An Israeli airstrike in Beirut's Dahiyeh. (Photo: AP)Hassan Ammar

Israel expands strikes in Lebanon after Iran's 'won't last long' warning

Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah intensified in Lebanon, with blasts reported in Beirut and near the airport, as the offensive also expanded to northern Lebanon.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Israel's north Lebanon strike kills Hamas leader, family
  • Clashes erupt in south Lebanon in Israel-Hezbollah ground fight
  • Israel issues new evacuation alert for residents in Beirut's southern suburbs

Blasts were reported in Lebanon's Beirut on Saturday morning as the Israeli army continued its strikes targeting Hezbollah. The Israeli military issued three alerts, urging residents in the area to evacuate immediately. Explosions and airstrikes also occurred near Beirut's airport during the night, as flights were arriving.

The fresh round of intensified attacks came after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned in his Friday sermon that "Israel will not last long" and "Iran will not back down".

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF), which have been pounding southern Lebanon, have now expanded their aerial strikes to northern Lebanon as part of a wider offensive. The assault has killed scores of people and displaced over 1.2 million Lebanese from their homes.

MIDDLE EAST CRISIS | LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

  1. The Israeli Army, which continues to target areas in southern Lebanon, has now expanded its aerial strikes to northern Lebanon. Israeli aircraft targeted a building near the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp in the north.
  2. Hezbollah stated that the Israeli army was attempting to infiltrate the southern Lebanese town of Odaisseh, adding that clashes were ongoing. The Israeli army carried out artillery shelling in the city of Khiam and the outskirts of Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon.
  3. 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, according to Hamas-affiliated media. Israeli army has not immediately commented on the strike.
  4. The fate of Hashem Safieddine, the likely successor to Hassan Nasrallah as Hezbollah chief, who was reportedly targeted in an Israeli strike on Thursday night, remains unclear. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah have provided any comment.
  5. Israel is reportedly considering its options in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack on Tuesday, which Tehran claims was in retaliation for Israel's military action in Lebanon and the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. US President Joe Biden stated that he believes Israel has not yet decided on a course of action and noted that, if he were in Israel's position, he would consider alternatives to striking Iranian oil fields.
  6. The Lebanese Health Ministry has announced that more than 2,000 people have now been killed in Israeli attacks on the country, including 127 children and 261 women, since the fresh round of attacks started.
  7. The United States announced that it will provide nearly 157 million US Dollar in new humanitarian assistance to support civilians affected by conflict in Lebanon and the region. "This funding will address new and existing needs of internally displaced persons and refugee populations inside Lebanon and the communities that host them. The assistance will also support those fleeing to neighbouring Syria," the US State Department said.
  8. The US military, meanwhile, conducted strikes on 15 Houthi targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on Friday. The residents reported blasts at military outposts and even an airport as aircraft and warships bombed the area. The British military also took part in the strikes.
  9. US President Joe Biden, commenting on the Middle East crisis, said that he doesn’t know if Netanyahu is trying to influence the US election. Biden said, “No administration has helped Israel more than I have done. None, none, none. And I think Bibi should remember that. And whether he’s trying to influence the election, I don’t know, but I’m not counting on that.”

  10. On Friday, addressing a massive crowd in Tehran, Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asserted that Iran and its regional allies would not back down. He said Israel's adversaries in the region should "double your efforts and capabilities... and resist the aggressive enemy," Khamenei said in a rare Friday sermon.

    Iran’s Foreign Minister also warned that Tehran will retaliate harshly if Israel attacks them. He said, “If the Israeli entity takes any step or measure against us, our retaliation will be stronger than the previous one".

(With inputs from Ashraf Wani from Lebanon)