Israel-Iran latest: Israel strikes Beirut as eight IDF soldiers killed fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon
Israel strikes central Beirut, killing six and leaving seven wounded
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Israel has suffered its first military casualties in its ground invasion of southern Lebanon, with eight Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers killed in intense clashes against Hezbollah.
Those losses came as Israel struck central Beirut, with an airstrike not far from Lebanon’s parliament resulting in at least six deaths and seven injuries.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to defeat Iran’s “Axis of Evil”, saying: “We are at the height of a difficult war... we will stand together and with God’s help, we will win together.”
Hezbollah confirmed it was engaged in clashes with Israeli forces, claiming to have destroyed three Israeli Merkava tanks. Lebanon’s health ministry reported 46 deaths from Israeli airstrikes in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden stated that the US will not support an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites, saying, “the answer is no” following Iran’s missile attacks on Israel after its invasion of Lebanon.
And the UN has hit back at Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz for banning its secretary-general Antonio Guterres and declaring him “persona non grata”.
British defence secretary expresses UK’s ‘total condemnation’ of Iran’s attack
Britain’s defence secretary has said he spoke with the Israeli defence minister to express the UK’s “total condemnation” of Iran’s attack and “steadfast commitment” to Israel’s security.
In a post on X on Wednesday evening, John Healey said: “I spoke to Yoav Gallant today to express our total condemnation of Iran’s massive missile attack against Israel.
“I set out the UK’s continuing, steadfast commitment to Israel’s security.
“We must avoid further escalation and secure an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.”
US resident killed in Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, friend says
A US resident from Dearborn, Michigan, has been killed in Lebanon, the American government said on Wednesday, with the man's friend and neighbors saying he died in an Israeli airstrike.
"We are deeply saddened by the death of Kamel Ahmad Jawad and our hearts go out to his family and friends. His death is a tragedy, as are the deaths of many civilians in Lebanon," a White House spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, a State Department spokesperson, when asked about reports of an American's death in Lebanon, said: "It's our understanding that it was a legal permanent resident, not an American citizen (who got killed in Lebanon) but we obviously offer our sincerest condolences to the family."
Israel's recent military campaign in Lebanon has killed hundreds, wounded thousands and displaced over a million. Israel says it is targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
Jawad was in Lebanon taking care of his elderly mother, according to the Detroit News. His friend Hamzah Raza and local Dearborn groups said on social media that Jawad was killed in an Israeli air strike and called him "one of the kindest and most generous humans".
The Independent was unable to confirm the circumstances of Jawad's death.
Washington has faced criticism in some quarters for its support of its ally Israel, which is also waging a war in Gaza, including in Dearborn where there is a large Arab American population.
Israel at war against ‘evil axis of Iran’ says Netanyahu as he sends condolences to soldiers killed in Lebanon
Israel at war against ‘evil axis of Iran’ says Netanyahu in condolence message
Israel is at war against the “evil axis of Iran”, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said as he sent his condolences to soldiers killed in Lebanon. Mr Netanyahu offered condolences to the families of soldiers killed in combat in southern Lebanon on Wednesday (2 October). The deaths were announced a day after Israel said it had launched a ground incursion across its northern border and on the eve of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. The seven soldiers were killed in two separate incidents, the military said. In his condolences message, Netanyahu also accused Tehran of trying to "wipe out" Israel and said the country was at war "against the evil axis of Iran."
Airstrike hits apartment building in central Beirut
An apparent Israeli airstrike has hit an apartment building near the center of the Lebanese capital, marking the second time Israel has struck central Beirut this week.
The airstrike Wednesday started a fire in an apartment in the multistory building in the residential Bashoura district. It is not clear whether there were any casualties. Ambulances rushed to the scene.
Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV station said the strike targeted a center of the group's health unit.
The airstrike hit not far from the United Nations headquarters, the prime minister's office and parliament.
There was no warning issued ahead of the strike.
At least two killed and 11 wounded in Israeli strike on Beirut, says Lebanese health ministry
At least two people have been killed and 11 wounded in an Israeli strike on central Beirut, the Lebanese health ministry has said.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon kill 46 in past 24 hours, health ministry says
Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed 46 people and wounded 85 in the past 24 hours, the Lebanese health ministry said in a statement early on Thursday.
UK’s Armed Forces not able to defend Israel from Iranian ballistic missile attacks, experts claim
The UK’s Armed Forces are not able to defend Israel from Iranian ballistic missile attacks, experts have claimed.
RAF Typhoon jet fighters are believed to lack the weapons required to protect Israel from a bombardment like Tuesday’s, forcing Britain into a supporting role as the US defends its ally.
Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace told The Telegraph that the UK’s Type-45 anti-missile destroyers would also struggle with a response.
Meanwhile, sources alleged that the Royal Navy’s carrier strike groups did not have a sufficient number of sailors to effectively operate in a way zone.
BREAKING: Israeli strike hits central Beirut, security source says
An Israeli strike early on Thursday hit within Beirut's city limits, not far from downtown, a security source told Reuters.
Witnesses in central Beirut heard a massive blast.
The Israeli military said in a statement late on Wednesday that it had conducted a precise strike on the Lebanese capital.
What do we know about the rescue flight from Beirut?
Flight DN9999 from Beirut to Birmingham was the first rescue flight organised by the UK government since the Covid pandemic, writes Travel Correspondent Simon Calder.
The plane was a 15-year-old Airbus A320, a standard low-cost jet equipped with 180 seats, belonging to the Romanian airline, Dan Air.
The aircraft began the rescue mission in Bucharest, the airline’s base, with a two-hour flight carrying no passengers to Beirut.
The plane was on the ground in the Lebanese capital for three-and-a-half hours, missing its intended departure time by 90 minutes.
On the 2,400-mile flight from Beirut to Birmingham, it stopped at Bucharest along the way, about one-third of the way into the journey, to refuel and change crew. This was a much shorter stop, just 40 minutes. The plane eventually touched down at Birmingham at 8.39pm,
Ahead of the flight, the UK government said: “Vulnerable British nationals and their spouse or partner, and children under the age of 18, will be prioritised for this flight.
“This includes those with greatest need, including those with medical conditions, over-65s and children. British nationals should not make their way to the airport unless they have a confirmed seat on the plane.”
Passengers paid £350 for the one-way journey – well above the average commercial fare. But seats on scheduled flights are extremely scarce, and some private jet operators have been asking tens of thousands of pounds to fly people out from Beirut to Turkey.
Gulf Cooperation Council affirms support for Lebanon and calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza
The Gulf Cooperation Council affirmed its support for Lebanon during such a "critical stage" and called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the council said late on Wednesday after holding an extraordinary ministerial meeting in Doha.
The meeting was held to discuss the latest regional developments.
The council also condemned the escalation of conflict in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories, calling on all involved parties to exercise self-restraint and refrain from violence, it added in a statement.
More than 1,900 people have been killed and over 9,000 wounded in Lebanon in almost a year of cross-border fighting between Israel and Iranian-backed Hezbollah, with most of the deaths occurring in the past two weeks, according to Lebanese government statistics.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians since 7 October, when Hamas gunmen led an incursion into Israel, killing around 1,200 people and abducting about 250 hostages, according to Israel and Gaza health authorities.
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