Live blog: Israel starts ground invasion of Lebanon

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

0046 GMT — The Israeli army shelled several towns in southern Lebanon, coinciding with Tel Aviv's announcement of a "limited" ground invasion in the north.

The army said it launched "limited, localised and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against Hezbollah targets and infrastructure in southern Lebanon."

Lebanon's official news agency, NNA, reported that the artillery bombardment lasted over two hours, targeting the towns of Wazzani, Marjeyoun and Khiyam.

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0050 GMT — Israel kills 3 civilians in Damascus, Syria

Syrian regime media said three civilians were killed in Israeli air strikes on Damascus and nine others wounded, citing a military source.

"The Israeli enemy launched an air aggression with warplanes and drones from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, targeting several points in Damascus," the official SANA news agency said, adding that "three civilians were killed and nine others injured".

0023 GMT — Israel strikes refugee camp near south Lebanon's Sidon

Israel launched a strike on a building in Ein El Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp near south Lebanon's Sidon, a Palestinian source and Lebanese media said.

It marked the first strike on the overcrowded camp, Lebanon's largest of several Palestinian camps since the Israeli carnage in Gaza broke out nearly a year ago.

0012 GMT — Canada evacuates citizens amid Israeli invasion of Lebanon

Canada ramped up efforts to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon as the security situation in the country deteriorated.

"The security situation in Lebanon is becoming increasingly dangerous and volatile. The airport remains open, and commercial flights are still available," Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly wrote on X.

To expedite the evacuation process, Joly announced that Canada is "now augmenting commercial capacity and have secured an additional 800 seats over the course of the next 3 days for Canadians, permanent residents and their immediate family."

2048 GMT — Israel greenlights ground invasion of Lebanon

Israeli cabinet has approved the ground invasion of Lebanon, Israeli media reports. Cabinet ministers have approved the next phase of Israeli army operations in Lebanon, according to Haaretz newspaper, quoting top officials familiar with the discussions.

2126 GMT — Israel kills nearly 100 people in Lebanon strikes

Israel has killed 95 people in Lebanon after striking Lebanon.

"Israeli enemy strikes in the past 24 hours... killed 95 people and injured 172," the ministry said in a statement.

2121 GMT — UN experts condemn Israeli destructive violence 'applied in Gaza' against Lebanon

UN experts said they are alarmed by the escalation of attacks by Israel on Lebanon, urging an immediate cessation of hostilities amid risks of spillage to the whole region.

"The ballooning violence adds immensely to the instability and the ongoing suffering of civilians in the wider region, including in Palestine," the experts said in a statement.

They accused Israel of using the "same destructive violence" seen in the nearly year-old war on Gaza but now in Lebanon.

"We firmly condemn Israel's use of the same destructive violence that was applied in Gaza to its attacks on Lebanon, suggesting that attacks on civilians are justified because Hezbollah members allegedly hide among them and use civilians as human shields," they said.

2119 GMT — Israel kills 11 Palestinians in Nuseirat camp

Israel has killed at least 11 Palestinians, including women and children, after striking a house in Nuseirat camp in besieged Gaza, the Reuters news agency said, citing medics.

For our live updates from Monday, September 30, 2024, click here.