Israel-Hezbollah latest: Just look
Israel says ‘limited, localised and targeted’ ground operation under way in Lebanon
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Israel’s military has said it has started a “targeted ground operation” in southern Lebanon.
In a statement, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said troops had started limited and localised ground raids on Hezbollah targets and infrastructure in the country after approval by political leaders.
The announcement came after images emerged showing Israeli tanks and armoured vehicles at the border at Lower Galilee, with US officials telling news agencies that they believed a ground operation could be imminent.
Meanwhile in Beirut, at least six Israeli strikes hit the southern suburbs of the city on Monday, a Lebanese security source said on Monday.
IDF has issued evacuaton orders for three areas in the southern part of the city.
In a post on social media, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee says: “You are located near interests and facilities belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah, and therefore the IDF will act against them forcefully.”
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant had warned on Monday that the next phase of the war against Hezbollah along the southern border of Lebanon “will begin soon”.
Meanwhile, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, vowed to be ready for an Israeli invasion in his first speech given since Israel killed the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, over the weekend.
Strike hits central Beirut as Hezbollah reels from Israel's elimination of much of its top command
Strike hits central Beirut as Hezbollah reels from Israel's elimination of much of its top command
An airstrike has leveled an apartment building and killed three Palestinian militants in central Beirut, as Israel appeared to send a clear message that no part of Lebanon is out of bounds
Lebanon's Hezbollah will pick new leader at earliest opportunity, says its deputy chief
Lebanon’s Hezbollah will choose a successor to its slain secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah “at the earliest opportunity” and will continue the fight against Israel, the Iran-backed group’s deputy chief Naim Qassem said on Monday.
He said the group was continuing its operations, working according to plans already laid out, and described its attacks thus far as the “minimum”, adding that the battle could be long.
Hezbollah is ‘ready’ to fight Israel, vows deputy chief
We have some quotes from Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem’s first speech since his superior Hassan Nasrallah was killed over the weekend.
“We are confident the Israeli enemy will not achieve its aims,” Qassem said. “We will confront any possibility and are ready if Israel decides to enter by land.”
More than 100,000 people cross from Lebanon into Syria, UN refugee agency says
More than 100,000 people have crossed into Syria from Lebanon since a conflict between Israeli forces and the Hezbollah militia escalated this month, the United Nations refugee agency chief said on Monday.
Filippo Grandi said on social media platform X that those fleeing included both Lebanese and Syrian nationals. The UN agency is assisting those arriving at four crossing points, he added.
Hezbollah deputy leader speaks for first time since Nasrallah death
Hezbollah’s deputy chief Naim Qassem is giving his first public address since the group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in a series of Israeli strikes over the weekend.
He has vowed that Hezbollah will defeat Israel and that they are ready to go to war.
Sound of explosions heard on outskirts of Damascus, say witnesses
Sounds of explosions were heard on the outskirts of the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday, witnesses told Reuters.
Iran will not leave Israel's 'criminal' acts unanswered, says foreign ministry
Iran will not leave any of ‘the criminal acts’ of Israel unanswered, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in a weekly news conference on Monday, referring to the killing of Hezbollah’s chief and Iranian Guard deputy commander in Lebanon.
Israel posts footage of planes refuelling during Houthi attacks
The Israeli military has posted footage of its planes refuelling while on route to attacks on the Houthi militia in Yemen.
Earlier, we reported that dozens of its aircraft struck Houthi targets in Yemen in response to a recent attack on Israel.
The military said it targeted power plants and sea port facilities in the city of Hodeida.
The Houthis launched a ballistic missile attack on Ben Gurion airport on Saturday when prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was arriving.
Hezbollah faces ‘existential moment’ after Nasrallah’s death
Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham House, said that Israel has been closely monitoring Hezbollah and its leader Hassan Nasrallah since the 2006 war, enabling them to eliminate many key figures within the group.
Vakil described this as a critical junction for Hezbollah. “This is why this is such an existential moment for the group.”
Sources told Middle East Eye that while Hezbollah typically replaces its commanders quickly, Nasrallah’s cousin, Hachem Safieddine, has been groomed for leadership.
“Over the years, Nasrallah put Safieddine on the path to prepare him to take the helm. But this remains to be seen as Safieddine’s name was circulating among those who were killed in Friday’s strike,” the source was quoted as saying.
Deputy chief of Lebanon's Hezbollah to give speech, first since Nasrallah's killing
The deputy chief of Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah is due to give an address imminently, the group’s media office have said.
It is the first address by a Hezbollah official since the killing of the group’s secretary general in an Israeli air attack on Friday.
The media office originally reported the speech would take place at 12 pm local time, 9am GMT.
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