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Killed Hezbollah chief’s rumoured successor ‘unreachable’ amid intense Beirut airstrikes - Israel-Iran latest

Iran vows to not back down as tensions escalate across Middle East

Tom Watling ,Vishwam Sankaran
Saturday 05 October 2024 08:41
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Black smoke rises from Lebanon’s Beirut skyline

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Head shot of Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

A senior Hezbollah leader rumoured to be a possible successor to Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed last week, has been declared “unreachable” after more Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut.

Lebanese security sources said they were unable to establish contact with senior figure Hashem Safieddine after Israel reportedly targeted him during airstrikes on the southern Beirut suburb of Dahieh.

Subsequent strikes have prevented rescuers from concluding whether Safieddine has been killed, separate sources added.

When asked in a Friday evening briefing about whether Safieddine was killed in the strike, Israeli military spokesperson Nadav Shoshani said that the military was still investigating the outcome of the raid.

“Around midnight, we struck the Central Intelligence headquarters of Hezbollah in Dahieh,” he said. “When we have more information to share about who was there and what the result of the strike was, we will share it.”

Former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed during Israeli airstrikes on the Lebanese capital last weekend. His deputy, speaking a few days later, said they would soon elect a new leader. Israel said they killing of Nasrallah was only the first stage of their attack on the group.

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Boris Johnson claims bugging device found in bathroom after Netanyahu visit

A bugging device was found in Boris Johnson’s bathroom after a visit by Benjamin Netanyahu when he was foreign secretary, the former prime minister has claimed.

Mr Johnson alleged that his security team had made the discovery when they did a sweep of the toilets after the Israeli premier had used them during a meeting in 2017.

Writing in his memoir, “Unleashed”, the former Tory MP said Mr Netanyahu had excused himself during talks at his old office to use the washroom, described as “a secret annex… a bit like the gents in a posh London club.”

More here.

Boris Johnson claims bugging device found in his bathroom after Netanyahu visit

The former prime minister alleged that his security team had made the discovery when they did a sweep of the toilets in 2017.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2024 07:00
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Israeli strike ‘closes off road' used to flee Lebanon to Syria

An Israeli strike this morning near Lebanon’s Masnaa border crossing with Syria cut off a road used by hundreds of thousands of people to flee Israeli bombardments in recent days, Lebanon’s transport minister said.

Ali Hamieh told Reuters that the strike hit inside Lebanese territory near the border crossing, creating a 12ft wide crater.

An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) military spokesman had accused Lebanese armed group Hezbollah on Thursday of using the crossing to transport military equipment into Lebanon.

“The IDF will not allow the smuggling of these weapons and will not hesitate to act if forced to do so, as it has done throughout this war,” IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2024 06:40
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UAE flight delays: How is the conflict affecting international flights?

The late afternoon Emirates flight from London Heathrow to Dubai has an advertised connection to Bangkok of just one hour.

Normally 60 minutes is sufficient for extricating passengers (and, separately, their checked baggage) from the world’s biggest passenger plane, the A380, and enabling them to board another SuperJumbo at a different gate at the airport that handles more international travellers than any in the world, all in the early hours of the morning.

But the remarkable, unrelenting choreography that allows millions of passengers to connect every day at Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi and many other hubs is under severe strain as a result of the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Lebanon.

With Russian and Ukrainian skies closed to Western aircraft, the options for flying from Europe to Asia seem to be narrowing by the day.

Simon Calder reports.

UAE flight delays: How is the Middle East conflict affecting international flights?

Exclusive: Airlines flying from Europe to the Gulf on Tuesday night into Wednesday experienced severe disruption

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2024 06:20
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Israel strikes Masnaa border crossing between Syria and Lebanon - report

The Israeli military has struck the Masnaa border crossing between Syria and Lebanon with two missiles, halting traffic between the two nations, according to reports.

All departures and entry of passengers and cargo activities were suspended at the border this morning until further notice, authorities said.

Israel has accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah of smuggling weapons from Syria through the border crossing.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2024 06:00
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Oil jumps over 5 per cent a barrel amid supply worry

Oil prices surged yesterday as concerns mounted that a widening regional conflict in the Middle East could disrupt global crude flows.

Brent crude futures settled up £2.83, or 5.03 per cent, at £59.13 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled up £2.75, or 5.15 per cent, to £56.15.

Market fears are rising over the possibility that Israel might target Iranian oil infrastructure, which could provoke retaliation.

“Markets are in a state of suspense, bracing for Israel’s anticipated retaliation against Iran - a move that could catapult oil prices skyward,” independent markets analyst Stephen Innes, told AFP.

US president Joe Biden said “we’re discussing that” when asked if he would support Israel striking Iran’s oil facilities.“There is nothing going to happen today,” he added.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2024 05:30
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In Pics: Israel fires barrage of missiles toward Beirut in Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes on southern Beirut
Israeli airstrikes on southern Beirut (Anadolu via Getty Images)
Many rockets, fired from Israel, are seen over Dahieh area
Many rockets, fired from Israel, are seen over Dahieh area (Anadolu via Getty Images)
Smoke rises over Beirut’s southern suburbs after a strike near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport
Smoke rises over Beirut’s southern suburbs after a strike near Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (REUTERS)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2024 05:00
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Children among 18 killed in Israel’s deadliest attack on West Bank in decades

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 18 people, including children, in the occupied West Bank in one of the deadliest attacks in two decades, the Palestinian health ministry said.

“Eighteen martyrs following the bombing of the Tulkarm camp by the occupation,” the ministry said on Telegram.

Last night’s attack reportedly levelled an entire building. An activist in the area told AFP that the airstrike “hit a cafeteria in a four-storey building”.

He added there were “many victims in the hospital”.

The Israeli military earlier said it conducted a strike in Tulkarm in a joint operation with its Shin Bet security service and killed the head of Hamas in the refugee camp.

It said the strike also killed “multiple other significant terrorists”.

Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Mustafa called the attack a “massacre” and accused Israel of ignoring “global calls for justice”.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2024 04:23
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Biden says he doesn’t believe there will be an ‘all-out war’

US president Joe Biden said yesterday he did not believe there is going to be an “all-out war” in the Middle East, amid Israel’s assault on Lebanon and Gaza and rising tensions with Iran.

Asked how confident Mr Biden was that such a war can be averted, he told reporters: “How confident are you it’s not going to rain? Look, I don’t believe there is going to be an all-out war. I think we can avoid it.”

“But there is a lot to do yet, a lot to do yet,” he added.

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2024 04:11
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Britons urged to leave Lebanon now – but what are their travel options?

As Israel attacks targets in central Beirut, the UK Foreign Office has run the first evacuation flight from Lebanon to help British citizens, their spouses and children under 18 to leave the country.

The plane from Beirut touched down at Birmingham airport on Wednesday evening carrying “more than 150 British nationals and dependents”, according to the Foreign Office.

More evacuation flights are planned. The government says they “will continue for as long as the security situation allows”.

But the Foreign Office warns: “Do not rely on FCDO being able to evacuate you in an emergency.”

Simon Calder has more.

Lebanon: Travel advice on flights and border crossings after Britons told to leave

First UK rescue flight from Beirut touched down at Birmingham airport on Wednesday evening – and more ‘will continue for as long as the security situation allows’

Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2024 03:56
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British man ‘will be stranded in Israel for weeks as there are no flights out’

A British man has said he will be stranded in Israel for weeks because of a lack of commercial flights out of the country to the UK.

Keith Ottaway, 46, originally planned to return to the UK on September 24 after visiting his partner in Israel, but successive flights were cancelled.

He said the next available ticket with Israeli flag carrier airline El Al is not until 21 October.

Sam Hall reports:

British man ‘will be stranded in Israel for weeks as there are no flights out’

Keith Ottaway said he understands why the UK Government is focusing its flight efforts on Beirut in Lebanon.

Tara Cobham4 October 2024 03:00

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