Missile launched from Lebanon towards Jerusalem intercepted by Israeli army; Houthis say they targeted Tel Aviv airport: Day 358 of the Gaza and Lebanon wars

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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert acknowledged that Israel was responsible for the assassination of Imad Mughniyeh, the head of Hezbollah's military wing, according to Haaretz.

Olmert was prime minister from 2006 to 2009, while Mughniyeh was assassinated in Damascus in February 2008.

"We haven't discussed this before, but I think it's time to talk about it now," Olmert said in an interview with Channel 13 News.

Before the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, U.S. officials were briefed on the possibility of Israel stepping up its measures against Hezbollah, including a possible ground operation, Reuters reported, citing a White House official.

After warning sirens sounded in the West Bank region, a projectile launch was identified, fired from Lebanon towards Israeli territory, the Israeli army reported on X. The projectile was located in the Mitzpe Hagit area.

Israeli Fire and Rescue Services are currently extinguishing fires caused by the projectile falling in the area.

The Israeli military said sirens sounded in a Jerusalem neighborhood "after a projectile from Lebanon toward Israeli territory," according to Reuters. Jerusalem is located about 140 kilometers (87 miles) from the border with Lebanon.

Sirens in the occupied West Bank were activated due to "a single rocket hit," according to Haaretz, which reported "wildfires" after the projectile was intercepted.

The Israeli air force is currently bombing the city of Baalbeck, reports L'Orient Today's correspondent in the Bekaa.

Nasser Yassine, head of the Lebanese government's crisis unit, told Reuters that the Israeli attacks had displaced a million people.

"Hassan Nasrallah was the main driving force of the axis of resistance," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said upon his return from New York on Saturday, according to Reuters. "Our work is not over. Tough days lie ahead," he said.

The Houthis announced in a statement that they targeted Ben Gurion Airport with a "Palestine 2" ballistic missile, at the time of the arrival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, returning from New York. "The missile force of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out an operation targeting what Israel calls Ben Gurion, Jaffa Airport, at the arrival of the criminal Benjamin Netanyahu. The operation was carried out with a Palestine 2 ballistic missile," the statement said. The Houthis threatened "to continue to respond to the crimes of the Israeli enemy and to raise the level of escalation to meet the requirements of the current stage and to participate in the defense of Gaza and Lebanon."

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that "only a diplomatic solution can restore security and stability to the Lebanese and Israeli people," according to comments reported by Reuters.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati received a phone call from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi this evening, with whom they discussed the current situation in Lebanon and the ongoing efforts to end the Israeli aggression against Lebanon.

"Egypt fully supports Lebanon in these delicate circumstances, rejects any violation of its sovereignty and supports a peaceful solution to the conflict," the Egyptian president said. He also announced that "Egypt will send medical and humanitarian aid to Lebanon."

According to L'Orient Today's correspondent in south Lebanon, several villages in this region were targeted between 8 and 9 p.m. by Israeli strikes. These are Markaba (Marjayoun), Mansouri (Sour), Bani Hayyan (Bint Jbeil), Touline (Nabatieh) and Rab al-Talatine (Marjayoun). 

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's office said it was discussing a possible expansion of operations on Israel's northern border, Reuters reported.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah a "terrorist with American blood on his hands," AFP reports.

"Today, the victims of Hezbollah have a measure of justice," added the Democratic candidate for the U.S. presidential election in November. "I will always support Israel's right to defend itself."

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati chaired an emergency cabinet meeting at the Grand Serail in Beirut this evening, a day after an unprecedented Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs that assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

"Our national responsibility at this historic and exceptional moment requires us to put aside political differences, divergences of choices and positions, in order to be able to work together to protect the nation and strengthen it," said Mikati, who denounced "an enemy who has opted for a structure of treason and who is planning other massacres," referring to Israel.

The leader of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said the death of Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli strike the previous day, "will not be in vain," AFP reported.

"These great sacrifices and this great injustice will not be in vain," Abdel Malek al-Houthi said in a speech, adding that the Houthis were engaged in "escalation" and "improvement in their performance" following their recent attacks on Israel.

The Houthis fired a ballistic missile toward Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned home, Reuters reported.

Kuwait calls on its nationals to leave Lebanon immediately, Reuters reports.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in comments carried by Reuters that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was "an important figure" for Lebanon and the region and that it would be "difficult to replace him."

Speaking to state broadcaster TRT Haber in New York, Fidan also said Turkey believed Israel would not stop in Lebanon and would expand the Gaza war to the entire region. He said the "helplessness" of the United States and other Western countries was allowing the violence to continue.

The killing of Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike "is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis and Lebanese civilians," U.S. President Joe Biden said in a statement.

"The United States fully supports Israel's right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and any other Iranian-backed terrorist group," added Biden, who announced "the strengthening of the defense posture of American military forces in the Middle East region in order to deter any aggression and reduce the risk of a large-scale regional war."

"Our goal is to defuse the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic means," he continued, referring to the agreements the United States is trying to reach in Gaza and Lebanon. "It is time to conclude these agreements, to eliminate the threats to Israel and to broaden the scope of action of the European Union," he concluded.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot calls for "an immediate halt to Israeli airstrikes" on Lebanon, Reuters reports.

Germany announced the evacuation of the families of its diplomats in Israel, Lebanon and the West Bank, where it has also decided to reduce the number of staff in its diplomatic missions to the bare minimum, reports AFP.

The German Foreign Ministry said it had convened its crisis team following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike near Beirut to discuss "the very tense situation in Lebanon and the region following the latest strikes."

Berlin has decided to " raise the crisis level for its missions in Beirut, Ramallah and Tel Aviv," the statement said. "In concrete terms, this means that the family members of the personnel assigned there will leave and go to a safe place in the region or in Germany," the ministry said.

"Operations at the airport are continuing as normal," Middle East Airlines CEO Mohammad al-Hout told Reuters.

According to Reuters, citing a security source, the Israeli strike "hit an industrial area 500 meters from Beirut airport." The targeted area has many car garages and is "the closest to the airport" targeted so far, the source added.

A security source reported an Israeli strike on a warehouse near Beirut airport, adjacent to Hezbollah's stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut, AFP reports.

Live footage broadcast by AFP showed plumes of smoke rising from an area near the runways after the strike.

A security source confirmed to AFP "an Israeli strike near Beirut airport," without further details.

The Amal Movement, an ally of Hezbollah, announced that the strike on the town of Anqoun (southeast of Saida) left three members of its group dead: Moustapha Atmi (from Anqoun), Bassam Abboud (from Abra) and Mohammed Jamoul.

Developments in south Lebanon between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.:

- Israeli air force carried out strikes on the town of Mansouri (Sour).

- An Israeli strike targeted the town of Majdal Zoun (Sour).

