Israel-Iran latest: Blast near Beirut airport as Hezbollah leadership targeted and 18 dead in West Bank strike
Israeli strike lands just outside perimeter of Beirut airport as Lebanon offensive continues
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Beirut has been rocked by huge explosions with a Lebanese government source claiming at least one Israeli strike had come close to the city’s airport.
Senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, who is widely regarded as the successor to slain leader Hassan Nasrallah, was a target of the strikes, US news site Axios reported.
Civilians were fleeing the series of massive blasts in Beirut’s southern suburbs last night, with state media reporting there were more than 10 consecutive airstrikes.
Witnesses said they saw smoke near Beirut’s international airport while a source in Lebanon’s transport ministry said an Israeli strike had come down outside the perimeter this morning.
Earlier at least nine people were killed and 14 wounded in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, targeting a building near the parliament.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 18 people, including children, in the occupied West Bank in one of the deadliest attacks in two decades, the Palestinian health ministry said.
The Israeli military said that it had conducted a strike on Tulkarm which killed the head of the Hamas network in the city.
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Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill 37 in past 24 hours, health ministry says
Israeli strikes on Lebanon have left 37 people dead and 151 wounded in the past 24 hours, the Lebanese health ministry said in a statement early on Friday.
Israeli strike on Beirut targets senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, Axios reporter says
An Israeli strike on Beirut targeted senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, Axios reporter Barak Ravid said in a post on social media platform X early on Friday, citing an Israeli source.
Safieddine is the man widely regarded as the heir of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Reuters could not confirm the information in the social media post and there was no immediate official statement from any side.
Pentagon says it's talking to Israel about response to Iran's attack
The Pentagon said on Thursday that it was in discussions with Israeli officials about their possible response to Iran's missile attack earlier this week but declined to offer more details on those talks.
"We are certainly talking to them about their response, but what their response might be, I'm just not going to speculate further on. But we do continue to engage with them," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh.
Israeli military says it killed head of Hamas network in West Bank's Tulkarm
The Israeli military said early on Friday it killed the head of the Hamas network in a strike on West Bank's Tulkarm.
In a statement, the military identified the Hamas operative as Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi.
Israeli strike hits outside perimeter of Beirut airport, transport ministry source says
At least one Israeli strike hit outside the perimeter of Beirut's international airport early on Friday, according to a source in Lebanon's ministry of transport and public works.
A series of loud explosions were heard near Lebanon's Beirut airport, with smoke seen nearby after jets were heard overhead, Reuters witnesses said.
Israel’s ambassador to UN: ‘We have a lot of options with Iran'
Israel has a lot of options when it comes to striking back at Iran in response to its missile attacks earlier this week, the country's ambassador to the United Nations told CNN on Thursday.
"We have a lot of options ... so it's (up to) us to decide where and when we want to attack, but they are vulnerable. They know that," said Danny Danon.
G7 statement renews calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
The G7 statement renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the leaders vowed to "continue to be in close contact with all actors" to seek to restore peace and stability.
It added: "We are also deeply concerned about the situation in Lebanon. We recall the need for a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible to create space for a diplomatic solution along the Blue Line, consistent with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.
"This is the only path to durably de-escalate tensions, stabilise the Israel-Lebanon border, fully restore the sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability of Lebanon, and return displaced citizens to their homes with safety and security on both sides.
"We urge all actors to protect civilian populations. We are committed to providing humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of civilians in Lebanon."
At least 14 killed in Israeli strike on Tulkarm in West Bank, Palestinian Health ministry says
At least 14 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on the Tulkarm refugee camp in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said on Thursday.
The Israeli military earlier said in a statement that it had conducted a strike on Tulkarm, without providing more details.
The Palestinian Red Crescent, separately, said that at least five people were killed in the strike on Tulkarm.
Violence has surged in the West Bank since the start of the war in Gaza, with almost daily sweeps by Israeli forces that have involved thousands of arrests and regular gunbattles between security forces and Palestinian fighters.
Israeli military conducts strike on Tulkarm in Occupied West Bank, statement says
The Israeli military said in a statement on Thursday that it has conducted a strike on the West Bank city of Tulkarm.
G7 leaders warn of ‘dangerous cycle of attacks’ leading to ‘uncontrollable escalation’ in Middle East
G7 leaders warned of a "dangerous cycle of attacks" leading to "uncontrollable escalation" in the Middle East as conflict spirals in the region.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, they expressed "deep concern" about the deteriorating situation and called for a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon.
"We, the leaders of the G7, express deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and condemn in the strongest terms Iran's direct military attack against Israel, which constitutes a serious threat to regional stability," it said.
"We unequivocally reiterate our commitment to the security of Israel. Iran's seriously destabilising actions throughout the Middle East through terrorist proxies and armed groups - including the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Hamas - as well as Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq, must stop. Yesterday we discussed co-ordinated efforts and actions to avoid escalation in the area.
"A dangerous cycle of attacks and retaliation risks fuelling uncontrollable escalation in the Middle East, which is in no-one's interest. Therefore, we call on all regional players to act responsibly and with restraint. We encourage all parties to engage constructively to de-escalate the current tensions. International humanitarian law must be respected."
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