Israel Hezbollah War Highlights: Explosions in Beirut as Israel attacks Hezbollah HQ with bunker busters
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Sep 28, 2024, 06:25:57 IST
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Israel Hezbollah War Highlights: Explosions in Beirut as Israel attacks Hezbollah HQ with bunker busters

Israel Hezbollah War Live Updates: In a recorded address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Lebanese civilians to evacuate their homes for their own safety. "Take this warning seriously," he emphasized, saying, "Please get out of harm's way now. Once our operation is finished, you can come back safely to your homes."

Meanwhile, Indian embassy in Beirut issued an advisory for the nationals amid escalating conflict.

As Israel intensifies its military actions against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, Netanyahu acknowledged that the country is entering a challenging period. He reaffirmed his commitment to shifting the security dynamics in the region, declaring, "I promised that we would change the security balance, the balance of power in the north - that is exactly what we are doing."

Israel has stepped up its airstrikes against Hezbollah positions and cautioned residents in the affected areas to evacuate. Netanyahu's message is part of a larger military plan aimed at weakening Hezbollah's capabilities. As tensions escalate, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of unity among the Israeli people.

He called on Lebanese citizens to take swift action, emphasizing the serious dangers they face. The message underscores Israel's persistent dedication to its military goals while also addressing the humanitarian consequences for civilians in Lebanon.

The Lebanese health ministry reported 492 deaths, with 1,645 injuries, worsening the country’s ongoing challenges following recent attacks on its communication infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advised Lebanese civilians to leave the conflict zones, assuring them they would be able to return safely once operations concluded. The G7 reiterated that no nation would benefit from further escalation in the region.
14:41 (IST) Sep 26
UK calls for immediate Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire to prevent 'full-blown' war
The UK, alongside other European nations and the US, called for an "immediate" ceasefire between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israel, warning that the region is in a moment of maximum danger of the conflict "exploding into full-scale war". In a statement at a Security Council meeting during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Foreign Secretary David Lammy condemned Hezbollah's attacks on Israel over the last 11 months and reiterated that there was no justification for the assaults which have brought misery to ordinary people in Lebanon and Israel.

In a message to Iran, Lammy said nothing justified supplying weapons to terror groups in defiance of the UN and called on Tehran to use its influence with Hezbollah to agree a ceasefire.

"This is a moment of maximum danger. We are on the brink. The precipice. At a few minutes to midnight. We talk of the risk of full-scale regional war, but the truth is we are already witnessing conflict on multiple fronts," said Lammy.

"A full-blown war is not in the interests of the Israeli or the Lebanese people and that is why within hours of last week's strikes, I called for an immediate ceasefire between Lebanese Hezbollah and Israel. Since then, we've worked closely with the US and France to formalise a wider demand for the ceasefire and a political plan to implement it. At the UN in New York, the Prime Minister [Keir Starmer] and I have been urging our G7 and other partners to do the same," he said. (PTI)
14:12 (IST) Sep 26
Israel rejects ceasefire plans, says goal to 'crush' Hezbollah in Lebanon

Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday rejected 21-day ceasefire proposals, saying "crushing" Hezbollah in Lebanon should only be the end result of its fresh offensive in the north.



"The campaign in the north should end with a single result: Crushing Hezbollah and elimination of its ability to harm the residents of the north," Smotrich said on social media platform X.

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12:43 (IST) Sep 26
Watch: Israel releases video showing secondary explosions linked to weapons storage amid attacks on Lebanon

Israel's IDF on Thursday released footage of secondary blasts seen on buildings in southern Lebanon which it says was used by Hezbollah to hide weapons inside civilian homes. Over the past week, the Israel has conducted precise, intelligence-based strikes on multiple Hezbollah targets in Lebanon in order to remove immediate threats.

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12:40 (IST) Sep 26
Israel says hit about 75 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon overnight
The Israeli military said on Thursday it hit around 75 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon during the night, including ammunition depots of the Lebanese armed group.

"Overnight, the IDF (Israeli military)... struck approximately 75 terror targets" belonging to Hezbollah "in the area of Bekaa and in southern Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities, ready-to-fire launchers" as well as militants and other infrastructure, the military said in a statement. (AFP)
12:10 (IST) Sep 26
Lebanese prime minister believes ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah possible
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has expressed hope that a ceasefire could be reached soon to end fighting between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah that has shaken his country and raised fears of a ground invasion.

