Israel-Iran latest: Hamas leader killed in Lebanon as Israeli strikes pummel Beirut suburbs

Iran vows to not back down as tensions escalate across Middle East

Black smoke rises from Lebanon’s Beirut skyline

Israeli strikes have pummelled Beirut for another day as residents were seen running for shelter and blasts echoed through the southern suburbs, sending huge plumes of smoke and flames into the night sky.

As buildings shook miles away from the explosions on Friday, Israel also cut off the main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, which is used by the tens of thousands of people fleeing the Israeli bombardment of Hezbollah.

Beirut was also rocked by huge explosions the previous night, amid reports Israeli strikes targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, who is regarded as the successor to the militant group’s leader Nasrallah Hassan after he was killed in an Israeli strike.

Following the reported targeting of its allies’ next leader, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed 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 that saw Iran launch around 180 rockets at Israel.

Key Points

• Israeli airstrikes rock southern suburbs of Beirut and cut off a key crossing into Syria
• Iran vows it will not back down from Israel
• Israel’s deadliest attack on West Bank in decades kills 18
• Trump urges Israel to strike Iran's nuclear sites: 'Worry about everything else later'
• Hamas leader killed along with family in Lebanon, Hamas says

[4 October 2024 08:42 · Alexander Butler]

What are Israel and Iran’s attack and defence capabilities?

[4 October 2024 08:40 · Alexander Butler]

Pictured: Israelis gather around Iranian missile debris

Israelis walk their dogs at the site of Iranian missile debris in the Negev desert on Thursday (AFP via Getty Images)

A group gathers around Iranian missile debris in the Negev desert after Tehran launched an attack on Israel earlier this week (AFP via Getty Images)

[4 October 2024 08:30 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

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.

[4 October 2024 08:00 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

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.

[4 October 2024 07:30 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

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.

[4 October 2024 07:00 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

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.

[4 October 2024 06:40 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

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.

[4 October 2024 06:20 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

UAE flight delays: How is the conflict affecting international flights?

The late afternoon Emirates flight from London Heathrow to Dubai has an advertised connection to Bangkok of just one hour.

Normally 60 minutes is sufficient for extricating passengers (and, separately, their checked baggage) from the world’s biggest passenger plane, the A380, and enabling them to board another SuperJumbo at a different gate at the airport that handles more international travellers than any in the world, all in the early hours of the morning.

But the remarkable, unrelenting choreography that allows millions of passengers to connect every day at Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and many other hubs is under severe strain as a result of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.

With Russian and Ukrainian skies closed to Western aircraft, the options for flying from Europe to Asia seem to be narrowing by the day.

Simon Calder reports.

[4 October 2024 06:00 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Israel strikes Masnaa border crossing between Syria and Lebanon - report

The Israeli military has struck the Masnaa border crossing between Syria and Lebanon with two missiles, halting traffic between the two nations, according to reports.

All departures and entry of passengers and cargo activities were suspended at the border this morning until further notice, authorities said.

Israel has accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah of smuggling weapons from Syria through the border crossing.

[4 October 2024 05:30 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Oil jumps over 5 per cent a barrel amid supply worry

Oil prices surged yesterday as concerns mounted that a widening regional conflict in the Middle East could disrupt global crude flows.

Brent crude futures settled up £2.83, or 5.03 per cent, at £59.13 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled up £2.75, or 5.15 per cent, to £56.15.

Market fears are rising over the possibility that Israel might target Iranian oil infrastructure, which could provoke retaliation.

“Markets are in a state of suspense, bracing for Israel’s anticipated retaliation against Iran - a move that could catapult oil prices skyward,” independent markets analyst Stephen Innes, told AFP.

US president Joe Biden said “we’re discussing that” when asked if he would support Israel striking Iran’s oil facilities.“There is nothing going to happen today,” he added.