The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Saturday announced that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has been eliminated following a deadly strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut late Friday.

BREAKING: IDF claims Hezbollah chief Nasrallah 'eliminated' in Beirut strike

The United States had no prior knowledge of the Beirut strike, US&nbsp;Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters on Friday (September 27). He added that he was on a call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant while the strike was underway.

“I know that you're seeing reports of a significant strike in Beirut today. I spoke by phone earlier with my counterpart in Israel, Minister Gallant. The United States was not involved in Israel's operation. We had no advance&nbsp;warning. My call with Minister Gallant took place while the operation was actually already underway,” Austin said.

According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the Israeli airstrikes on Friday killed two people and injured 76 others.

The Israeli military said it had carried out a "precise&nbsp;strike" on Hezbollah's headquarters which it said were "embedded under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahiyeh in&nbsp;Beirut."

Friday's attack was far more powerful, with multiple blasts shaking windows across the city, recalling Israeli airstrikes during the war it fought with Hezbollah in 2006.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

The United States had no prior knowledge of the Beirut strike, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters on Friday (September 27). He added that he was on a call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant while the strike was underway.

The United States had no prior knowledge of the Beirut strike, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters on Friday (September 27). He added that he was on a call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant while the strike was underway. “I know that you're seeing reports of a significant strike in Beirut today. I spoke by phone earlier with my counterpart in Israel, Minister Gallant. The United States was not involved in Israel's operation. We had no advance warning. My call with Minister Gallant took place while the operation was actually already underway,” Austin said. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, the Israeli airstrikes on Friday killed two people and injured 76 others. The Israeli military said it had carried out a "precise strike" on Hezbollah's headquarters which it said were "embedded under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahiyeh in Beirut." Friday's attack was far more powerful, with multiple blasts shaking windows across the city, recalling Israeli airstrikes during the war it fought with Hezbollah in 2006. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Had no prior knowledge of Israel's strike on Beirut: United States

His leadership strained by conflicts on two fronts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders at the United Nations on Friday that his nation will “continue degrading Hezbollah” until achieving its goals along the Lebanon border, further dimming hopes for an internationally backed cease-fire to halt the spiral into an all-out regional war. He said his government would no longer tolerate daily rocket fire from the area.

Shortly after Netanyahu wrapped up his speech, the Israeli military said it carried out a strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut, which caused huge blasts in the city.

“Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely. And that’s exactly what we’re doing ... we’ll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met,” Netanyahu said to a gallery that — at least from the crowd noise — appeared replete with his supporters.

“Just imagine if terrorists turned El Paso and San Diego into ghost towns ... How long would the American government tolerate that?” he said, shaking his fist in emphasis. “Yet Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for almost a year. Well, I’ve come here today to say: Enough is enough.”

Netanyahu, armed with visual aids as he has been in the past, defended his nation’s response to the October&nbsp;7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel that triggered an Israeli military operation that has devastated the Gaza Strip. He said he travelled to the United Nations to refute the untruths he had heard from other leaders on the same rostrum earlier in the week.

“I didn’t intend to come here this year. My country is at war fighting for its life,” Netanyahu said. “But after I heard the lies and slanders leveled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight.”

He insisted that Israel wanted peace but said of Iran: “If you strike us, we will strike you.” He once again blamed Iran for being behind many of the problems in the region.

“For too long, the world has appeased Iran,” Netanyahu said. “That appeasement must end.”

As he spoke, the seats in the Iran delegation sat empty. Outside, protesters against Netanyahu and Israel’s policies demonstrated behind police barricades.

<h2>Israel is fighting on two fronts</h2>

Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 41,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 96,000 others, according to the latest figures released Thursday by the Health Ministry. The ministry, part of Gaza’s Hamas government, doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants, but more than half the dead have been women and children, including about 1,300 children under the age of two.

Israel has maintained its military operations are justified and are necessary to defend itself.

“This war can come to an end now. All that has to happen is for Hamas to surrender, lay down its arms and release all the hostages,” Netanyahu said. “But if they don’t – if they don’t – we will fight until we achieve total victory. Total victory. There is no substitute for it. “

He said Israeli forces have destroyed “90%” of Hamas’ rockets and killed or captured half of its forces. But he insisted nonetheless that he was pursuing peace. “Israel has made peace and will make peace again,” he said.

In recent days, Israel has turned its attention to the border with Lebanon, where it is has stepped up strikes targeting Hezbollah but has inflicted civilian casualties as well. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel almost immediately after the Hamas attack, saying it was a show of support for the Palestinians. That triggered Israeli counterfire and the two sides have traded fire almost daily for the 11 months since, driving tens of thousands of people from their homes on both sides of the border.

Israel vows to drive Hezbollah away from the border to allow its citizens to return safely to their homes. Hezbollah says it won’t stop firing rockets until the Gaza war ends. Late Wednesday, the United States, France and other allies jointly called for an “immediate” 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations as fears grow that this week’s escalation could spiral into an all-out war. Hezbollah hasn’t officially responded to the ceasefire proposal.

The United Nations says over 90,000 people have been displaced by five days of Israeli strikes on Lebanon, bringing the total to 200,000 people who have been displaced in Lebanon since the cross-border exchanges began.

<h2>His speech impacted the rest of the General Assembly</h2>

Netanyahu also made a lengthy appeal for Israeli relations with Saudi Arabia — but did it without mentioning what’s blocking any action: Saudi Arabia’s demand for an independent Palestinian state.

As Netanyahu took the stage Friday morning, there was enough ruckus in the audience that the presiding diplomat had to shout, “Order, please.”

The two speakers who preceded Netanyahu on Friday each made a point of calling out Israel for its actions. “Mr. Netanyahu, stop this war now,” Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said as he closed his remarks, pounding the podium. And Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking just before the Israeli leader, declared of Gaza: “This is not just a conflict. This is systematic slaughter of innocent people of Palestine.” He thumped the rostrum to audible applause.

And after the Israeli leader left the stage, the next speaker, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, started speaking but then paused for noises in the gallery, saying, “We can wait.” She did so for about 20 seconds before she continued.

It wasn’t just Friday, either. On Thursday, the leader of the Palestinian Authority and a top Lebanese official both made their cases to fellow leaders — cases that included harsh words for Israel as well. Mahmoud Abbas’ first words to the General Assembly were a sentence repeated three times in reference to Gaza: “We will not leave. We will not leave. We will not leave.” He accused Israel of destroying Gaza and making it unlivable. And Abdallah Bouhabib, Lebanon’s foreign minister, decried Israel’s “systematic destruction of Lebanese border villages.”

“The crisis in Lebanon threatens the entire Middle East,” Bouhabib said. “We wish today to reiterate our call for a cease-fire on all fronts.”

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience.

His leadership strained by conflicts on two fronts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders at the United Nations on Friday that his nation will “continue degrading Hezbollah” until achieving its goals along the Lebanon border, further dimming hopes for an internationally backed cease-fire to halt the spiral into an all-out regional war.