The United States, France and several allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Israel-Lebanon border while also expressing support for a ceasefire in Gaza following intense discussions at the United Nations on Wednesday.

Mikati welcomed the call for a truce but said the key to its implementation is whether Israel, which has been moving troops closer to Lebanon, is committed to enforcing international resolutions.

Asked if a ceasefire could be secured soon, Mikati told Reuters: "Hopefully, yes."

Mikati’s caretaker administration includes ministers chosen by Hezbollah, widely seen as the country’s most powerful political force.

The ceasefire would apply to the Israel-Lebanon "Blue Line," the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, and would allow the parties to negotiate towards a potential diplomatic resolution of the conflict, a senior Biden administration official said.

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert on Thursday welcomed the call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire to allow the space for diplomacy to succeed. (Reuters)
11:21 (IST) Sep 26
'Prepare for entry': Israeli forces brace for possible ground operation in Lebanon

Israel has asked its troops to prepare for a "possible entry" into Lebanon to "continue degrading Hezbollah,” after the Iran-backed organisation targeted Tel Aviv for the first time. However, a Pentagon spokesperson said that an Israeli ground incursion did not appear "imminent".

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10:56 (IST) Sep 26
Lebanon's economy to be weighed down by Gaza war: EBRD
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said Thursday that it expected Lebanon's economy to decline further in 2024 because of geopolitical turmoil.

Lebanon's economy will contract by one percent in 2024, the EBRD predicted, heavily revising down its estimation made in May that the struggling economy would grow slightly.

Israel's war in Gaza has already impacted neighbouring countries economic growth and fighting is now heighteneing in Lebanon.

"Any escalation will certainly weigh down on growth," Beata Javorcik, the EBRD's chief economist told AFP.

The country, already facing difficult economic conditions and sky-high inflation, has lost more than 40 percent of its GDP since 2018, the bank said in a report.

It added that "political impasse and stagnant progress on critical reforms continued to hold back recovery." (AFP)
06:07 (IST) Sep 26
Israel tells its troops to prepare for a possible ground operation in Lebanon
Israel's army chief, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, announced on Wednesday that the country is readying itself for a potential ground incursion into Lebanon. This statement comes amidst a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah across the border, including a missile aimed at Tel Aviv, marking the militant group's furthest strike to date.

While addressing soldiers stationed along the northern border, Halevi explained that the intense Israeli airstrikes conducted throughout the week were intended to "prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah." According to Lebanese health officials, these attacks have claimed the lives of over 600 individuals, with at least a quarter of them being women and children.

Halevi, seemingly alluding to the missile directed at Tel Aviv, told the troops, "Today, Hezbollah expanded its range of fire, and later today, they will receive a very strong response. Prepare yourselves." This statement suggests that Israel is poised to deliver a forceful retaliation in response to Hezbollah's escalating attacks.
05:30 (IST) Sep 26
'Call for an immediate ceasefire between Lebanese Hizballah and Israel': UK statement at the UN Security Council
At a recent UN Security Council meeting, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy issued a stark warning about the escalating violence in Lebanon, Gaza, and Israel, calling the situation a "moment of maximum danger." He urged an immediate ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel to prevent the conflict from spiraling into a full-scale regional war. Lammy emphasized that both airstrikes and rocket attacks must stop, and political dialogue must begin, referencing UN Resolution 1701 as the foundation for a peaceful solution. He condemned Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel and called on Iran to use its influence to broker a ceasefire. Lammy stressed the need for urgent diplomatic efforts to restore peace and prevent further loss of life.
04:23 (IST) Sep 26
Israel-Hezbollah war: France and US are working on a plan for a 21-day cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah
France’s foreign minister said Wednesday that his country and the United States are working on a proposal for a 21-day cease-fire proposal “to allow for negotiations” in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Jean-Noël Barrot told the UN Security Council that the proposal would be released shortly.

“We are counting on both parties to accept it without delay,” he said.
03:01 (IST) Sep 26
Thousands are pouring into Syria, fleeing worsening conflict in Lebanon
Thousands of Lebanese and Syrian families have fled the intensifying violence in Lebanon, seeking refuge in Syria, a country also grappling with its own conflicts. The influx of refugees has surged in recent days, with UN officials estimating a significant number of families making the arduous journey. The exodus is expected to continue as Israel ramps up its aerial assaults on southern and eastern Lebanon, which local authorities report has claimed the lives of over 600 people this week, with at least 25% being women and children. Israel maintains that its targets are Hezbollah combatants and their weapons.