- The air force launched strikes on the towns of Sawaneh (Marjayoun), Saksakieh (Saida), Qleileh (Sour), Kfar Kila (Marjayoun) and Kounine (Bint Jbeil).

(Credit: Mohammad Yassine)

A new strike targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut, in the Hay al-Sellom neighborhood, not far from the airport, reports L'Orient Today's journalist. Haaretz also reports an "Israeli airstrike near Beirut airport," without further details.

The U.S. State Department ordered some employees of its embassy in Beirut and their eligible family members to leave Lebanon amid rising tensions in the Middle East following Israel's assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

“U.S. Embassy Beirut personnel are prohibited from personal travel without prior authorization,” the statement also said. “Additional travel restrictions may be imposed on U.S. personnel at the direction of the Chief of Mission Security, with little or no notice due to heightened security concerns or threats.”

Caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad said that since Oct. 8, 2023, when Hezbollah opened a support front for Gaza in south Lebanon against Israel, Lebanon has seen 1,640 killed (including 104 children and 194 women), 8,404 injured and many missing whose bodies have not been found under the rubble, as a result of Israeli attacks.

He also urged displaced people and those in need of assistance to contact emergency numbers 1787 and 1214.

Read the full story here.

Lebanon declared a three-day national mourning from Monday to next Wednesday following the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the office of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced in a statement.

The Arabic-language spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, claimed in a post on his X account that the Israeli army had assassinated on Saturday Hassan Khalil Yassin, "head of Hezbollah's intelligence department" who, according to the Israeli army, "led the department responsible for striking military and civilian targets" in Israel.

As part of his duties, the Hezbollah leader is said to have "cooperated closely with all party units and was personally involved in supervising attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers," as well as plans to carry out other operations, the spokesperson detailed.

The latest developments in the Bekaa:

- Israeli aircraft launched a strike on Baalbeck and another on Hermel, on the Lebanese-Syrian border, after 7 p.m.

- Shortly before 7:30 p.m., the Israeli air force bombed the towns of Sohmor and Yohmor (West Bekaa).

The Secretary General of Islamic Jihad in Palestine, Ziyad Nakhaleh, offered his condolences and congratulations following the assassination on Friday, in an Israeli strike, of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

"The Palestinian resistance, in bidding farewell to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, realizes that it has lost a great supporter. It will remain faithful to his memory and to the immense exploits he achieved when he led the Islamic resistance in Lebanon and the region," he stressed, expressing his confidence that "Hezbollah will continue its march and carry high the banner of resistance, all the way to Jerusalem."

Syria, an ally of Hezbollah, condemned the assassination the day prior of the leader of Hezbollah in an Israeli strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, denouncing a "despicable aggression," reports AFP.

"The Zionist entity confirms through this despicable aggression, once again ... its disdain for international law," the Syrian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "The Syrian people will never forget its support," it added.

The Israeli army has issued new evacuation orders to Lebanese residents of the Bekaa, the southern suburbs of Beirut and south Lebanon, published by its Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee on X, recommending them to "move away from Hezbollah properties (lethal means, interests or any other affiliated infrastructure) ... we urge you to move away from these areas and not to return there until further notice."

In previous warnings, the army spokesman specified the locations targeted. This time, no details are given.

“U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is gravely concerned by the dramatic escalation of events in Beirut over the past 24 hours. This cycle of violence must end now and all parties must move back from the brink. The Lebanese people, the Israeli people and the entire region cannot afford all-out war,” said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres’ spokesperson.

"Antonio Guterres urges the parties to recommit to the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) and to immediately return to a cessation of hostilities. He also reiterates his call for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and the release of all hostages held there," he added.

Germany deplored a "very dangerous" situation following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed by Israeli strikes on Lebanon, and a risk of "destabilization" which is "not at all in the interest of Israel's security," reports AFP.

"There is a risk of destabilization for the whole of Lebanon. And this is in no way in the interests of Israel's security," Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told German television channel ARD.

The latest developments in south Lebanon:

-The Israeli air force launched two strikes on the town of Blat (Marjayoun). Rescue workers were dispatched to the scene of the strike.

-Three airstrikes targeted the town of Ain Qana (Nabatieh) in Iqlim al-Touffah.

-The preceding airstrike on the town of Kfar Melki (Saida) targeted a building.

- Shortly after 6:35 p.m., Israeli aircraft targeted a home in the town of Sheaitieh (Sour).

-Another house was also hit by Israeli strikes in the town of Saksakieh (Saida).

"The United States is committed to preventing Iran and Iranian-backed groups from taking advantage of the situation in Lebanon or expanding the conflict," U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant in calls on Friday, Reuters reports.

Austin expressed the United States' full support for Israel's right to defend itself and "made clear that the United States remains ready to protect American forces and installations in the region and is committed to the defense of Israel," Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said in a statement.

"He's alive, he's alive!" some people shouted in the Verdun neighborhood of Beirut. Others fired shots into the air. "Labbayka (at your command) there's Nasrallah!" they shouted, according to L'Orient Today's reporters on the scene.

More than 50,000 people have fled to Syria due to Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi said, AFP reports.

"More than 50,000 Lebanese and Syrians living in Lebanon have now crossed the border into Syria to flee Israeli airstrikes," Grandi wrote on X, according to whom "well over 200,000 people are displaced inside Lebanon."

A UNHCR spokesperson said the total number of displaced people in Lebanon had reached 211,319, including 118,000 since Israel dramatically stepped up its airstrikes on Monday.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared five days of national mourning following the death of Hassan Nasrallah, state media reported, according to Reuters.

The latest strikes on south Lebanon:

- A strike targeted a district of Nabatieh.

- The surroundings of Kfar Hatta, Kfar Melki (Saida), Jbaa and Bouslaya (Nabatieh) were hit.

- The previous strike on Anqoun, near Saida, left two dead according to L'Orient Today's correspondent.

The Israeli army announced late this afternoon a new strike on Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut, the day after a powerful bombing on the party's headquarters which killed its leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The army carried out "a precise strike in the heart of the southern suburbs," said a military statement without further details, quoted by AFP.

In the Bekaa, a new attack targeted Shama and another Shmestar.

Syria officially declared a three-day national mourning and the lowering of flags after "the martyrdom of Hassan Nasrallah," in a statement.

A new strike targeted the southern suburbs of Beirut, this time towards Chiyah, not far from the Beirut Mall, reported L'Orient Today's correspondent.

The latest strikes on south Lebanon:

-A strike hit an area between Mayfadoun and Shoukine, near Nabatiyeh. A building was completely destroyed and no injuries have been reported so far.

-The town of Anqoun, near Saida, was targeted.

-The Israeli air force also targeted a house in Aita al-Jabal (Nabatieh).