His leadership strained by conflicts on two fronts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told world leaders at the United Nations on Friday that his nation will “continue degrading Hezbollah” until achieving its goals along the Lebanon border, further dimming hopes for an internationally backed cease-fire to halt the spiral into an all-out regional war. He said his government would no longer tolerate daily rocket fire from the area. Shortly after Netanyahu wrapped up his speech, the Israeli military said it carried out a strike on Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut, which caused huge blasts in the city. “Israel has every right to remove this threat and return our citizens to their home safely. And that’s exactly what we’re doing ... we’ll continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met,” Netanyahu said to a gallery that — at least from the crowd noise — appeared replete with his supporters. “Just imagine if terrorists turned El Paso and San Diego into ghost towns ... How long would the American government tolerate that?” he said, shaking his fist in emphasis. “Yet Israel has been tolerating this intolerable situation for almost a year. Well, I’ve come here today to say: Enough is enough.” Netanyahu, armed with visual aids as he has been in the past, defended his nation’s response to the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel that triggered an Israeli military operation that has devastated the Gaza Strip. He said he travelled to the United Nations to refute the untruths he had heard from other leaders on the same rostrum earlier in the week. “I didn’t intend to come here this year. My country is at war fighting for its life,” Netanyahu said. “But after I heard the lies and slanders leveled at my country by many of the speakers at this podium, I decided to come here and set the record straight.” He insisted that Israel wanted peace but said of Iran: “If you strike us, we will strike you.” He once again blamed Iran for being behind many of the problems in the region. “For too long, the world has appeased Iran,” Netanyahu said. “That appeasement must end.” As he spoke, the seats in the Iran delegation sat empty. Outside, protesters against Netanyahu and Israel’s policies demonstrated behind police barricades. Israel is fighting on two fronts Israel’s campaign in Gaza has killed more than 41,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 96,000 others, according to the latest figures released Thursday by the Health Ministry. The ministry, part of Gaza’s Hamas government, doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants, but more than half the dead have been women and children, including about 1,300 children under the age of two. Israel has maintained its military operations are justified and are necessary to defend itself. “This war can come to an end now. All that has to happen is for Hamas to surrender, lay down its arms and release all the hostages,” Netanyahu said. “But if they don’t – if they don’t – we will fight until we achieve total victory. Total victory. There is no substitute for it. “ He said Israeli forces have destroyed “90%” of Hamas’ rockets and killed or captured half of its forces. But he insisted nonetheless that he was pursuing peace. “Israel has made peace and will make peace again,” he said. In recent days, Israel has turned its attention to the border with Lebanon, where it is has stepped up strikes targeting Hezbollah but has inflicted civilian casualties as well. Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel almost immediately after the Hamas attack, saying it was a show of support for the Palestinians. That triggered Israeli counterfire and the two sides have traded fire almost daily for the 11 months since, driving tens of thousands of people from their homes on both sides of the border. Israel vows to drive Hezbollah away from the border to allow its citizens to return safely to their homes. Hezbollah says it won’t stop firing rockets until the Gaza war ends. Late Wednesday, the United States, France and other allies jointly called for an “immediate” 21-day cease-fire to allow for negotiations as fears grow that this week’s escalation could spiral into an all-out war. Hezbollah hasn’t officially responded to the ceasefire proposal. The United Nations says over 90,000 people have been displaced by five days of Israeli strikes on Lebanon, bringing the total to 200,000 people who have been displaced in Lebanon since the cross-border exchanges began. His speech impacted the rest of the General Assembly Netanyahu also made a lengthy appeal for Israeli relations with Saudi Arabia — but did it without mentioning what’s blocking any action: Saudi Arabia’s demand for an independent Palestinian state. As Netanyahu took the stage Friday morning, there was enough ruckus in the audience that the presiding diplomat had to shout, “Order, please.” The two speakers who preceded Netanyahu on Friday each made a point of calling out Israel for its actions. “Mr. Netanyahu, stop this war now,” Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said as he closed his remarks, pounding the podium. And Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, speaking just before the Israeli leader, declared of Gaza: “This is not just a conflict. This is systematic slaughter of innocent people of Palestine.” He thumped the rostrum to audible applause. And after the Israeli leader left the stage, the next speaker, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, started speaking but then paused for noises in the gallery, saying, “We can wait.” She did so for about 20 seconds before she continued. It wasn’t just Friday, either. On Thursday, the leader of the Palestinian Authority and a top Lebanese official both made their cases to fellow leaders — cases that included harsh words for Israel as well. Mahmoud Abbas’ first words to the General Assembly were a sentence repeated three times in reference to Gaza: “We will not leave. We will not leave. We will not leave.” He accused Israel of destroying Gaza and making it unlivable. And Abdallah Bouhabib, Lebanon’s foreign minister, decried Israel’s “systematic destruction of Lebanese border villages.” “The crisis in Lebanon threatens the entire Middle East,” Bouhabib said. “We wish today to reiterate our call for a cease-fire on all fronts.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Netanyahu told world leaders that Israel will keep ‘degrading Hezbollah’ until its objectives are met

WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal spoke to top Egyptian policymakers on the West Asia situation: -Amb Mohamed El Oraby, Fmr Egyptian FM -Amb (Rt) Ezzat Saad ElSayed, Dir, Egyptian council of foreign affairs -Amb Kheireldin Abdellatif, Fmr Astt Egyptian FM

Israel-Hezbollah War: Egyptian Diplomats Discuss Impact of the Ongoing Israel-Hezbollah War

Israel has rejected a ceasefire proposal with Hezbollah even as Washington insisted the truce plan had been coordinated with Israel. The United States and allies issued a joint call for a 21-day halt in the fighting in Lebanon.

Israel-Hezbollah War: Israel Rejects Us-backed Proposal for Ceasefire With Hezbollah

Israel-Hezbollah War: Israel Defies Ceasefire Calls and Vows to Keep Battling Hezbollah

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Thursday that an "all-out war" would be "devastating" for Israel and Lebanon, and that a ceasefire could buy time to stop the conflict.

"A full scale war between Hezbollah and Israel could be devastating for both parties," Austin said in London after meetings with his UK and Australian counterparts in the AUKUS military alliance.

Austin called on both sides to "choose a different path", saying that "despite the sharp escalation, a diplomatic solution is still viable".

Such an outcome is "the only way to ensure that displaced civilians on both sides of the border can finally go home," he said.

US President Joe Biden and other world leaders have called for an immediate&nbsp;21-day ceasefire in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel's foreign minister rejected the proposal.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjah96XkeGIAxWDR2wGHWx9Fvo4ChDF9AEoAHoECBAQAQ" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-military-claims-it-hit-75-hezbollah-targets-in-lebanon-overnight-762162" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-military-claims-it-hit-75-hezbollah-targets-in-lebanon-overnight-762162&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjah96XkeGIAxWDR2wGHWx9Fvo4ChDF9AEoAHoECBAQAQ">Israeli military claims it hit 75 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon overnight</a>

A pause in hostilities would "provide time" for a deal to be struck that would allow Israel and Lebanese civilians to return home, Austin told a news conference after the talks of the trilateral defence partnership.

This time could also be used "to conclude and implement a deal to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and to bring all the hostages home," said Austin.

"We recognise that there's hard work to be done. We are committed to doing that work, and yes, I am optimistic," he added.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Thursday that an "all-out war" would be "devastating" for Israel and Lebanon, and that a ceasefire could buy time to stop the conflict.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin warned Thursday that an "all-out war" would be "devastating" for Israel and Lebanon, and that a ceasefire could buy time to stop the conflict. "A full scale war between Hezbollah and Israel could be devastating for both parties," Austin said in London after meetings with his UK and Australian counterparts in the AUKUS military alliance. Austin called on both sides to "choose a different path", saying that "despite the sharp escalation, a diplomatic solution is still viable". Such an outcome is "the only way to ensure that displaced civilians on both sides of the border can finally go home," he said. US President Joe Biden and other world leaders have called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah. Israel's foreign minister rejected the proposal. Also read: Israeli military claims it hit 75 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon overnight A pause in hostilities would "provide time" for a deal to be struck that would allow Israel and Lebanese civilians to return home, Austin told a news conference after the talks of the trilateral defence partnership. This time could also be used "to conclude and implement a deal to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and to bring all the hostages home," said Austin. "We recognise that there's hard work to be done. We are committed to doing that work, and yes, I am optimistic," he added. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

US Defence Secretary warns of ‘devastating all-out war’ between Israel and Hezbollah

Requested by France, the UN Security Council on Wednesday convened an emergency meeting on Lebanon, the second meeting on the country's deteriorating situation in less than a week, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying that "hell is breaking loose in Lebanon."

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In his remarks, Guterres urged the Security Council "to work in lock-step" to end the escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants across the Blue Line, a buffer zone in southern Lebanon.

Hezbollah and Israel must pull back from the brink of a potentially catastrophic regional war, he insisted, adding that there was now massive civilian displacement from southern and eastern Lebanon towards the Lebanese capital of Beirut, while the Israelis have endured repeated attacks from Hezbollah with more than 8,300 rockets, drones, and increasingly high-caliber missile attacks on military targets and residential areas.

With an appeal for both sides to respect Lebanese sovereignty, Guterres said that Lebanon "must have full control of its weapons" throughout the country. "We support all efforts to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces," he added.

"We say it very clearly and honestly: what we have been witnessing over the past year in Gaza and what we are witnessing now in Lebanon is likely to expand to other areas in the region if the international community does not shoulder its responsibility to put an end to the machine of death and destruction," Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates of Egypt, told the meeting.

"They are spreading terror and fear among Lebanese citizens ... We cannot bear to lose another generation because of the war," said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

"The ongoing aggression against Lebanon is fuelled by the failure of the international community, and in particular by the UN Security Council, to hold Israel accountable for war crimes and genocide in Gaza," said Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iranian foreign minister, Xinhua news agency reported.

France on Wednesday unveiled a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon in UN diplomacy with the United States as the death toll mounted in deadly strikes by Israel. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the two Western powers were proposing a "temporary ceasefire" of 21 days "to allow for negotiations."

The Arab League Council has at the level of foreign ministers warned of the repercussions of escalating "the Israeli aggression" against Lebanon in light of recent developments, which could lead to the outbreak of a large-scale regional war and threaten the security and stability of the entire region.

Israel said on Wednesday it was readying troops for a potential ground incursion into Lebanon, telling soldiers to prepare to "enter enemy territory" as it called up more reservists and sent world leaders scrambling to prevent a full-scale war with Hezbollah militants. "We are preparing the process of a manoeuvre," Israeli Military Chief Herzi Halevi told troops at an exercise along the northern border.

Israeli warplanes resumed intensive airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, carrying out about 70 raids on the areas of Baalbek, Hermel, and Western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon.

On Monday and Tuesday, Israel conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,800 injuries across the country. Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Israel's bombardment has displaced over 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours.

The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for&nbsp;WION&nbsp;audience.

Requested by France, the UN Security Council on Wednesday convened an emergency meeting on Lebanon, the second meeting on the country's deteriorating situation in less than a week, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying that "hell is breaking loose in Lebanon.

Requested by France, the UN Security Council on Wednesday convened an emergency meeting on Lebanon, the second meeting on the country's deteriorating situation in less than a week, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying that "hell is breaking loose in Lebanon." In his remarks, Guterres urged the Security Council "to work in lock-step" to end the escalating violence between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants across the Blue Line, a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah and Israel must pull back from the brink of a potentially catastrophic regional war, he insisted, adding that there was now massive civilian displacement from southern and eastern Lebanon towards the Lebanese capital of Beirut, while the Israelis have endured repeated attacks from Hezbollah with more than 8,300 rockets, drones, and increasingly high-caliber missile attacks on military targets and residential areas. With an appeal for both sides to respect Lebanese sovereignty, Guterres said that Lebanon "must have full control of its weapons" throughout the country. "We support all efforts to strengthen the Lebanese Armed Forces," he added. "We say it very clearly and honestly: what we have been witnessing over the past year in Gaza and what we are witnessing now in Lebanon is likely to expand to other areas in the region if the international community does not shoulder its responsibility to put an end to the machine of death and destruction," Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates of Egypt, told the meeting. "They are spreading terror and fear among Lebanese citizens ... We cannot bear to lose another generation because of the war," said Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. "The ongoing aggression against Lebanon is fuelled by the failure of the international community, and in particular by the UN Security Council, to hold Israel accountable for war crimes and genocide in Gaza," said Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Iranian foreign minister, Xinhua news agency reported. France on Wednesday unveiled a proposal for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon in UN diplomacy with the United States as the death toll mounted in deadly strikes by Israel. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the two Western powers were proposing a "temporary ceasefire" of 21 days "to allow for negotiations." The Arab League Council has at the level of foreign ministers warned of the repercussions of escalating "the Israeli aggression" against Lebanon in light of recent developments, which could lead to the outbreak of a large-scale regional war and threaten the security and stability of the entire region. Israel said on Wednesday it was readying troops for a potential ground incursion into Lebanon, telling soldiers to prepare to "enter enemy territory" as it called up more reservists and sent world leaders scrambling to prevent a full-scale war with Hezbollah militants. "We are preparing the process of a manoeuvre," Israeli Military Chief Herzi Halevi told troops at an exercise along the northern border. Israeli warplanes resumed intensive airstrikes on eastern and southern Lebanon on Wednesday evening, carrying out about 70 raids on the areas of Baalbek, Hermel, and Western Bekaa in eastern Lebanon. On Monday and Tuesday, Israel conducted its most extensive attacks on Lebanon since 2006, resulting in more than 550 deaths and over 1,800 injuries across the country. Lebanese Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said Israel's bombardment has displaced over 150,000 residents over the past 72 hours. The sharp escalation has raised concerns about a potential full-scale conflict between Israel and Lebanon, with fears that other regional powers could also be sucked in. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Amid Israel-Hezbollah conflict, UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on Lebanon

The Israeli army chief has told his troops that the ongoing strikes in Lebanon may serve as a precursor to "possible entry" of soldiers into the “enemy territory.”

"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," he is believed to have told the military.

The Israeli army chief said that the motive of this operation would be to “safely return the residents of the north," as thousands of Israelis have been evacuated from border areas.

"To achieve that, we are preparing the process of a manoeuvre, which means your military boots, your manoeuvring boots, will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts, with underground infrastructure, staging points, and launchpads into our territory and carry out attacks on Israeli civilians," Halevi said.

"You will go in, destroy the enemy there, and decisively destroy their infrastructure.”

This comes after the Israeli military on Wednesday mobilised reserve brigades to the northern border with Lebanon for "operational missions" in the area.

<h2>India issues advisory</h2>

India on Wednesday asked its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately in view of the recent developments and escalations.

"As a reiteration of the Advisory issued on 1 August 2024 and in view of the recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice," the Indian embassy in Beirut&nbsp;said in a statement.

"All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and remain in contact with Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128," the statement added.

<h2>Biden warns of all-out war</h2>

US President Joe Biden, on&nbsp;Wednesday, warned of the possibility of an "all-out war" in the Middle East but said he was hopeful a settlement was still achievable for the conflict-torn region.

"An all-out war is possible," Biden said when asked about the situation. "What I think is, also, the opportunity is still in play to have a settlement that could fundamentally change the whole region."

(With inputs from agencies)

The Israeli army chief has told his troops that the ongoing strikes in Lebanon may serve as a precursor to "possible entry" of soldiers into the “enemy territory.

