Hezbollah’s rockets have caused fires in northern Israel
The Israeli army has said that at least 180 rockets were fired from southern Lebanon into northern Israel, many of them intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system.
However, many of them have impacted open areas and caused huge fires that local workers are still trying to put out.
The Israeli army says that they are in Lebanon for this exact reason: to try and stop the rocket fire, to quash Hezbollah’s military capabilities.
They said they had two goals in mind. The first is to restore the balance of power along the border, meaning they want to destroy Hezbollah, and the second is to return those evacuated Israelis back to those towns and settlements along the northern border.
The Israeli military and the defence minister alike have said that they have more surprises in store for Hezbollah and that they haven’t unleashed their full capabilities just yet, but that they are prepared to do so from land, air and sea.
Ireland rejects Israeli army’s request to withdraw peacekeepers from Lebanese border: Report
The Irish Times reports that Dublin has rejected an Israeli military request for Ireland to withdraw its peacekeeping troops from an outpost along the Lebanon-Israel border. Ireland, which has a single outpost designated as post 6-52 on the border, is one of several countries contributing troops to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, or UNIFIL.
UNIFIL was set up in 1978 to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces after they invaded Lebanon in reprisal for a Palestinian attack. UNIFIL, as well as unarmed technical observers known as UNTSO, have since then been stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, known as the Blue Line.
Its roughly 10,000 peacekeepers are tasked with monitoring the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel. The Irish platoon stationed at the post is tasked with observing and reporting any incursions along the border.
The request for the troop removal raises concerns that Israel may be preparing a broader invasion of southern Lebanon, with the prospect of expanding operations along the entire border.
UNIFIL has communicated to Israel that the peacekeepers will not be withdrawn, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining stability in the region.
Israeli army issues new evacuation order for Beirut
The Israeli army has issued an order for residents of Beirut’s southern suburbs to evacuate immediately. The military specifically called on those living in a building in the Bourj el-Barajneh area to abandon their homes.
The issuance of these evacuation orders, which has become a near-nightly occurrence from the Israeli army, shortly preceded violent air strikes on the Lebanese capital.
#عاجل ‼️ انذار عاجل جديد إلى سكان الضاحية الجنوبية وتحديدًا المتواجدين في المبنى المحدد في الخارطة والواقع في حي برج البراجنة
🔴أنتم متواجدون بالقرب من منشآت ومصالح تابعة لحزب الله حيث سيعمل ضدها جيش الدفاع على مدى الزمني القريب
🔴من أجل سلامتكم وسلامة أبناء عائلتكم عليكم اخلاء… pic.twitter.com/Ob6mZHvs8c
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) October 4, 2024
Blast heard in south Beirut after Israeli evacuation orders
A blast has been heard and smoke seen rising over Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to witnesses, Reuters is reporting.
The explosion came shortly after the Israeli military issued a new alert for residents of the area to immediately evacuate.
Four reported killed in Israeli drone strike on north Lebanon refugee camp
Local Lebanese and Palestinian media have reported that four people were killed in an Israeli drone strike in the far north of Lebanon.
The strike targeted an apartment building in the Beddawi camp for Palestinian refugees, which is situated near Lebanon’s Tripoli city – more than 80km (50 miles) north of the capital Beirut.
The news reports did not provide information on the four victims.
According to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), the Beddawi camp was established in 1955 and has five UNRWA-run schools catering to more than 3,700 students among the camp’s estimated 18,000 inhabitants.
Hamas confirms military official, family killed in north Lebanon drone strike
Hamas has now confirmed that one of its military officials, Saeed Atallah Ali, was killed in the attack along with his wife and two young daughters.
“We pledge to our people to avenge the pure blood that was shed and to confirm that our upcoming series of responses will be in actions before words,” Hamas said in a statement.
Israeli military announces new evacuation orders for Beirut
The evacuation orders, announced on X by the Israeli military’s Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee, ordered the residents of the Burj al-Barajneh and Haret Hreik areas of southern Beirut to leave their homes.
“You are located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, and the [Israeli military] will operate against them in the near future,” he said alongside an image of a city map with targeted buildings highlighted in red.
