Israel-Lebanon live: Houthis fire ballistic missile at Tel Aviv as Israeli airstrike kills entire family of 9
An Israeli airstrike killed an entire family of nine, including four children and a pregnant woman
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In a dramatic escalation, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi forces launched a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv and a drone at Ashkelon on Friday, in retaliation for Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike on the Lebanese border town of Shebaa killed entire family of nine, including four children and a pregnant woman.
The Houthis, who have been vocal supporters of Palestine and Lebanon, announced they would continue targeting Israeli cities until Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon cease. Although the Israeli army intercepted the missile fired from Yemen, the threat from the Houthis remains, with their spokesperson promising more attacks in the coming days.
This development coincides with growing civilian casualties in Lebanon, where an estimated 700 people have been killed this week according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
Fears of an all-out war are now at their highest since Hezbollah stepped up its attacks on Israel, a day after the deadly Hamas attacks on southern Israel on 7 October, in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
Britain joins US, France and allies in call for 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah
Britons urged to leave Lebanon now – but what are their travel options after most flights cancelled?
Jordan travel: Is it safe to travel right now, and what are your rights if you have a trip booked?
Netanyahu orders Israeli military to fight Hezbollah with full force – despite ceasefire push
‘Hell is breaking loose in Lebanon’, UN chief warns
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres warned that “hell is breaking loose in Lebanon” as the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates, with exchanges of fire intensifying along the UN-patrolled border.
In a statement, Mr Guterres urged both sides to respect Lebanese sovereignty and called for Lebanon to have “full control of its weapons” throughout the country.
Nearly 200,000 Lebanese and over 60,000 northern Israelis have been displaced since Hezbollah began launching rockets across the border in support of Hamas in Gaza. Hundreds have been killed in the escalating conflict.
Britons urged to leave Lebanon now – but what are their travel options after most flights cancelled?
The prime minister has urged Britons in Lebanon to “leave immediately” as Israel intensifies its bombing campaign against Hezbollah. Sir Keir added that he believes the conflict between Israel and Lebanon is on the “brink point”.
It comes as 700 British troops are being sent to Cyprus to prepare for a possible evacuation of up to 10,000 Britons from Lebanon.
The Foreign Office says: “FCDO continues to advise against all travel to Lebanon. If you are currently in Lebanon, we encourage you to leave, while commercial options remain available.
“Tensions are high and events could escalate with little warning, which could affect or limit exit routes out of Lebanon. In the event of deterioration in the political or security situation, commercial routes out of Lebanon could be severely disrupted or cancelled at short notice, and roads across the country could be closed. “Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign Office.
Read the full report here:
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
Australia urges its citizens to leave Lebanon as Beirut airport may close soon
Australia has urged its 15,000 citizens in Lebanon to leave due to the escalating conflict, warning that Beirut airport may close soon.
With Israel intensifying airstrikes and the possibility of a ground assault, Australia is preparing contingency plans, potentially including evacuations by sea, according to Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese.
He refused to give more details on the evacuation plan.
“We’re looking at every option, but there’s obviously national security issues,” he told Sky News in an interview.
“Given the large numbers we are talking about, this situation will be difficult to resolve,” Mr Albanese said on ABC Television.
“We’ve been meeting on this through appropriate bodies over a period of time, including engaging with our friends and allies,” he added.
Foreign minister Penny Wong also said there is a risk Beirut airport may close for an extended period, and urged Australians who live in Lebanon — around 15,000 — to leave now.
ICYMI: US and France call for 21-day temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah
The US and France have called for a 21-day temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah to create space for broader negotiations and prevent a larger conflict. This follows a heavy three-day Israeli bombing campaign in Lebanon that has killed over 600 people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Israeli war cabinet have since rejected the ceasefire proposal.
The ceasefire proposal, endorsed by several global powers — like Australia, Canada, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar — aims to allow civilians to return to their homes on the Israel-Lebanon border safely. It does not, however, apply to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The joint statement issued by Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron said: “It is time for a settlement on the Israel-Lebanon border that ensures safety and security to enable civilians to return to their homes. The exchange of fire since October 7th, and in particular over the past two weeks, threatens a much broader conflict, and harm to civilians.”
The two leaders said they worked on a temporary ceasefire “to give diplomacy a chance to succeed and avoid further escalations across the border”.
UN chief attacks Security Council for failure of leadership to end wars
UN chief criticizes divided Security Council for failure of leadership to end wars, calls for unity
The United Nations chief sharply criticized the powerful Security Council for a failure of leadership to end wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and beyond
Mahmoud Abbas calls out US government at UN summit
Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas said the “entire world is responsible” for events in Gaza and the West Bank.
He opened his speech at the UN general assembly in New York by telling the members: “We will not leave. We will not leave. We will not leave.”
“Palestine is our homeland. It is the land of our fathers, our grandfathers. It will remain ours. And if anyone were to leave, it would be occupying usurpers.”
Abbas added, according to The Guardian: “Stop killing children and women. Stop the genocide. Stop sending weapons to Israel. This madness cannot continue.”
He also called out the US for their failure to vote for a ceasefire in the UN security council and their veto of full Palestinian membership in the UN.
“This is the United States, the very country that was the only member in the security council that voted against granting the state of Palestine for membership in the UN,” Abbas said.
“We don’t deserve membership in the eyes of America, so they use a veto against it.”
Israel says it killed Hezbollah air force commander in Beirut strike
Israel says it killed “Muhammad Hossein Surur, the commander of the air unit”, in a strike in Beirut.
Two Lebanese security sources also said Surur was killed, according to Reuters.
Air force commander killed in Beirut strike named
The commander of one of Beirut’s air force units who was killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut has been named as Mohammad Surur, Reuters reported two security forces as saying.
The attack is one of a number of strikes on the Lebanese capital since Monday, amid an Israeli bombing campaign which has seen over 630 people killed in Lebanon.
Breaking: Head of air force unit killed in Beirut strike
The head of Hezbollah’s air force unit was killed in Israel’s strike on Beirut, Reuters news agency reported two security sources as saying.
We’ll bring you the latest details as they come in...
Fourteen killed in Israeli strike on Gaza school, medics say
The Israeli military is continuing to wage its war in Gaza despite turning much of its focus to its conflict with Hezbollah in the north.
Palestinian medics say 14 Palestinians were killed in a strike which local media says hit Hasfa al Faluja school - where displaced people are said to be sheltering.
The Israeli air force said it had struck a command centre used by Hamas. In a post on Telegram, it said it took “numerous steps” to mitigate the risk of harming civilians.
Israel’s air force says it has conducted a precise strike on a command centre used by Hamas.
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