"Our loss and sadness are great. Peace to the soul of the martyr Hassan Nasrallah," said Gebran Bassil, head of the Free Patriotic Movement. He called for pressure on Israel to obtain a cease-fire and said he had sent internal and external messages to this effect.

"The [Hezbollah] resistance cannot be victorious without a state. This moment is neither a victory nor a defeat, but a moment to elect a president," he said in a televised address. He also called on the government to unite the Lebanese and ask the army to preserve civil peace.

He also asked Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri to hold "limited consultations to agree on a president who unites and protects the country."

Several Israeli strikes have targeted south Lebanon in the last hour:

-The town of Jwaya (Sour) was targeted by two attacks.

-One person was killed and three injured in an attack on Zaoutar (Nabatieh). A previous attack on Nabatieh killed a woman.

- Khiam (Marjayoun) was targeted by at least three missiles. According to residents, three people were killed by the attacks on Khiam today.

-The Haret Kharayeb neighborhood in Sour was targeted for the first time since the start of the conflict.

(Credit: Mohammad Yassine)

An Israeli strike targeted the Lailaki neighborhood in the southern suburbs of Beirut, reports L'Orient Today's journalist.

Haaretz also reported that "an Israeli attack was launched on the southern suburbs," without giving further details.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the United States "cannot deny its complicity" in the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, Iranian state media reported, cited by Reuters.

“The attack that cost Hassan Nasrallah his life has plunged the country and the region into a new phase of violence,” former Prime Minister Saad Hariri said in a statement. He also offered his condolences to the relatives of the Hezbollah leader. 

"Lebanon must remain our priority,” he added.

Hashem Safieddine, head of Hezbollah's Executive Council, "was not present at the party's headquarters" when it was hit by a series of airstrikes last night, according to three senior Israeli officials cited by the New York Times, and a source close to Hezbollah cited by Reuters.

Israeli officials told the American newspaper that they believed the cleric could soon be announced as the party's new secretary general.

Former Lebanese President Michel Aoun gave his condolences to the family of Hassan Nasrallah, as well as to the "resistance" of Hezbollah, in a post on X.

"Lebanon has lost an exceptional leader who led the national resistance towards victory and liberation … The dangers the country faces with the continued Israeli aggressions require national solidarity," he added.

"The elimination of Nasrallah is one of the most important actions in the history of Israel, and we will not stop," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated, quoted by Israeli Army Radio, on X.

Yemen's Houthis mourned the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, its ally in an Iran-backed alliance opposed to Israel, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday night.

"The resistance will not be broken, and the jihadist spirit of the mujahideen brothers in Lebanon and on all support fronts will strengthen and grow," the group said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

Lebanon has become "the new target of Israel's policy of genocide, occupation and invasion," Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The situation this afternoon in the Bekaa, according to our correspondent:

- The driver of a van targeted earlier in Zahle has died. The strike on the vehicle did not immediately kill the driver but caused a breakdown that forced the vehicle to stop and made it possible to target it again. Photos circulating online show weapons that were reportedly being transported in the vehicle.

- A strike was carried out in Taalabaya in Central Bekaa.

The situation in southern Lebanon this afternoon, according to our correspondent Muntasser Abdallah:

- Israeli airstrikes targeted homes in Henniyeh, Bayyada and Mansouri, in the Sour district.

- Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a strike against the Israeli village of Matzuva. The group also attacked "Ma’alot" with 50 missiles.

- The Israeli army targeted residences in Khiam in the Marjayoun district.

Iran Air has canceled all flights to Beirut until further notice, the airline's spokesman told local media, including the Tasnim news agency, today.

⚡A senior official of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Abbas Nilforoushan, has reportedly been killed in Israeli attacks in Beirut, according to Reuters, citing "Iranian media," without specifying which attack it refers to.

"I won't close my business today; I will continue normally. We know that the Sayyed is human and will die like any other person. I'm upset, but life should go on," said Hassan Attieh, a bakery owner in Lagos, Nigeria, to L'Orient Today.

"I am hurt by the death of Hassan Nasrallah. Israel's cruelty has won," said Issam, a resident of Dikwaneh, glued to the news broadcast immediately after the announcement of the Hezbollah leader's death. "I remember how the Israelis treated Lebanon before Hezbollah. In 24 hours, they could invade everything and reach Beirut," he continued.

“More than 50,000 Lebanese and Syrians living in Lebanon have now crossed into Syria, fleeing Israeli airstrikes,” United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a post on X. “Well over 200,000 are displaced inside Lebanon.”

“Relief operations are underway, including by UNHCR, to assist all those in need, in coordination with both governments,” he added.

⚡"The elimination of Nasrallah is one of the most significant actions in Israel's history, and we will not stop," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned, as cited by the Israeli army radio on X.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a "situation assessment" meeting at the Ministry of Defense headquarters, accompanied by Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi, Mossad Director David Barnea, and senior security officials.

European authorities are advising airlines to avoid the airspace of Lebanon and Israel due to an "intensification of airstrikes and a deterioration of the security situation," they announced.

The European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued a statement "recommending not to operate within the airspace of Lebanon and Israel at all flight levels." It assesses that the situation in these two countries has had implications "for the safety of the airspace." This recommendation is currently "valid until October 31" but may be "reviewed, adapted, or withdrawn based on the assessment" of the situation. "EASA will continue to closely monitor the situation to evaluate whether there is an increase or decrease in risks for EU operators resulting from the evolving threat," it added.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier described the situation in Lebanon as "extremely severe" today and expressed concern for the safety of French nationals in the region.

"The situation in Lebanon, affected by massive Israeli strikes, remains extremely severe, and I will not make further comments because this is not the time or place," the government leader said during a visit to Macon in central France. "We are monitoring these tragic situations, and we are also concerned about the safety of our compatriots on the ground," he added.

Earlier, radical left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon expressed his shock on the social media platform X, saying he was "dismayed by the scale of the ongoing massacre in Lebanon." He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of "violating the sovereignty of states throughout the region with the complicity of Europe and the U.S." He added, "The genocide in Gaza is spreading without limits."

The IDF prohibits gatherings of more than 1,000 people in "various locations" in central Israel. IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari announced that over the next few hours, gatherings exceeding this number would be banned.

Iran's Foreign Ministry stated that Hezbollah leader Nasrallah's "path will continue, and his goal will be realized in Jerusalem's liberation."

On the Syria-Lebanon border, southerners fleeing are "screaming and going hysterical" over the killing of Nasrallah, 19-year-old Ali Bazzi, who fled from Bint Jbeil with his younger brother, told L'Orient Today.

Zainab Hamieh, a film master's student at New York State University, told L'Orient Today that she ran to a Yemeni restaurant across the street from her apartment. "I wanted to scream; I can't see the world going on normally after the martyrdom of the Sayyed. It seems other Arabs had the same thoughts. I found the restaurant filled with Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian people, as well as many Pakistanis."

"People are split those who are upset and those who are relieved that he was killed," she concluded.

"Hassan Nasrallah and his comrades have joined the long caravan of martyrs on the road to Palestine. I extend my condolences to Hezbollah and honor the lives of innocent civilians," wrote Lebanese leader Walid Joumblatt on X, accompanying his message with a photo of the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem.

In Freetown, Sierra Leone, Hassan Dhainy is inconsolable. "I'm going to Lebanon now; I will fight Israel. I'm from the south, and my homeland is being bombed by the devils of the earth. I won't stand uselessly here; I will take up arms against Israel," he told L'Orient Today. He is unable to book a ticket because flights are canceled. His brother is trying to calm him down.

In a televised statement, Hezbollah confirmed its leader's death, saying, “Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah, has joined his great immortal martyred comrades, whose path he led for nearly thirty years, during which he guided them from victory to victory, succeeding the Master of the Martyrs of the Islamic Resistance in 1992 until the liberation of Lebanon in 2000 and the glorious divine victory in 2006, as well as all the battles of honor and sacrifice, culminating in the battle of support and heroism for Palestine, Gaza and the oppressed Palestinian people.”

“The leadership of Hezbollah pledges to the highest, most sacred martyr that it will continue its jihad in confronting the enemy, in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defense of Lebanon. Our leader is still among us with his thought, spirit, and sacred approach.”

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, part of the Lebanese community is continuing their day "as normal."

"We can't show that we are upset, or else we will be jailed immediately and accused of being accomplices with terrorists. This is the hardest day of my life," Imad, a 50-year-old mechanical engineer, told L'Orient Today.

In the Lebanese community in Benin, Nigeria, women are dressed in black and men are crying. Businesses have closed. "Our back has been broken," said the owner of a Lebanese restaurant chain from Ainata in the Bint Jbeil district, in an interview with L'Orient Today. He wished to remain anonymous because "in Africa, showing your support for Hezbollah could lead to immediate sanctions."

From Beirut airport, our reporter Dany Moudallal reports scenes of despair following Hezbollah’s announcement of Hassan Nasrallah’s death. Many passengers waiting in the departure lounge for a flight to Baghdad cried and broke down in tears. “What are we going to do without you?” some shouted, while others expressed hope that he would speak during the day.

Incredulity was evident on the faces and in the demeanor of the passengers. “This isn’t possible; this story isn’t true!” could be heard as others called their loved ones to confirm the news. Our reporter describes a funeral-like atmosphere, as if people had lost a member of their family.

Israeli leaders were aware of Nasrallah’s whereabouts for months before deciding to carry out the strike against him yesterday evening, according to three senior Israeli officials cited by the New York Times. They believed there was only a short window of opportunity before he would move to a different location.

Two of the officials said more than 80 bombs were dropped over a period of several minutes to kill him. They did not confirm the weight or type of the bombs. The attack sent tremors throughout Beirut and leveled six residential buildings.

According to residents of Beirut, gunfire has been heard in the capital, particularly in the Sanayeh neighborhood.

"Men are crying and women are screaming; it feels like the Day of Judgment," said Sally Khoury, a volunteer at the Rene Mouawad public school that hosts displaced southerners, in an interview with L'Orient Today.

Hamas expressed its condolences to Hezbollah in a statement, condemning the "Israeli attack that struck residential buildings in Haret Hreik," which it described as a "terrorist act and a massacre." "The Zionist occupation must bear responsibility for the dangerous repercussions of this crime on the security and stability of the region," Hamas stated. "We reiterate our support for our brothers in Hezbollah and the Islamic resistance in Lebanon," the Islamist group added.

"When former Hezbollah leader Abbas Moussaoui was assassinated by Israel, it was believed that it was the end of the resistance, but Allah sent someone even more powerful: Hassan Nasrallah," said Ahmad Fawaz, a Lebanese businessman from southern Lebanon, who now lives in Nigeria. "May he rest in peace, and the same will happen now," he added.

According to residents of Ghobeiri who refused to leave their homes last night, the sound of "wailing can be heard across the street from residents who are still there. Men are walking on the street, screaming and calling for Nasrallah."

Sleiman Frangieh, head of the Marada Movement and presidential candidate supported by Hezbollah, wrote on his X account after the announcement of Hassan Nasrallah’s death: “The symbol is gone, the legend is born, and the resistance continues.”

"I wish it was me instead of the Sayed, I wish it was my whole family and not him," Khadija Hammoud from Aitaroun, currently displaced in Aley told L'Orient Today moments after it was announced that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed.

Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah, surrounded by his supporters during the Ashura commemoration in the southern suburbs of Beirut on July 10, 1992. (Credit: Oussam Ayoub/Archives L'Orient Today/AFP)

At around 2:30 p.m., Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

At the helm of the party since 1992, Nasrallah was a child of war in every sense of the term. The loss of this towering figure now plunges the region into uncertainty.

Read Stephanie Khouri’s portrait here.

After the announcement, al-Manar TV broadcasts prayers and no longer provides live coverage of the strikes in Lebanon and the southern suburbs of Beirut.

In a statement broadcast live on Hezbollah's al-Manar channel, the party announced that "the master of resistance," Hassan Nasrallah, "has moved alongside his Lord as a great martyr." They stated, "He has joined the caravan of the martyrs of Karbala" and "his companions, the immortal martyrs whom he led for thirty years, guiding them from victory to victory."

Hezbollah recalled that Nasrallah took leadership of the party in 1992 and led it to the "liberation of Lebanon in 2000," marking the end of the Israeli occupation of the south, as well as the "victory of 2006," during the July war.

"The leadership of Hezbollah commits to continuing its jihad against the enemy, supporting Gaza and Palestine, and defending Lebanon," the statement added.

🔴 Hezbollah officially announces the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Packages unloaded from a plane on the tarmac of Beirut International Airport on June 24, 2024. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L’Orient-Le Jour)

The Israeli army hacked the control tower at Beirut international airport, threatening an Iranian plane scheduled to land, which then turned back, according to a source within the Lebanese Ministry of Transport cited by Reuters.

More information here.

Regarding the three strikes heard earlier in the southern suburbs of Beirut:

According to reports from Lebanese media al Jadeed and MTV, the bombings targeted a building between Haret Hreik and Chiyah, as well as the old road to Sidon.

According to our correspondent in the Bekaa Valley, a targeted strike hit a truck on the Zahle highway, killing its driver. In the south, airstrikes targeted Henniyeh and Mansouri in the Sour district.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for two new attacks in response to "barbaric Israeli attacks on civilian towns and villages."

