Live blog update| Israel's war on Gaza
This is an entry from: Live: Israel ramps up strikes on Gaza after Iran attack

Evening recap

28 September 2024 00:03 BST

Hello Middle East Eye readers. On Friday, Israel launched a massive series of air strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, completely levelling several buildings in what was the largest Israeli strike on Beirut since the 2006 war.

The strike levelled at least four residential buildings, and rescue workers are finding it difficult to assess the full death toll given how destructive the bombings were.

So far, at least six people have been found killed in the strikes, while more than 90 have been injured.

Israel claimed it was targeting Hezbollah's command centre, and Israeli reports stated that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was a target.

Neither Hezbollah nor Israel have confirmed whether Nasrallah was killed in the strike.

Hours later, Israel launched new air strikes on southern Beirut, an area colloquially known as Dahiyeh, claiming it was targeting Hezbollah's weapons depots.

In a statement, Hezbollah denied there are any weapons or arms depots located in Beirut's suburbs.

Here's what else you need to know about today's developments:

  • Israel's military launched a series of air strikes on the Lebanese city of Tyre in the southern part of the country.

  • US President Joe Biden directed the Pentagon to "assess and adjust as necessary US force posture" in the Middle East.

  • Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Israel used US-supplied, 5,000-pound bunker buster bombs in its strikes on south Beirut.

  • Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said Israel wouldn't allow Beirut's civilian airport to be used for military purposes, hinting that the airport could become a target of Israeli bombs.

  • In a post on X, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said people residing in the Hadath and Laylaki neighbourhoods in Beirut should leave their homes immediately and to keep away "for a distance of no less than 500 metres".

  • While Hezbollah has not commented on the Beirut strikes, the Lebanese movement said it launched new rocket attacks on several areas in Israel.

  • Ali Larijani, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, said in vague remarks to state television that "assassinations will not solve Israel's problem. ... With the assassination of resistance leaders, others will take their place".

  • One-way ticket prices from Beirut to major US cities over the next several days have skyrocketed, as the US Embassy in Lebanon has urged citizens to book commercial flights out of the country. The US has not said it would assist with evacuations for Americans in Lebanon.

  • The Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, said in a statement that it targeted and destroyed an Israeli Merkava 4 tank in an area near Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip.