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Israeli strikes in Beirut targeted presumed Hezbollah successor, US media report
EPA-EFEHashem Safieddine (seen in this photo from 2022) is a cousin of assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah
Hashem Safieddine, widely considered to be a potential successor to assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was reportedly among those targeted in overnight Israeli strikes that caused massive explosions in Beirut, US media report.
The New York Times quotes Israeli officials as saying the military had information suggesting Safieddine, Nasrallah's cousin, and other Hezbollah leaders were meeting in a bunker in the southern Dahieh district of the Lebanese capital.
Axios cites an Israeli official as saying that Safieddine was in a bunker deep underground, and it is not yet clear whether he was killed in the strikes.
According to Lebanese news reports, the Israeli attack was far larger than the one that killed Nasrallah last week, Axios says.
Hezbollah has not commented.
Strike cuts off key road connecting Lebanon to Syria - reports
There are reports emerging this morning that a key road connecting Lebanon with Syria has been hit by an Israeli strike.
Lebanon's transport minister told Reuters a strike hit inside Lebanese territory near the Masnaa border crossing, creating a four-metre (12ft) wide crater. Lebanon's official news agency also reports that the road has been cut off, AFP news agency says.
An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) military spokesman had accused Hezbollah on Thursday of using the crossing to transport military equipment into Lebanon.
"The IDF will not allow the smuggling of these weapons and will not hesitate to act if forced to do so, as it has done throughout this war," the spokesman said on X.
This week, the UN said at least 130,000 people are estimated to have crossed into Syria from Lebanon since 23 September, fleeing the bombing.
Israeli air strikes on Lebanon intensify
Orla Guerin
International correspondent, in TyreFor Lebanon there is no respite – Israel’s campaign of air strikes is relentless, in the capital, the east and the south.
The assault appears to widening in scope, days after Israeli troops invaded on the ground.
At least 37 people were killed yesterday around the country, according to Lebanon's health ministry. Late last night there was a strike near the airport in Beirut – the only international airport in Lebanon.
Here in the southern city of Tyre, morning arrived with the sound of several very loud explosions. They sounded closer than other blasts we have heard in recent days.
This week Israel has issued evacuation orders for large areas of the south, but also for areas north of Tyre, much deeper inside Lebanon and far from the border. Israel’s war aims appear to be growing.
Massive blasts rock Beirut as Israeli air strikes continue
Aoife Walsh
Live page editorGetty ImagesSmoke and flames seen over the southern suburb of Dahieh after overnight strikes
A fresh wave of air strikes rocked Lebanon's capital Beirut on Friday, as Israel continued its battle against Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
One of the huge explosions was heard just outside the city's international airport, which borders Dahieh - Hezbollah's stronghold in the capital.
Multiple US media reports citing Israeli officials say a key target was Hashem Safieddine, considered to be the potential successor of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's long-standing leader who was killed in a similar attack last week. Safieddine's condition is unknown.
At least 37 people had been killed in Israeli attacks in the last 24 hours, while 151 others had been wounded, Lebanon's health ministry said.
Meanwhile, at least 18 people have been killed in an Israeli air strike in the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarm.
The Palestinian Authority-run news agency Wafa said the air strike had hit a cafe in the Tulkarm refugee camp where many civilians had been present.
The Israeli military said the air force had conducted a strike in a joint operation with its Shin Bet security service, and had killed the head of Hamas in Tulkarm and "other significant terrorists".
We'll be bringing you live updates and analysis here - stay with us.
Strikes in Beirut and the West Bank
It's coming up to 04:00 in Beirut, where there have been huge explosions not far from the airport. You can watch a video of the moment the blast happened here.
You can read more about the latest updates on the conflict below:
- Large explosions were reported near Beirut's international airport close to the suburb of Dahieh, Hezbollah's stronghold in the city
- The blasts came after fresh evacuation orders came from the Israeli military for civilians living near buildings in Dahieh as they are "located near Hezbollah facilities and interests". More evacuation orders for areas near a building in the Hadath district also came later
- Earlier, Israel also carried out strikes on Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Beirut, with Israel saying it attacked the group's "intelligence headquarters"
- At least 18 people have been killed after Israel's military carried out a strike on a West Bank refugee camp in Tulkarm
- Israel said senior Hamas figure Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi was killed in the strike
- President Joe Bidenhas denied suggestions Israel was planning to strike Iran on Thursday but said the US was "discussing" the possibility of Israel striking Iranian oil sites - prompting the price of oil to jump 5%
- Biden later told reporters he doesn't believe there will be an "all-out war" but that there is still "a lot to do" to bring calm to the region, and reiterated US support for Israel
- Watch as Jeremy Bowen presses Hamas deputy leader on 7 October attacks
We will resume our coverage on Friday. This page was edited through Thursday by Rob Corp, Marita Moloney, Fiona Nimoni and Alex Binley. Nafiseh Kohnavard, Hugo Bachega and Sally Nabil reported from Beirut, Orla Guerin in Tyre and Lucy Williamson from Israel's northern border.
Biden says there won't be an 'all-out war'
More now from Biden, who has just spoken to reporters upon his arrival back at the White House.
When asked how confident he is that an "all-out" war can be avoided in the Middle East, he took a pause and responded: "How confident are you it's not going to rain?"
"Look, I don't believe there is going to be an all-out war. I think we can avoid it. But there is a lot to do yet."
Asked if he would send US troops to Israel, he said: "We have already helped Israel. We are going to protect Israel."
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