The strikes targeted two civilian positions in the border area:

- Matzuva, an Israeli town located 3 kilometers from the Blue Line, facing Alma Shaab in Sour, with a salvo of rockets.

- Ma'alot, situated about 10 kilometers from the Blue Line, facing Marwahine  in Sour, with 50 rockets.

Photo taken from Avichay Adraee's X account

In a post on X, Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army's Arabic-speaking spokesperson, stated that the Israeli army has eliminated Hezbollah's military leadership in an unprecedented blow.

The military leaders the Israeli army claims were eliminated include:

(Top) Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah: Israel claims it killed Nasrallah in an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs yesterday. Hezbollah has not confirmed whether he was killed.

(Left to right):

- Ibrahim Kobeissy: Commanded several units, including a precision-guided missiles unit. He was killed on Sept. 24 in an Israeli strike.

- Ibrahim Akil: Hezbollah's operations commander and member of the group's top military body. He was killed on Sept. 20 in an Israeli strike.

- Fouad Shukur: Identified by the Israeli military as Nasrallah's right-hand man and a top Hezbollah commander. He was killed on July 30 in an Israeli strike.

- Ali Karake: Leader of the southern front within Hezbollah. He was targeted the first time by Israel in Nabatiyeh in February in a strike that killed another commander, Abbas al-Debes. Another attempt on his life was made on Sept. 23 in the Beirut southern suburbs, but also failed, according to Hezbollah. Eventually, the Israeli army claimed Karaki was killed yesterday, Sept. 27, in the huge strikes in the southern suburbs targeting Hassan Nasrallah.

- Wissam Tamil (alias “Hajj Jawad"): A senior commander within the Radwan Force, killed on Jan. 8 in an Israeli airstrike.

- Abu Hasan Samir: Head of Hezbollah’s Radwan Force training unit, killed on Sept. 20 in an Israeli airstrike.

- Mohammad Surur: Head of one of Hezbollah's air force units, killed on Sept. 25 in an Israeli airstrike.

- Taleb Abdallah: Commander of Hezbollah’s “Nasr” unit, killed on June 11 in an Israeli airstrike.

- Mohammad Nehmeh Nasr: Commander of Hezbollah's "Aziz" unit, killed on July 3 in an Israeli airstrike.

- Abu Ali Rida: Commander of Hezbollah’s “Badr” unit; Israel has not targeted Rida.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that Israel "cannot damage the solid infrastructure of Hezbollah in Lebanon," following the Israeli army's announcement of the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Friday in a massive strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs.

"The fate of the region will be determined by the resistance forces, with Hezbollah at the forefront," Khamenei added, emphasizing that resistance forces stand firmly behind Hezbollah.

In Chtoura, in the Bekaa Valley, a drone strike targeted a car without hitting it, according to our local correspondent.

A similar strike occurred in Dahr al-Baidar, on the Damascus road between Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and Syria. According to Lebanese media reports, the driver survived the attack.   

In southern Lebanon, new strikes targeted Majdal Selm in Marjayoun, Aita al-Shaab and the central square of Kfar Dounin in Bint Jbeil, Qadmous in the north of Sour and Nabatiyeh. Several houses were destroyed in Nabatiyeh and Kfar Dounin.

Map: Jaimee Lee Haddad

 A map of Beirut's southern suburbs marking in red the targets of dozens of Israeli airstrikes. The areas outlined in yellow are those where evacuation orders were issued by the Israeli army before being bombed.

The Israeli army claims to have struck more than 140 Hezbollah targets since last night, including dozens of rocket launchers and buildings where weapons were stored, Haaretz reports. The Israeli military states that some of the targets were located beneath residential buildings in the Beirut area.

⚡According to reports from people in southern Beirut, three strikes have again targeted the area.

The Mokhtar of Shebaa, Mohammad Hashem, told L’Orient Today that he received a phone call from someone claiming to be with the Israeli army, instructing him to inform residents to evacuate the town due to an imminent bombardment.

"I informed the residents to leave because the matter seemed serious,” Hashem said. “The residents began to leave,” he added.

Our correspondent in the Bekaa reports a significant wave of displacement at the Masnaa border crossing, with large numbers of Lebanese residents fleeing into Syria.

The Shebaa-Habariya road in southern Lebanon is now cut off due to Israeli airstrikes.

Following the various strikes claimed by Hezbollah on northern Israel, Haaretz reported damage caused by interceptor missile shrapnel to two buildings in Nahariya and to a vehicle.

Targeted vehicle in Dahr al-Baidar (Credit: Sarah Abdallah)

An Israeli strike targeted a vehicle in Dahr al-Baidar, an area on the road connecting Beirut to the Bekaa Valley and Syria, making it an important transit point.

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been moved to a secure location within the country, accompanied by heightened security measures, according to two regional officials informed by Tehran. The sources also indicated that Iran is in constant contact with Hezbollah and other regional allies to determine the "next steps" following Israel's announcement of Hassan Nasrallah's alleged death.

Recent Israeli Strikes on Southern Lebanon:

- Israeli warplanes targeted Blat in Marjayoun.

- Artillery shelling continued in Shebaa, hitting the town’s medical clinic.

- Israeli aircraft conducted raids along the road between Habbarieh and Shebaa, followed by artillery shelling in the area.

- Airstrikes were also reported in the towns of Tayr Debba and Jwayya in the Sour district.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense announced that one of its members was killed during a relief and rescue operation in Beirut's southern suburbs last night, while another member is in critical condition. The incident was attributed to the intensity of Israeli airstrikes targeting the area, which made the rescue mission particularly hazardous, according to the statement.

Recent Hezbollah attacks on Israeli positions: Hezbollah claimed responsibility for three successive strikes on Israeli positions shortly after noon:

- Artillery shells were fired at Israeli soldiers near the "al-Sadah" site.

- A rocket salvo targeted the village of Sa'ar.

- Rockets were also launched at the "Rosh Pinna" settlement.

Both Sa'ar and Rosh Pinna are located approximately thirty kilometers from the border.

The Cabinet is set to hold an extraordinary meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Serail, announced the office of caretaker Prime Minister Nagib Mikati today, “to discuss current developments."

A woman encountered in the Mar Elias neighborhood believes the announcement of Hassan Nasrallah's death "won't change anything," emphasizing that "nothing has come from the Lebanese side regarding his death."

Another woman, a refugee from Bchamoun staying with her sister in Beirut, expressed that she is "not afraid if Nasrallah is dead." She stated, "Just as he came, others will follow after him." She believes the situation can't worsen, saying, "It's already too severe; it can't get worse."

Iran is in contact with Hezbollah and its other allies in the region to determine the "next step" following the death of Hassan Nasrallah, according to sources cited by Reuters.

