Israel-Lebanon latest: Fighter jets strike 220 Hezbollah targets in a day, Israel says, as ceasefire rejected
Netanyahu ordered strikes to continue as Israel rejected a US-French proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Israel struck about 220 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon 24 hours, military leaders have said.
The targets included infrastructure sites, launchers from which projectiles were fired toward Israeli territory, Hezbollah operatives and weapons storage facilities.
Earlier, Israel said a Hezbollah air force commander had been killed in an air strike on Beirut.
Mohammad Surur, the head of one of Hezbollah's air force units, was killed in the strike on a populated area of Beirut’s southern suburbs.
There have been a number of such strikes this week, alongside more than 1,000 others around the country.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s government ruled out a ceasefire with Hezbollah, instead ordering his military to fight at full force.
The UK joined the US, France and other allies in calling for a 21-day temporary truce. In a statement, Mr Netanyahu’s office said: “The news about a ceasefire – not true. This is an American-French proposal, to which the prime minister did not even respond.”
The proposed ceasefire agreement would not affect the war in Gaza.
Britons urged to leave Lebanon now – but what are their travel options after most flights cancelled?
Lebanon: Travel advice on flights and border crossings after Britons told to leave
‘If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave while commercial options remain available’ – UK Foreign Office
'At least 22 people’ killed in in Israeli air strikes
At least 22 people have died in Lebanon as a result of Israeli strikes today, according to a Reuters tally of health ministry statements.
We have more photos from Lebanon as Israel carries out airstrikes
Israel extends strikes on southern Lebanon
The Israeli military has announced that it is extending it’s strikes on southern Lebanon to inlcude Nabatea.
The area is located south of the Bekaa valley towards the centre of Lebanon.
Mapped: Where have Israel’s missiles hit Lebanon as 500 killed
Mapped: Where have Israel’s missiles hit Lebanon as nearly 500 die in one day
Israel claims Hezbollah hides rockets and weaponry in residential areas; Lebanon’s health ministry accuses Israel of hitting hospitals and homes
Update: nearly 41,500 Palestinians killed in Gaza, says health ministry
The Gaza health ministry has issued an updated death toll in the Strip as it nears a year of Israel’s war on Hamas in the region.
At least 41,495 Palestinians have been killed, the Hamas-run ministry said, adding that 96,006 have been injured.
While Israel fires on what it says are Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, the number of deaths in Gaza has decreased.
A dozen Palestinians were killed as a result of Israeli attacks in Gaza on Monday, compared with 24 on Sunday and 40 on Saturday.
A civil defence spokesperson in Gaza, Mahmoud Basal, said on Monday that the number of strikes had reduced three-fold in recent days.
He added that there used to be drones over Gaza’s skies “around-the-clock, but for the last two days, their presence and noise have diminished”.
“At least now we can sleep without the constant sound of drones,” he told The Washington Post.
Pope Francis, back from flu, calls airstrikes on Lebanon 'unacceptable'
Pope Francis called Israeli strikes on Lebanon a “terrible escalation” of the Middle East conflict on Wednesday at the end of his weekly general audience at the Vatican, which went ahead two days after he cancelled meetings over mild flu.
The pope said the attacks, in which Israel says it has been striking targets affiliated with the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, were “unacceptable” and urged the international community to do everything possible to halt the fighting.
Francis did not specifically identify Israel, but said he was “saddened by news from Lebanon in recent days that bombardments have caused much destruction and many victims”.
The 87-year-old pontiff, who has suffered bouts of ill health in recent years, appeared in good form through his audience although he coughed lightly a few times while speaking.
Keir Starmer warns Middle East on brink of all out war ahead of UN debut
Starmer warns Middle East on brink of all out war ahead of UN debut
UK sending around 700 troops to Cyprus for possible emergency evacuation of citizens
Here are some of the latest photos from Lebanon
Below are some of the latest photos from Lebanon as Israel launches “extensive strikes” over the border for the third day in a row.
Three killed in Israeli strike on Lebanese town in Christian-majority region, ministry says
Three people were killed and nine others injured in an Israeli strike on the Lebanese Shi’ite town of Maaysrah in the Christian-majority Keserwan region, the country’s health ministry said on Wednesday.
It was the first time the area was struck in recent hostilities between the Israeli military and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments