Israel-Hamas War day 357: What's happening in Gaza, Lebanon border?
IDF 'Arrow' aerial defense system intercepts Houthi missile • Israel Air Force chief preparing for ground operations against Hezbollah • US issued ceasefire proposal believing Israel had accepted
IDF strike targets Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut
The IDF strike hit Hezbollah's central headquarters in Dahiyeh, Beirut, built under residential buildings.
The IDF targeted Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in a strike on the terror organization's central headquarters in Beirut Friday evening, the IDF reported after witnesses in Beirut told Reuters they had heard multiple blasts and saw clouds of smoke rising from the city.
Israeli officials suspect that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was in the bunker targeted in the recent bombing, and anyone inside would struggle to survive such an attack, N12 reported.
About three hours before the strike, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held consultations with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. A security source told the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that "the extent of the destruction in Dahieh is enormous. Lebanon has reinforced all ambulances and dispatched them to the scene."
IDF strikes Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon
The IDF struck Hezbollah terrorist targets in southern Lebanon, the military stated on Friday.
Go to the full article >>Netanyahu ahead of UNGA speech: We're in a vital war against Iranian axis
Many of the speakers called for ceasefires in Israel’s war against Iranian proxies Hamas on its southern border and Hezbollah on its northern one.
Israel’s battle against Iranian proxies helps protect Western countries, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Dutch counterpart Dick Schoof, ahead of his speech Friday morning to the United Nations General Assembly.
“Israel's war against Iran's axis of evil is vital not only in ensuring its future but also the future of the West as a whole,” the Prime Minister’s Office said as it described Netanyahu’s message to Schoof.
Netanyahu arrived in New York on Thursday morning, two days later than anticipated, due to his decision to scale up IDF efforts to push Hezbollah out of southern Lebanon.
Houthis claim responsibility for attack on Tel Aviv, fire missiles at US destroyers in the Red Sea
The Iran-backed group claimed to have launched one missile at Tel Aviv and one drone toward Ashkelon, as well as at American destroyers in the Red Sea.
The Houthis on Friday claimed responsibility for launching a missile towards central Israel on Thursday evening, stating that they had aimed it at Tel Aviv.
The Iran-backed group claimed to have launched one missile at Tel Aviv and one drone toward Ashkelon, the group said.
The IDF reported on Thursday evening that a surface-to-surface missile was launched from Yemen and intercepted by an "Arrow" interceptor outside of Israeli territory.
Go to the full article >>'Hezbollah sought to wear us down, but they are getting crushed,' Gallant says from Israel's North
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that Hezbollah was "getting crushed" during a situational assessment in northern Israel, Israeli media reported on Friday.
"Hezbollah sought to wear us down, but they are getting crushed instead - they are gripped with fear, anxiety, and control issues. We have unresolved matters with many actors stretching back many years. We've been waiting for the opportunity," Gallant stated.
The commander of the 91st Division, Brigadier General Shai Klapper, and other brigade commanders and officers from the division were also reportedly present.
Go to the full article >>Blinken discusses reducing soaring tensions in Middle East with Turkish FM Hakan Fidan
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Thursday to discuss how to reduce the soaring tensions in the Middle East, the state department reported.
The two dignitaries discussed the US and French joint 21 day ceasefire proposal across the Israel-Lebanon border and a diplomatic resolution consistent with UNSC 1701.
They also discussed diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza.
Go to the full article >>French foreign minister expected to visit Lebanon in the coming days - report
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot is expected to visit Lebanon in the coming days, Saudi news channel Al Arabiya reported on Friday.
Barrot's visit will likely be concerned with attempting to implement a 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, a plan also backed by the United States.
Go to the full article >>Military wing of Hamas defeated, group functioning as guerilla group, IDF says - report
The IDF claimed that the military wing of Hamas has been defeated and the group is now functioning as a guerilla organization, KAN reported on Friday, citing unnamed IDF sources.
Go to the full article >>Netanyahu tries to soothe US tensions, hasn’t said yes to a ceasefire
The United States issued its cease fire proposal together with France, with the support of ten other ally countries.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to soothe tensions with the United States after he surprised the Biden administration by not agreeing immediately to its ceasefire proposal for a 21-day lull in the year-long constrained IDF-Hezbollah war along Israel’s northern border.
“Israel appreciates the US efforts in this regard because the US role is indispensable in advancing stability and security in the region,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in an unusual statement put out first in English.
It spoke up after US National Security Adviser John Kirby said “We wouldn't have issued [that proposal] when and how we did if it wasn't supported by the conversations that we are having with top Israeli officials yesterday and those conversations continue today.”
Go to the full article >>Netanyahu to Iran at UN — 'If you strike us, we will strike you'
With respect to Hezbollah, he charged that it was “the quintessential terror organization in the world today."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran not to directly attack the Jewish state, as he addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Friday morning.
“If you strike us, we will strike you,” Netanyahu said.
“There is no place in Iran where the long arm of Israel can not reach,” Netanyahu said.
Go to the full article >>Israel-Hamas War: What you need to know
- Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza
- Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Re'im music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities
- 101 hostages remain in Gaza
- 48 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says