The Israeli army spokesperson stated, according to Reuters: "Our actions against Hezbollah have prevented a larger attack. We are focused on eliminating the threat of strategic weapons and removing high-ranking terrorist officials. We are also focused on keeping them away from the border." He warned, "There is still a long way to go; Hezbollah still has the capability to fire on Israel."

In downtown Beirut, Rissala, a displaced woman from Burj al-Barajneh with her two children, does not believe the news that Hassan Nasrallah is dead, as announced by the Israeli army. "No, he is not dead; he represents everything for us," she asserts.

The Lebanese Islamic Jamaa Islamiyaa party has condemned the recent airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, labeling them as "genocide" against civilians. The group accused Israel of indiscriminately bombing residential buildings, turning them to rubble and killing women, children, and the elderly.

“We consider that the war of genocide waged by the Zionist enemy against the civilian population has as its primary goal to pressure the resistance to raise the flag of surrender, and impose its conditions on Lebanon, thereby trying to compensate for its scandal in Gaza,” the Islamic Group said in a statement, without mentioning the fate of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

They also criticized countries that remain silent or support the strikes, warning that such actions make them complicit.

Multiple Israeli strikes hit southern Lebanon in the past few hours, according to our correspondent:

- Airstrikes targeted Mais al-Jabal, Bariqa, Bint Jbeil, Adloun, and the outskirts of Shebaa, with no injuries reported.

- A drone strike injured two civilians on a motorcycle in Khiam.

- Forested areas in Yaroun were also hit, igniting fires.

One of the many Israeli airstrikes that targeted Shmustar in the Baalbeck-Hermel region since this morning has resulted in at least five deaths, according to our correspondent Sarah Abdallah. A video obtained from local residents shows rescuers from the Islamic Health Committee (of Hezbollah) attempting to lift a concrete slab in search of victims.

“As panic and fear reach new heights, we express our deep gratitude to all first responders and the many others who acted under exceptionally difficult circumstances and at their own risk,” wrote Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, on X.

Hundreds of rescue workers remain deployed in the southern suburbs of Beirut and other targeted areas, searching for victims and survivors. They have endured days of horror since last week.

Sally Abou AlJoud shares their impressions here.

A man in his fifties, at Martyrs’ Square, tells our reporter Lyana Alameddine that the bombings resemble “the bombings of the Israeli invasion of Beirut in 1982.”

“They told us to evacuate as if we were animals. Every time we tried to flee, there was a bombing that fell on us,” he explains, saying he left his home at 2:30 a.m.

When asked about the fate of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, he states, “It’s not a big deal if Sayyed [Nasrallah] is martyred. God wanted it.” He adds, “Israel has no respect. We will trample them; we will be victorious.”

More testimonies from displaced individuals in the southern suburbs:

A Syrian family living in Bir Hassan has found refuge in downtown Beirut. Sitting on blankets, the family members are eating manakich distributed by volunteers. “We fled around 6 or 6:30 p.m. [after the first strike on the southern suburbs], and since then, we’ve been on the street. We didn’t take anything with us,” the mother tells our reporter. “We don’t know where we will sleep tonight,” she adds.

Her husband stayed at home until 4 a.m. “They were bombing. Everyone was screaming in the neighborhood,” he recalls. “In July 2006 [during the war between Hezbollah and Israel], we fled to Syria. But the bombings were worse than in 2006,” he adds.

Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today

Entire families have been forced to flee their homes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, which were bombarded by the Israeli army during the night.

"Contact has been lost" with Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, since last night, a source close to the party told AFP.

The chief of the Israeli army, Herzl Halevi, warned after the announcement that yesterday's strike had indeed eliminated Hassan Nasrallah: "To all those who threaten Israeli citizens, we know how to reach you."

Key details about Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader

For 32 years, Hassan Nasrallah has been the leader of Hezbollah after he succeeded Abbas Moussawi, who was assassinated by Israel in 1992.

Under Nasrallah’s leadership, he developed Hezbollah, armed and financed by Iran, into a powerful military as well as political force, represented in parliament and government.

In the last near-12 months, Nasrallah had been leading a “front of support” on Lebanon’s southern border in solidarity with its Palestinian ally, Hamas, following its Oct.7 assault on Israel.

Israel claim he has been killed in an air strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday. Still, there has been no word from Hezbollah.

Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah (Credit: Al Manar screen capture)

🔴 Hassan Nasrallah - more details

The Israeli army said in a statement published by its Arabic-speaking spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, that the strike last night on the southern suburbs of Beirut also killed "the commander of Hezbollah's Southern Front" and several other commanders.

Hezbollah has yet to make a statement regarding the fate of its leader or on the massive strikes the day before on the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The Israeli army claim that these assassinations occurred during the strike on "the underground headquarters" of the party, "located beneath a residential building" in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

This bombing "was carried out while Hezbollah leaders were present" at that location. The statement claims that "over his 32 years at the helm" of the party, Nasrallah "has been responsible for the murder of countless Israeli citizens and soldiers" and for planning attacks against Israel "and around the world." The Israeli army "will continue to target" anyone who commits "acts of terrorism."

🔴 Breaking news: The Israeli army says it has killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday evening.

Dozens of buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, relentlessly pounded by Israeli airstrikes throughout the night, have collapsed, an AFP photographer reported. Some buildings were still burning this morning, emitting smoke, while debris blocked several streets, he added.

Our journalist Lyana Alameddine met with displaced individuals from the southern suburbs in the streets of Beirut.

She sends us this testimony from a family displaced from Burj al-Barajneh, currently located near Saifi Village, a luxury neighborhood in downtown Beirut. The family left their home around 2 a.m. and has since remained in their car. "We took our grandchildren to Batroun and then came back here... We have nowhere to go," one of the women present confides. "We saw the strikes and thought we were going to die. We could see everything; it was a real genocide," she asserts, claiming that the strike of "ten missiles" targeting Hassan Nasrallah was "more violent than during the 2006 war." The others, during the night, were more like "earthquakes," she adds. "We need to flee; we will not return there," says the woman, originally from the South, expressing her despair and stating that she has no political affiliation. "The cost of this war is far too high." Her daughter, who has just gotten married, adds, "What happened yesterday is what we saw on our screens about the situation in Gaza. This war must end."

Lebanese caretaker Health Minister Firass Abiad will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. at the ministry. He will address the latest available information on the overnight strikes, the toll from those strikes and the services provided to displaced individuals.

An Israeli airstrike targeted the village of Adloun, south of Sour, shortly after 10 a.m., according to our correspondent.

