Israel steps up bombardment of Gaza and Lebanon on eve of October 7 anniversary

6 October 2024, 22:44

Flames and smoke rise from an Israeli air strike in Beirut, Lebanon
Lebanon Israel. Picture: PA

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.

Israel intensified its bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Lebanon on Sunday in a widening war with Iran-allied militant groups across the region,

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

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.

New strikes began in the Beirut suburbs late Sunday.

Israel also has vowed to strike Iran after a ballistic missile attack on Israel last week.

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

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

Israel is on high alert ahead of memorial events over the October 7 attack, while rallies continued around the world marking the anniversary.

Lebanon Israel
A man leaves a street after seeing the building where he was living in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon destroyed by an Israeli air strike (Hussein Malla/AP)

A stabbing and shooting attack at the central bus station in Beersheba killed a border police officer, police said. They did not identify the assailant but were treating it as a terror attack.

Beirut’s skyline lit up again late Sunday with new air strikes, a day after Israel’s heaviest bombardment of the southern suburbs known as the Dahiyeh since it escalated its air campaign on September 23.

Israel has said it targets Hezbollah, the strongest armed force in Lebanon, which has called its firing of rockets into Israel a show of support for the Palestinians.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported more than 30 strikes overnight into Sunday. Israel’s military confirmed it was striking targets near Beirut and said about 130 projectiles had crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory, with some intercepted.

“It was very difficult. All of us in Beirut could hear everything,” resident Haytham Al-Darazi said. Another resident, Maxime Jawad, called it “a night of terror”.

Lebanon Israel
People pass buildings destroyed by Israeli air strike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon (Hussein Malla/AP)

One strike killed three sisters and their aunt in the coastal village of Jiyyeh.

“This is a civilian home, and the biggest evidence is those martyred are four women,” said a neighbour, Ali Al Hajj. The health ministry said 25 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Saturday.

Last week, Israel launched what it called a limited ground operation into southern Lebanon after a series of attacks killed longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and most of his top commanders. The fighting is the worst since Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006.

At least 1,400 Lebanese, including civilians, medics and Hezbollah fighters, have been killed and 1.2 million driven from their homes.

Israel says it aims to drive the militant group from its border so tens of thousands of Israeli citizens can return home.

Lebanon Israel
People walk on the debris of destroyed buildings in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Lebanon, after Israeli air strikes (Hussein Malla/AP)

The Israeli military is now setting up a forward operating base close to a UN peacekeeping mission on the border in southern Lebanon, a UN official told the Associated Press. The base puts peacekeepers at risk, said the official.

Unifil, which was created to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli troops from southern Lebanon after Israel’s 1978 invasion, refused the Israeli military’s request to vacate some of its positions ahead of the ground incursion.

An Israeli strike hit a mosque where displaced people sheltered near the main hospital in the central Gaza town of Deir al-Balah.

Another four were killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter near the town. The military said both strikes targeted militants. An Associated Press journalist counted the bodies at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital morgue.

Israel’s military announced a new air and ground offensive in Jabaliya in northern Gaza, home to a refugee camp dating to the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s creation.

Lebanon Israel
A man watches smoke rising over Beirut after Israeli air strikes (Hussein Malla/AP)

Israel has carried out several operations there only to see militants regroup. The military said three soldiers were severely wounded in Sunday’s fighting in northern Gaza.

Israel reiterated its call for the complete evacuation of heavily destroyed northern Gaza, where up to 300,000 people are estimated to have remained.

“We are in a new phase of the war,” the military said in leaflets dropped over the area. “These areas are considered dangerous combat zones.”

A later statement said three projectiles were identified crossing from northern Gaza into Israeli territory, with no injuries reported.

Frantic residents fled again.

“Since October 7 to the present day, this is the 12th time that I and my children, eight individuals, have been homeless and thrown into the streets and do not know where to go,” said one, Samia Khader.

Palestinians examine a destroyed mosque following an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah on Sunday
Children walk in the remains of a mosque destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Deir al-Balah on Sunday (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

The Civil Defence – first responders operating under the Hamas-run government – said it recovered three bodies, including a woman and a child, after a strike hit a home in the Shati refugee camp.

Nearly 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It does not say how many were fighters, but says a little over half were women and children.

Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people in the October 7 attack and took another 250 hostage. They still hold around 100 captives, a third of whom are believed to be dead.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday reiterated his call for a partial arms embargo on Israel, which had prompted an angry response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Netanyahu had described such calls by Mr Macron as a “disgrace”.

Mr Macron’s office insisted that “France is Israel’s unfailing friend” and called Mr Netanyahu’s remarks “excessive”.

Later on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu’s office said the two leaders had spoken and agreed to promote “a dialogue” on the matter. Mr Macron’s office called the discussion “frank” and said both leaders “accepted their divergence of views”.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

The 'skip forward' voyage will last up to four years.

Cruise company offers four-year 'skip forward' voyage for Americans to avoid Donald Trump's presidency

Millions of Brits fell silent to honour the fallen on Monday.

'We will remember them': Nation falls silent as millions of Brits remember the fallen for Armistice Day

Keir Starmer has attended Armistice Day events in Paris

Starmer becomes first British leader since Churchill to attend Armistice Day ceremony in France

Putin and Trump in 2019

Putin has 'no plans' to speak to Trump, as Kremlin slams claims that US urged Russia not to escalate Ukraine war

Joe Biden stumbled as he went on a seaside walk with his wife Jill.

WATCH: Moment 81-year-old Joe Biden stumbles on sandy beach during seaside getaway

Donald Trump is a vocal supporter of Bitcoin

Bitcoin soars to record high after Trump election victory

Toys of the new Wicked film have been sending fans to an adult film site.

Toy company Mattel apologizes after Wicked toy boxes link to porn website

Fighting broke out in Amsterdam on Thursday night

'We will not allow sporting events to be hijacked': UK government responds to Israeli warning after Amsterdam violence

Donald Trump has reportedly held a phone call with Putin

Donald Trump 'urges Putin not to escalate Ukraine war' in phone call with Russian leader

Fighting broke out in Amsterdam on Thursday night

Netanyahu warns Israelis to not attend events in UK over intel about pro-Palestinian attacks

The teenage girl was crashed into by a paraglider in Turkey

More than £20k raised for British teen left fighting for life in Turkey after paraglider crashed into her

Ukraine and Russia have launched their biggest strikes against one another since the war began

Russia and Ukraine launch major drone strikes on each other as the conflict between the two countries intensifies

The teenage girl was crashed into by a paraglider in Turkey

'I thought she was dead': British teen left fighting for life in Turkey after paraglider crashes into her on family holiday

FBI investigating racist 'cotton picking' texts sent anonymously to black citizens across the US

FBI investigating racist 'cotton picking' texts sent anonymously to black citizens across the US

Iran rejects assassination attempt claims after plot against Donald Trump thwarted by FBI

Iran rejects assassination attempt claims after plot against Donald Trump thwarted by FBI

Fighting broke out in Amsterdam on Thursday night

Emergency measures in Amsterdam after Israeli football fans targeted by pro-Palestine 'hit-and-run attacks'