Israel launches airstrikes on Beirut after bombs in Gaza kill 19 inside mosque ahead of October 7 anniversary

6 October 2024, 23:07 | Updated: 7 October 2024, 07:33

Israel has intensified airstrikes on Gaza and Lebanon as it is set to mark the anniversary of the October 7 massacre which sparked the war in the Middle East that now threatens to spiral out of control.
Israel has intensified airstrikes on Gaza and Lebanon as it is set to mark the anniversary of the October 7 massacre which sparked the war in the Middle East that now threatens to spiral out of control. Picture: Getty/Alamy

By Chay Quinn

Israel has intensified airstrikes on Gaza and Lebanon as it is set to mark the anniversary of the October 7 massacre which sparked the war in the Middle East that now threatens to spiral out of control.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Ahead of the anniversary, Israel increased bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Lebanon on Sunday.

Palestinian officials said one strike on a mosque killed at least 19 people.

The strike hit a mosque sheltering displaced people near the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the town of Deir al-Balah, the hospital said in a statement.

Read more: Final flight to leave Lebanon for UK tomorrow as Brits urged to get out immediately

Read more: IDF 'kills 440 Hezbollah members in first days of invasion' as army warns of October 7 anniversary attack

New strikes began in the Beirut suburbs late Sunday.

The war has widened to include the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah in recent weeks - with Israel also vowing to strike back against Iran after a largely-foiled ballistic missile attack on Tuesday.

Flames and smoke rise from an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Flames and smoke rise from an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein). Picture: Alamy
Israeli attacks on Gaza continue
Israeli attacks on Gaza continue. Picture: Getty

Israel is still battling Hamas in Gaza nearly a year after its October 7 attack, and has opened a new front against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has been trading fire with Israel along the border since the war in Gaza began.

Iran-allied militant groups in Syria, Iraq and Yemen have all launched long-distance strikes on Israel.

The widening conflict risks further drawing in the United States, which has provided crucial military and diplomatic support to Israel.

Caller on how 'tough' the conversation around Gaza has been over the last year

The Israeli military says it conducted precise strikes on Hamas terrorists.

In Gaza, an Associated Press journalist counted the bodies at the hospital morgue.

Hospital records showed that the 19 dead were all men.

Another two men were critically wounded, the hospital said.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment about the strike on the mosque.

The latest strikes add to the mounting Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which is now nearing 42,000 according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilian and militant deaths, however many of those killed so far have included large swathes of women and children.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan 'will be extradited to Britain after their trial in Romania' following rape and human trafficking charges

Tristan and Andrew Tate 'will be extradited to Britain following Romanian trial' over rape and human trafficking charges

London, UK. 9th October 2024. Nick Read, CEO of Post Office Limited, arrives at Aldwych House as the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry continues. Credit: Vuk Valcic/Alamy Live News

Post Office agrees to compensate hundreds of sub-postmasters following data breach

Pupils’ enjoyment of school suffers ‘substantial decline’ in Year 7, study finds

Pupils’ enjoyment of school suffers ‘substantial decline’ in Year 7, study finds

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves speaks during a reception following the UK-EU summit, in London, Monday May 19, 2025. (Hannah McKay/Pool via AP)

Rachel Reeves U-turns on plans to cut ISA limit to £4k

Prescription drugs

Rise in drug-related deaths blamed for increase in UK mortality rate compared with other high-income countries

Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu powers to impressive win over Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg

Ali Faris Muhammad, 26, died of his wounds after an “altercation” in Brent on Sunday, May 18.

Victim of fatal stabbing in Brent named by police after 'altercation' in north-west London

Donald Trump has reportedly held a phone call with Putin

Russia and Ukraine to 'immediately' start ceasefire talks as Zelenskyy pitches ‘high-level’ meeting of world leaders

Zak Starkey has also previously played with Oasis, Lightning Seeds and Johnny Marr

Zak Starkey sacked from The Who after on-stage row, but says he was told to pretend he quit

Konakli city near Alanya by the Mediterranean Sea, Turkey

Mystery as British tourist, 43, found dead under 'suspicious circumstances’ on Turkish hotel bathroom floor

Donald Trump, left, and Vladimir Putin, right, held a two hour phone call on Monday.

Trump says Russia and Ukraine will ‘immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire’ after two-hour call with Putin

Food distributed to Palestinians in Gaza under Israeli attacks

First aid trucks enter Gaza after 10-week blockade but UN warns it's just a 'drop in the ocean'

David Chester, 57, died in the blaze

Tributes paid to 'hero' father killed helping firefighters during blaze at former RAF base

One-legged dementia patient Donald Burgess was pepper sprayed and tasered three weeks before he died

Moment police pepper spray and taser amputee care home resident, 92, in his wheelchair shown in court

A third man has been arrested in connection with a string of arson attacks on Keir Starmer-linked properties.

Third person arrested over arson attacks at properties linked to Keir Starmer

Lulu with her dog Fudge at the launch 'Lulu's Mental Health Trust' in East London.

Lulu opens up about going into therapy as she says completing new memoir felt 'intense'