The exact toll from the night remains uncertain as rescue workers are still deployed on the ground to extract residents from the rubble and transport the injured to hospitals. According to a statement released this morning at 8 a.m. by the Civil Defense, the deployment of rescue teams last night has so far resulted in the identification of 38 victims, distributed as follows:

- First strike on the southern suburbs at 6:15 p.m.: 3 dead and 8 injured

- Baadarane, in the Chouf: 3 dead and 5 injured

- Kfar Sir: 3 dead and 2 injured, along with 6 Civil Defense members injured

- Shebaa: 9 dead, including 2 children and a pregnant woman

- Nabatiyeh: 1 dead and 8 injured

- Sour: 2 dead, a woman and her daughter

- Jouaiya: 1 dead

- Bekaa: 14 dead, 6 injured

- Baalbeck: 2 dead

Israeli airstrikes hit the villages of Sultaniyeh in the Bint Jbeil district, Majdal Selm in the Marjayoun district and Sojod in the Jezzine district shortly before 10 a.m., according to our correspondent in southern Lebanon.

Strikes continue with high intensity in northern Bekaa, Baalbeck-Hermel, and central Bekaa, according to our correspondent. The regions of Younin, Shaath, al Hellaniyeh, Taraya heights, al Khodr, Shmustar, Niha, Harabta, the city of Hermel, al Bzaliyeh, Mazraat al Dalil, Beit Shama, the city of Baalbek, Ain Kafarzabad, Karak, Bouday, Riyak, Nabi Sheet, Temnine al Tahta, the Khreibeh heights, Janta and Hazarta have been heavily hit in the past hour.

A raid also targeted a new house in the village of Douris in Baalbek.

The Israeli army has announced the mobilization of three reserve battalions from the "Central Command," according to Haaretz.

Israel's military stated today that this decision aims to strengthen defenses in the "Central Command," which includes the occupied West Bank. The mobilization comes ahead of a period of Jewish holidays, during which tensions typically escalate in Jerusalem and the West Bank, especially amid the ongoing conflict with Palestinian militants during the Gaza war.

The military noted, "In accordance with the situational assessment, the IDF is calling up three reserve battalions for operational activities and to strengthen the defense in the Central Command." 

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani expressed "serious concern" in a statement following the Israeli strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut. He urged "Italian nationals to leave Lebanese territory as soon as possible and to stay in contact with their embassy in Lebanon."

According to our correspondent in southern Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike targeted a house in the village of Shebaa in the Hasbaya district shortly after 9 a.m.

Hezbollah has announced that it launched a salvo of Fadi-3 missiles at the airport and the military position of Ramat David, located east of Haifa, Israel, shortly after 9:30 a.m., according to a statement from the party.

Meanwhile, Israeli media, citing the army, reported that a barrage of five rockets was launched from Lebanon at the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel, triggering sirens in several towns east of Haifa.

The army stated that some of the rockets were intercepted by air defenses, with no reports of injuries.

The mayor of Kfardebian has denied reports that the town of Faqra was hit by a strike. Wassim Mahna stated that when an Israeli jet flew by en route to northern Bekaa, "a small metal object fell from it and hit the mountain" between Faqra and Kfardebian.

Photo provided by Sarah Abdallah

New airstrikes have targeted the city of Baalbeck since 9:30 a.m., according to our correspondent in the Bekaa.

A house was also targeted by Israeli aviation near the Nabi Youchaa site in the village of Rasm al Hadath, in northern Bekaa, according to our correspondent. In the same region, another residence was struck in the village of Douris.

Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP

Scene of devastation in Haret Hreik, in the southern suburbs of Beirut, on Sept. 28, 2024, following the Israeli airstrike targeting the secretary-general of Hezbollah. The fate of the latter remains unknown, and the group has yet to comment on either his condition or the violent strikes from the night.

A surface-to-surface missile was launched from Lebanon and struck an open area in central Israel, according to Israeli media citing the Israeli army. Residents in central Israel, including the Tel Aviv area, reported hearing a loud blast, believed to be from the missile impact. The missile reportedly landed in the sea, with no injuries reported. The Israeli army clarified that no sirens had sounded and added that the incident is under investigation.

According to the Saudi channel al Hadath, citing the Israeli army, the Hamas leader in southern Syria, Ahmad Mohammad Fahed, has been killed in Syria.

According to our correspondent in southern Lebanon, an Israeli airstrike targeted Tayr Debba, a village in the Sour district, shortly before 9 a.m.

An entire family has been buried under the rubble of a house on the Shmustar-Beit Salibi road in northern Bekaa, according to our correspondent.

According to our correspondent in the Bekaa, several Israeli airstrikes this morning targeted areas in Baalbeck-Hermel: Younin, Chaat, al Hellaniyeh, the heights of Taraya, al Khodr, Shmustar, Nabha, Harabta, the city of Hermel, al Bzaliyeh, Bouday, Mazraat al Dalil and Beit Shama. In western Bekaa, a house was destroyed in Mashghara, and missiles were directed at Sohmor, Lebbaya, Yohmor and Tilal Meydoun. A house was completely destroyed in Riyak, in central Bekaa.

The southern suburbs of Beirut this morning, with columns of smoke rising from the site of last night’s strikes. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient Today)

A look back at the scenes of destruction and devastation in the southern suburbs of Beirut following a night of intense strikes.

Check out our selection of photos here.

A street in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sept. 28, 2024. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP)

If you just joined us, you’ll find everything you need to know this morning about the latest developments and the massive overnight strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

According to a municipal source from Kfardebiane, a very loud noise was heard near Bakiche, in the heights of Keserwan, but no one has yet been able to confirm whether it was indeed an Israeli missile.

⚡ The strike on the Bhamdoun area has been confirmed to Reuters by Deputy Mark Daou, who represents that region.

Hezbollah strikes on northern Israel:
Following the announcement made by the Israeli army in the morning about the interception of rockets after fire from Lebanon, Hezbollah claimed a strike on the village of Kabri, located about seven kilometers from the border, with a 'salvo of Fadi-2 rockets.'

Alarm sirens sounded again in northern Israel, and according to our correspondent in the South, a new salvo of rockets was fired from southern Lebanon toward northern Israel around 8:20 a.m., for the second time this morning. Alarm sirens rang out in 'dozens of cities' in northern Israel, according to Haaretz.

A strike seen from Dahr al-Sawane, in the Metn highlands, on September 28, 2024. Photo by Marie-Joe Sawaya / L'Orient-Le Jour.

The Bhamdoun area, in the hills east of Beirut, was targeted by an Israeli raid, according to the testimony of a resident present at the scene.

This may correspond to the loud explosion heard in Beirut and the southern suburbs recently.

View of missile launches from the Bcharre region in northern Lebanon. Photo by Jaimee Lee Haddad/L'Orient Today

According to witnesses and our correspondent in the North, Michel Hallak, Israeli fighter jets launched several missiles from northern Lebanon toward the Hermel region. These strikes caused explosions in the North. 