The Israeli army chief has told his troops that the ongoing strikes in Lebanon may serve as a precursor to "possible entry" of soldiers into the “enemy territory.” "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," he is believed to have told the military. The Israeli army chief said that the motive of this operation would be to “safely return the residents of the north," as thousands of Israelis have been evacuated from border areas. "To achieve that, we are preparing the process of a manoeuvre, which means your military boots, your manoeuvring boots, will enter enemy territory, enter villages that Hezbollah has prepared as large military outposts, with underground infrastructure, staging points, and launchpads into our territory and carry out attacks on Israeli civilians," Halevi said. "You will go in, destroy the enemy there, and decisively destroy their infrastructure.” This comes after the Israeli military on Wednesday mobilised reserve brigades to the northern border with Lebanon for "operational missions" in the area. India issues advisory India on Wednesday asked its citizens to leave Lebanon immediately in view of the recent developments and escalations. "As a reiteration of the Advisory issued on 1 August 2024 and in view of the recent developments and escalations in the region, Indian nationals are strongly advised against travelling to Lebanon till further notice," the Indian embassy in Beirut said in a statement. "All Indian nationals already in Lebanon are also strongly advised to leave Lebanon. Those who remain for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements and remain in contact with Embassy of India in Beirut through our email ID: cons.beirut@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +96176860128," the statement added. Biden warns of all-out war US President Joe Biden, on Wednesday, warned of the possibility of an "all-out war" in the Middle East but said he was hopeful a settlement was still achievable for the conflict-torn region. "An all-out war is possible," Biden said when asked about the situation. "What I think is, also, the opportunity is still in play to have a settlement that could fundamentally change the whole region." (With inputs from agencies)

Israel prepares for ‘possible invasion’ of Lebanon; India issues advisory

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Israel's killing of top Hezbollah commanders couldn't bring the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group to its knees.

"Some of the effective and valuable forces of Hezbollah were martyred, which undoubtedly caused damage to Hezbollah, but this was not the sort of damage that could bring the group to its knees," he said in meeting with military personnel and veterans of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

"The organisational and human strength of Hezbollah is much more than that. Their authority, capabilities and strength are much more than that and cannot be seriously affected by these martyrdoms."

The Israel-Lebanon border has seen near-daily exchanges of fire since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October, after Palestinian militant group Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel.&nbsp;

The violence has escalated dramatically since last week after coordinated sabotage attacks targeting Hezbollah communication devices killed 39 people and wounded almost 3,000.

On Wednesday, Israeli warplanes bombed Hezbollah targets for a third day, after air raids earlier this week killed at least 558 people in the deadliest day of violence since the 1975-1990 civil war.&nbsp;

Hezbollah also said it had fired a ballistic missile at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Wednesday, with the Israeli military describing the launch as unprecedented.

Khamenei said Hezbollah had "protected" Gaza since the start of the conflict.&nbsp;

"Until today, the victory has been for the Palestinian resistance and Hezbollah," Khamenei said. "The final victory in this battle will belong to the resistance front and Hezbollah."

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Israel's killing of top Hezbollah commanders couldn't bring the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group to its knees.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Wednesday that Israel's killing of top Hezbollah commanders couldn't bring the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group to its knees. "Some of the effective and valuable forces of Hezbollah were martyred, which undoubtedly caused damage to Hezbollah, but this was not the sort of damage that could bring the group to its knees," he said in meeting with military personnel and veterans of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. "The organisational and human strength of Hezbollah is much more than that. Their authority, capabilities and strength are much more than that and cannot be seriously affected by these martyrdoms." The Israel-Lebanon border has seen near-daily exchanges of fire since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October, after Palestinian militant group Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel. The violence has escalated dramatically since last week after coordinated sabotage attacks targeting Hezbollah communication devices killed 39 people and wounded almost 3,000. On Wednesday, Israeli warplanes bombed Hezbollah targets for a third day, after air raids earlier this week killed at least 558 people in the deadliest day of violence since the 1975-1990 civil war. Hezbollah also said it had fired a ballistic missile at the Israeli city of Tel Aviv on Wednesday, with the Israeli military describing the launch as unprecedented. Khamenei said Hezbollah had "protected" Gaza since the start of the conflict. "Until today, the victory has been for the Palestinian resistance and Hezbollah," Khamenei said. "The final victory in this battle will belong to the resistance front and Hezbollah." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Israel killing Hezbollah commanders will not bring militant group to its knees: Iran’s leader Khamenei

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The Israeli military said on Wednesday that for the "first time ever" a missile fired by Hezbollah reached the Tel Aviv area before being intercepted by Israel's air defences.

"It is the first time ever a Hezbollah missile reached (the) Tel Aviv area. It was intercepted by IDF (the Israeli military)," an army spokesman told AFP.&nbsp;

In a separate briefing, military spokesman Nadav Shoshani said that the firing of the surface-to-surface missile at Tel Aviv was an "escalation" on the part of Hezbollah.

"Hezbollah is definitely trying to escalate the situation... this is just part of it," Lieutenant Colonel Shoshani said.

"They are... trying to terrorise more and more people."

The military said it struck the launcher which fired the missile in the Nafakhiyeh area of south Lebanon.

Israeli warplanes also carried out a series of strikes during the night on Hezbollah targets in Lebanese territory, it said.

"As part of the strikes, the IAF (air force) struck terrorists operating within terrorist infrastructure, weapons storage facilities, launchers and additional Hezbollah terrorist targets," it added.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that for the "first time ever" a missile fired by Hezbollah reached the Tel Aviv area before being intercepted by Israel's air defences.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that for the "first time ever" a missile fired by Hezbollah reached the Tel Aviv area before being intercepted by Israel's air defences. "It is the first time ever a Hezbollah missile reached (the) Tel Aviv area. It was intercepted by IDF (the Israeli military)," an army spokesman told AFP. In a separate briefing, military spokesman Nadav Shoshani said that the firing of the surface-to-surface missile at Tel Aviv was an "escalation" on the part of Hezbollah. "Hezbollah is definitely trying to escalate the situation... this is just part of it," Lieutenant Colonel Shoshani said. "They are... trying to terrorise more and more people." The military said it struck the launcher which fired the missile in the Nafakhiyeh area of south Lebanon. Israeli warplanes also carried out a series of strikes during the night on Hezbollah targets in Lebanese territory, it said. "As part of the strikes, the IAF (air force) struck terrorists operating within terrorist infrastructure, weapons storage facilities, launchers and additional Hezbollah terrorist targets," it added. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Israeli army said Hezbollah missile reached Tel Aviv for ‘first time’

The Israeli military said on Tuesday (Sept 24) that it struck dozens of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon overnight. Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group, said on Tuesday that it launched volleys of missiles at Israeli military bases.