Starting Monday, extensive queues of buses and cars stretched for kilometers from the Syrian border, with some families even making the trek on foot. Upon reaching Syria, the refugees faced prolonged waits as overwhelmed border officials processed their entry. Relief organizations provided essential supplies such as food, water, mattresses, and blankets to the arriving families.

Rula Amin, a spokesperson for the UN's refugee agency, stated, "Many will have to spend the night outdoors waiting their turn."
02:30 (IST) Sep 26
Israel-Gaza war: Macron says Israel's Gaza war has 'gone on too long'
In a statement at the United Nations, Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza. He emphasized that the ongoing conflict has persisted for an excessive period.

President Macron stressed that "there is no explanation possible" for the high number of civilian casualties resulting from the deadly war in Gaza. He urged all parties involved to implement a ceasefire "as soon as possible" to prevent further loss of life and suffering among the affected population.
01:03 (IST) Sep 26
US in 'active discussions' for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire: US official
"We are in active discussions with Israelis as well as other countries to try to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
00:35 (IST) Sep 26
Israel-Hezbollah War: Israel says hit more than 2,000 'terrorist targets' in Lebanon in three days
"Over the past three days we have struck more than 2,000 terrorist targets in Lebanon, including several hundred today," military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told a media briefing.
00:34 (IST) Sep 26
Israel army says intercepted drone launched from east
00:34 (IST) Sep 26
Israel-Hezbollah War: Islamic Resistance in Iraq says attacked Israel's Eilat
he pro-Iran Islamic Resistance in Iraq group said it attacked Israel's Red Sea port of Eilat Wednesday as another group urged more attacks amid soaring tensions over Gaza and Lebanon.

"The Islamic Resistance in Iraq attacked a strategic target in Eilat on Wednesday... using drones," it said in a statement published on Telegram.

Earlier Iraq's Hezbollah Brigades spokesman Abu Ali al-Askari issued an appeal for ramped-up operations against Israel.

The Israeli military said it intercepted a drone approaching Eilat and that another fell in the area. It reported two minor injuries.

Askari said current efforts fell short of the ambitions of the pro-Iran "Axis of Resistance" -- which includes Iraqi militias, Lebanon's Hezbollah and Yemen's Huthi rebels.

In recent months, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a network of pro-Iran militias, has claimed several drone strikes on Israeli targets.

"We hope factions in the Islamic Resistance, which support Palestine and Lebanon, will increase the number and severity of their operations," Askari said on Wednesday.
00:34 (IST) Sep 26
Israel-Hezbollah War: Israel intercepts Hezbollah's farthest strike yet
Hezbollah fired a barrage of rockets into Israeli territory, including a long-range missile that triggered air raid sirens across central Israel and in Tel Aviv. Despite being the furthest strike by the group, Israel reported intercepting the missile, with no casualties or damage reported.

According to Hezbollah, the ballistic missile was aimed at the Mossad intelligence agency's headquarters, which they accused of being responsible for the targeted killing of their senior leaders. In response, Israel later claimed to have attacked the launch site of the missile in southern Lebanon.

The rocket attack follows Israel's two-day bombing campaign that resulted in the death of a high-ranking Hezbollah commander and over 560 others, forcing thousands of people in southern Lebanon to seek shelter from the escalating conflict. In retaliation, Hezbollah has fired hundreds of projectiles into Israel, causing minor damage to structures and homes, and slightly injuring several individuals.
00:32 (IST) Sep 26
India urges citizens to avoid travel to Lebanon amid escalating tensions

The Indian Embassy in Beirut has issued a renewed travel advisory, urging Indian nationals to avoid traveling to Lebanon due to escalating regional instability. Those currently in Lebanon are advised to leave immediately or exercise extreme caution and stay in contact with the Embassy. This follows increased tensions and violent escalations in the region.

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in his address at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday denounced Iran and its allies. This followed a day after he sent mixed signals regarding US-led efforts, along with other nations, to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. Netanyahu's speech came nearly a year into the war in Gaza, which erupted after the October 7 attack carried out by Hamas, an Iran-backed organization. The conflict has since escalated, involving other Tehran-backed groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi forces in Yemen.