Saturday, October 05, 2024

Israel Bombs Beirut Targets as Iran Calls on Arab World to Unite

NEWS

Israel Bombs Beirut Targets as Iran Calls on Arab World to Unite
H.Meyer, D.Khraiche, G.MotevalliImage by chekat via iStock

Rigzone

Israel Bombs Beirut Targets as Iran Calls on Arab World to Unite | Rigzone

Israel carried out huge bombing raids on Hezbollah targets near Beirut airport alongside ground attacks in southern Lebanon, while Iran’s leader called on the Arab world to unite amid the escalating conflict.
The airstrikes in the southern outskirts of the Lebanese capital targeted the potential successor of the militant group’s assassinated leader Hassan Nasrallah and other figures, the New York Times and other US media reported, citing Israeli officials.

It was not known if Hashem Safieddine died in the bombardment, which residents said shook buildings in the city.

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a day ago

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Emerges, Leads Friday Prayers Amid Israel Tensions | India

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — leading Friday prayers in Tehran for the first time since January 2020 — told a huge crowd the Islamic Republic will strike again if necessary, having so far delivered the “minimum punishment” possible to Israel. He urged Arab and Muslim countries to unite against what he described as a common enemy.

“We’ll neither hesitate nor rush in fulfilling our duties,” Khamenei said.

Since last month, Israel has stepped up a campaign to eliminate threats from Iran-backed Hezbollah, killing much of its top leadership and sending troops into southern Lebanon for the first time since a 2006 war. The Israel Defense Forces said Friday it’s killed Hezbollah militants from the air and at close range. Troops recovered rocket launchers and other weapons during the operations, the IDF said.
Iran fired 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday night in retaliation for the attacks on Hezbollah and the killing of a Hamas leader in July, and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to respond. That’s raised fears of major tit-for-tat attacks that could trigger a region-wide war and drag in the US, Israel’s main ally.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Beirut on Friday and met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
He said a diplomatic solution is needed to stop Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon and Gaza, according to a statement by the ministry’s spokesman.

Oil surged on Thursday when US President Joe Biden, responding to a question about whether the US would support Israeli assaults on Iran’s oil infrastructure, said: “We’re discussing that. I think that would be a little — anyways.”

Brent extended gains Friday, heading for its strongest weekly increase in two years.
Israeli assets have been hit, with the shekel down 2.5% against the dollar this week, one of the worst performers globally.