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Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah intensified in Lebanon, with blasts reported in Beirut and near the airport, as the offensive also expanded to northern Lebanon.
An Israeli airstrike in Beirut's Dahiyeh. (Photo: AP)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 5, 2024 08:48 IST
In Short
Israel's north Lebanon strike kills Hamas leader, familyClashes erupt in south Lebanon in Israel-Hezbollah ground fightIsrael issues new evacuation alert for residents of Beirut southern suburbsBlasts were reported in Lebanon's Beirut on Saturday morning as the Israeli army continued its strikes targeting Hezbollah. The Israeli military issued three alerts, urging residents in the area to evacuate immediately. Explosions and airstrikes also occurred near Beirut's airport during the night, as flights were arriving.
The fresh round of intensified attacks came after Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned in his Friday sermon that "Israel will not last long" and "Iran will not back down".
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF), which have been pounding southern Lebanon, have now expanded their aerial strikes to northern Lebanon as part of a wider offensive. The assault has killed scores of people and displaced over 1.2 million Lebanese from their homes.
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The Israeli Army, which continues to target areas in southern Lebanon, has now expanded its aerial strikes to northern Lebanon. Israeli aircraft targeted a building near the Beddawi Palestinian refugee camp in the north.
Hezbollah stated that the Israeli army was attempting to infiltrate the southern Lebanese town of Odaisseh, adding that clashes were ongoing. The Israeli army carried out artillery shelling in the city of Khiam and the outskirts of Kafr Kila in southern Lebanon.
Saeed Atallah, a leader of Hamas' armed wing, al-Qassam brigades, was killed with three family members in an Israeli strike on a Palestinian refugee camp in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, according to Hamas-affiliated media. Israeli army has not immediately commented on the strike.
The fate of Hashem Safieddine, the likely successor to Hassan Nasrallah as Hezbollah chief, who was reportedly targeted in an Israeli strike on Thursday night, remains unclear. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah have provided any comment.
Israel is reportedly considering its options in response to Iran's ballistic missile attack on Tuesday, which Tehran claims was in retaliation for Israel's military action in Lebanon and the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. US President Joe Biden stated that he believes Israel has not yet decided on a course of action and noted that, if he were in Israel's position, he would consider alternatives to striking Iranian oil fields.
(With inputs from Ashraf Vani from Lebanon)
Published On:
Oct 5, 2024
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