Lebanon crisis live updates: US President Biden to speak with Israel PM Netanyahu over phone
Lebanon crisis live updates: Days after killing Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, Israel continued to pound Lebanon on Sunday, over areas it claimed as “targets” of the Iran-backed militant group. Apart from Nasrallah, Israel also killed other senior commanders of the group, including Nabil Kaouk, the deputy head of Hezbollah’s Central Council and Ali Karaki, another senior commander who died alongside Nasrallah. Kaouk became the seventh senior commander of Hezbollah to be killed in over a week of relentless strikes....Read More
The group, which has vowed to continue its “resistance” against the “zionist entity”, continued to fire rockets and missiles into northern Israel on Sunday, but most were intercepted or fell over open spaces. Hezbollah has said it will only halt its rocket fire if there is a cease-fire in Gaza.
The latest round of Israeli strikes killed over a hundred people and displaced hundreds of thousands across southern and eastern parts of Lebanon. Environment Minister Nasser Yassin told the news agency AP that around 2,50,000 people have sought refuge in shelters, and thousands are staying with their kin or camping in open spaces.
Meanwhile, Israel had ruled out a ceasefire and said it is determined to return its displaced citizens from its northern border with Lebanon back to their homes. With growing calls for a ceasefire, the conflict has escalated global fears of an all-out war in the Middle East.
Lebanon crisis live updates: Two people killed in strikes on Beirut
Lebanon crisis live updates: Two people were killed in an Israeli strike on Beirut on Monday, a Lebanese security source said. It claimed that this was the first strike on the city itself since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel last year.
An Israeli drone targeted an apartment belonging to two members of the Lebanese Islamist group Jamaa Islamiya.
Lebanon crisis live updates: Egypt rejects any violation of Lebanon's sovereignty
Lebanon crisis live updates: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a call with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said his country rejects any violation of Lebanon's sovereignty.
However, Reuters reported that Sisi made no mention of Nasrallah's killing by Israel. Egypt has been critical of Iran and its proxies in the past, though it has maintained informal contacts with Iran and Egypt’s foreign minister has held official meetings with Iranian officials over the past year.
Lebanon crisis live updates: Saudi Arabia calls for Lebanon's sovereignty to be 'respected'
Lebanon crisis live updates: Saudi Arabia on Sunday called for Lebanon's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" to be respected and expressed “great concern” on Israeli airstrikes.
“The Kingdom calls on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards protecting regional peace and security to spare the region and its people the dangers and tragedies of wars,” a statement from the foreign ministry said.
Lebanon crisis live updates: French foreign minister visits Lebanon
Lebanon crisis live updates: French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot arrived in Lebanon on Sunday, the first high-level foreign diplomat to visit since the Israeli air strikes intensified.
Barrot spoke earlier with Lebanon Prime Minister Najib Mikati and said Paris sought "an immediate halt" to Israeli strikes.
Lebanon crisis live updates: 105 people killed and 359 injured
Lebanon crisis live updates: Lebanon's health ministry said on Sunday that 105 people have been killed and 359 were injured in latest series of airstrikes by Israel targeting Hezbollah.
Lebanon's health ministry said there had been deadly air raids near the main southern city of Sidon Sunday, while dozens more had died in the east, in the south and in and around Beirut.
Lebanon crisis live updates: Israel strikes within Beirut city limits
Lebanon crisis live updates: An Israeli strike during early hours of Monday hit an upper floor of an apartment building in the Kola district of Beirut, making it the first Israeli strike within Beirut’s city limits in the escalating hostilities. (Reuters)
Lebanon crisis live updates: US President Biden to speak with Netanyahu
Lebanon crisis live updates: US President Joe Biden is set to engage in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The conversation will be their first since Israel's targeted killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Biden said on Sunday that an “all-out war” must be avoided, and he would speak with Netanyahu. He also termed Nasrallah's killing as “a measure of justice for his many victims”.
Lebanon crisis live updates: First airstrike reported at central Beirut
Lebanon crisis live updates: Eyewitness accounts on Monday reported the first Israeli airstrike in central Beirut in nearly a year into the war in Gaza.
According to news agency AP, the airstrike hit a multi-story residential building. There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials.
Lebanon crisis live updates: GCC calls for “immediate ceasefire”
Lebanon crisis live updates: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) emphasised the need for an immediate ceasefire, and de-escalation along Lebanon's southern borders, protecting civilians, exercising restraint, and preventing the conflict from expanding further in the region.
The grouping also expressed “consistent” support for the Lebanese people and its continued backing of Lebanon's sovereignty, security, and stability.
