BEIRUT (AP) — A uncommon Israeli airstrike connected cardinal Beirut killed Hezbollah’s main spokesperson connected Sunday, an charismatic pinch nan militant group said. Earlier, officials said Israeli strikes killed astatine slightest 12 group successful nan Gaza Strip, wherever Israel has been at warfare pinch nan Palestinian Hamas for complete a year.
The latest successful targeted killings of elder Hezbollah officials came arsenic Lebanese officials considered a United States-led cease-fire proposal. Israel besides bombed respective buildings successful Beirut’s confederate suburbs, wherever Hezbollah has agelong been headquartered, aft informing group to evacuate.
Mohammed Afif, nan caput of media relations for Hezbollah, was killed successful a onslaught connected nan Arab socialist Baath party’s agency successful cardinal Beirut, according to a Hezbollah charismatic who was not authorized to little reporters and said connected information of anonymity.
Afif had been particularly visible aft all-out warfare erupted betwixt Israel and Hezbollah successful September and nan sidesplitting of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah successful an Israeli airstrike. Last month, Afif hastily wrapped up a property convention successful Beirut up of Israeli strikes.
Screams successful cardinal Beirut
There was nary Israeli removal informing earlier nan onslaught adjacent a engaged intersection successful cardinal Beirut. An Associated Press photographer astatine nan segment saw 4 bodies and 4 wounded people, but location was nary charismatic connection connected nan toll. People could beryllium seen fleeing. There was nary remark from nan Israeli military.
“I was dormant and awoke from nan sound of nan strike, and group screaming, and cars and gunfire,” said Suheil Halabi, a witness. “I was startled, honestly. This is nan first clip I acquisition it truthful close.”
The past Israeli onslaught successful cardinal Beirut was connected Oct. 10, erstwhile 22 group were killed successful 2 locations.
Hezbollah began firing rockets, missiles and drones into Israel nan time aft Hamas’ October 7, 2023 onslaught ignited nan warfare successful Gaza. Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes successful Lebanon and nan conflict steadily escalated, erupting into warfare successful September. Israeli forces invaded Lebanon connected Oct. 1.
Hezbollah has fired dozens of projectiles into Israel regular and expanded their scope to cardinal Israel. The attacks person killed astatine slightest 76 people, including 31 soldiers, and caused immoderate 60,000 group to flee. A rocket barrage connected nan bluish metropolis of Haifa connected Saturday damaged a synagogue and wounded 2 civilians.
More than 3,400 group person been killed successful Lebanon, according to nan Health Ministry, and complete 1.2 cardinal driven from their homes. It is not known really galore of nan dormant are Hezbollah fighters.
Lebanon’s army, mostly connected nan sidelines, said an Israeli onslaught connected Sunday deed a subject halfway successful southeastern Al-Mari, sidesplitting 2 soldiers and wounding 2 others. There was nary contiguous Israeli comment.
Overnight strikes successful cardinal Gaza termination 12
Israeli strikes killed six group successful Nuseirat and 4 successful Bureij, 2 built-up exile camps successful cardinal Gaza making love backmost to the 1948 warfare surrounding Israel’s creation.
Two group were killed successful a onslaught connected Gaza’s main north-south highway, according to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital successful nan cardinal metropolis of Deir al-Balah, which received each 12 bodies.
The warfare betwixt Israel and Hamas began aft Palestinian militants stormed into Israel connected Oct. 7. past year, sidesplitting astir 1,200 group — mostly civilians — and abducting astir 250 others. Around 100 hostages stay successful Gaza, astir a 3rd believed to beryllium dead.
The Health Ministry successful Gaza says astir 43,800 Palestinians person been killed successful nan war. The ministry does not separate betwixt civilians and combatants but has said women and children dress up much than half nan fatalities.
Around 90% of Gaza’s organization of 2.3 cardinal Palestinians have been displaced, and large areas of nan territory person been flattened by Israeli bombardment and crushed operations.
Pope Francis has called for an investigation to find if Israel’s attacks successful Gaza represent genocide, according to excerpts released Sunday from an upcoming book.
3 arrested aft flares fired astatine Netanyahu’s home
Israeli constabulary arrested 3 suspects aft 2 flares were fired overnight astatine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s backstage residence successful nan coastal metropolis of Caesarea.
Netanyahu and his family were not there, authorities said. A drone launched by Hezbollah struck nan residence past month, besides erstwhile Netanyahu and his family were away.
The constabulary did not supply specifications astir nan suspects, but officials pointed to home governmental critics of Netanyahu. Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, warned against “an escalation of nan unit successful nan nationalist sphere.”
Netanyahu has faced months of wide protests. Critics blasted him for nan information and intelligence failures that allowed nan Oct. 7 onslaught to hap and for not reaching a woody pinch Hamas to merchandise hostages.
Israeli curate looks to revive judiciary overhaul
Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin seized connected nan flare onslaught to telephone for a revival of his plans to overhaul nan judiciary, which had sparked months of wide protests earlier nan war.
“The clip has travel to supply afloat support for nan restoration of nan justness strategy and nan rule enforcement systems, and to put an extremity to anarchy, rampage, refusal and attempts to harm nan premier minister,” he said successful a statement.
Supporters said nan judiciary changes purpose to fortify populist by circumscribing nan authority of unelected judges and turning complete much powers to elected officials. Opponents spot nan overhaul arsenic a power drawback by Netanyahu, who is connected proceedings connected corruption charges and for an battle connected a cardinal watchdog.
Many Israelis judge nan soul divisions caused by nan attempted overhaul had weakened nan state up of nan Hamas assault.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said connected X that he powerfully condemns nan firing of flares while blasting Levin’s proposal.
“We will not fto him move Israel into an undemocratic state,” Lapid wrote.
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Melzer reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press reporters Wafaa Shurafa successful Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Kareem Chehayeb successful Beirut contributed.
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