Hezbollah fires 'hundreds' of rockets amid Israeli strikes – KORN News Radio

(LONDON) — As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, talks of a ceasefire are taking place across the Middle East, with officials hoping to end the conflict.

The United States and its allies continue to push for a ceasefire agreement, with talks scheduled for this week.

US Not Involved in Israel's Preemptive Strike on Lebanon, Official Says

Last updated: August 25, 1:00 p.m. ET

A U.S. official reiterated Sunday that the United States was not involved in Israel's preemptive strike Saturday night against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, but had provided Israel with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information that would have been used in the mission.

The United States provided some “ISR support in terms of tracking incoming attacks from Lebanese Hezbollah, but did not conduct any kinetic operations because they were not needed,” the official said.

“We continue to closely monitor the situation and remain well positioned and ready to support Israel's defense against attacks by Iran and any of its proxies, including Lebanese Hezbollah,” the official said.

At least three people were killed overnight Sunday into Monday in Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health announced on Sunday. The victims included two people killed in the village of At Tiri and one in the town of Khiam, the ministry said, adding that two others were injured and had to be hospitalized.

– Luis Martinez of ABC News

Israeli army issues new evacuation order in central Gaza

The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday announced a new evacuation order for a small strip of land in a humanitarian zone in central Gaza.

The new evacuation order for an area of ​​Deir al-Balah came just days after the Israeli military ordered the evacuation of two refugee camps in the same area as the Israeli military prepared for a new ground offensive in the humanitarian zone.

The Israeli military suspects that Hamas terrorists are hiding in the area and using Palestinian refugees as human shields.

Sunday's evacuation order affected residents of a relatively small area of ​​Deir al-Balah that includes five schools housing displaced people and tent camps around them.
The area is located near Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, one of the largest still functioning hospitals in Gaza, which serves all of central Gaza.

-Bictoria Beaule of ABC News

Hezbollah Considers Strike on Israeli Intelligence, Sources Tell ABC News

Israel believes the Hezbollah targets in central Israel were meant to be a complex of intelligence bases and the headquarters of Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, just north of Tel Aviv, two Israeli security sources told ABC News.

-Dana Savir and Bruno Nota of ABC News

3 dead, 2 injured in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, according to authorities

At least three people were killed overnight in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health announced on Sunday.

Two people were killed in the village of At Tiri and one in the town of Khiam, the ministry said, adding that two others were injured and had to be hospitalized.

The United Nations peacekeeping agency in southern Lebanon called on Sunday for a ceasefire and for all parties to “refrain from any further escalation.”

“In light of the worrying developments along the Blue Line since early this morning, UNSCOL and UNIFIL call on everyone to cease fire and refrain from any further escalation,” the agency said in a statement, referring to a demarcation line separating Israel from Lebanon.

No injuries were reported on the Israeli side, according to Israeli emergency services.

– ABC News' Ghazi Balkiz, Jordana Miller and Victoria Beaule

Israel continues strikes in southern Lebanon, says IDF

The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday that the army was targeting Hezbollah with additional strikes in southern Lebanon.

“Over the past hour, the IDF struck Hezbollah missile launchers in several areas in southern Lebanon to eliminate threats,” the Israeli military said in a statement. “In addition, the IDF identified a terrorist cell operating in the Khiam area of ​​southern Lebanon. The IDF swiftly struck the terrorists.”

-Anna Burd and Victoria Beaule of ABC News

“Whoever harms us, we will harm him,” Netanyahu said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday described his country's preemptive strikes in Lebanon as a “strong action to thwart threats” raised by a possible Hezbollah attack.

“It has eliminated thousands of rockets that were targeting northern Israel,” Netanyahu said at a security cabinet meeting at 7 a.m. local time. “It is thwarting many other threats and taking very strong measures, both defensive and offensive.”

Netanyahu had been handling the situation with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, the Prime Minister's Office said. The Prime Minister's Office released photos of the meeting between the two men and military officials.

“We are determined to do everything to defend our country, to ensure that the people of the north can return home safely and to continue to respect a simple rule: whoever harms us, we will harm him,” Netanyahu said.

-Kevin Shalvey of ABC News

Thousands of Hezbollah Rocket Launchers Destroyed, IDF Says

The Israeli Defense Forces said Sunday it had destroyed “thousands” of Hezbollah rocket launchers.

“About 100 Israeli Air Force warplanes, directed by IDF intelligence, struck and destroyed thousands of Hezbollah rocket launchers located and planted in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement.

The statement added: “Most of these launchers were aimed at northern Israel and some at central Israel. More than 40 launch areas in Lebanon were hit in the strikes.”

-Will Gretsky and Kevin Shalvey of ABC News

Israel warns Lebanese citizens of danger in striking Hezbollah

The Israeli Air Force launched “dozens” of planes to attack locations across southern Lebanon, saying it continued “to eliminate threats and vigorously attack the terrorist organization Hezbollah.”

“Israeli air defense systems, naval ships and air force aircraft are on a defense mission in the country's skies, identifying, intercepting threats and attacking anywhere in Lebanon where necessary in order to eliminate threats and harm Hezbollah,” Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

The airstrikes in Lebanon come as Israeli defenses face “different types of threats,” including dozens of rockets and drones launched into Israeli airspace, he said.

“We have already intercepted a number of rockets and drones that approached the territory of the State of Israel,” Hagari said. He added: “We warn the Lebanese citizens of southern Lebanon. We recognize that Hezbollah is firing in a wide area near your homes. You are in danger. We are attacking and eliminating Hezbollah’s threats.”

-Will Gretsky and Kevin Shalvey of ABC News

Hezbollah claims hundreds of rockets fired at Israel

Hezbollah claimed Sunday morning to have launched more than 320 rockets at 11 military sites in Israel and the Golan Heights.

The targeted “enemy sites” were detailed in a statement. They include the military bases of Meron, Ein Zeytim and Al-Sahl.

The Naveh Ziv, Ramot Naftali and Zaoura barracks were also among the targeted sites, Hezbollah said.

The group described the launches as a “first step,” saying they “targeted Israeli barracks and sites to facilitate the passage of offensive drones to their desired target deep inside Israel.”

-Will Gretsky and Kevin Shalvey of ABC News

Copyright © 2024, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.