Israel-Hezbollah live: Air strikes ‘paving way for Lebanon ground invasion’ as reservists called up
Israeli air strikes in Lebanon have killed more than 560 people since Monday, including women and 50 children, says health ministry
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Israel’s military chief has suggested a ground invasion of Lebanon could be imminent as Israel bombarded the south of the country for a third day running.
“You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day,” General Herzi Halevi told troops. “This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah.”
The Israeli military says it is activating reserve troops in response to rising tensions with the Hezbollah militant group.
Hezbollah has fired a missile towards Tel Aviv for the first time, claiming to have targeted the headquarters of the Mossad spy agency in Tel Aviv, an escalation in the conflict with Israel that moved the arch-foes another step closer to war.
At least 51 people have been killed today in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, a minister said. Air strikes there have killed more than 560 people in three days, health minister Firass Abiad said.
More than 90,500 people in Lebanon have been forced to flee their homes this week, United Nations experts say.
Around 700 British troops are being sent to Cyprus to prepare for a possible rescue of up to 10,000 Britons from Lebanon.
Sir Keir Starmer earlier urged Britons to leave immediately, saying he believed the conflict was at the “brink”.
UK nationals told to leave Lebanon immediately as 700 troops sent to Cyprus
Thousands flee Israel airstrikes on Lebanon with what little they can: ‘We’re afraid for a big war’
Israel-Hezbollah conflict timeline: Everything that’s happened since 7 October
‘Some things are more important than staying in power’: In UN speech, Biden speaks of dropping out of the election and warns of Middle East war
Iran wants end to ‘desperate barbarism' in Gaza
Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian told the UN the world is witnessing the “true nature of the Israeli regime” as he urged “an end to the desperate barbarism [in Lebanon] before it engulfs the region and the world”.
The Iranian president said Israeli “state terrorism” over the past few days in Lebanon “cannot go unanswered”.
He said: “The responsibility of all consequences will be borne by those governments who have thwarted all global efforts to end this horrific catastrophe.”
Iran ready to end nuclear standoff with the West
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said the country wants peace for all and is ready to end its nuclear standoff with the West.
Pezeshkian criticized Iran’s arch-foe Israel for what he called “its genocide in Gaza” and said it should stop immediately. Iran’s leaders hope to see an easing of U.S. sanctions over its nuclear programme.
But relations with the West have worsened since the Iranian-backed Hamas militant group attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7 and as Tehran has increased its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“We seek peace for all and have no intention of conflict with any country ... Iran opposes war and emphasizes the need for an immediate cessation of military conflict in Ukraine,” Pezeshkian said.
UK nationals told to leave Lebanon ‘immediately’ as situation deteriorates
The UK is sending around 700 troops to Cyprus in case an emergency evacuation of Lebanon is required, as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues to escalate.
Britons have been urged to leave Lebanon but with airlines suspending flights to the country because of the escalating violence, commercial escape routes could be cut off as the situation deteriorates.
The deployment to Cyprus comes as the government begins the first stage of its contingency plan, with the military team supported by Border Force and Foreign Office officials.
David Hughes reports:
UK nationals told to leave Lebanon ‘immediately’ as 700 troops sent to Cyprus
The deployment of 700 troops, backed up by RAF aircraft and Royal Navy ships, comes as the situation in the Middle East deteriorates
FCDO confirm plan to send 700 troops to Cyprus
Britain said on Tuesday that its nationals should leave Lebanon and continued to advise against all travel to the country, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said.
“Around 700 UK troops will move to Cyprus in the coming hours, as the Government continues to prepare its contingency plans following significant escalation between Israel and Lebanon in recent days,” the office said in a statement.
Jiyeh latest Lebanese coastal town hit by Israeli airstrike
An Israeli strike hit the Lebanese seaside town of Jiyyeh for the first time early on Wednesday, 75 km north of the border with Israel, two security sources said.
UN secretary general says ‘the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza’
The United Nations is shirking its responsibility in preventing rocket attacks into Israel by Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday.
Gallant said in a statement on the X social-media platform in a response to comments from U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres that Hezbollah has taken “Lebanon hostage.”
“The UN is neither acknowledging their actions, nor fulfilling its fundamental obligation - preventing Hezbollah attacks and demanding the implementation of resolution 1701” he said of the resolution that requires Hezbollah to disarm.
Guterres earlier said, “Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel and the people of the world - cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza.”
Defence secretary John Healey urges 10,000 Brits to leave Lebanon
The UK is expected to announce that it will send 700 troops to neighbouring Cyprus amid fears of a wider war, according to the BBC.
In Liverpool, John Healey, the defence secretary, left the Labour conference early today to lead a high-level meeting on the crisis in Lebanon.
“Our concern is always for the safety of British nationals,” he said after leaving the COBRA meeting.
“And our advice to them is to leave Lebanon now, that hasn’t changed.
“And this was a meeting simply to make sure that we’ve got plans in place for future developments.”
IRC urges diplomatic solution to Lebanon as death toll increases
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has released a statement about its deep concern about the escalating conflict in Lebanon, which has left over 500 people killed.
It read: “The IRC has been working in Lebanon since 2012 delivering relief programmes to Lebanese citizens and refugees. IRC teams in Lebanon are now conducting rapid needs assessments which will support our emergency response to support those affected by the ongoing fighting.
“However, ongoing insecurity may significantly hinder our ability to deliver vital assistance to those in need. IRC staff members and partner organisations have already been directly impacted by the attacks which have forced families to flee their homes.”
Amidst the ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the heavily populated areas of Beirut, South and Bekaa, tens of thousands are facing fresh displacement, with over 102,000 people already displaced since October 2023, the charity added.
“In a region already devastated by conflict, displacement, and poverty the last thing civilians need is war. It is essential that humanitarian actors are able to safely assess needs and deliver emergency aid.
“The IRC urges all parties to urgently seek a diplomatic solution and avoid a regional conflagration and more humanitarian suffering. International law must be upheld to protect civilians and aid workers.”
What is Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group hit in ‘double tap’ pager attacks?
The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has ramped up since thousands of exploding pagers and walkie-talkies killed dozens of Hezbollah operatives and civilians.
Since Monday when Israel began large-scale strikes on Lebanese territory, 558 people have been killed including 50 children and 94 women.
But what is Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group exchanging fire with Israel?
Tom Watling and Andy Gregory report:
What is Hezbollah, the Lebanese group hit in ‘double tap’ pager attacks?
Israel has declared a ‘new phase of war’ on its border with Lebanon
Lebanon death toll rises to 569 as ‘two dozen killed in Gaza’
At least 569 people were killed, including 50 children and 94 women, in Israeli strikes on Lebanon on Monday, Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiadtells told Al Jazeera Mubasher TV on Tuesday.
Palestinian officials in Gaza, meanwhile, said new Israeli strikes killed at least two dozen people.
Israel’s military says it will do “whatever is necessary” to push Hezbollah away from Lebanon’s border with Israel. Israel and Hezbollah have been trading fire since the Israel-Hamas war began. On Monday, Israel launched hundreds of airstrikes in southern and eastern Lebanon, killing nearly 500 people and wounding more than 1,600 others.
Thousands of people fled southern Lebanon, jamming the main highway to Beirut in the biggest exodus since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.
Hezbollah again launched some 100 projectiles toward Israel on Tuesday, the Israeli military said.
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