Live coverage of Israel’s war against Hamas and Hezbollah today 29 September

Live coverage of Israel’s war against Hamas and Hezbollah today, Sunday 29 September

Israel’s attacks continue in Lebanon, after Hezbollah confirmed the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah in a massive Israeli raid in Beirut. The killing of the Shiite leader has sparked a strong reaction around the world and threatens to push the Middle East even further towards escalation. Iran promised to avenge the death of Nasrallah, which US President Joe Biden defined in a note as a “measure of justice for his numerous victims”, without however mentioning the hundreds of Lebanese victims of the bombings of the last week. Three days of national mourning have been proclaimed in Lebanon starting from Monday. Below is the latest news from today, Sunday 29 September 2024, on the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and the ongoing crisis with Iran in the Middle East.

LIVE

2.20 pm – Nasrallah’s body recovered – The body of the Hezbollah leader was recovered from the rubble after the raid. Two sources reported this to the Reuters agency. Nasrallah’s funeral could take place tomorrow.

2.10 pm – Hezbollah confirms the killing of Ali Karaki in the Israeli raid in Beirut – Hezbollah confirms the killing of Ali Karaki in the Israeli raid on the southern outskirts of Beirut in which the leader of the Shiite movement, Hasan Nasrallah, was killed last Friday. This was reported by al-Arabiya satellite TV. The death of Ali Karaki, commander of the “southern front”, was announced earlier by Israeli forces.

1.10 pm – Gaza, the toll rises to 41,595 dead and 96,251 injured – At least 41,595 people have been killed and 96,251 have been injured since the start of operations by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, which began on 7 October 2023 following the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in the Jewish state. This was announced by the Gaza Ministry of Health.

12.50 pm – Israeli raid on the border between Syria and Lebanon – An Israeli airstrike was carried out near the western Syrian town of al-Qusayr, the Times of Israel reports. Al-Qusayr is located near the border with Lebanon and the reported attack comes as Israel has vowed to prevent weapons smuggling from Iran to Hezbollah. In recent days, several IDF attacks have been carried out on the border between Syria and Lebanon, aimed at preventing the transfer of weapons to Hezbollah.

12.20 pm – Pope: cease fire in Lebanon and Palestine – “I continue to follow with pain and great concern the expansion and intensification of the conflict in Lebanon.” Pope Francis said this at the Angelus in the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels. “This war has devastating effects on the population, too many people continue to die day after day in the Middle East. We pray for the victims, for their families. We pray for peace. I call on all parties to immediately cease fire in Lebanon, in Gaza, in the rest of Palestine, in Israel. Let the hostages be released and humanitarian aid be allowed,” he added.

12.00 – Iran, media: general of the Revolutionary Guards also killed in Friday’s attack – A top Iranian Revolutionary Guards general has died in the Israeli air strike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. The Iranian media reported it. Ahmad Reza Pour Khaghan, deputy head of the Iranian judiciary, confirmed the death of General Abbas Nilforushan, describing him as a “guest of the Lebanese people”. Nilforushan served as deputy commander for operations in the Guard, overseeing ground forces.

11.50 am – Lebanon: Israel raids on the Beqaa resume, two dead including an Amal official – After a first wave at dawn, air strikes by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against the Beqaa, in eastern Lebanon, resumed around 9.45am (8.45am in Italy), causing two deaths. This was reported by the Lebanese newspaper L’Orient Le Jour, specifying that the raids targeted the area of ​​Temnine el Tahta, the heights of Nabi Chit and Khraybeh, in the district of Baalbek. According to the same source, one of the people killed was an official of the Shiite Amal movement, an ally of Hezbollah, Youssef Hadi Mortada.

11.40 am – Iran, Foreign Minister: “Everything is possible, even a war” – In the Middle East “everything is possible, even war”, after the killing of the leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Hasan Nasrallah. The head of diplomacy of the Tehran government, Abbas Araghchi, told the Iranian Fars agency from New York. “Everyone should be aware of the fact that the situation is absolutely explosive and that everything is possible, even war,” the minister told the agency, linked to the Guardians of the Revolution, the Iranian Pasdaran. Araghchi did not spare Israel from accusations and stated that this is why Iran has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

11.00 am – IDF: Hezbollah security officer killed – The Israeli army said today that it had killed Nabil Kaouk, commander of Hezbollah’s security unit and member of the Shiite movement’s Central Executive Council.

10.30 am – ABC: “Small Israeli ground operations may have begun in Lebanon” – Israeli forces may have begun small operations across the border with Lebanon to eliminate some Hezbollah positions. Two US officials told ABC, referring to small-scale “border movements”. Officials told the US channel that Israel does not appear to have decided whether to launch a large-scale ground operation, but is likely considering a limited one.