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At least six people have been killed after Israeli launched an airstrike in Beirut, targeting a building near the parliament, making it the closest an air assault has come to the central downtown district.
Lebanese health officials said seven people were wounded, while a photo circulated online showed a heavily damaged building with the first floor on fire.
It comes after Israel suffered its first military casualties in its ground invasion of southern Lebanon, with eight Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers killed in intense clashes against Hezbollah.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to defeat Iran’s “Axis of Evil”, saying: “We are at the height of a difficult war... we will stand together and with God’s help, we will win together.”
Hezbollah confirmed it was engaged in clashes with Israeli forces, claiming to have destroyed three Israeli Merkava tanks. Lebanon’s health ministry reported 46 deaths from Israeli airstrikes in the last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden stated that the US will not support an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites, saying, “the answer is no” following Iran’s missile attacks on Israel after its invasion of Lebanon.
Key Points
- Israel's PM pledges to defeat 'Iran's axis of evil' after 8 IDF soldiers killed
- Six dead in central Beirut after Israeli strike
- Biden says he does not support attack on Iran's nuclear sites
- Plane evacuating Britons from Lebanon lands in UK
- UN responds to Israel banning its chief Antonio Guterres
In pictures: Latest from Beirut as airstrike kills at least six people
Around 15 Hezbollah members killed in attack, says IDF
The Israeli military has claimed that around 15 Hezbollah members have been killed in an attack in southern Lebanon.
The IDF said that the fighters were killed in a muncipality building in Bint Jbeil.
In a statement on Telegram, they said the militant group had been operating and storing large quantities of weapons inside the building.
Holly Evans3 October 2024 09:25 1727943268UK charters more flights to help British nationals to leave Lebanon
More than 150 British nationals and dependants were on the first UK Government-chartered flight out of Lebanon on Wednesday, the Foreign Office said.
A “limited number” of further flights from Beirut will take place from Thursday, continuing as long as the security situation allows.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “Recent events have demonstrated the volatility of the situation in Lebanon.
“The safety of British nationals in Lebanon continues to be our number one priority. That’s why we are announcing additional chartered flights to help those who want to leave.
“I urge all British nationals still in Lebanon to register with the FCDO (Foreign Office) and leave the country immediately.”
Holly Evans3 October 2024 09:14 1727942678‘Anxiety and fear are omnipresent’ in Beirut, says UN official
Israel’s strike on a building in the Bachoura district near the Lebanese parliament makes it the closest air assault they have launched to the city’s central downtown district.
A photo circulating on Lebanese WhatsApp groups, which has not yet been verified, showed a heavily damaged building with its first floor on fire.
“Another sleepless night in Beirut. Counting the blasts shaking the city. No warning sirens. Not knowing what’s next. Only that uncertainty lies ahead. Anxiety and fear are omnipresent,” UN special coordinator in Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said on X on Thursday.
Holly Evans3 October 2024 09:04 1727941712Watch live: Smoke over Beirut as at least six dead in Israeli airstrike on Lebanon
Watch live: Smoke over Beirut as at least six dead in Israeli airstrike on Lebanon
Watch a live view of smoke rising over Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, on Thursday (3 October) after Israel struck the city.
Holly Evans3 October 2024 08:48 1727941142Countries organise transport to help their citizens leave Lebanon
The first charter flight carrying British citizens out of Lebanon landed in Birmingham on Wednesday amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Foreign secretary David Lammy said earlier on Wednesday that more charter flights have been arranged for this week, while other nations follow suit.
On Thursday. Japan dispatched two Self Defence Force (SDF) planes to prepare for a possible airlift of Japanese citizens from Lebanon.
Two C-2 transport aircraft are expected to arrive in Jordan and Greece on Friday, Japan NHK national television reported.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Thursday her government had booked 500 seats on commercial aircraft for Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families to leave Lebanon on Saturday.
The seats are available to 1,700 Australians and their families known to be in Lebanon on two flights from Beirut to Cyprus, Ms Wong said.
Holly Evans3 October 2024 08:39 1727939228Israel-Hezbollah-Hamas conflict timeline: Everything that’s happened since 7 October
Israel has launched a ground offensive in Lebanon as fears of an all-out regional war in the Middle East continue to grow. A spokesperson for Israel said “limited” raids are being carried out in the south after months of conflict.
The raids come after the Israeli military launching fresh strikes on Lebanon in late September, causing the highest number of casualties for a single day since at least 2006.
The Independent takes a look at the recent timeline of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and an ally of Hamas in Gaza.
Israel-Hezbollah conflict timeline: Everything that’s happened since 7 October
A “limited” ground invasion of Lebanon is underway
Namita Singh3 October 2024 08:07 1727939185Is it safe to travel to Dubai right now?
British holidaymakers in the UAE have been issued a new warning regarding potential risks stemming from escalating tensions in the region.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has highlighted the ongoing conflict involving Lebanon and Israel, warning that “ongoing hostilities between Israel and Lebanon could escalate quickly and pose risks for the wider region.”
The FCDO has advised travellers to closely monitor updates on the situation, encouraging them to follow FCDO travel on social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. They can also sign up for email notifications regarding changes to travel advice.
The FCDO offers guidance for those caught in crises abroad, detailing what constitutes a crisis, the assistance they can provide, and how travellers can prepare for emergencies.
Namita Singh3 October 2024 08:06 1727939153Britons urged to leave Lebanon now – but what are their travel options after most flights cancelled?
As Israel attacks targets in central Beirut, the UK Foreign Office has run the first evacuation fliight 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.
It is nine weeks since the foreign secretary, David Lammy, first urged UK nationals to leave Lebanon while they could. Sir Kier Starmer reiterated the call last month.
The preferred method is by a commercial flight. But options are extremely limited, with almost all airlines cancelling flights in and out of the capital, Beirut, writes our travel correspondent Simon Calder:
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
Namita Singh3 October 2024 08:05 1727938482Uncertainty lies ahead, says UN after Israel’s deadly strike on Lebanon
Israel bombed Beirut early on Thursday, killing at least six people, after its forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front in a year of clashes with Iran-backed Hezbollah.
“Another sleepless night in Beirut. Counting the blasts shaking the city. No warning sirens. Not knowing what’s next. Only that uncertainty lies ahead. Anxiety and fear are omnipresent,” UN special coordinator in Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, said on X on Thursday.
Three missiles also hit the southern suburb of Dahiyeh, where Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed last week, and loud blasts were heard, Lebanese security officials said.
Namita Singh3 October 2024 07:54 Newer1 / 6OlderDisclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
