Israel says it has launched new wave of strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon
Israel’s military has announced it is carrying out more strikes on southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
Nearly 560 people, including at least 50 children, have already been killed this week in Israel’s bombing campaign, which it says is targeting weapons and terrorist infrastructure used by Hezbollah. Thousands of people have been injured and tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes.
More details soon …
Key events
The death toll across Lebanon from Israeli strikes on Wednesday has now reached 22, according to a Reuters tally of health ministry statements.
At least 15 people were killed and around 50 wounded in Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday on five different locations, according to a Reuters compilation of Lebanese health ministry statements.
Israel has expanded the zones it has been striking since Tuesday night, with attacks for the first time on the beach resort town of Jiyyeh just south of Beirut and Maaysrah.
The strikes also took place in Bint Jbeil, Tebnin and Ain Qana in the south, the village of Joun in the Chouf district near the southern city of Sidon, and Maaysrah in northern Keserwan district.
Summary of the day so far …
It is just approaching 2pm in Beirut, Tel Aviv and Gaza City. Here is a summary of the latest headlines:
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The geographic scope of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah has widened, with the Israeli air force carrying out strikes farther north into Lebanon before, and Hezbollah targeting Tel Aviv with a missile for the first time
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There are reports of deaths, including that of an infant, after widespread Israeli strikes on Lebanon. The death toll from Israeli attacks this week has already nearly reached 600, with thousands more wounded and tens of thousands of people forced to flee their homes
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Israel’s military said a single surface-to-surface missile was intercepted by air defence systems, and it was “a heavy missile, going towards Tel Aviv, towards civilian areas in Tel Aviv”. In addition at least 40 projectiles have been fired into northern Israel from the direction of Lebanon, and Israel’s military also intercepted a drone it said came from the direction of Syria. Two people are reported to have been moderately wounded.
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Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip as well as Lebanon. The Hamas-led health ministry in the Gaza Strip has reported the killing of 85 people and the injury of 104 others by military action in the past 24 hours. The total figures since 7 October are given by the ministry as at least 41,495 Palestinians killed and 96,006 wounded
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The Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Israel has severely criticised prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his plans to attend the UN general assembly in person. “While the country is burning and 101 hostages have been abandoned in the Hamas death tunnels for 355 days, the prime minister chooses another unnecessary show trip to the US,” it said in a statement
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Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has proclaimed Hezbollah to be “victorious”, and said “Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which is standing up firmly for Gaza and putting itself in the middle of these bitter events, is taking part in jihad on the path of God”
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Russia has advised its citizens to leave Lebanon. There are about 3,000 Russian citizens in the country
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International travel has become limited with most airlines suspending flights to and from Beirut International airport. Lebanon’s own Middle East Airlines continues to serve destinations in the Middle East, Paris, Athen and Larnaca
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Pope Francis called Israeli strikes on Lebanon a “terrible escalation” of the Middle East conflict. He did not specifically identify Israel, but said he was “saddened by news from Lebanon in recent days that bombardments have caused much destruction and many victims”
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UK for UNHCR has launched an emergency appeal for aid for Lebanon. Emma Cherniavsky, the chief executive, said “These devastating bombings in Lebanon are claiming innocent lives and forcing thousands to flee their homes. This is a region that has already been devastated by war, and the toll on civilians is unacceptable”
Israeli media reports that two people have been moderately wounded after a barrage of rockets was fired into northern Israel. The impacts were in kibbutz Sa’ar, close to Nahariya.
Al Jazeera reports that the Hamas-led government media office in Gaza has said it has refused to receive a container of 88 bodies from Israeli authorities because Israel is not disclosing the names, ages or origins of the bodies. In a statement it called this an “inhumane and criminal move”.
Lebanon’s state National News Agency reports that six people, including an infant, have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Bint Jbeil. The claim has not been independently verified.
Russia has advised its citizens to leave Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov earlier said “All measures are now being taken to recommend our citizens to leave the territory of Lebanon as soon as possible, using the available opportunities of commercial transportation. This is necessary to ensure the safety of these citizens.”
When questioned at his daily press briefing, Tass reports, Peskov said there were 3,000 Russians in the country.
The IDF has announced that it has begun “conducting strikes in the area of Nabatieh” in Lebanon.
Reports on Wednesday morning so far appear to show a widened arena of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The militant group claimed to have targeted the Mossad in Tel Aviv. The Israeli military said a single surface-to-surface missile was intercepted by air defence systems, and it was “a heavy missile, going towards Tel Aviv, towards civilian areas in Tel Aviv.”
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, at least three people have been killed and nine injured by an Israeli strike on the town of Maysaara, which is in the mountains north of Beirut, the farthest north Israel has struck since the beginning of fighting.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has added to his earlier comments about Hezbollah with a post on his official social media channels which says “Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which is standing up firmly for Gaza and putting itself in the middle of these bitter events, is taking part in jihad on the path of God,” adding in Arabic “Hezbollah is victorious.”
Lebanon’s #Hezbollah, which is standing up firmly for #Gaza and putting itself in the middle of these bitter events, is taking part in jihad on the path of God.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) September 25, 2024
حزب الله منتصر.
— الإمام الخامنئي (@ar_khamenei) September 25, 2024
Israel continues to bombard the Gaza Strip as well as Lebanon. The Hamas-led health ministry in the Gaza Strip has reported the killing of 85 people and the injury of 104 others by military action in the past 24 hours. It has not been possible for journalists to independently verify the casualty figures being issued during the conflict.
The total figures since 7 October are given by the ministry as at least 41,495 Palestinians killed and 96,006 wounded. During the same time period, Israel says “346 soldiers have fallen in combat” during its ground offensive in Gaza
Palestinian news agency Wafa reports “Thousands of victims are still trapped under the rubble or scattered on the roads, as ambulance and civil defence teams are facing difficulties in reaching them due to the continued Israeli attacks, the massive amount of debris and the shortage of fuel and heavy equipment.”
Here are some of the latest images sent to us over the news wires from Lebanon.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday “The organisational strength and human resources of Hezbollah is very strong and will not be critically hit by the killing of a senior commander, even if that is clearly a loss,” Reuters reports.
