Israel-Hezbollah latest: Israeli forces ‘conducting Lebanon raids’ ahead of possible full ground invasion
Defence minister tells troops near border that Israel ‘will use all the forces from the air, sea and land’ as an airstrike hits Beirut for the first time in 18 years
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Israeli special forces are said to be conducting small-group raids into southern Lebanon to gather intelligence on Hezbollah positions, with Israel’s defence minister hinting at a ground invasion.
Yoav Gallant was quoted by Iasraeli media as telling armoured corps troops near the Lebanon border: “To return the resident of the north safely to their homes we will activate all our capabilities - including you.”
"We will use all the forces from the air, sea and land," he added.
It comes as the deputy leader of Hezbollah vowed to be ready for an Israeli invasion.
In his first speech since Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah over the weekend, the group’s deputy chief Naim Qassem said he was confident Hezbollah could push Israeliforces back like during the war in 2006.
“We are confident the Israeli enemy will not achieve its aims,” Qassem said. “We will confront any possibility and are ready if Israel decides to enter by land.”
Israel intensified its airstrikes on Monday, hitting central Beirut for the first time since 2006, while also killing Hamas’s leader in Lebanon in the southern city of Tyre.
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More than 211,000 people forced to flee homes, says UN
The number of people displaced by the conflict from southern Lebanon now stands at more than 211,000, according to the United Nations.
The United Nations’ refugee agency says 70,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria to escape Israeli bombardment.
The total includes both Lebanese citizens and Syrians who had moved to Lebanon but are now returning.
Sarah Haj Hassan, who fled Shmustar near Lebanon’s eastern city of Baalbek, said: “I lost my house, and my parents’ house was damaged.”
She is one of 7,500 people who have registered in the Sayyida Zeinab suburb of Damascus.
Biden vows to talk to Netanyahu, saying war must be avoided
US president Joe Biden has said an all-out war “has to be avoided” in the Middle East and he aims to speak to Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, but he did not say when.
“I’ll tell you what I say to him when I talk to him,” he told reporters. Asked whether all-out war in the Middle East could be avoided, he replied: “It has to be. We really have to avoid it.”
US warplanes, ships and troops ready for wider conflict
A recap:
Syrians in shock during three days of mourning
Flags have been flying at half-mast in Damascus and residents said they were still shocked after the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, whose fighters helped Syria’s army reclaim large parts of the country during its brutal civil war.
Syria announced three days of national mourning for Nasrallah, after president Bashar al-Assad said Nasrallah would “remain in the memory of Syrians”.
In Damascus, residents expressed disbelief over the killing.
“He can’t die. He always dreamed of martyrdom, and while this is fitting, it’s still so hard to accept,” said Marwa Barkouka. “He remains alive, not just as a martyr but because he lives inside us. We grew up with him here.”
Syria’s conflict erupted in 2011 with protests against Assad. Nasrallah in 2012 called for reform in the country, but by the next year said that Hezbollah would fight alongside Assad to prevent Syria falling to Sunni jihadi radicals, the United States and Israel.
Many credit Hezbollah’s intervention with key victories.
“For us, this man was like an entire nation. We had dignity, and now it’s gone,” said Ibrahim Al-Ahmad, another resident of Damascus.
Hezbollah will try to quickly rebuild itself, US warns
A top White House official says Israel has “wiped out” Hezbollah’s command structure with a barrage of airstrikes, but warned that the militant group will work to quickly rebuild.
National security spokesman John Kirby said: “They will try to recover. We’re watching to see what they do to try to fill this leadership vacuum.”
Referring to the strike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Mr Kirby said: “I think people are safer without him walking around.”
But, speaking on CNN, he sidestepped questions about whether the administration agreed with how the Israelis are going about targeting Hezbollah leaders.
The White House continues to call on Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a 21-day temporary ceasefire that was floated by the US, France and other countries last week.
Pope suggests Israel’s actions ‘disproportionate and immoral'
Pope Francis suggests Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon are disproportionate and immoral
Pope Francis is suggesting that Israel has used an “immoral” and disproportionate response in its attacks in Gaza and Lebanon
New Israeli attack ‘kills 24 people'
An Israeli attack on the city of Ain Deleb in southern Lebanon has killed 24 people and wounded 29 others, according to a preliminary toll, Lebanon‘s Health Ministry says.
Israel claims mass attack on Houthi sites in Yemen
The Israeli military says dozens of its aircraft have struck Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a recent attack on Israel.
The military said it targeted power plants and sea port facilities in the city of Hodeida.
The Houthis launched a ballistic missile attack on Ben Gurion airport on Saturday when prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was arriving.
Israeli airstrike on northeast Lebanon kills 11
Israel-Hamas war latest: Israeli airstrike on northeast Lebanon kills 11
An Israeli airstrike on northeast Lebanon has killed 11 people Sunday morning, a day after the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah confirmed the death of multiple commanders, including longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah
US campuses prepare for anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel
College officials are trying to avoid a repeat of scenes when thousands of students were arrested and learning was disrupted after Israel began its retaliation for the 7 October Hamas attack:
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