Middle East live: Israel says it killed two more Hezbollah commanders in Lebanon as Biden and Netanyahu speak
It comes as the Israeli military expanded its ground invasion of southern Lebanon with thousands of troops
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The Israeli military said it killed two more Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon and its fighter jets attacked ammunition depots in Beirut.
The Israeli troops also killed a member of Hezbollah's "Golan Terrorist Network" in the area of Quneitra in Syria, the military said.
The strikes took place as US president Joe Biden and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a potential Israeli response to Iran’s missile attack in a 30-minute phone call.
The “direct and very productive” conversation yesterday came after the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, reiterated to his country’s media plans for a “deadly, precise and above all surprising” strike against Iran.
Iran launched a missile attack last week following an escalation of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has since vowed retaliation, with some analysts predicting Israel is most likely to respond by targeting Iranian military installations.
Mr Biden reportedly urged Mr Netanyahu to minimise civilian casualties in Lebanon, where the government health minister says more than 2,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks.
400,000 trapped in hell of northern Gaza, UN says, as death toll passes 42,000
400,000 trapped in hell of northern Gaza, UN says, as death toll passes 42,000
Up to 51,000 children in the besieged Gaza strip could be unaccompanied or separated from their parents
Netanyahu speaking with Biden over the phone
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is speaking to US president Joe Biden over the phone, according his office.
Biden is said to want to “shape the limitations” of Israel’s retaliation to ensure targets hit across Iran are “significant” without being disproportionate, White House officials said.
Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to respond to Iran’s attack last Tuesday, which saw almost 200 ballistic missiles fired at Israel.
On the ground: NHS medics volunteering in Gaza warn of catastrophic collapse of healthcare system
NHS medics volunteering in Gaza warn of catastrophic collapse of healthcare system
‘The situation is extremely desperate... humanitarian access and supplies remain severely restricted,’ the medics tell Bel Trew
Hezbollah has fired 12,000 weapons at Israel in past year, Israeli military says
Hezbollah has fired more than 12,000 rockets, missiles and drones at Israel in the past year, the Israeli military said.
At least 60,000 Israelis have been forced to evacuate their homes and hundreds of thousands to take cover in bomb shelters on a daily basis, spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.
“Hezbollah is storing their weapons under the cover of Lebanese civilians,” he added.
“The IDF is operating against Hezbollah with the clear goal to remove the threat to Israeli civilians and enable all residents to return to their home in Israel in safety and security.”
Spanish PM calls Israeli strikes in Lebanon an ‘invasion’
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described Israel’s military offensives in Lebanon as an “invasion” on Wednesday.
“It is clear that there has been an invasion by a third country of a sovereign state such as Lebanon, and therefore the international community cannot remain indifferent,” the Socialist premier told parliament.
“We denounced (this situation) in Ukraine, we also denounce it in Gaza and now we are also denouncing the invasion of Lebanon,” he added.
NHS medics volunteering in Gaza warn of catastrophic collapse of healthcare system
NHS medics volunteering in Gaza warn of catastrophic collapse of healthcare system
‘The situation is extremely desperate... humanitarian access and supplies remain severely restricted,’ the medics tell Bel Trew
Keir Starmer takes aim at ‘malign’ Iran and vows never to ban all arms sales to Israel
Starmer takes aim at ‘malign’ Iran and vows never to ban all arms sales to Israel
Starmer tells MPs: ‘This was not a defensive action by Iran, it was an act of aggression’
Comment: It’s time to get tough on Iran – and help the people overthrow their despotic leaders
It’s time to get tough on Iran – and help the people overthrow their despotic leaders
Britain and its allies need to square up to Iran – starting by designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation and cutting off the ayatollahs’ financial lifeline, writes chair of the 1922 Committee Bob Blackman
Two people killed in northern Israel by Hezbollah rocket fire, medics say
Two people were killed in a town in northern Israel that was hit by rocket fire from Hezbollah in Lebanon on Wednesday, Israeli authorities said.
Israel’s ambulance service said that a man and a woman had been killed in the town of Kirya Shmona. The military said about 20 projectiles had been launched from Lebanon in the barrage.
Underground weapons store destroyed in southern Lebanon, Israeli military says
The Israeli military said it had destroyed an underground weapons store found seven metres below a residential building in southern Lebanon.
“The soldiers located hundreds of weapons, including an underground weapons storage facility approximately seven metres under a home within the village where the troops are operating,” it said.
“Within the weapons storage facility, the troops discovered sniper rifles and numerous weapons.”
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