Israel-Hezbollah latest: Iran vows to carry on fighting after Hezbollah successor ‘targeted in Beirut blast’
Israeli strike lands just outside perimeter of Beirut airport as Lebanon offensive continues
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Iran has warned it will not back down from Israel after the Jewish state reportedly targeted the successor of Tehran-backed Hezbollah’s leader Nasrallah Hassan in Lebanon.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said his country, and his regional proxies across the Middle East, would carry on fighting Israel as tensions escalate across the region.
“The brilliant action of our armed forces a couple of nights ago was completely legal and legitimate”, Khamenei said of a massive missile barrage which saw over 100 rockets launched at Israel earlier in the week.
It comes after Beirut was rocked by huge explosions amid reports senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, regarded as the militia’s next leader, was targeted in Israeli strikes.
Civilians were fleeing the series of massive blasts in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Thursday night, with state media reporting there were more than 10 consecutive airstrikes.
Iran’s “axis of resistance” comprises a group of violent proxies across Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Palestine, coordinated by Iran’s Quds Force, the foreign arm of the IRGC.
The Quds Force’s aim is to export Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution abroad and is opposed to any US or Israeli influence in the Middle East.
UAE flight delays: How is the unfolding Middle East conflict affecting international flights?
Israeli strikes on Beirut kill at least nine as military calls for more Lebanon evacuations
Girl, 9, calls for end to violence from hospital bed in Lebanon
What are Israel and Iran’s attack and defence capabilities?
Mapped: Israel ordered civilians to take cover in bomb shelters as Iran launches missiles
Israel ordered civilians to take cover in bomb shelters as Iran launches missiles
Pictures show families taking shelter under vehicles and under bridges
How ironclad is Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system?
Since Israel activated the Iron Dome in 2011, the cutting-edge rocket-defense system has intercepted thousands of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, including on Tuesday night when Iran launched a large scale missile attack.
The system has given residents a sense of security, and Israelis can often be seen watching the projectiles flying through the skies and destroying their targets overhead.
But the current war with Hamas, which has led to direct confrontations with Iran, might be its stiffest challenge yet.
How ironclad is Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system?
Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system enjoys a near-mythical status among Israelis
Iran supreme leader Ali Khamenei to give first Friday sermon in 5 years
Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei will deliver a public sermon during today’s prayers, which could shed light on the country’s plans after firing 200 missiles at Israel.
Today’s sermon would be the Ayatollah’s first in almost five years and comes three days before the one-year anniversary of Israel’s war on Gaza.
Khamenei will lead the prayer at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla mosque in central Tehran, which will follow “a commemoration ceremony” at 10.30am (local time) for slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
What are Israel and Iran’s attack and defence capabilities?
Pictured: Israelis gather around Iranian missile debris
Israel intercepts more rockets fired from Lebanon
The Israel Defence Force today said it intercepted some of the 20 rockets fired by Lebanon toward the Haifa area.
While most projectiles were intercepted, others struck open ground, the military said.
What are Israel and Iran’s attack and defence capabilities?
Fears are rising of an all-out war across the Middle East in the wake of lran launching almost 200 ballistic missiles in an attack on Israel, marking a major escalation in the conflict between the two bitter enemies.
Figures published by the think tank the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) show that Israel has 169,500 active personnel, with a reserve army of 465,000. Those currently in service include 126,000 in the army, 9,500 in the navy and 34,000 in the air force.
Meanwhile, Iran has 610,000 active personnel, which includes 350,000 in their army, 190,000 in the IRGC, and 15,000 in air defence and 18,000 in the navy.
They also have an additional reserve of 350,000 with conscription mandatory for Iranian men over 18, while Israel conscripts most young men and women over 18 with a few exemptions.
Holly Evans reports.
What are Israel and Iran’s attack and defence capabilities?
The two bitter regional enemies are on the brink of all-out war
Israel strikes near Russian air base in Syria - report
Suspected Israeli rockets struck near a Russian airbase in Syria, which is believed to house weapons for Iran, according to a report.
About 30 missiles were fired at a target near Khmeimim air base overnight, triggering a series of huge explosions, The Telegraph reported.
The strikes were launched an hour after an Iranian Qassem Fars Airlines cargo plane allegedly delivered weapons at the base, according to the report.
Purported video from the strikes showed streaks of bright orange lighting up the night sky as air defences attempted to intercept the missile.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights told The Telegraph that Russian and Syrian air defences attempted to intercept missiles for at least 40 minutes in Latakia but failed.
Boris Johnson claims bugging device found in bathroom after Netanyahu visit
A bugging device was found in Boris Johnson’s bathroom after a visit by Benjamin Netanyahu when he was foreign secretary, the former prime minister has claimed.
Mr Johnson alleged that his security team had made the discovery when they did a sweep of the toilets after the Israeli premier had used them during a meeting in 2017.
Writing in his memoir, “Unleashed”, the former Tory MP said Mr Netanyahu had excused himself during talks at his old office to use the washroom, described as “a secret annex… a bit like the gents in a posh London club.”
More here.
Boris Johnson claims bugging device found in his bathroom after Netanyahu visit
The former prime minister alleged that his security team had made the discovery when they did a sweep of the toilets in 2017.
Israeli strike ‘closes off road' used to flee Lebanon to Syria
An Israeli strike this morning near Lebanon’s Masnaa border crossing with Syria cut off a road used by hundreds of thousands of people to flee Israeli bombardments in recent days, Lebanon’s transport minister said.
Ali Hamieh told Reuters that the strike hit inside Lebanese territory near the border crossing, creating a 12ft wide crater.
An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) military spokesman had accused Lebanese armed group Hezbollah on Thursday of using the crossing to transport military equipment into Lebanon.
“The IDF will not allow the smuggling of these weapons and will not hesitate to act if forced to do so, as it has done throughout this war,” IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.
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