Tag: Hezbollah

Israel begins Lebanon ground invasion with ‘limited’ raids on Hezbollah

By Timour Azhari BEIRUT (Reuters) – Israel’s widely expected ground invasion of Lebanon appeared to be getting underway early on Tuesday as its military said troops had begun “limited” raids against Hezbollah targets in the border area. The military said in a statement that it had begun “limited, localised, and targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence” against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon villages close to the border that posed “an immediate threat to Israeli communities […]

Israel pounds Lebanon, pressuring Hezbollah after killing its leader

By Emily Rose and Maya Gebeily JERUSALEM/BEIRUT (Reuters) – Israel struck multiple targets in Lebanon on Sunday, pressing Hezbollah with more attacks and saying it had killed yet another senior figure after it struck a huge blow by killing the Iran-backed group’s leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. The Israeli military said the air force had “struck dozens of Hezbollah terror targets in Lebanon, including launchers that were aimed toward Israeli territory, structures in which weapons were […]

Lebanon’s Nasrallah led Hezbollah to become regional force

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, whose death was announced on Saturday, led the Lebanese group through decades of conflict with Israel, overseeing its transformation into a military force with regional sway and becoming one of the most prominent Arab figures in generations – with Iranian backing. Hezbollah said in a statement that Nasrallah had been killed, but it did not say how. The Israeli military said earlier it had killed Nasrallah in […]

Lebanon’s Hezbollah confirms leader Nasrallah killed

DUBAI (Reuters) -Lebanon’s Hezbollah confirmed on Saturday that its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah was killed. The group said in a statement it would continue its battle against Israel “in support of Gaza and Palestine, and in defence of Lebanon and its steadfast and honourable people”. Israel said earlier on Saturday it had killed Nasrallah in an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs a day earlier. Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV started airing Koran verses after the announcement of […]

Israeli military says it has killed Hezbollah chief Nasrallah

By Ari Rabinovitch and Maya Gebeily JERUSALEM/BEIRUT (Reuters) -Israel said on Saturday it had killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs a day earlier in what would be a devastating blow to the group as it reels from an escalating campaign of Israeli attacks. Reuters could not immediately reach Hezbollah officials for comment. The Iran-backed Hezbollah has yet to issue any statement on the status of Nasrallah, its leader […]

Israel says it has secured $8.7 billion U.S. aid package

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel said on Thursday it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States to support its ongoing military efforts and to maintain a qualitative military edge in the region. The package includes $3.5 billion for essential wartime procurement, which has already been received and earmarked for critical military purchases, and $5.2 billion designated for air defense systems including the Iron Dome anti-missile system, David’s Sling and an advanced laser […]

New US forces for Middle East may aid evacuation, if needed

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The new U.S. deployment of a small number of troops to the Middle East announced earlier this week could help the U.S. military prepare for scenarios including an evacuation of Americans from Lebanon, two U.S. officials told Reuters. Officials say the move is precautionary and comes as President Joe Biden warns of the risk of all-out war and as Israel openly talks about a possible ground incursion into southern Lebanon. While Washington […]

Israel rejects US-backed Lebanon ceasefire plan, hits Beirut again

By Timour Azhari and James Mackenzie BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel rejected global calls on Thursday for a ceasefire with the Hezbollah movement, defying its biggest ally in Washington and pressing ahead with strikes that have killed hundreds in Lebanon and heightened fears of an all-out regional war. Despite Israel’s stance, the U.S. and France sought to keep prospects alive for an immediate 21-day truce they proposed on Wednesday, and said negotiations continued, including on the sidelines […]

Blinken says US, partners working tirelessly to avoid full-blown war in Lebanon

By Humeyra Pamuk NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday the risk of escalation in the Middle East was “acute” and that Washington and its allies were working tirelessly to avoid a full-blown war between Israel and Iran-aligned Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. “With regard to Lebanon, we’ve been working tirelessly with partners to avoid a full-blown war and to move to a diplomatic process that would allow Israelis and […]

Israeli warplanes hit Lebanon again as Hezbollah takes aim at Tel Aviv

By Maya Gebeily and Ari Rabinovitch BEIRUT/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel widened its airstrikes in Lebanon on Wednesday and shot down a missile that the armed group Hezbollah said it had fired at the Mossad spy agency near Tel Aviv, ratcheting up the conflict between the two arch-foes. The Iran-backed Hezbollah claimed to have targeted the Mossad headquarters with what it described as a ballistic missile – the first time in nearly a year of warfare that […]

Hezbollah, Israel exchange heavy fire in ‘new phase’ of fighting

By Timour Azhari and Miro Maman BEIRUT/HAIFA, Israel (Reuters) -Hezbollah and Israel exchanged heavy fire into Sunday, as the Lebanese militant group sent rockets deep into northern Israeli territory after facing some of the most intense bombardment in almost a year of conflict. Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem told mourners at the funeral of one of the group’s commanders killed last week in Beirut: “We have entered a new phase, the title of which is […]

Israeli security services arrest Israeli man over alleged Iranian-backed assassination plot

By James Mackenzie JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli security services said on Thursday they had arrested an Israeli citizen on suspicion of involvement in an Iranian-backed assassination plot targeting prominent people including the prime minister. A statement said the person was a businessman with connections in Turkey who had attended at least two meetings in Iran to discuss the possibility of assassinating Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant or the head of the Shin Bet […]