Israel Gaza War Live Updates: Israeli army chief declares defeat of Hamas’s military wing, Iran cancels airport flights

Israel Gaza War Live Updates: Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets in major cities across Europe and around the globe on Saturday, calling for a ceasefire as the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel approached.

Middle East conflict Live: Israel’s army chief, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, on Sunday, declared victory over Hamas’s military wing and stated that Israeli forces have severely weakened Hezbollah by eliminating its senior leadership. Meanwhile, Iran’s aviation body has announced the cancellation of flights at the country’s airports, citing “operational restrictions”, according to state media. At least 26 people were killed and 93 others wounded in an Israeli airstrikes that targeted a mosque and a school sheltering displaced individuals in the Gaza Strip early Sunday morning, according to the Hamas-run Gaza government media office. In its statement, the Israeli military claimed it carried out “precise strikes on Hamas terrorists” who were operating within command and control centres located in Ibn Rushd School and Shuhada al-Aqsa Mosque in Deir al-Balah.

Powerful explosions rocked Beirut’s southern suburbs late Saturday as Israel intensified its bombardment in Lebanon with the Israeli Defense Forces claiming to have killed over 400 Hezbollah operatives during ongoing ground operations till now. The explosions began near midnight and continued into Sunday, following the military’s urging for residents to evacuate Dahiyeh, a predominantly Shiite collection of suburbs on Beirut’s southern edge. Israel also targeted Hamas fighters for the first time, striking a Palestinian refugee camp deep in the north.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets in major cities across Europe and around the globe on Saturday, calling for a ceasefire as the first anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel approached. Huge rallies were held in several European cities, with gatherings expected to continue over the weekend and peak on Monday, the anniversary date. In London, thousands marched through the capital to Downing Street, accompanied by a heavy police presence. In Hamburg, Germany, about 950 people staged a peaceful demonstration, many waving Palestinian flags.

Live Updates
00:19 (IST) 7 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Israeli army chief declares defeat of Hamas's military wing

Israel's army chief, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, announced that Israeli forces have defeated Hamas's military wing. In a statement made on Sunday, Halevi claimed that Israeli troops had delivered a "severe blow" to Hezbollah, stating that the group has lost all of its senior leadership.

"We are not stopping," he asserted ahead of the anniversary of the Hamas attacks on October 7. Halevi emphasised, "This is a long war, measured not only by capabilities but also by the willpower and perseverance over time."

23:50 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Macron and Netanyahu discuss diverging views on Gaza conflict

France’s President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, which the Élysée Palace characterized as “frank.”

According to a statement from Macron’s office, both leaders acknowledged their differing perspectives while expressing a mutual desire for understanding. Macron emphasized, “France’s commitment to Israel’s security is unwavering.” However, he cautioned that arms deliveries and the continuation of the conflict in Gaza, along with its potential spread to Lebanon, would not enhance security for Israelis or others in the region.

In a readout from Netanyahu’s office, it was noted that the two leaders agreed to continue their dialogue on these critical issues during an upcoming visit.

22:28 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Austin to host Israeli defense chief amid rising tensions in Middle East

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to host Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon on Oct. 9 to discuss the latest security developments in the Middle East, the Pentagon announced on Sunday.

The meeting comes as tensions rise following Israel's vow to retaliate for Iran’s missile attack last Tuesday. The assault involved over 180 ballistic missiles, most of which were intercepted by Israel's air defense systems and the US military.

22:04 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Pope Francis calls for peace, ceasefire on anniversary of Hamas attacks

Pope Francis made a renewed plea for peace "on every front" during his Sunday prayer, where he called for a day of prayer and fasting on Monday to mark the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks.

“Brothers and sisters, tomorrow marks a year since the terrorist attack by Hamas against the people of Israel, to whom I again express my solidarity,” the Pope said. He added:

"Since that day, the Middle East has plunged into deeper suffering, as ongoing military actions continue to devastate the Palestinian people. Innocent civilians must receive the humanitarian aid they urgently need."

The Pope also urged for an “immediate ceasefire on all fronts,” including Lebanon, saying:

“Let us pray for the Lebanese people, particularly those in the south who have been forced to leave their homes.”

21:07 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Iran cancels all flights until Monday

All flights in Iran have been cancelled from 21:00 tonight until 06:00 on Monday, local time, according to an official cited by Iran's Mehr News Agency.

20:20 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Hezbollah launches drones at Israeli military base near Haifa

Hezbollah said it launched attack drones at an Israeli military base near the northern city of Haifa on Sunday, according to a report by The Guardian.

The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group said its fighters “launched an air assault with a squadron of attack drones on the maintenance and rehabilitation base south of Haifa."

In northern Israel, ongoing rocket attacks from Lebanon have triggered sirens and interception systems.

Overnight, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it stopped around 30 rockets that had been fired into northern Israel, according to a BBC report.

