Israel launched massive air strikes on Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut late Friday, with Israeli media reporting that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was targeted in the strikes. An Iranian government source said Tehran was trying to confirm Nasrallah's whereabouts. The latest bombardment – the most powerful in the Lebanese capital in the past year – came shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the UN General Assembly that Israel would continue striking Hezbollah until it met its objectives. Read our blog to see how all the day's developments on the Middle East unfolded.
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Summary:
- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly on Friday, warning Tehran that Israel would not hesitate to retaliate if Iran attacks. "If you strike us, we will strike you," he told the assembled delegates.
- Israel rejected a push by allies for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon and vowed to keep fighting Hezbollah militants "until victory". The White House expressed frustration at the rejection, saying the truce proposal had taken "a lot of care and effort".
- Lebanon's health ministry said late Thursday that Israeli strikes had killed 92 people in the country and injured 153 in the past 24 hours. Thursday's toll brings the number of people killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon since Monday alone to more than 700.
Yesterday's key developments:
- France and the United States on Wednesday proposed a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon after days of deadly strikes by Israel against Iranian-backed group Hezbollah. The proposed ceasefire, backed by several Arab states, would allow time for both parties to hold negotiations.
- Israel’s defence ministry said it had secured an $8.7 billion aid package from the United States to support the country’s ongoing military efforts, including upgrading air defence systems.
- United Nations chief Antonio Guterres said "hell is breaking loose in Lebanon", as he addressed an emergency UN Security Council session. "Diplomatic efforts have intensified to achieve a temporary ceasefire," he added.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
