Israel Hezbollah War Highlights: Israel says struck Hezbollah targets 'adjacent' to Lebanon-Syria border crossing
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Oct 04, 2024, 18:55:10 IST
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Israel Hezbollah War Highlights: Israel says struck Hezbollah targets 'adjacent' to Lebanon-Syria border crossing

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered his first sermon in almost five years, following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In his sermon, Khamenei praised Nasrallah, reflecting Nasrallah's pivotal role in ‘resisting Israel’. He also called Hezbollah's fight 'vital service to entire region'

Due to the threat of Israeli attacks on mourners, Nasrallah's body has been temporarily buried in an undisclosed location, as per AFP sources. His funeral has been delayed until security conditions improve.

The situation between Israel and Hezbollah has sharply escalated. Israeli forces have intensified their strikes on Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon, including key strongholds in southern Beirut and the group’s intelligence headquarters in the Lebanese capital. Israeli airstrikes have further disrupted the region by cutting off a critical highway between Lebanon and Syria, hindering evacuations and the transport of supplies. So far, the violence has claimed over 1,000 lives in Lebanon, displacing hundreds of thousands. In preparation for what appears to be an expanding military campaign, Israel issued evacuation orders to civilians in over 20 towns in southern Lebanon.

Iran has taken a central role in this unfolding conflict, standing firm behind Hezbollah. Khamenei justified Iran's missile attack on Israel as both “legal and legitimate,” reiterating Iran’s support for Hezbollah and vowing that Iran and its allies will not retreat against Israel.

The question of who will succeed Nasrallah as Hezbollah’s leader is becoming more urgent. Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah figure, was widely seen as the likely successor, particularly due to his close connections to Iran. Safieddine’s son is married to the daughter of the late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, strengthening his standing within both Hezbollah and Iran’s power circles. However, Israeli forces claim to have already targeted Safieddine in their strikes.

As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, the risk of a broader regional war grows. Israel's military operations extend beyond Lebanon, with significant action against Hamas in Gaza. Despite Israel’s requests, UN peacekeepers stationed along the Israel-Lebanon border have remained in place, adding to the complexities of the situation. The violence and instability threaten to spiral into a larger regional conflict, drawing in more regional powers and exacerbating tensions across the Middle East.
22:15 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Islamic Resistance in Iraq says it attacked target in southern Israel
21:59 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: FIFA defers decision on request to suspend Israel
World football's governing body FIFA made no verdict either way Thursday on a Palestinian request to suspend Israel, instead launching committee investigations to inform an eventual decision.

At FIFA's congress in Bangkok in May, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) called for its Israeli counterpart to be suspended and for Israeli teams to be banned from FIFA events.

FIFA was initially set to hold an extraordinary session of its ruling council before July 20 to review the independent legal analysis and decide how to proceed.

However the deadline was pushed back to give legal experts more time to complete a report.

At the organisation's headquarters in Zurich on Thursday, the FIFA council adopted the recommendations and conclusions reached in the legal analysis.

It decided that its disciplinary committee would be mandated to investigate the alleged offence of discrimination raised by the PFA.

Meanwhile the FIFA governance, audit and compliance committee "will be entrusted with the mission to investigate -- and subsequently advise the FIFA Council on -- the participation in Israeli competitions of Israeli football teams allegedly based in the territory of Palestine."
21:52 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Qatar emir pledges support for Lebanon under 'brutal attacks'
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Thursday expressed his "full support" for Lebanon and said he ordered the provision of aid to the embattled country in light of attacks by Israel.

"I affirm the State of Qatar's full support for Lebanon and its brotherly people against the brutal attacks they are being subjected to," the emir said on social media platform X, adding that he has ordered "rapid action and the provision of all necessary resources" to provide aid to affected communities. (AFP)
21:27 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: FIFA defers decision on request to suspend Israel
World football's governing body FIFA made no verdict either way at its council meeting on Thursday on a Palestinian request to suspend Israel, instead launching a committee investigation to inform its decision.

"The FIFA Council has implemented due diligence on this very sensitive matter and, based on a thorough assessment, we have followed the advice of the independent experts," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a statement.
21:04 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Iran resumes flights after missile attacks on Israel
Iran has resumed flights to and from the country as of Thursday morning, following their suspension after Iranian missile attacks on Israel on Tuesday evening, according to a spokesman of Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation (CAO).