Sirens have been heard throughout the day along Israel's western coast, from Haifa to Hadera, according to a map shared by the IDF on X.

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20:05 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Humanitarian law violated in Israeli strikes on Lebanon, UNHCR head says

The United Nations' refugee chief Filippo Grandi said on Sunday that several strikes on Lebanon had violated international humanitarian law, about Israel's bombardment of large parts of the country.

Earlier, in a statement, he called for a ceasefire in Lebanon after visiting families sheltering in schools in Beirut.

"Displaced families hosted in Beirut schools say that what they need most is for airstrikes to stop so they can return to their homes safely," Grandi said in a post on X.

19:54 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
How Israel could strike Iran: Oil sites, military bases, and more

Iran and Israel avoided direct confrontation for years, fighting a shadow war of secret sabotage and assassinations. But the two countries are now moving closer to open conflict, after Israel’s invasion of southern Lebanon and Iran’s ballistic missile barrage on Israel, its second in less than six months.

Israel seems prepared to strike Iran directly, in a more vigorous and public way than it has before. Iran has a number of sensitive targets, including oil production sites, military bases, and nuclear sites.

Read here to get an overview of what an Israeli attack could look like.

18:57 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Gaza War Live Updates: Woman killed, 10 injured in shooting attack in Israel's Be’er Sheva

One woman was killed, and 10 others were injured in the Israeli city of Be'er Sheva after a gunman opened fire at a bus station on Sunday, emergency services said, as quoted by Reuters news agency, as security forces remained on alert ahead of the anniversary of Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.

The attacker had been killed, the ambulance service said. According to local media, a witness said he saw soldiers fire at the perpetrator, who was a member of the Bedouin minority in Israel's Negev desert.

Police described the shooting as a terrorist attack but have not provided details on the gunman's identity.

As October 7 marks the first anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war, Israeli security forces are on high alert across the country for possible pro-Palestinian street attacks.

According to a BBC report, the Israeli military said it is on heightened alert for threats in the region this week and is preparing for possible "defence and offence" operations. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said extra troops have been deployed to communities close to Gaza.

18:22 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israeli airstrike targets three cars in Syria's Homs, state media says

An Israeli airstrike targeted three cars carrying medical and relief materials in the industrial city of Syria's Homs, the Syrian state news agency reported on Sunday, as quoted by Reuters, adding that material damage was reported.

18:17 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Gaza War Live Updates: At least 70,000 items, including explosive devices and guns, seized since October 7 attacks, IDF says

As October 7 marks the first anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) IDF has established an exhibition displaying the items seized from the Hamas militant group.

"Since the beginning of the war, the IDF has confiscated approximately 70,000 items of enemy equipment, including around 1,250 anti-tank missiles and RPGs, as well as about 4,500 explosive devices," the IDF said in a post on X.

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18:01 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Several injured in suspected shooting attack in Israel's Be'er Sheva, attacker killed

Israeli police said on Sunday several people had been injured in a suspected shooting attack in the city of Be'er Sheva in the country's south, while the ambulance service said the attacker had been killed, news agency Reuters reported.

The ambulance service added that a severely injured woman was being treated at the scene while eight other people injured in the attack were receiving medical treatment in a nearby hospital.

17:42 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: At least 20,000 Palestinians forcibly displaced by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, UN agency says

At least 20,000 Palestinian refugees have been forcibly displaced by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon, the United Nation's agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Sunday.

The UNRWA said it activated emergency shelters for over 4,300 displaced people, including Palestine Refugees, Lebanese, and Syrians.

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17:18 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Gaza War Live Updates: Israeli Air Force strikes Hamas command center in northern Gaza

The Israeli Air Force conducted a targeted strike on a command and control complex used by the Hamas militant group in the northern Gaza Strip, previously known as the "Khalifa Ben Zayed" school.

"A short time ago, the Air Force, along with the intelligence guidance of the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet, and the Southern Command, attacked terrorists (Hamas militant group) who were operating in a command and control complex in the area that was previously used as the "Khalifa Ben Zayed" school in the northern Gaza Strip," the IAF said in a post on X.

16:34 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Another Hezbollah commander killed, IAF says

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) on Sunday said that they killed Hezbollah commander, Khader Ali Tawil, of the Kfar Kila region in Lebanon.

The IAF, in a post on X, said that Khader had worked with two others, Muhammad Haidar and Hassan Nathir al-Ra'ini, who were killed earlier in the week. They were responsible for an anti-tank missile that hit the town of Kfar Yuval on Israel's northern border in January, the IAF added.

16:12 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: New evacuation alerts issued for southern Lebanon villages, Israeli military says

The Israeli military issued new evacuation alerts on Sunday for residents of around 25 areas in southern Lebanon, calling on them to "move immediately to the north of the Awali River," which is located just north of the southern Lebanese city of Sidon.

