Israel-Hezbollah conflict – latest: Israel strikes Lebanon as Hezbollah says device blasts are ‘act of war’
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blames Israel for attacks on group's communications devices that left 37 dead
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The Israeli military said it was striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon as the movement’s leader accused Israel of “crossing all of the red lines”, heightening fears of an escalation into a full-blown regional war.
Israeli jets were carrying out huge sonic booms over the Lebanese capital Beirut during a speech by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday, according to a witness.
Nasrallah blamed Israel for this week's deadly attacks on the militant group's communications devices, which he called a "severe blow" and said the group is investigating.
Hand-held walkie-talkie radios used by the armed group were detonated across Lebanon’s south on Wednesday, stoking tensions after similar explosions of the group’s pagers the day before.
Lebanon's health minister said on Thursday that the death toll from the second attack in Beirut's suburbs and the Bekaa Valley has now risen to 25, with at least 608 injured. A further 12 people were killed in explosions the previous day, including two children, with nearly 2,300 wounded.
"We are opening a new phase in the war," Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in the aftermath, adding that his country’s military focus is shifting to its northern border.
Although Israeli officials have not commented on the blasts, security sources said Israel's spy agency Mossad was responsible.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Sayyed Nasrallah said on Thursday the attacks blamed on Israel will be met with "just punishment".
At least 20 dead as walkie-talkies explode in Lebanon as Israel declares ‘new phase of war’ against Hezbollah
A war with Hezbollah may be looming. Is Israel prepared?
From booby-trapped walkie-talkies to exploding pagers – could our phones and cars be next?
Everything we know about the Hezbollah device explosions – and the questions that remain
Hezbollah pager attack mapped: Where did the explosions take place?
No US military changes in Middle East, says Pentagon
There are no changes to US military posture in the Middle East, the Pentagon told reporters on Thursday when asked about recent deadly Israeli attacks in Lebanon that blew up Hezbollah radios and pagers.
They added that any further attack in the region would not be helpful, and that they did not believe a ceasefire deal in Gaza was falling apart.
US state department says US does not want to see conflict escalate
The United States does not want to see any party escalate the conflict in the Middle East, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
His comments come as tensions in the region between Iran-backed Lebanese movement Hezbollah and Israel remained high.
Miller said at a regular briefing that Washington was committed to the defence of Israel against terrorist groups including Hezbollah and other Iranian proxies but cautioned that Washington’s priority was to deescalate the situation.
Voices: The Hezbollah pager attacks prove that Israel has no strategy for peace
Paging devices used by Hezbollah forces in Lebanon and Syria exploded near-simultaneously on 17 September, leaving 12 dead and almost 3,000 injured. The following day later, walkie-talkies exploded all over Lebanon, killing 20 and injuring at least 400. Both attacks are widely assumed to be the work of Israel.
The scale of the attacks, as well as their theatrical nature, can be seen as a bid by Israel’s military and intelligence forces to repair their reputation, left in tatters following the 7 October Hamas attacks.
It could also represent an attempt by Israel to address the problem of its northern border. Visiting the area this week, I have seen the effects of the continual exchanges of rocket and missile attacks, which have led to 60,000 people being evacuated from Israeli towns. According to reports, Lebanese villages have also been evacuated as a result of the fighting.
Read the full article from Bronwen Maddox here:
The Hezbollah pager attacks prove that Israel has no strategy for peace
With the first anniversary of 7 October approaching, Israel is no closer to a resolution of the Gaza conflict – and making terrorists’ electronic devices explode will not help, says Bronwen Maddox
Latest pictures from Lebanon’s border
US defence secretary postpones trip to Israel
The US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, has postponed a planned trip next week to Israel due to the escalation on the Israeli-Lebanese border, Axios is reporting, citing Israeli sources.
UK foreign secretary urges British nationals to leave Lebanon
UK’s foreign secretary David Lammy has urged British nationals to leave Lebanon while “commercial options remain”.
He added: “Tensions are high and the situation could deteriorate rapidly.”
Bulgaria investigating Sofia-based company over pager detonations
Bulgarian broadcaster bTV reported on Thursday that 1.6 million euros connected to the deadly exploding pagers attack in Lebanon passed through Bulgaria and were transferred on to Hungary. It cited sources at the State Agency for National Security.
Bulgarian authorities said on Thursday that their interior ministry and state security services had opened an investigation into a company’s possible ties.
They did not name the company they were investigating. Local media reports said Sofia-based Norta Global Ltd had facilitated the sale of the pagers to Hezbollah.
Israel warns Hezbollah will pay an ‘increasing price’, says defence minister
Israel will keep up military action against Lebanese Hezbollah, though the new phase of fighting does include significant risks, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday.
“In the new phase of the war there are significant opportunities but also significant risks. Hezbollah feels that it is being persecuted and the sequence of military actions will continue,” Gallant said in a statement.
“Our goal is to ensure the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes. As time goes by, Hezbollah will pay an increasing price,” Gallant said.
US and France call for restraint between Lebanon and Israel
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said he does not want to see any escalatory actions by any party that make a Gaza ceasefire deal even more difficult, adding that he believed a ceasefire remains possible and necessary.
It comes as other world leaders including Emmanuel Macron urge restraint, with the French leader holding phone calls with top political and military leaders from Lebanon.
He also had a separate conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after the wave of explosions of pagers and radio devices.
Israeli hospitals treat eight patients after drones crash across border
Hezbollah said earlier on Thursday it had targeted three military positions in northern Israel near the border, two of them with drones.
The Israeli military said the drones crashed near communities. Hospitals reported they treated at least eight patients lightly or moderately injured. The military said early on Thursday it had struck several militant sites in southern Lebanon overnight.
The volley of strikes was a signal by Hezbollah that it would continue its near daily fire, which it says is a show of support for Hamas. Israel’s 11-month-old war with Hamas in Gaza began after its militants led the October 7 attack on Israel.
Israel has responded to Hezbollah’s fire with strikes in southern Lebanon, and has struck senior figures from the group in the capital Beirut. The exchanges have killed hundreds in Lebanon and dozens in Israel and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents on each side of the border.
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