The Israeli military said on Tuesday (Sept 24) that it struck dozens of Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon overnight. Hezbollah, the Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group, said on Tuesday that it launched volleys of missiles at Israeli military bases. As per reports, Ibrahim Qubaisi, a top Hezbollah commander responsible for directing missile attacks towards central Israel, was killed in the attack. Ibrahim Qubaisi, also known as Abu Musa, was the head of the terror group's missile unit. He was killed Tuesday in one of the strikes on Beirut’s Dahieh district, when a six-storey residential building was hit by the IDF. The Israeli military said more than 50 projectiles were fired into northern Israel in less than 10 minutes on Tuesday morning, most of which were intercepted. These attacks by the Israeli military and Hezbollah came a day after Lebanon said that Israeli airstrikes killed nearly 500 people and sent tens of thousands fleeing for safety. A look at Monday's airstrikes in Lebanon On Monday, Israel launched air strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon that killed 492 people, including 35 children, while more than 1,600 people were injured, according to the Lebanese health ministry. Also read | 'Israel wants to drag Middle East into full-blown war by...': Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian A Lebanese official told the news agency Reuters that this was the country's highest daily death toll from violence since the 1975-1990 civil war. After almost a year of war against Hamas in Gaza on its southern border, Israel is shifting its focus to the northern frontier, from where Hezbollah has been firing rockets into Israel in support of the Palestinian militant group, also backed by Iran. After some of the heaviest cross-border exchanges of fire since hostilities flared in October 2023 as the Gaza war erupted, Israel warned civilian people in Lebanon to evacuate areas and move away from locations where Hezbollah has stored weapons. Thousands of people from south Lebanon fled for safety. The United Nations (UN) said on Tuesday that tens of thousands of people had fled their homes in Lebanon since Monday, amid Israeli strikes. "Tens of thousands of people were forced from their homes yesterday and overnight, and the numbers continue to grow," UN refugee agency spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh told reporters in Geneva. Also watch | Newspoint: US sending more troops to West Asia × Israeli Army chief Herzi Halevi said Monday's strikes hit the combat infrastructure that Hezbollah had been building for two decades, while Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called Monday "a significant peak" in the operation. '89 temporary shelters set up' Speaking to Reuters, Lebanese Minister Naseer Yassin said that 89 temporary shelters in schools and other facilities had been set up, with the capacity for more than 26,000 people as civilians fled what he called "Israeli atrocities." This development came after Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati urged the United Nations and world powers to deter what he called Israel's "plan that aims to destroy Lebanese villages and towns." (With inputs from agencies)

West Asia crisis: Top Hezbollah commander, head of missile unit, killed in Israeli strike on Beirut

Tensions are increasing in West Asia. Israel has launched one of its most intensive airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon since 2006. At least 500 civilians have been killed. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has launched more than 200 rockets into Northern Israel.

Israel-Hezbollah War: Fear of an All-out War Grows in West Asia

Here we bring you a quick round-up of all the latest news and top headlines from all across the globe: Thousands of people fled southern Lebanon, jamming the main highway to Beirut. Israel launched hundreds of air attacks in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday, killing at least 492 people.

Israel-Hezbollah War: Thousands flee Southern Lebanon as Israeli air strikes intensify | Speed News

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said military actions "will continue until we reach a point where we may ensure the safe return of Israel's northern communities to their homes". Watch in for more details!

Israel-Hezbollah War: Israel's army chief vows to hit anyone who threatens Israelis

Israel-Hezbollah War: Israeli Army Chief Vows to 'Hit Anyone Who Threatens' Citizens

Iran-backed Hezbollah fired more than 100 projectiles from southern Lebanon on Sunday (Sep 22) in what is believed to be the deepest rocket attack into Israel since the start of the Gaza war.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Israeli military said that "approximately 20 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon" shortly before 5:00 am (0200 GMT), followed by a barrage of "approximately 85 projectiles" launched from Lebanon after 6:00 am (0300 GMT).

The Air Force said some of the rockets were&nbsp;intercepted, while some impacted Kiryat Bialik, near Haifa, and Moreshet, a community in the Lower Galilee. Three people were wounded in&nbsp;Kiryat Bialik after being hit by shrapnel and were taken to hospital.&nbsp;

The victims include a man in his 70s in moderate condition, another man in his 70s, and a 16-year-old girl who is lightly hurt.

"Hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians spent their night hiding in bomb shelters, while barrages of rockets were flying over their heads, some hitting their homes, and rocket alert sirens were constantly sounding throughout the night," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).&nbsp;

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Hezbollah’s terrorism targets civilians. 
 
Hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians spent their night hiding in bomb shelters, while barrages of rockets were flying over their heads, some hitting their homes, and rocket alert sirens were constantly sounding throughout the night.… <a href="https://t.co/2XzgAQQ7Fp">pic.twitter.com/2XzgAQQ7Fp</a>
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1837707589410255169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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MDA says it is treating three people who were lightly wounded as a result of rocket impacts in the Krayot and Lower Galilee. 
 
Several others were treated for acute anxiety or falling over while running to shelters. 
 
Footage shows one of the rocket impact sites in Kiryat Bialik. <a href="https://t.co/MXy2CObapv">pic.twitter.com/MXy2CObapv</a>
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) <a href="https://twitter.com/manniefabian/status/1837702138614423587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Watch |&nbsp;Israel unleashes 400 air &amp; missile strikes on Lebanon in 'New Phase' of war

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<h2>Retribution for pager attack</h2>

The Hezbollah attack came hours after Israeli strikes dismantled approximately 180 targets and thousands of launchers barrels which the militant outfit was preparing for immediate use against Israeli citizens.&nbsp;

However, the Lebanese militant group said the rocket fire was&nbsp;“an initial response” to the pager blasts last week, which killed more than 30 members of the outfit and wounded thousands of others.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-troops-raid-al-jazeeras-west-bank-bureau-issue-closure-order-760805">Also read |&nbsp;Israeli troops raid Al Jazeera's West Bank bureau, issue closure order to Qatari broadcaster</a>

In response to the attack, Tel Aviv said it had launched new strikes on Hezbollah targets.&nbsp;

"The IDF (military) is currently striking targets belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation in Lebanon," a military statement said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the military's Home Front Command said schools and other educational institutions and activities would not be permitted in the north until at least Monday evening.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran-backed Hezbollah fired more than 100 projectiles from southern Lebanon on Sunday (Sep 22) in what is believed to be the deepest rocket attack into Israel since the start of the Gaza war.

Iran-backed Hezbollah fired more than 100 projectiles from southern Lebanon on Sunday (Sep 22) in what is believed to be the deepest rocket attack into Israel since the start of the Gaza war. The Israeli military said that "approximately 20 projectiles were identified crossing from Lebanon" shortly before 5:00 am (0200 GMT), followed by a barrage of "approximately 85 projectiles" launched from Lebanon after 6:00 am (0300 GMT). The Air Force said some of the rockets were intercepted, while some impacted Kiryat Bialik, near Haifa, and Moreshet, a community in the Lower Galilee. Three people were wounded in Kiryat Bialik after being hit by shrapnel and were taken to hospital. The victims include a man in his 70s in moderate condition, another man in his 70s, and a 16-year-old girl who is lightly hurt. "Hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians spent their night hiding in bomb shelters, while barrages of rockets were flying over their heads, some hitting their homes, and rocket alert sirens were constantly sounding throughout the night," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Hezbollah’s terrorism targets civilians. Hundreds of thousands of Israeli civilians spent their night hiding in bomb shelters, while barrages of rockets were flying over their heads, some hitting their homes, and rocket alert sirens were constantly sounding throughout the night.… pic.twitter.com/2XzgAQQ7Fp — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 22, 2024 × MDA says it is treating three people who were lightly wounded as a result of rocket impacts in the Krayot and Lower Galilee. Several others were treated for acute anxiety or falling over while running to shelters. Footage shows one of the rocket impact sites in Kiryat Bialik. pic.twitter.com/MXy2CObapv — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) September 22, 2024 × Watch | Israel unleashes 400 air & missile strikes on Lebanon in 'New Phase' of war × Retribution for pager attack The Hezbollah attack came hours after Israeli strikes dismantled approximately 180 targets and thousands of launchers barrels which the militant outfit was preparing for immediate use against Israeli citizens. However, the Lebanese militant group said the rocket fire was “an initial response” to the pager blasts last week, which killed more than 30 members of the outfit and wounded thousands of others. Also read | Israeli troops raid Al Jazeera's West Bank bureau, issue closure order to Qatari broadcaster In response to the attack, Tel Aviv said it had launched new strikes on Hezbollah targets. "The IDF (military) is currently striking targets belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation in Lebanon," a military statement said. Meanwhile, the military's Home Front Command said schools and other educational institutions and activities would not be permitted in the north until at least Monday evening. (With inputs from agencies)

Hezbollah fires more than 100 rockets on Israel in deepest attack since start of Gaza war

Israel said it had conducted a "targeted strike" in Beirut, where an air strike had hit Hezbollah's stronghold in the south of the city. Watch in for more details!

