Lebanon war live updates: Pentagon chief warns Iran of 'serious consequences' if it attacks Israel
Israel-Hezbollah war live updates: The Israel Defence Forces on Monday night (local time) launched “targeted ground raids” aimed at what it believes are Hezbollah targets across several villages of southern Lebanon despite growing international calls for a de-escalation. Ground attacks were backed by airstrikes and artillery launches in places close to Israel's northern border....Read More
Israel informed the United States on its plans for a ground operation despite opposition from President Joe Biden who said “we should have a ceasefire now”. Joe Biden also said he spoke to both sides and supports “collective bargaining effort” to establish peace.
An US official who wished to remain anonymous said the White House cautioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against a larger and longer-term ground operation that could risk a direct confrontation with Iran.
Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video message, issued an indirect warning to Tehran saying “no place” in the Middle East is beyond Israel's reach. He also appealed to the Iranian people saying Israel wants to live in peace with Iran as he accused the Ayatollah's of ‘funding’ wards across the region to ‘destroy’ Israel.
Iran foreign ministry on Monday said Israel's "crimes" will not go unpunished and it will respond at a time and place of its own choosing. Tehran said it does not want a full-scale war but is not afraid of it.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah's deputy chief Naim Kassem vowed to continue fighting Israel and said the group is prepared to face a long war despite losing a string of top commanders to Israel's strikes. Kassem also said their fighters would defend Lebanon in case of a ground invasion by Israel.
Lebanon war live updates: US supports Israel's ‘right to defend itself’
Lebanon war live updates: US warns Iran of ‘serious consequences’
Lebanon war live updates: US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin warned Iran of “serious consequences” if it attacks Israel.
Iran's foreign ministry had said Israel's “criminal acts” won't go "unpunished" and the country would respond in a manner of its “own choice”.
Lebanon war live updates: Syria claims Israel's strikes over Damascus were ‘intercepted’
Lebanon war live updates: Syria's official news agency SANA said the country's air defence systems had intercepted three rounds of strikes in the capital Damascus area.
State television said anchor Safaa Ahmad was killed "in the Israeli aggression" on Damascus, while SANA reported three civilians killed and nine others wounded.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria in recent years. (AFP)
Lebanon war live updates: US, Israel agree on ‘dismantling’ terror infrastructure along Lebanon border
Lebanon war live updates: US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Israel Defence Minister Yoav Gallant agreed on ‘dismantling’ terror infrastructure along Lebanon border, the Pentagon said. The two discussed the unfolding situation in the Middle East after Israel launched ‘limited’ ground invasion into southern Lebanon.
Lebanon war live updates: UK reiterates call for immediate ceasefire
Lebanon war live updates: UK foreign minister David Lammy on Monday reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire.
"We've both seen the reports in the media about a next phase for Israel in Lebanon. We both agreed the position that we had at the U.N. last week that the best way forward is an immediate ceasefire and to get back to a political solution," Lammy told Sky News after discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Lebanon war live updates: Israel strike in Lebanon targets Palestinian commander
Lebanon war live updates: A Palestinian commander was targeted in an Israeli strike on Tuesday that hit a building inside a crowded Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp near southern Lebanese city of Sindon
The commander has been identified as Mounir Maqdah, commander of the Lebanese branch of the Palestinian Fatah movement's military wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.
The strike marks the first on a refugee camp inside Lebanon, reported Reuters.
Lebanon war live updates: “Great loss for all human beings” says Iran's Ambassador to India on Nasrallah's killing
Lebanon war live updates: Iran's Ambassador to India Dr Iraj Elahi hailed slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as a “great leader and great politician of Lebanon”. He described Nasrallah's death as a great loss for “all human beings” and not just for Muslims or the Arab world.
"Hezbollah is a political party. It is not a terrorist group. They are calling Hezbollah a terrorist group to justify their massacre, blood shedding and attacks on innocent people and their hostility in the region... The main solution is to stop invasion and military attack by Israel... We hope that not only India but all countries use their influence on Israel to stop its invasion of Palestine and Lebanon to maintain the peace," he said while speaking to ANI.
Lebanon crisis live updates: Canada urges G7 to pressure Israel to accept ceasefire
Lebanon crisis live updates: Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said it is crucial for the G7 to crank up pressure on Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the escalation of violence before West Asia is pulled into a wider war.
“Listen, I have no love for Nasrallah,” she said, calling him the former head of a terrorist group that has killed many people in Israel, Lebanon, and beyond. “But at the same time, I’m really concerned about how this can escalate at a time when we were asking for a cease-fire,” she said in an interview with Bloomberg.
