Israel-Lebanon live: Biden orders Pentagon to ‘adjust’ military in region as Israel launches Beirut airstrikes
Daniel Hagari said an earlier strike on Hezbollah’s central command was ‘very precise’
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US President Joe Biden has ordered the Pentagon to adjust the military in the Middle East after Israel launched a wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon.
The White House said in a statement: “He has directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust as necessary US force posture in the region to enhance deterrence, ensure force protection, and support the full range of US objectives.”
The Israeli Defence Force said it has launched strikes on targets in Tyre in southern Lebanon and Dahieh in Beirut.
Israeli spokesperson Daniel Hagari said an earlier strike on Hezbollah’s central command was “very precise”.
Earlier, Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut was hit by a series of massive explosions reported to have been targeted at the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
The airstrikes killed at least six people and wounded 91 in the suburbs, according to Lebanese health authorities.
Israeli sources said Nasrallah was the intended target but a source close to Hezbollah told Reuters he was still alive.
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Netanyahu orders Israeli military to fight Hezbollah with full force – despite ceasefire push
Hezbollah is ‘the quintessential terror organisation in the world'
Netanyahu turned to addressing the escalating conflict with Hezbollah.
He said: “We will not accept a terror army parked on our northern border...able to perpetrate another Oct 7-style massacre. We will continue degrading Hezbollah until all our objectives are met.”
He went on to say that Israel is not at war with Lebanon but with Hezbollah and that the group is “the quintessential terror organisation in the world today,”
Netanyahu compares Hamas to Nazis
Netanyahu has compared Hamas to the Nazis and said it would be “inconceivable” for Israel to allow Hamas to remain a part of Gaza when the war is over.
He said: “Imagine in a post-war situation in the Second World War, imagine allowing the defeated Nazis in 1945 to rebuild Germany. It’s inconceivable. It’s ridiculous. It didn’t happen then, and it’s not going to happen now. We don’t seek to resettle Gaza.”
‘We remain focused on our sacred vision, bringing our hostages home'
Netanyahu has claimed that his army has defeated all but one of “Hamas’ terror battalions.”
He said the army’s focus is now on defeating Hamas’ remaining fighting capability and they are doing so by “taking out senior terrorist commanders and destroying remaining terrorist infrastructure.”
But, he says, the main goal remains focused on their “sacred mission” of bringing “our hostages home.”
The Israeli prime minister said 154 hostages have returned, 117 of those are alive.
He said: “We will not stop until that mission is complete.”
Further remarks from Netanyahu on Israel’s ‘enemies'
Israel is seeking peace despite fighting for its life in the face of “savage enemies” who want its annihilation, Netanyahu has said.
He continued: “My country is at war, fighting for its life. We must defend ourselves against these savage murderers. Our enemies seek not only to destroy us, they seek to destroy our common civilization and return all of us to a dark age of tyranny and terror.”
Netanyahu calls for sanctions on Iran
Netanyahu has called on the UN Security Council to reimpose sanctions on Iran to ensure it doesn’t get nuclear weapons.
Israel tells Iran: ‘If you strike us, we will strike you'
Netanyahu has said his army was forced to defend itself “on six more fronts, organised by Iran” after the initial attack by Hamas inside Israel on 7 October.
He lists others who have attacked Israel including the Yemeni Houthis and says that last April, Iran directly attacked Israel from its own territory.
He said he had a message for the “tyrants of Tehran”, saying there is “no place in the Middle East” that “the long arms of Israel” cannot reach.
Netanyahu then declared: “We are winning!”
‘Lies and slander’ forced Israel’s leader to attend UN
The Israeli prime minster said he decided to attend and speak at the UN after he heard “lies and slander” levelled against Israel by “speakers at this podium”.
He did not provide further details on which speakers he was referring to or what they said.
Netanyahu says Israel ‘yearns for peace'
Benjamin Netanyahu said he did not intend to attend this year’s general assembly but he “decided to come and set the record straight.”
He went on to say that Israel “yearns for peace” and “will make peace again” but added that it must defend itself against “savage” enemies.
Netanyahu begins speech to world leaders at UN
Benjamin Netanyahu is at the lecturn at the UN General Assembly in New York.
He was met with some cheers and jeers from those inside in the chamber as he walked up.
Starmer and Netanyahu did not meet at the UN, it is understood
British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer did not meet with his Israeli counterpart during the sidelines of a world leaders’ summit in New York, despite hopes for talks from the UK side, according to Sky News.
A source familiar with the trip mentioned that scheduling conflicts between Sir Keir Starmer and Benjamin Netanyahu prevented the meeting.
Additionally, a meeting between the prime minister and Israel’s minister of strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, was called off after the Israeli official postponed his trip to the United Nations General Assembly by a day.
The Jewish Chronicle newspaper also reported that the two leaders did not meet despite both being in New York at the same time.
It quoted Downing Street sources as insisting this was not a snub and that the government is “in touch with the Israelis all the time”.
The lack of discussions between the British and Israeli leaders occurred as Israel intensified its military offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
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