Live blog: Israel escalates, bombards southern Beirut with new air strikes

Sunday, October 6, 2024

2101 GMT — The Israeli army has begun a new wave of air strikes using fighter jets late on Saturday in Beirut's southern suburbs, Anadolu reports.

The bombing follows an ultimatum by the Israeli army that it will target buildings in five areas of the southern suburbs that "contain interests of Hezbollah", a claim it has repeatedly used to justify hitting civilian targets.​​​​​​​

Official Lebanese media said five Israeli strikes hit south Beirut and its outskirts, four of them "very violent".

"Israeli enemy warplanes carried out four very violent strikes on (Beirut's) southern suburbs, and one strike on the Chweifat" area, with ambulances rushing to the site, Lebanon's National News Agency said.

AFP said its correspondents in Beirut heard several explosions and saw smoke rising south of Beirut. Its footage showed plumes of smoke rising from the targeted areas, with one strike creating a ball of flame that rose into the air while flares shot up amid thick smoke.

The NNA later said air traffic at Lebanon's only airport in Beirut was "ongoing despite the Israeli enemy's aggression on the southern suburbs. Several Middle East Airlines planes have just landed".

More updates 👇

2341 GMT — Israeli air strike on Deir al Balah mosque kills several: medics

A new Israeli air strike on a mosque in central Gaza's Deir al Balah neighbourhood has killed at least five Palestinians and wounded several others, first responders told Reuters.

2233 GMT — Hezbollah says repelled 'attempted' Israeli infiltration at border village

Hezbollah said its fighters pushed away Israeli troops that attempted to storm into a Lebanese border village, in the latest clashes after Israel announced ground operations earlier this week.

The fighters launched "artillery shells" at "Israeli enemy soldiers who attempted to infiltrate from... Blida... forcing (them) to retreat," the group said in a statement.

2226 GMT — Army warns about Israeli attempts to lure Lebanese into espionage sites

The Lebanese army warned about Israeli attempts to lure citizens to sites designated for espionage and information gathering.

"Amid the ongoing barbaric assaults by the Israeli enemy on various Lebanese regions, this enemy is resorting to disseminating media content on some social media platforms, including videos, links and applications," it wrote on X.

It said the move wants to "draw citizens into locations designed for espionage​​​​​​​ and intelligence collection".

The army cautioned the Lebanese people about "the dangers of engaging with this content", emphasising the potential legal ramifications and security risks it poses to the nation and society.

2152 GMT — More than 25 Israeli soldiers killed since incursion into southern Lebanon: Hezbollah

More than 25 officers and soldiers from Israel's elite forces have been killed and over 130 injured since the beginning of a ground incursion into southern Lebanon earlier this month, Hezbollah said.

"These numbers have been partially acknowledged by the enemy, and the coming days will reveal what they have hidden from their audience," the Lebanese group said on Telegram.

2133 GMT — Spain's king calls for end to 'indescribable destruction' in Gaza

Spain's King Felipe VI called for an immediate end to the assault in Gaza, describing it as causing "indescribable destruction and suffering".

During a visit to Jordan, Felipe warned that the conflict, which has been continuing for almost a year, has now spread to Lebanon, worsening the situation, according to Jordanian news agency Petra.

He urged a return to the political process, emphasising the need for a two-state solution for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

2129 GMT — Palestinians evacuate areas in northern Gaza amid intense Israeli bombardment

Areas in eastern and northern Gaza witnessed a wave of Palestinian displacement amid intense Israeli air and artillery bombardment, according to an Anadolu reporter.

The bombardment was accompanied by gunfire from Israeli helicopters.

Israeli warplanes continue to carry out intensive airstrikes on northern Gaza, which also targeted civilian homes, said the correspondent.

One Palestinian was killed and three were injured in a strike that targeted the town of Jabalia, witnesses told Anadolu.

The displacement of Palestinians includes areas such as Atatra, Al-Tawam, Al-Karama, and Al-Mukhabarat (northwest), heading toward Gaza City and its centre, and from the east of the Jabalia Camp to its centre, witnesses added.

For our live updates from Saturday, October 5, 2024, click here.