CAO spokesman Jafar Yazarlou announced that the flight restrictions were lifted after ensuring that the conditions were favourable and secure for flights.

He added airlines were permitted to resume flights starting at 5:00 a.m. local time (0130 GMT) on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported. (IANS)
20:34 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Biden says 'discussing' possible Israeli strikes on Iran oil facilities
President Joe Biden of the United States revealed that discussions were underway regarding potential Israeli military action against Iranian oil facilities. This statement was made in response to Iran's recent missile attacks targeting Israel. Biden's remarks caused an immediate surge in oil prices on Thursday.

When questioned by reporters at the White House about his stance on Israel launching strikes on Iran's oil sites, Biden responded, "We're discussing that. I think that would be a little... anyway." His comments, while not providing a definitive answer, indicated that the possibility of such strikes was under consideration.
20:26 (IST) Oct 03
Biden says 'nothing going to happen' today on Israeli strikes against Iran
President Joe Biden expressed his doubts about the possibility of Israeli strikes against Iran occurring on Thursday. He made these remarks while addressing reporters at the White House, as the region remains on edge, anticipating Israel's response to the substantial missile attack launched by Tehran.

Biden clarified the United States' stance, stating, "First of all, we don't 'allow' Israel, we advise Israel. And there is nothing going to happen today."

The President's comments come amidst heightened tensions in the region following Iran's aggressive move against Israel. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community closely monitors the developments, hoping for a peaceful resolution and the prevention of further escalation.
20:14 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Belgian journalists attacked and wounded during Beirut strikes
Two Belgian journalists were attacked and wounded in Lebanon while reporting on air raids in Beirut, their employer said Thursday, as fighting raged between Israel and Hezbollah.

VTM correspondent Robin Ramaekers and cameraman Stijn De Smet were beaten up and shot at by assailants accusing them of spying for Israel, the broadcaster said.

"Last night there was a bombing in central Beirut. When Robin and Stijn wanted to run a report on that, they got wounded," VTM's parent company, DPG Media said in a statement.

"Both are now in safety and are being cared for."

Ramaekers sustained facial injuries and was in hospital, while De Smet was discharged after receiving treatment for gunshot wounds to the leg.

Belgium's foreign ministry said it was monitoring the situation.

The pair had gone out reporting on an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut on an emergency services rescue facility run by Hezbollah, which said at least seven workers had been killed.

The reporters were wearing press jackets at the scene, Dutch-language newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws, which is part of DPG Media, reported.

But as they were talking to eyewitnesses, they came under attack from about 20 men who accused them of being spies.

De Smet took two bullets in his leg, while Ramaekers and a fixer were taken to a cellar, beaten, questioned and held for several hours, the report said. (AFP)
20:06 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Lebanon army fires at Israel in first after soldier's death
Lebanon's army said it returned Israeli fire for the first time Thursday in nearly a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, after a second soldier was killed by Israeli fire in a day.

"A soldier was killed after the Israeli enemy targeted an army post in the Bint Jbeil area -- in the south, and the personnel at the post responded to the sources of fire," the army said in a statement.

A military official, requesting anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told AFP this was the first response to Israeli fire since last October because the post had been "directly" hit.

It was the third such killing of a Lebanese soldier since the start of the escalation between the Iran-backed group and Israel on September 23. (AFP)
20:02 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Hezbollah claims it targeted Israeli military industries base in Haifa Bay
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. (Reuters)
19:41 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Israel says kills Palestinian involved in soldier murder
​The Israeli military said a strike on Gaza on Thursday killed a Palestinian who had waved his blood-stained hands at a crowd after a deadly attack on Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank more than two decades ago.

The civil defence agency in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip confirmed Abdelaziz Salha's death, saying he was killed when an Israeli strike hit a tent in a displacement camp in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah early on Thursday.

Salha in 2004 was sentenced to life for his part in the killing of Israeli soldier Vadim Norzich in the West Bank city of Ramallah four years earlier, in an incident caught on camera by an Italian television crew and broadcast across the globe.

A second soldier, Yossi Avrahami, was also killed in the October 2000 attack.

The widely shared footage -- one of the most well-known images from the start of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising -- showed Salha standing in an upstairs window of the Ramallah police station, waving his blood-stained hands at a crowd.

Announcing his death in an air strike, the military said that since his release from prison in 2011 and "over the past few years, Salha was involved in terrorist activity" in the West Bank.

The army statement said he was "involved in Hamas terrorist activity to this day".