Israel-Hezbollah War: Israel Hits Beirut in a Rare Strike, Killing at Least 8 People

The Israeli army’s command has reinforced its group of forces along the Lebanese border deploying armored vehicles and more military personnel. Watch in for more details!

Israel-Hezbollah War: Israel Mobilises Tanks & Armoured Vehicles Along Border Areas

Hezbollah's top commander Ibrahim Aqil, alongside two others, were killed in a strike,&nbsp;carried out by Israel on Friday (Sep 20) evening. The strikes took place in Lebanon's capital city of Beirut and its&nbsp;southern suburbs dealing a huge blow to the militant outfit whose chief, Hassan Nasrallah had vowed revenge against Israel, only a day before in a televised address.&nbsp;

Aqil was the second-in-command of Hezbollah's armed forces, behind Fuad Shukr who was also killed in an Israeli strike in July.&nbsp;

The Israeli military confirmed Aqil's death saying he alongside his troops had&nbsp;gathered underground when they were targeted and killed in an airstrike.

“They gathered underground, under a residential building, in the heart of the Dahiyeh, while using civilians as a human shield. They met to coordinate terror activities against Israeli civilians,” said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari.&nbsp;

According to the IDF, Aqil was planning to "raid Israeli territory, occupy the communities of the Galilee, murder and kill innocents, similar to what the Hamas terror organisation carried out in the murderous massacre on October 7".&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/israel-hamas-war-eu-west-bank-becoming-a-new-gaza-758718">Watch |&nbsp;Israel-Hamas war | EU: West Bank becoming a new Gaza</a>

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<h2>Who was Ibrahim Aqil?</h2>

Ibrahim Aqil, also known as Tahsin, served in Hezbollah's&nbsp;highest military body, the Jihad Council. He also led the elite Radwan Force, the outfit's top military unit.

Formed after the 2006 Second Lebanon War, the Radwan Force was created to bolster Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities. The unit is primarily responsible for ground warfare, including high-risk missions such as infiltrating&nbsp;Israeli territory.&nbsp;

In the 1980s, he was a principal member of Hezbollah's terrorist cell&nbsp;the Islamic Jihad Organisation, which claimed responsibility for the bombings of the American&nbsp;embassy in Beirut in April 1983, which killed 63 people, and the US&nbsp;Marine Corps barracks in October 1983, which killed 241 US&nbsp;personnel.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/senior-hezbollah-commander-ibrahim-aqil-killed-in-israeli-strike-in-beirut-760479">Also read |&nbsp;Senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil killed in Israeli strike in Beirut</a>

In July 2015, the US&nbsp;Department of the Treasury listed Aqil as a Specially Designated National,&nbsp;for acting for or on behalf of Hezbollah.&nbsp;

In April last year, on the 40th anniversary of the attack on the US embassy, Washington put a reward of $7 million on Aqil's head.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Commenting on Aqil's death,&nbsp;White House national security spokesman John Kirby said he was “not aware” of Israel giving the US&nbsp;prior notice about the Beirut strike.&nbsp;

"War is not inevitable up there at the Blue Line, and we're going to continue to do everything we can to try to prevent it," added Kirby.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Hezbollah's top commander Ibrahim Aqil, alongside two others, were killed in a strike, carried out by Israel on Friday (Sep 20) evening. The strikes took place in Lebanon's capital city of Beirut and its southern suburbs dealing a huge blow to the militant outfit whose chief, Hassan Nasrallah had vowed revenge against Israel, only a day before in a televised address.

Hezbollah's top commander Ibrahim Aqil, alongside two others, were killed in a strike, carried out by Israel on Friday (Sep 20) evening. The strikes took place in Lebanon's capital city of Beirut and its southern suburbs dealing a huge blow to the militant outfit whose chief, Hassan Nasrallah had vowed revenge against Israel, only a day before in a televised address. Aqil was the second-in-command of Hezbollah's armed forces, behind Fuad Shukr who was also killed in an Israeli strike in July. The Israeli military confirmed Aqil's death saying he alongside his troops had gathered underground when they were targeted and killed in an airstrike. “They gathered underground, under a residential building, in the heart of the Dahiyeh, while using civilians as a human shield. They met to coordinate terror activities against Israeli civilians,” said Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. According to the IDF, Aqil was planning to "raid Israeli territory, occupy the communities of the Galilee, murder and kill innocents, similar to what the Hamas terror organisation carried out in the murderous massacre on October 7". Watch | Israel-Hamas war | EU: West Bank becoming a new Gaza × Who was Ibrahim Aqil? Ibrahim Aqil, also known as Tahsin, served in Hezbollah's highest military body, the Jihad Council. He also led the elite Radwan Force, the outfit's top military unit. Formed after the 2006 Second Lebanon War, the Radwan Force was created to bolster Hezbollah’s offensive capabilities. The unit is primarily responsible for ground warfare, including high-risk missions such as infiltrating Israeli territory. In the 1980s, he was a principal member of Hezbollah's terrorist cell the Islamic Jihad Organisation, which claimed responsibility for the bombings of the American embassy in Beirut in April 1983, which killed 63 people, and the US Marine Corps barracks in October 1983, which killed 241 US personnel. Also read | Senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil killed in Israeli strike in Beirut In July 2015, the US Department of the Treasury listed Aqil as a Specially Designated National, for acting for or on behalf of Hezbollah. In April last year, on the 40th anniversary of the attack on the US embassy, Washington put a reward of $7 million on Aqil's head. Commenting on Aqil's death, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said he was “not aware” of Israel giving the US prior notice about the Beirut strike. "War is not inevitable up there at the Blue Line, and we're going to continue to do everything we can to try to prevent it," added Kirby. Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Who was Ibrahim Aqil, chief of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, killed in Israeli strike

Israel-Hezbollah War: 8 Killed, About 60 People Injured After Israeli Jets Attack Lebanon

BREAKING | Israeli Jets Attack Lebanon: 5 Killed, 17 Injured

BREAKING: Israeli Army Says it Conducted a 'Targeted Strike' in Beirut

The leader of Hezbollah vowed on Thursday to keep up daily strikes on Israel despite this week's mass bombing attack on its communication devices. Hezbollah and Israel launched fresh attacks across the border as Hassan Nasrallah spoke for the first time since the deadly device bombings.

Hezbollah Leader Vows to Retaliate Against Israel for Pager and Walkie-talkie Attacks

Israel said it struck hundreds of targets in Lebanon, hours after Hezbollah's leader vowed to retaliate for two rounds of attacks targeting its operatives' communication devices across Lebanon.

Israel-Hezbollah War: Israeli jets strike hundreds of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon

Minutes after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah delivered his first speech in the aftermath of pager and walkie-talkie explosions, Israel launched a full-scale attack in Lebanon by targeting the militant group's targets.&nbsp;

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed about the attack, adding that its aim was to 'bring security to northern Israel'.&nbsp;

"The IDF is currently striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities and infrastructure," IDF said.&nbsp;

"For decades, Hezbollah has weaponized civilian homes, dug tunnels beneath them and used civilians as human shields—having turned southern Lebanon into a war zone. The IDF is operating to bring security to northern Israel in order to enable the return of residents to their homes and achieve war goals," it added.&nbsp;

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⭕️The IDF is currently striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. 
 