Haaretz citing Israeli army: Five rockets have been launched from Lebanon, most have been intercepted.

Earlier alarm sirens sounded in over a hundred locations in Galilee and Marj Ibn Amer in just a few minutes, according to Israeli media cited by MTV.

An Israeli bombardment in Qasrnaba, in the Bekaa, on September 28, 2024. Photo provided by L'Orient Today correspondent Sarah Abdallah.

Update on strikes in the Bekaa:

Following the announcement by the Israeli army regarding a new campaign of strikes on the Bekaa, heavy bombardments have been reported throughout the plain, in Mashghara, Shmustar, Taraya, which was hit around ten times, Sefri, Tabchar, Bourday, Riyak, Karak, Dhour Zahle, and Qasrnaba, according to our correspondent.

BREAKING: Another strike on Beirut's southern suburbs. Smoke seen rising from the area. Loud explosion heard across Beirut.

The Ministry of Health has called on hospitals in Beirut and other regions to "prepare" to receive patients from hospitals in the southern suburbs, which will be evacuated.

Hospitals in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, and areas not affected by the strikes must "stop accepting non-urgent cases until the end of next week" to facilitate the transfer of patients from the southern suburb hospitals.

However, Israeli strikes targeted the Bekaa and the Baalbeck-Hermel region this morning, according to our local correspondent Sarah Abdallah. One bombing hit the center of Temnine al-Tahta, while three others targeted the Hadath-Baalbeck plain, Taraya, and Shmustar. The surroundings of Hermel are still heavily bombarded as of now.

During the night, the regions of Hermel, Baalbeck, Bouday, shaat, Nabi Chit, and Temnine, along with other localities, turned into "fireballs" under Israeli strikes, which destroyed homes and farms, according to our correspondent.

Since 5 a.m. this morning, and following two massive strikes near Beirut International Airport, no further Israeli attacks have been reported on the southern suburbs.

More images of columns of smoke rising from Beirut's southern suburbs.

Initial images from the streets of the southern suburbs, captured by local media, show scenes of devastation: facades of buildings smashed or blackened by fires, sections of walls and pieces of concrete scattered in the roads, destroyed cars. In some places, flames are escaping from certain storefronts or apartments. Overall views of the area still show at least one column of smoke.

Testimony from a woman living in Aytet (Aley), a village overlooking Beirut

"We could see the first bombing at 6 p.m. I thought one would remember how it felt, since we lived a war back in 2006, but no it was so scary, having a small kid changes everything. The feeling of helplessness eats you.

The night was so tough, laying next to my baby, I was so scared I just wanted her next to me. I was afraid to sleep, I thought the next bombing will be close to us. I remembered the 4th of August, the intensity of it and how we survived it. We woke up to smoke all over. I wish this would end, we can no longer live like this."

This is the scene from at martyr's square, outside the Mohammad Al Amin Mosque in central Beirut this morning. Thousands of people fled during the night here and to other locations in the capital for safety.

Two evacuation orders were issued during the night, around 11 p.m. and then at 3 a.m., to residents of certain areas in the suburbs, particularly the neighborhoods of Laylaki, Hadath, and Burj al-Barajneh. The Israeli army struck these areas during the night, as well as others, such as Kafa'at, the Choueifat region further south, Ghobeiry, and Bir Hassan. 

People are waking to the sight of smoke continuing to bellow from Beirut's southern suburbs, after multiple Israeli air strikes pounded the area.

Soldiers walking through the rubble of the buildings hit by the Israeli strike. on Sept. 27, 2024. (Credit: Ibrahim Amro/AFP)

"Nothing will be the same from now on. By bombing the southern suburbs with such intensity, reducing six buildings to ashes and potentially causing hundreds of deaths, Israel has chosen a total war with Hezbollah. By targeting its secretary-general, whose fate is still unknown, it demonstrates that it has no limits in its desire to crush the pro-Iranian formation. The latter was in a position of restraint despite the numerous slaps it endured over the past week."

Read the thoughts of our Editor-In-Chief, Anthony Samrani.

A round up of Israeli strikes on Lebanon over-night

- 3-4 a.m.,: A Israeli strike targeted the Hadath and Choueifat area. Al-Manar reports that the latest Israeli strikes targeted the areas of Kafa'at, Hadath, Lailakeh, Choueifat, Burj al-Barajneh and Ghobeiri. Israeli strikes occurred near the al-Batoul public school in Bir Hassan. Israel alleged it was carrying out strikes targeting Hezbollah arms depots. However, Hezbollah denied Israeli "allegations" of the presence of weapons depots in civilian buildings

- 2-3 a.m.,:  Hay al-Amerikan, Hadath, around the Saint Therese, Lailaki, al-ajneha al-khamsa, Choueifat, Burj al-Barajneh, al-Tahweeta, al-Mreij were struck, some multiple times. The Israeli army announced that it attacked Hezbollah targets in the in Baalbeck, Nabi Sheet, Taraya, Massa, Janta, the Khreibeh Heights, Saraine, Talia, Iaat, Hermel, al-Safri and Hadath Baalbeck, in the Bekaa district.

2/5 Scene of chaos in the southern suburb of Beirut, hit by an Israeli strike, on Sept. 27, 2024. (Credit: Ibrahim Amro/AFP)

Here is a recap on what happened yesterday

- At around 6:20 p.m. local time on Friday evening, the Israeli army bombed Beirut's southern suburbs in a series of airstrikes that shook the capital and the surrounding area, sending up a massive plume of smoke and causing fissures to appear in the ground around the site of the attack.

- It is said to be the largest airstrike in the southern suburbs since the beginning of the conflict on Oct. 8. At least six buildings were completely destroyed by numerous missiles in an area near Rasoul al-Aazam Hospital, which is located along the main road leading to Beirut International Airport, in the southeastern area of Haret Hreik.

- The Israeli army claimed the attack almost immediately, writing in a statement posted on X that it had targeted "the central command headquarters of Hezbollah located under residential buildings in the heart of the southern suburbs of Beirut."

- Hassan Nasrallah was said to be the target of the attack. His fate remains unknown. Hezbollah have yet to release a statement.

While Hezbollah has not claimed any attacks since three strikes after 10:30 PM on the cities of Karmiel, Safed, and Sa'ar, alarm sirens sounded in northern Israel shortly before 6:30 AM.

“A barrage of heavy rockets was fired from the border towards northern Israel, as warning sirens sounded in settlements east of Safed,” reports al-Manar, the Hezbollah-affiliated channel.

Good morning,

The sun is rising over Beirut, shrouded in a thick cloud of smoke, after a relentless night of Israeli strikes on the southern suburbs of the city.

Above the suburbs, large plumes of black smoke rise as two massive strikes targeted areas near Beirut International Airport shortly before dawn.