Israel-Lebanon live: Israeli strike kills two in Beirut as US officials ‘furious’ over Netanyahu’s dismissal of ceasefire

Israel hopes it will not have to proceed with a ground invasion against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a senior Israeli official has said after Israel attacked the group’s central headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters it was too early to say whether the attack hit Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israeli military has called for an immediate evacuation of certain buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs for the first time, according to an army spokesperson.

Avichay Adraee posted a message on social media to residents of particular buildings, saying: “You are located near Hezbollah interests and for your safety and the safety of your loved ones, you are obliged to evacuate the buildings immediately and move away from them at a distance of no less than 500 metres.”

Iraqi Airways suspended all its flights to and from Beirut until further notice due to “the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon”, Iraq’s transportation ministry said following the latest Israeli strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s armed group Hezbollah has said it fired a salvo of rockets on the city of Safed in Israel, its first announced attack since Israeli strikes hit the southern suburbs of Beirut hours earlier.

The United States had no knowledge of or participation in the actions of the Israeli Defence Forces, President Biden has insisted.

Asked by reporters calling out questions whether he supported Israel’s decision to try to kill Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, he replied: “The United States had no knowledge of or participation in the IDF action.”

He added: “We’re gathering information,” and “Need to get more information.”

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly cut short a visit to the United States and was returning home overnight on Friday, instead of waiting until the end of Sabbath on Saturday evening, his office said.

Israeli politicians do not normally travel on the Sabbath except for matters of great import, and there were suggestions the decision reflected the latest airstrikes were significant.

Hours earlier, Mr Netanyahu had told the UN that Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah would continue, further dimming hopes for a ceasefire. News of the blasts came as he was briefing reporters travelling with him. A military aide whispered into his ear, and he quickly ended the briefing.

Iran’s embassy in Lebanon said on X that Friday’s Israeli strike on Beirut’s southern suburbs represents a dangerous game-changing escalation that will “bring its perpetrator an appropriate punishment.”

At least two people are dead and 76 were wounded in an Israeli strike on Haret Hreik, in the Dahieh suburbs of Beirut.

The death toll was expected to rise as the removal of rubble continues.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly the “long arm of Israel” can reach the “tyrants of Tehran” anywhere in Iran and the Middle East.

The GCHQ has issued a new alert warning of a threat from targeted phishing attacks being carried out by hackers working on behalf of the Iranian government.

The National Cyber Security Centre, which is a part of the GCHQ, said cyber attackers working on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are using social engineering techniques to gain access to victims’ personal and business accounts online.

Two people are dead and 76 were wounded in an Israeli strike on Haret Hreik, in the Dahieh suburbs of Beirut, according to the preliminary toll from the Lebanese ministry of health.

The death toll was expected to rise as the removal of the rubble continues.

Al Jazeera reporter Zeina Khodr said from the scene of the devastation: “This attack was massive. I have covered a lot of the aftermath of Israeli air strikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, but nothing like this.

“The smoke is still billowing. The area of devastation is so large and wide. We’re talking about at least six to seven residential buildings levelled to the ground.”

The United States did not have advanced warning of an Israeli strike in Beirut, a Pentagon spokesperson said on Friday.

“The United States was not involved in this operation and we had no advanced warning,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters.

It was revealed that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart as the operation was ongoing.

Singh declined to say what Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told Austin about the operation and whether it indeed targeted Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The Pentagon also declined to speculate on whether the Hezbollah leader was still alive.

Lebanese news channel Al-Mayadeen is reporting that the Israeli raids targeted residential neighbuorhoods in Haret Hreik, where six buildings including a residential block were “levelled to the ground”.

The Lebanese Civil Defense confirmed that its teams are working to extinguish the fire that broke out in the scene of destruction and are working to evacuate the injured and retrieve bodies.