For decades, Hezbollah has weaponized civilian homes, dug tunnels beneath them and used civilians as human shields—having turned southern Lebanon into…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1836769873042538964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Images and videos going viral on social media showed Israeli fighter jets breaking the sound barrier in the Lebanese territory, especially the capital city of Beirut.&nbsp;

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Over Beirut Now <a href="https://t.co/Dzcd5Xz5ws">https://t.co/Dzcd5Xz5ws</a> <a href="https://t.co/YkflrFEw4k">pic.twitter.com/YkflrFEw4k</a>
—  𝓂𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑜🇱🇧🇬🇧🇦🇪 (@MarioLeb79) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarioLeb79/status/1836775929684631959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Over Beirut now <a href="https://t.co/phCGd1w6Oa">pic.twitter.com/phCGd1w6Oa</a>
—  𝓂𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑜🇱🇧🇬🇧🇦🇪 (@MarioLeb79) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarioLeb79/status/1836775356050612452?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Earlier in the day, IDF said it bombed&nbsp;six Hezbollah "terrorist infrastructure sites" and a weapons storage facility.

The air strikes hit Hezbollah targets in Chihine, Tayibe, Blida, Meiss El Jabal, Aitaroun and Kfarkela in southern Lebanon, as well as a Hezbollah weapons storage facility in the area of Khiam.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Lebanon walkie-talkie blasts: Hamas blames Israel for new wave of device explosions in Lebanon

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<h2>What did Nasrallah claim?</h2>

In his televised speech, Nasrallah stated that the planned explosions were a 'declaration of war', whilst adding that Hezbollah will&nbsp;prevent Tel Aviv&nbsp;from realising its new war objective to return Israeli citizens displaced from the border area in the north to their homes.

“Let me tell the Israeli government, the Israeli army and the Israeli people: You will not manage. I tell Prime Minister Netanyahu: You can do what you want, you will not manage," Nasrallah said.&nbsp;

"The only solution is to halt the aggression against the people of Gaza. No military escalation, no killings, no total war will return your settlers to the border area. You know it,” he added.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hezbollah-chief-nasrallah-blames-israel-for-lebanon-blasts-calls-it-declaration-of-war-760175">Also read |&nbsp;Hezbollah chief Nasrallah blames Israel for Lebanon blasts, calls it 'declaration of war'</a>

Both Israel and Hezbollah have been flirting with an all-out war after the militant outfit's deputy leader Faud Shukr was killed in July by Israel in an air strike. The pager explosion saga may have been the final straw.&nbsp;

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

Minutes after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah delivered his first speech in the aftermath of pager and walkie-talkie explosions, Israel launched a full-scale attack in Lebanon by targeting the militant group's targets.

Minutes after Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah delivered his first speech in the aftermath of pager and walkie-talkie explosions, Israel launched a full-scale attack in Lebanon by targeting the militant group's targets. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) informed about the attack, adding that its aim was to 'bring security to northern Israel'. "The IDF is currently striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities and infrastructure," IDF said. "For decades, Hezbollah has weaponized civilian homes, dug tunnels beneath them and used civilians as human shields—having turned southern Lebanon into a war zone. The IDF is operating to bring security to northern Israel in order to enable the return of residents to their homes and achieve war goals," it added. ⭕️The IDF is currently striking Hezbollah targets in Lebanon to degrade Hezbollah’s terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. For decades, Hezbollah has weaponized civilian homes, dug tunnels beneath them and used civilians as human shields—having turned southern Lebanon into… — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 19, 2024 × Images and videos going viral on social media showed Israeli fighter jets breaking the sound barrier in the Lebanese territory, especially the capital city of Beirut. Over Beirut Now https://t.co/Dzcd5Xz5ws pic.twitter.com/YkflrFEw4k —  𝓂𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑜🇱🇧🇬🇧🇦🇪 (@MarioLeb79) September 19, 2024 × Over Beirut now pic.twitter.com/phCGd1w6Oa —  𝓂𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑜🇱🇧🇬🇧🇦🇪 (@MarioLeb79) September 19, 2024 × Earlier in the day, IDF said it bombed six Hezbollah "terrorist infrastructure sites" and a weapons storage facility. The air strikes hit Hezbollah targets in Chihine, Tayibe, Blida, Meiss El Jabal, Aitaroun and Kfarkela in southern Lebanon, as well as a Hezbollah weapons storage facility in the area of Khiam. Watch | Lebanon walkie-talkie blasts: Hamas blames Israel for new wave of device explosions in Lebanon What did Nasrallah claim? In his televised speech, Nasrallah stated that the planned explosions were a 'declaration of war', whilst adding that Hezbollah will prevent Tel Aviv from realising its new war objective to return Israeli citizens displaced from the border area in the north to their homes. “Let me tell the Israeli government, the Israeli army and the Israeli people: You will not manage. I tell Prime Minister Netanyahu: You can do what you want, you will not manage," Nasrallah said. "The only solution is to halt the aggression against the people of Gaza. No military escalation, no killings, no total war will return your settlers to the border area. You know it,” he added. Also read | Hezbollah chief Nasrallah blames Israel for Lebanon blasts, calls it 'declaration of war' Both Israel and Hezbollah have been flirting with an all-out war after the militant outfit's deputy leader Faud Shukr was killed in July by Israel in an air strike. The pager explosion saga may have been the final straw. Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel launches fresh strikes in Lebanon after Hezbollah chief’s speech, jets break sound barrier over Beirut

Israel allegedly carried out the pager explosions in Lebanon, killing nine people, while injuring thousands on Tuesday (Sep 17), much earlier than planned after concerns arose that some Hezbollah members had grown suspicious of the devices.&nbsp;

According to a report in Axios, the original Israeli plan was to detonate the devices when an all-out war was underway with the Iran-backed militant outfit.

However, when Tel Aviv got a whiff that its secret operation may have been uncovered, it took the call to prepone the plan and detonate the devices.&nbsp;Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the go-ahead for the operation.

"It was a use it or lose it moment," one US official aware of the operation told the publication.&nbsp;

White House was reportedly made aware of the operation minutes before the pagers started exploding. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called US&nbsp;Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and told him Israel was about to conduct an operation in Lebanon soon, but refused to give any specific details.

The pagers, reportedly manufactured by a Budapest-stationed BAC Consulting KFT BAC, based on the license of Taiwanese pager maker, Gold Apollo, were modified before being shipped to Lebanon.&nbsp;

The explosives were implanted near the battery with a remote activations switch, allowing for a coordinated detonation. Some reports claim that a beep was sent seconds before the attack, forcing the owners of the pagers to take them out, thereby injuring them more grievously.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Lebanon Hezbollah pagers explosion: Lebanese Information Minister Calls It 'An Israel Aggression'

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/lebanon-hezbollah-pagers-explosion-lebanese-information-minister-calls-it-an-israel-aggression-759872/embed" width="560"></iframe>

<h2>Biggest security breach</h2>

According to the militant outfit, it was one of&nbsp;the&nbsp;biggest ‘security breaches’ the group has faced since the Israel-Hamas war broke out.

"Israel will certainly receive its just punishment for this sinful aggression," Hezbollah said.&nbsp;

Iranian state media IRNA reported that Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was also injured in the explosions.&nbsp;

The attack has completely destroyed the telecommunication apparatus of Hezbollah, meaning the militant outfit might be at its weakest if Israel decides to escalate its military offensive in Lebanon.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-how-were-the-deadly-hezbollah-pager-explosions-carried-out-in-lebanon-759700">Also read |&nbsp;Explained: How were the deadly Hezbollah pager explosions carried out in Lebanon?</a>

Notably, a day after the pager explosions, a number of walkie-talkies also exploded in the region, leading to aspersions that Israel had more up its sleeve.&nbsp;

According to Lebanon's health ministry, 20 people were killed and more than 450 were injured on Wednesday in Beirut's suburbs and the Bekaa Valley.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Israel allegedly carried out the pager explosions in Lebanon, killing nine people, while injuring thousands on Tuesday (Sep 17), much earlier than planned after concerns arose that some Hezbollah members had grown suspicious of the devices.