15:42 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
One year into Israel-Hamas war: A look at key events

As October 7 marks the first anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war, protests are being held in major cities around the world with thousands taking to the streets urging for an end to bloodshed in Gaza and the wider Middle East. Ongoing demonstrations have about 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marching through central London while thousands flocking together in Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town, and New York City.

Since October 7, 2023, when Palestinain Hamas militants attacked Israel, as many as 1,200 Israelis have been killed and 250 have been held hostages, as per Israeli tallies while nearly 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in the attacks by Israel, as per Gaza’s health ministry.

About 2.3 million people have been displaced in the war-torn regions causing a hunger crisis and leading to genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, which Israel has denied. Read More

15:27 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Gaza War Live Updates: Gaza death toll rises to 41,870, ministry says

At least 41,870 Palestinians have been killed and 97,166 others injured in Israel's military attacks on Gaza since October 7, Gaza's health ministry said on Sunday.

As October 7 marks the first anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war, protests are being held in major cities around the world with thousands taking to the streets urging for an end to bloodshed in Gaza and the wider Middle East.

12:52 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israel Hezbollah War Live: Iran's oil minister visits country's largest oil terminal

Amid concerns that Israel could target Iran’s largest oil terminal, the country’s oil minister Mohsen Paknejad has landed on Kharg island, the oil ministry’s news website Shana reported on Sunday.

An Israeli military spokesman said on Saturday that Israel would retaliate, following last week's missile attack by Tehran, "when the time is right."

Following Iran's attack, Axios cited Israeli officials as saying that Iran's oil facilities could be hit in response. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Friday that he did not think Israel had yet concluded how to respond.

"Paknejad arrived this morning in order to visit the oil facilities and meet operational staff located on Kharg island," Shana reported, adding that the oil terminal there has the capacity to store 23 million barrels of crude.

10:48 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza mosque and school kill 24, wound 93; ‘carried out precise strikes on Hamas terrorists’, says IDF

t least 24 people were killed and 93 others wounded when Israeli airstrikes targeted a mosque and a school sheltering displaced people in the Gaza Strip early on Sunday morning, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said.

The strikes on the mosque and the school, near the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, came as the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the enclave approaches its first anniversary.

In its own statement, the Israeli military said it conducted "precise strikes on Hamas terrorists" who were operating within command and control centres embedded in Ibn Rushd School and the Shuhada al-Aqsa Mosque in the area of Deir al Balah.

10:47 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Israeli airstrikes on Gaza mosque and school kill 24, wound 93

At least 24 people were killed and 93 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes that targeted a mosque and a school sheltering displaced individuals in the Gaza Strip early Sunday morning, according to the Hamas-run Gaza government media office.

10:29 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Two Hamas officials killed in Israeli strikes in Lebanon

An Israeli strike on a refugee camp in north Lebanon has killed Hamas official Saeed Atallah Ali and his family, the militant group said Saturday.

Hamas later said another military wing member was killed in an Israeli strike in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley.The strikes come a day after another Israeli airstrike cut off a main highway linking Lebanon with Syria, leaving two huge craters on either side of the road.

Israel began a ground incursion Tuesday into Lebanon against Hezbollah.

09:12 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Thousands around the world protest demanding an end to the violence in Gaza

- Thousands of protesters took to the streets in major cities worldwide on Saturday, demanding an end to the violence in Gaza and West Asia as the first anniversary of Israel's war in the Palestinian enclave approaches.

- In London, about 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through the city centre. Thousands also gathered in Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town, and New York City. Demonstrations occurred near the White House in Washington, where protesters expressed opposition to US support for Israel's military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.

- In Times Square, New York City, protesters wore black-and-white keffiyeh scarves and chanted slogans like, "Gaza, Lebanon you will rise, the people are by your side." They held banners calling for an arms embargo against Israel.

- The recent violence in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict began when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages, according to Israeli reports.

In response, Israel launched a military assault on Gaza, which has resulted in nearly 42,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's health ministry. The conflict has displaced almost all of the enclave's 2.3 million residents, caused a hunger crisis, and led to allegations of genocide at the World Court, which Israel denies.

08:54 (IST) 6 Oct 2024
Night of bombings shake Beirut as Israel says it has killed over 400 Hezbollah members

- Powerful explosions rocked Beirut’s southern suburbs late Saturday as Israel intensified its bombardment in Lebanon with the Israeli Defense Forces claiming to have killed over 400 Hezbollah operatives during ongoing ground operations till now.

- The explosions began near midnight and continued into Sunday, following the military’s urging for residents to evacuate Dahiyeh, a predominantly Shiite collection of suburbs on Beirut’s southern edge.

- Following a day of sporadic strikes and constant reconnaissance drone activity, Israel's military confirmed that it was targeting locations near Beirut.

- They reported that around 30 projectiles had crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory, some of which were intercepted.

- The strikes focused on a building near the road leading to Lebanon's only international airport and another building previously used by the Hezbollah-run broadcaster Al-Manar.

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