and continues to assist Chinese citizens remaining there in taking security measures," it added.

The move comes after conflict in the Middle East has intensified following Iran's missile strike on Israel on Tuesday and Israel's incursion into Lebanon.

Iran-Israel War: Tel Aviv to hit Tehran's nuclear oil fields; Trump says yes, Biden says don't

Lebanon peacekeepers 'remain in all positions' despite Israel relocation request: United Nations

The United Nations peacekeeping force it Lebanon said Saturday it would not leave positions in the country's south despite what it said was an Israeli request to "relocate".

"On September 30, the IDF (Israeli military) notified UNIFIL of their intention to undertake limited ground incursions into Lebanon. They also requested we relocate from some of our positions," the UN Interim Force in Lebanon said in a statement, adding that "peacekeepers remain in all positions and the UN flag continues to fly."

Alleged plots against US campaign are only latest examples of Iran targeting adversaries

Iran has emerged as a twofold concern for the United States as it nears the end of the presidential campaign. Prosecutors allege Tehran tried to hack figures associated with the election, stealing information from former President Donald Trump's campaign. And US officials have accused it of plotting to kill Trump and other ex-officials.

For Iran, assassination plots and hacking aren't new strategies.

Iran saw the value and the danger of hacking in the early 2000s, when the Stuxnet virus, believed to have been deployed by Israel and the US, tried to damage Iran's nuclear programme. Since then, hackers attributed to state-linked operations have targeted the Trump campaign, Iranian expatriates and government officials at home.

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Hezbollah bombs 'push back' Israeli forces from Lebanon's Odaisseh; rocket barrage follows

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Plume of smoke billows into the sky in Lebanon's Beirut amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Iran's foreign minister Araqchi arrives in Syrian capital Damascus

Abu Obaida hails Iraqi fighters for killing IDF soldiers, inflicting pain on Israel: Watch

Hamas counters abduction claim, says Yazidi woman's Gaza departure was voluntary

The Islamist group Hamas rejected what it called "a false narrative and fabricated story" about a Yazidi woman Israel said was freed in Gaza in a secret operation involving Israel, the United States and Iraq.

The woman, whom Israeli officials have said was taken captive when she was 11 years old and sold to a Hamas member, had never been abducted or sold, and was able to leave Gaza with the knowledge of the Hamas authorities, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Friday.

Hamas' armed wing leader Saeed Atallah killed in Israeli strike on north Lebanon

Saeed Atallah, a leader of Hamas' armed wing, al-Qassam brigades, was killed with three family members in an Israeli strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, Hamas-affiliated media reported on Saturday.

Israel did not immediately comment on the strike.

Israel-Hezbollah War Live: Iran says its allies 'will not back down' in war with Israel

Iran's supreme leader vowed in a rare address on Friday that his allies around the region would keep fighting Israel, as he defended his country's missile strike on its foe.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's address in Tehran followed Iran's second-ever direct attack on Israel. It was also the first since exchanges of fire between Tehran-backed Hezbollah fighters and Israeli troops escalated into full-blown war in Lebanon.

Speaking ahead of the first anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, Khamenei defended the Palestinian group's "logical and legal" actions and hailed its "fierce defence" against Israeli forces.

The unprecedented Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, triggering global condemnation but also supporting fire from Iran-backed groups around the Middle East, mainly Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Huthi rebels.

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

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. Read full story

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." Read full story