Salha was sent to Gaza by Israeli authorities after being released from jail, one of 1,027 Palestinians freed in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was taken hostage by Gaza militants in 2006. (AFP)
19:02 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Israel strikes Hezbollah intelligence positions in Beirut, releases video
18:59 (IST) Oct 03
Hezbollah 'halts' Israeli advance; launches artillery bombardment on IDF troops from Lebanon village
03:01
18:47 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: France says Israel's 'persona non grata' designation of UN chief 'unjustified'
France on Thursday condemned Israel's move to declare UN chief Antonio Guterres "persona non grata", saying the decision was "unjustified."
"France regrets the unjustified, serious and counter-productive decision taken by Israel to declare the secretary general of the United Nations, Mr Antonio Guterres, persona non grata," the French foreign ministry said in a statement.

Paris said it had "full support for and confidence" in Guterres, adding that the United Nations played "a fundamental role in the stability of the region."

"France reiterates its commitment to the United Nations Charter, to international law and to the importance of respecting Security Council decisions in maintaining international peace and security," the statement added.

On Wednesday, Israel declared Guterres "persona non grata", accusing him of failing to specifically condemn Iran's missile attack on Israel.

Israel has been a harsh critic of the UN, with ties between the state and the international body souring even more after the October 7 Hamas attacks. (AFP)
18:05 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Iran summons European envoys over criticism of attack on Israel
Iran summoned the German and Austrian ambassadors on Thursday after their governments rebuked the Islamic republic over its missile attack on Israel, state media reported.

The move, according to the official IRNA news agency, was in response to the "unacceptable measures" by Germany and Austria in summoning the Iranian envoys over Iran's attack on Tuesday. (AFP)
18:04 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: 30 booked as group protests in Mumbai against killing of Hezbollah chief Nasrallah
Mumbai police have booked nearly 30 persons for holding a candlelight protest march without permission at the city's Govandi area after Israeli strikes killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon, an official said on Thursday.

The protest march took place on Tuesday evening between Imamwada and Bainganwadi locality in violation of the prohibitory orders of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), which were issued on September 12, the official said.

A 36-year-old policeman received on WhatsApp a video of the protest, which showed that slogans were raised in support of Palestine and against Israel, he said. The protesters were also holding posters of Nasrallah during the candlelight march, the official said.

The Shivaji Nagar police registered a case on Wednesday evening against seven identified and over 20 unidentified persons under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for "disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant" and the Maharashtra Police Act, he said.

Hezbollah chief Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese capital Beirut on September 28. (PTI)
17:44 (IST) Oct 03
4 Attacks In 60 seconds: Hezbollah's Falaq missile salvo burns IDF's Ramim barracks, Israeli cities
04:23
17:32 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Iran may have had role in Israeli embassy attacks in Nordics, says Swedish intelligence
Swedish intelligence agency Sapo said Thursday that Iran could have been involved in explosions and gunfire around Israeli embassies in Sweden and Denmark this week.

"There are some things that could point in that direction. In part due to the choice of targets and modus operandi, but that is an assumption rather than pure knowledge," Fredrik Hallstrom, head of operations at the Sapo agency, told a press conference after being asked about reports of Iranian links to the attacks.
17:25 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Iran's foreign ministry summons German and Austrian ambassadors in Tehran
Iran's foreign ministry has summoned German and Austrian ambassadors in the capital Tehran, reported news agency Reuters citing local media.
17:13 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Lebanon state media says new Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
Lebanon's state-run media said three Israeli air strikes hit Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold on Thursday, the latest raids following a night of intense bombardment.

"Enemy aircraft launched three strikes on (Beirut's) southern suburbs," the official National News Agency reported. (AFP)
17:10 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Lebanese Red Cross says Israeli strike wounded 4 of its medics, killed 1 Lebanese soldier
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 said the convoy near the village of Taybeh, which was accompanied by Lebanese troops, was targeted Thursday despite coordinating its movements with UN peacekeepers
16:53 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Emirates cancels Iran, Iraq, Jordan flights until October 5

Dubai's Emirates airline has canceled flights to Iraq, Iran, and Jordan for three days due to regional unrest following an Iranian missile strike on Israel. The cancellations affect flights from October 3 to October 5. Emirates issued an official statement saying, "Emirates is canceling all flights to/from Iraq (Basra and Baghdad), Iran (Tehran), and Jordan (Amman) on October 4 and 5 due to regional unrest."

