Summary

  • Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensified overnight, with both sides carrying out large cross-border strikes

  • Lebanon-based Hezbollah launched 150 rockets into Israel, according to the IDF, in what it said was retaliation for recent attacks targeting it

  • Some reached further south than in previous strikes and damaged homes

  • Israel carried out air strikes on targets in southern Lebanon and said it had destroyed thousands of Hezbollah's rocket launchers

  • Meanwhile, the funeral of a senior Hezbollah commander killed in an Israeli air strike has been held in Beirut

  • The UN has warned the region is "on the brink of imminent catastrophe" as fears of an all out war grow

Live Reporting

Edited by Adam Durbin, with Hugo Bachega, Orla Guerin and Nafiseh Kohnavard reporting from Beirut

  1. What has the IDF said about Friday's attack on Beirut?

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says its forces "conducted a targeted strike in Beirut".

    The IDF says senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil was among those killed, as well as "other senior" fighters in the Iran-backed group's Radwan Forces - without naming them.

    In a video statement, its spokesperson Daniel Hagari said the individuals had "gathered underground under a residential building" in Dahiyah and used Lebanese civilians as "human shields".

  2. 31 people killed, including three children, in Israeli attack on Beirut
    Breaking

    The Lebanese health ministry says the number of people killed in an Israeli attack on Beirut on Friday has risen to 31, including three children.

  3. Recap: What's happened since Tuesday?

    Israel's air strike in Beirut yesterday - it's third this year - killed two senior Hezbollah commanders and other members of the Iran-backed group.

    Tensions between Hezbollah and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been escalating since Tuesday, with the Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant saying it entered a "new phase in the war".

    Here is some of what's happened this week:

    • On Tuesday, hospitals in Lebanon were overwhelmed with casualties after pagers used by Hezbollah exploded
    • On Wednesday, a second wave of blasts hit Lebanon, this time exploding walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah
    • At least 37 people were killed on both days, with nearly 3,000 others injured
    • Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blamed Israel for attacks saying it had crossed "all red lines" and vowed "just punishment". Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attacks
    • Ophthalmologist Dr Elias Warrak told the BBC that more than 60 to 70% of the patients he treated ended up with at least one eye removed, calling it “a nightmare”
    • On Thursday night, the IDF says the Israeli Air Force attacked "hundreds" of Hezbollah rocket launch pads in southern Lebanon and on Friday, attacked military buildings in six areas, including Kfar Kila
    • On Friday, Hezbollah attacked Israel with 140 rockets launched from Lebanon

  4. Reuters reports a preliminary investigation finds devices were implanted with explosives

    A preliminary investigation by Lebanese authorities into the pager and walkie-talkie explosions found they were implanted with explosives before arriving in Lebanon, according to the Reuters news agency.

    Reuters cites a letter sent to the United Nations Security Council, from the Lebanese mission to the UN.

    It adds authorities were determined the devices were detonated by sending electronic messages to the them.

    Speaking at the Security Council last night, Lebanon's top diplomat Abdallah Bouhabib called it "an unprecedented method of warfare in its brutality and terror."

    People, including soldiers, gathered outside a hospital in Beirut on TuesdayEPA

    On Tuesday, hospitals across Lebanon were overwhelmed with patients after thousands of pagers blew up

  5. Pager and walkie-talkie explosions violated international law, says UN Human Rights chief

    UN Ambassador of Israel Danny Danon (R) speaks and gestures towards UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk during a United Nations Security Council meeting called to address the growing conflict between Israel and Lebanon in New York, New York, USA, 20 September 2024.EPA

    The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an investigation into the pager and walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon this week.

    At least 37 people were killed and around 3,000 wounded after the hand-held devices, used by Hezbollah, exploded on Tuesday and Wednesday.

    "International humanitarian law prohibits the use of booby-trap devices in the form of apparently harmless portable objects," Volker Turk told an emergency session of the Security Council last night.

    "It is a war crime to commit violence intended to spread terror among civilians," he adds, calling for an "independent, rigorous and transparent" investigation.

  6. Hezbollah says Ahmed Wahbi killed

    This morning, Hezbollah says another of its senior commanders was killed in the Israeli attack on a Beirut suburb yesterday.

    Reuters news agency reports that Ahmed Wahbi oversaw the military operations of Hezbollah's Radwan forces for a period until early 2024.

  7. Hezbollah and IDF confirm Ibrahim Aqil killed

    Headshot of Ibrahim Aqil, a military commander with HezbollahUS Government

    Hezbollah has released a statement saying "one of its top leaders" was killed in an Israeli air strike on the Lebanese capital Beirut on Friday.

    The group says Ibrahim Aqil was killed in Dahiyeh, in what it called a "treacherous Israeli assassination".

    The Israel Defense Forces also confirmed the killing of Aqil, in a targeted strike on the group's Radwan forces, along with "other senior" fighters.

  8. Hezbollah commanders among 14 killed in Israeli attack on Beirut

    Thick smoke rises above the southern suburbs of Beirut after an Israel strike on September 20AFP via Getty Images

    We're re-starting our live coverage after Hezbollah confirmed two of its senior commanders were killed in the Israeli attack on a Beirut suburb.

    The Iran-backed group says Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wahbi both died.

    The Israel Defense Forces says the targeted strike killed Ibrahim Aqil and "other senior" figures.

    On Thursday night, the Israeli Air Force attacked "hundreds" of Hezbollah rocket launch pads in southern Lebanon and on Friday, attacked military buildings in six areas, including Kfar Kila.

    Also on Friday, Hezbollah attacked Israel with 140 rockets launched from Lebanon.

    On Tuesday and Wednesday, pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon, killing at least 37 people. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk told a security council meeting it violated international humanitarian law.

    Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah blamed Israel for the pager and walkie-talkie attacks, saying it had crossed all "red lines". Israel has not claimed responsibility.

    Stay with us as we bring you the latest developments, analysis and updates on the situation.