Israel allegedly carried out the pager explosions in Lebanon, killing nine people, while injuring thousands on Tuesday (Sep 17), much earlier than planned after concerns arose that some Hezbollah members had grown suspicious of the devices. According to a report in Axios, the original Israeli plan was to detonate the devices when an all-out war was underway with the Iran-backed militant outfit. However, when Tel Aviv got a whiff that its secret operation may have been uncovered, it took the call to prepone the plan and detonate the devices. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the go-ahead for the operation. "It was a use it or lose it moment," one US official aware of the operation told the publication. White House was reportedly made aware of the operation minutes before the pagers started exploding. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and told him Israel was about to conduct an operation in Lebanon soon, but refused to give any specific details. The pagers, reportedly manufactured by a Budapest-stationed BAC Consulting KFT BAC, based on the license of Taiwanese pager maker, Gold Apollo, were modified before being shipped to Lebanon. The explosives were implanted near the battery with a remote activations switch, allowing for a coordinated detonation. Some reports claim that a beep was sent seconds before the attack, forcing the owners of the pagers to take them out, thereby injuring them more grievously. Watch: Lebanon Hezbollah pagers explosion: Lebanese Information Minister Calls It 'An Israel Aggression' Biggest security breach According to the militant outfit, it was one of the biggest ‘security breaches’ the group has faced since the Israel-Hamas war broke out. "Israel will certainly receive its just punishment for this sinful aggression," Hezbollah said. Iranian state media IRNA reported that Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amani, was also injured in the explosions. The attack has completely destroyed the telecommunication apparatus of Hezbollah, meaning the militant outfit might be at its weakest if Israel decides to escalate its military offensive in Lebanon. Also read | Explained: How were the deadly Hezbollah pager explosions carried out in Lebanon? Notably, a day after the pager explosions, a number of walkie-talkies also exploded in the region, leading to aspersions that Israel had more up its sleeve. According to Lebanon's health ministry, 20 people were killed and more than 450 were injured on Wednesday in Beirut's suburbs and the Bekaa Valley. (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq and non-state actors like Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos and videos.

Hezbollah pager explosions: Israel wanted to detonate devices later but was forced to act earlier. Know why

Israeli fighter jets struck a building in southern Lebanon’s Blida where the IDF says it identified a group of Hezbollah operatives. Another building used by Hezbollah in Blida was also hit, the military added.

Israel vs Hezbollah Conflict: Israeli jets strike Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon

Israel vs Hezbollah Conflict: IDF strikes Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

The risk of a regional war in the Middle East has lowered after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged heavy blows over the weekend, a top US general has claimed, according to a Reuters report.&nbsp;

Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff flew to Israel hours after Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets from the southern region of Lebanon. Quizzed if the weekend clash, dubbed one of the biggest since the war began in October last year, lowered the&nbsp;near-term risk of a broader war, Brown replied: “Somewhat, yes."

"You had two things you knew were going to happen. One’s already happened. Now it depends on how the second is going to play out," he added, referring to Iran.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“How Iran responds will dictate how Israel responds, which will dictate whether there is going to be a broader conflict or not.”

Iran-backed Hezbollah had planned to launch large-scale missile and drone attacks in the central regions of Israel, particularly targeting&nbsp;IDF intelligence units and the Mossad headquarters. However, on Sunday (Aug 25) early morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), launched a pre-emptive strike that took the sting out of the Hezbollah attack.&nbsp;

After Israel's pre-emptive strikes, Hezbollah&nbsp;said it launched 'more than 320' Katyusha rockets while Israel claimed only 220 rockets and around 20 drones were fired.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-israel-tensions-us-ready-to-defend-israel-in-fight-against-iran-proxies-748982" target="_blank">Watch |&nbsp;Iran-Israel tensions: US ready to defend Israel in fight against Iran &amp; proxies</a>&nbsp;

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/iran-israel-tensions-us-ready-to-defend-israel-in-fight-against-iran-proxies-748982/embed" width="560"></iframe>

<h2>US better prepared to aid Israel&nbsp;</h2>

Brown stated that even if Iran launched an all-out attack against Israel, the US was better prepared to aid Tel Aviv in defence than it was on April 13, earlier this year.&nbsp;

Notably, since the start of August, the Pentagon has moved warships, submarines and fighter jets to the Middle East to avoid escalation of a regional war.&nbsp;

Israel has been anticipating a retaliatory attack that may escalate into war after back-to-back assassinations of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-deploys-warships-and-fighters-jets-to-protect-israel-from-hamas-iran-and-hezbollah-triple-whammy-746730">Also read |&nbsp;US deploys warships and fighter jets to protect Israel from Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah triple whammy</a>

Washington is especially wary after Iranian Supreme Leader&nbsp;Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said avenging&nbsp;Haniyeh's blood was their 'duty' and vowed retaliation against Israel.&nbsp;

“The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our house and made us bereaved,"&nbsp;Khamenei said.&nbsp;

“We consider it our duty to avenge his blood in this bitter and difficult incident that happened in the territory of the Islamic Republic,” he added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The risk of a regional war in the Middle East has lowered after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged heavy blows over the weekend, a top US general has claimed, according to a Reuters report.

The risk of a regional war in the Middle East has lowered after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged heavy blows over the weekend, a top US general has claimed, according to a Reuters report. Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, Jr., chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff flew to Israel hours after Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets from the southern region of Lebanon. Quizzed if the weekend clash, dubbed one of the biggest since the war began in October last year, lowered the near-term risk of a broader war, Brown replied: “Somewhat, yes." "You had two things you knew were going to happen. One’s already happened. Now it depends on how the second is going to play out," he added, referring to Iran. “How Iran responds will dictate how Israel responds, which will dictate whether there is going to be a broader conflict or not.” Iran-backed Hezbollah had planned to launch large-scale missile and drone attacks in the central regions of Israel, particularly targeting IDF intelligence units and the Mossad headquarters. However, on Sunday (Aug 25) early morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), launched a pre-emptive strike that took the sting out of the Hezbollah attack. After Israel's pre-emptive strikes, Hezbollah said it launched 'more than 320' Katyusha rockets while Israel claimed only 220 rockets and around 20 drones were fired. Watch | Iran-Israel tensions: US ready to defend Israel in fight against Iran & proxies US better prepared to aid Israel Brown stated that even if Iran launched an all-out attack against Israel, the US was better prepared to aid Tel Aviv in defence than it was on April 13, earlier this year. Notably, since the start of August, the Pentagon has moved warships, submarines and fighter jets to the Middle East to avoid escalation of a regional war. Israel has been anticipating a retaliatory attack that may escalate into war after back-to-back assassinations of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Also read | US deploys warships and fighter jets to protect Israel from Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah triple whammy Washington is especially wary after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said avenging Haniyeh's blood was their 'duty' and vowed retaliation against Israel. “The criminal and terrorist Zionist regime martyred our dear guest in our house and made us bereaved," Khamenei said. “We consider it our duty to avenge his blood in this bitter and difficult incident that happened in the territory of the Islamic Republic,” he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Risk of all-out war in Middle East lowered after Israel-Hezbollah clash? Top US general reveals...

Israel has shut its beaches for tourists & citizens. Meanwhile, passengers are stranded at Beirut airport.

Israel-Hezbollah Tensions: Panic on both sides of Israel-Lebanon border | WION News