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16:50 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Israeli defence forces accuse Hezbollah of using civilian crossing to smuggle Iranian weapons
Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has accused Hezbollah of using civilian crossing between Lebanon and Syria to smuggle Iranian weapons.
16:46 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Russia begins evacuating its citizens from Lebanon
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.

Israel, which has been fighting with Hamas in Gaza for almost a year, has sent its troops into southern Lebanon after two weeks of intense airstrikes, in an escalating conflict that risks drawing in the United States and Iran. (Reuters)
16:44 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Lebanon army says Israeli strike kills soldier in south
The Lebanese army said an Israeli strike killed one of its soldiers during a rescue operation with the Red Cross in southern Lebanon on Thursday.

"A soldier was killed and another was wounded as a result of an aggression by the Israeli enemy during an evacuation and rescue operation with the Lebanese Red Cross in Taybeh village," the army said.

The Lebanese Red Cross said four of its volunteers were wounded. (AFP)
16:43 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Iran rejects G7 statement on Iran's attack against Israel as 'biased': Statement
Iran views the Group of Seven (G7) condemnation of its attack on Israel as "biased and irresponsible", Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a statement on Thursday.

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.

"The (Foreign Ministry) spokesperson pointed to the definite responsibility of G7 countries, especially the United States, in increasing insecurity and instability in West Asia due to their armament, financial and political support to the aggressing party (Israel)," the statement issued by the ministry said. (Reuters)
16:34 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Four paramedics, Lebanese soldier killed in Israeli strike
Four paramedics and a Lebanese soldier were killed in an Israeli strike while evacuating wounded in the south, officials told news agency AP.
16:29 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Syria claims its air defenses confronting Israeli strikes
Syria’s state-run SANA news agency says air defenses are confronting "hostile targets" (code for Israeli strikes), near Damascus.

Explosions are reportedly heard in the western part of the Rif Dimashq Governorate, close to the border with Lebanon.

There is no comment from Israel on the alleged attack, reported Times of Israel.
15:41 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Israel tells Lebanese to evacuate 25 southern villages
Israel has ordered Lebanese to evacuate 25 southern villages as tension grows wider on Israel's northern front. (AFP)
15:32 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: 'Iran will pay a price,' says Israel envoy to India Reuven Azar
Israel's Ambassador to India, Reuven Azar, said that the country successfully defended itself against a barrage of ballistic missiles launched by Iran on Tuesday, adding that Iran would face consequences of this attack.

"Our PM was very clear that Iran will pay a price. We have to think about it thoroughly--can we have a situation where rouge states like Iran attack with a barrage of ballistic missiles? If this goes unchecked, then consequences will be terrible for the region...If nobody is going to stop Iran, then it is our responsibility," said the envoy.

While speaking to news agency ANI, Ambassador Azar attributed Israel's success in defending the rocket barage to two key factors, Israel's advanced air defence systems and its strong partnerships with the United States and neighbouring countries.

"We were pretty successful because of two reasons. First of all, we have probably the best air defence systems in the world and we have been able to thwart most of these missiles. We only left unattacked those who fell in open areas," he said

"And the second reason is that we have a very good partnership with the United States, for which we are very thankful, and with our neighbours that have been also helping us to thwart these ballistic missiles that are flying over their territory," he added.

Further, Azar emphasised that the countries of the Middle East remain 'determined' to protect themselves and confront Iran's blatant violation of international law.

"So we are determined, the countries of the Middle East, to do what we can defend ourselves from and to confront this flagrant violation of international law," he said to ANI.
15:17 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Hezbollah says fired rockets on north Israel's Tiberias
Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah has claimed that it has fired rockets on north Israel's Tiberias.

The Iran-backed group "fired a salvo of rockets at the city of Tiberias," it said, in response to the Israeli bombardment of Lebanese "towns, villages and civilians". (AFP)
15:06 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll at 41,788
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Thursday that at least 41,788 people have been killed in the war between Israel and Palestinian militants, now in its 12th month.

The toll includes 99 deaths in the previous 24 hours, according to the ministry, which said 96,794 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7. (AFP)
15:01 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Israeli military says it killed senior Hamas leader in Gaza strike earlier this year
The Israeli military said Thursday that it killed a senior Hamas leader in an airstrike in the Gaza Strip around three months ago. It said that a strike on an underground compound in northern Gaza killed Rawhi Mushtaha and two other Hamas commanders, Sameh Siraj and Sameh Oudeh.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

The military said the three commanders had taken refuge in a fortified underground compound in northern Gaza that served as a command and control center.

