The use of a fighter jet was highly unusual for the operations Israeli has carried out against militants in the West Bank, and it came amid the Israeli military’s continued airstrikes in Gaza and a ground offensive in Lebanon.The New York Times reports that on Oct. 3, 2024 at 4:43 p.m. ET, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for more towns and villages in southern Lebanon where they are fighting Hezbollah militants. This comes as Lebanese health officials reported the death toll from an Israeli strike near the center of Beirut has risen to at least nine people.

The strike in Beirut occurred overnight in the Bachoura neighborhood, just a few hundred yards from Parliament and Western embassies. There were no apparent warnings before the strike, and other explosions were heard in the city early Thursday. This is part of Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hezbollah, including in the Dahiya neighborhood on the outskirts of Beirut.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee warned residents of over 20 additional towns and cities in southern Lebanon to evacuate immediately and not to move towards the Israeli border. This could be a sign that the ground invasion, which began earlier this week, is expanding. These areas are farther north than previous evacuation warnings and include Nabatieh, one of the largest cities in southern Lebanon. They are also above the Litani River, which marks the upper boundary of a buffer zone established by the United Nations after the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

The attack on Beirut followed clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, marking the first direct confrontations between the two sides since the invasion began. Israel reported eight soldiers killed, including five from an elite unit, as they engaged in close-range combat with the Iran-backed militant group.

Israeli leaders are considering a military response to Iran, who launched nearly 200 missiles at targets across Israel on Tuesday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised retaliation for the attack, stating that Israel is engaged in a “tough war against Iran’s axis of evil.” However, President Biden has stated that he does not support Israel striking Iran’s nuclear sites in an attempt to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East.

In response to the missile strike, President Biden announced that leaders of the Group of 7 nations have agreed to impose new sanctions on Iran. He also mentioned that they are discussing the possibility of targeting Iran’s oil facilities. This news has caused oil prices to jump.

The Israeli military reported striking around 200 sites in Lebanon overnight, including local government offices in Bint Jbeil, a large town near the border with Israel. They claim to have killed 15 Hezbollah fighters in the attack.

President Biden’s statement on imposing sanctions on Iran was made during a call with the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. They all agreed to take action against Iran for their missile strike. 

Source:Read More