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Israel has intensified its bombardment of areas in Lebanon where Hezbollah has a strong presence. The latest round of attacks was the largest since it began its operation against the Iran-backed terror group.
Smoke rises as a building collapses in Beirut's southern suburbs. (Photo: AP)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Oct 4, 2024 09:25 IST
At least thirty-seven people were killed, and over 150 were wounded in Israeli strikes on Lebanon in the past 24 hours, in what is considered one of the most violent raids since Israel intensified its bombardment campaign against the Iran-backed terror outfit Hezbollah. Dahiye, the area that houses Hezbollah's headquarters south of Beirut, was pummelled by Israeli bombs in an attack larger than the strike that killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah a week ago. Some of Thursday night's strikes hit close to Beirut's international airport.
The strikes in Beirut reportedly targeted Hashem Safieddine, Hezbollah's likely new chief, while he was in a discussion with other officials in an underground bunker, according to reports.
MIDDLE EAST CRISIS | LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
US President Joe Biden said he did not believe there was going to be an "all-out war" in the Middle East. He added that more needes be done to avoid a Middle East war. "How confident are you it's not going to rain? Look, I don't believe there is going to be an all-out war. I think we can avoid it,” he said.
An Israeli strike in Beirut on Thursday targeted top Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, who is widely regarded as the successor to slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah has commented on the development, but Israel's Channel 13 reported that Israeli army sources believe the operation was successful.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is set to lead Friday prayers and deliver a public sermon today. This sermon, the first in almost five years, assumes significance considering the volatile situation following the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and comes just three days before the one-year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
A symbolic funeral of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on September 27, will be held on Friday and Ali Khamenei will lead the prayers from Iran. Nasrallah is likely to be buried in the city of Karbala in South Baghdad, near Imam Hussein's shrine.
The Israeli military warned people to evacuate communities in southern Lebanon that are outside a UN-declared buffer zone, signalling that it may widen a ground operation. The latest wave of Israel-Hezbollah fighting has driven nearly 1.2 million people from their homes in Lebanon, according to the country's crisis. Israeli forces said they had struck around 200 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.
Israel continued its attack in Palestine as well. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 18 people were killed in an latest Israeli strike on the Tulkarem refugee camp in the West Bank, which was the deadliest strike in the occupied territory since the Israel-Hamas war erupted. Israel said it killed the head of Hamas' network in Tulkarm, Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi, in the Tulkarem attack.
The Group of Seven (G7) countries reiterated their deep concern over the crisis in the Middle East and called on players in the region to "act responsibly" and with restraint. They also voiced for Israel's security. "We, the leaders of the G7, express deep concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East ... We unequivocally reiterate our commitment to the security of Israel," a G7 statement provided by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office said.
Fearing an attack on their oil facilites by Iran, the Gulf Arab countries, who met in Qatar, sought to reassure Iran of their neutrality in the conflict between Tehran and Israel in. They urged Iran to de-escalate. Tehran had warned that if "Israeli supporters" intervene directly, their interests in the region would be targeted.
Published On:
Oct 4, 2024
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