It said Mushtaha was a close associate of Yahya Sinwar, the top leader of Hamas who helped mastermind the Oct. 7 attack into Israel that triggered the war.

Sinwar is believed to be alive and in hiding inside Gaza. (AP)
14:59 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: 'Iran Revolutionary Guards consultant dies of injuries in Israeli strike on Damascus'
A consultant affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guards has succumbed to injuries sustained during an Israeli airstrike on the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Monday, according to Iran's Student News Network. The individual has been identified as Majid Divani, though further details have not been provided.
14:38 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Iran War Live: 'Vital target' In Tel Aviv 'hit' by Houthi drones; IDF confirms strike
03:41
14:24 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Iran War Live: Israel says 'IDF and ISA eliminated the terrorist Rawhi Mushtaha, the Head of the Hamas government'
14:22 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Iran War Live: 'Head of Hamas government Rawhi Mushtaha killed,' says Israel
'Israeli military says it eliminated Hamas members Sameh al-Siraj and Sami Oudeh,' Israel said in statement.
14:15 (IST) Oct 03
Israeli Air force says, 'Fighter jets attacked about 200 terrorist targets of Hezbollah in Lebanon'
14:03 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Hezbollah says it confronted Israeli forces at Fatima Gate
Lebanon's Hezbollah says it confronted an attempt by Israeli forces to advance at the Lebanese border's Fatima Gate: Statement
13:37 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: '15 Hezbollah members killed in strike at municipality building,' says IDF
Israeli military reported that an airstrike on Bint Jbeil municipality building in southern Lebanon, killing at least 15 Hezbollah members
13:04 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Hezbollah's Radwan unit strikes Israeli forces - video
03:53
12:46 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: 'No peace is possible in the region without establishing a Palestinian state,' says Qatar's Emir
Qatar's Emir: We call for serious ceasefire efforts in stopping Israel's "aggression" against Lebanon.

12:34 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Israeli Air Force tweets, 'Two unmanned aircraft were detected that crossed the territory of Lebanon'.
12:03 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Yemen's Houthis claim drone attack on Tel Aviv
On Thursday, Yemen's Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for a drone attack targeting Tel Aviv, although Israeli authorities have not directly confirmed the incident. The Houthis released a statement saying that they "carried out a military operation targeting a vital target in the Jaffa (Tel Aviv) area in occupied Palestine with a number of Jaffa drones".

According to the rebels, "The operation achieved its goals successfully as the drones reached their targets without the enemy being able to confront or shoot them down." The Israeli military, however, only mentioned intercepting "a suspicious aerial target" off central Israel overnight, without providing additional details.

The Houthi also claimed to have fired cruise missiles at Israel on Wednesday, following Iran's extensive bombardment of the country the previous night. Last week, the rebels reported firing a missile at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, which led to Israeli air strikes on Yemen, including the crucial port of Hodeida.
10:59 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Iran & Israel come to blows at UN Security Council after Tehran's missile attack shakes Tel Aviv
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10:44 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Israeli army says sirens sounded near Gaza strip due to 'false identification'
The Israeli army said that sirens that rang out early Thursday in the community of Nahal Oz, near the Gaza Strip, were attributed to a "false identification."
10:34 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: Israeli strike kills at least 6 in Beirut as foreign nationals evacuate
The death toll from an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut apartment building rose to at least six, according to Lebanon's Health Ministry, amidst global efforts to evacuate citizens from the country. Israel continued its ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah, while simultaneously conducting strikes in Gaza that resulted in dozens of casualties, including children. The Israeli military reported the loss of eight soldiers in the conflict in southern Lebanon.

The United Nations Security Council convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to address the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Iran's ambassador to the U.N. claimed that his country launched nearly 200 missiles at Israel on Tuesday as a deterrent measure, while his Israeli counterpart denounced the barrage as an "unprecedented act of aggression."

In response to the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged retaliation late Tuesday, prompting an Iranian commander to threaten broader strikes on infrastructure if Israel followed through. U.S. President Biden expressed his opposition to an Israeli attack targeting Iran's nuclear program on Wednesday.

The cross-border fire between Israel and Hezbollah has been a near-daily occurrence since the day following Hamas' attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. In response, Israel declared war on the militant group in the Gaza Strip. Local health officials report that more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed in the territory, with women and children accounting for just over half of the casualties.
10:09 (IST) Oct 03
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden dismissed the idea of supporting an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear facilities as retaliation for Iran's recent missile strike on Israel. When asked by reporters if he would back such an action, Biden responded, "The answer is no," as he was boarding Air Force One to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in the Carolinas.

Biden emphasized that all seven G7 leaders agree that Israel has the right to respond, but he stressed that their response should be proportionate. "All seven of us agree that they have a right to respond, but they should respond in proportion," he reiterated.

The President also mentioned that discussions would be held with the Israelis regarding their planned course of action. However, when a reporter inquired if he would support a decision to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, Biden considered it an excessive measure. He added that he intended to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "relatively soon."

Biden's statements came after a teleconference with leaders from the G7 nations, which include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. During the meeting, they coordinated new sanctions against Iran and condemned the country's attack on Israel, expressing their support for Israel's right to self-defense.
09:39 (IST) Oct 03
Hassan Jaafar al-Qasir, the son-in-law of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, lost his life on Wednesday during an Israeli military operation in Damascus, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The attack, which occurred in the Mazze district, targeted a residential apartment and claimed the lives of al-Qasir and another Lebanese national.

A source close to Hezbollah, speaking to AFP, verified the reports, stating, "Hassan Jaafar al-Qasir, the son-in-law of Hassan Nasrallah, was among two Lebanese victims of the Israeli raid which targeted an apartment in a residential building in the Mazze district of Damascus."
09:06 (IST) Oct 03
Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: France issue travel warnings over Israel-Iran tensions
The French Embassy in Iran has urged all French citizens to exercise caution and vigilance while traveling in Iran, in light of the recent developments in the Middle East. The embassy has advised French nationals to stay away from any potential gatherings and to stay informed about the latest news and instructions from the embassy through their official website.

The embassy has strongly recommended that non-resident French nationals refrain from traveling to Iran altogether.

"For French nationals passing through Iran: it is recalled that it remains recommended that non-resident French nationals absolutely refrain from coming to Iran; for those who are there despite everything, it is recommended to limit their movements, to avoid any gathering and to leave Iranian territory as soon as possible as soon as the airspace is opened," the statement said.

On the night of October 1, the Israel Defence Forces released footage showing hundreds of Iranian missiles raining down on the Old City in Jerusalem, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
7 More Updates
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivered his first sermon in almost five years, following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In his sermon, Khamenei praised Nasrallah, reflecting Nasrallah's pivotal role in ‘resisting Israel’. He also called Hezbollah's fight 'vital service to entire region'

Due to the threat of Israeli attacks on mourners, Nasrallah's body has been temporarily buried in an undisclosed location, as per AFP sources. His funeral has been delayed until security conditions improve.

The situation between Israel and Hezbollah has sharply escalated. Israeli forces have intensified their strikes on Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon, including key strongholds in southern Beirut and the group’s intelligence headquarters in the Lebanese capital. Israeli airstrikes have further disrupted the region by cutting off a critical highway between Lebanon and Syria, hindering evacuations and the transport of supplies. So far, the violence has claimed over 1,000 lives in Lebanon, displacing hundreds of thousands. In preparation for what appears to be an expanding military campaign, Israel issued evacuation orders to civilians in over 20 towns in southern Lebanon.

Iran has taken a central role in this unfolding conflict, standing firm behind Hezbollah. Khamenei justified Iran's missile attack on Israel as both “legal and legitimate,” reiterating Iran’s support for Hezbollah and vowing that Iran and its allies will not retreat against Israel.

The question of who will succeed Nasrallah as Hezbollah’s leader is becoming more urgent. Hashem Safieddine, a senior Hezbollah figure, was widely seen as the likely successor, particularly due to his close connections to Iran. Safieddine’s son is married to the daughter of the late Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, strengthening his standing within both Hezbollah and Iran’s power circles. However, Israeli forces claim to have already targeted Safieddine in their strikes.

As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, the risk of a broader regional war grows. Israel's military operations extend beyond Lebanon, with significant action against Hamas in Gaza. Despite Israel’s requests, UN peacekeepers stationed along the Israel-Lebanon border have remained in place, adding to the complexities of the situation. The violence and instability threaten to spiral into a larger regional conflict, drawing in more regional powers and exacerbating tensions across the Middle East.