Israel intercepts Missile that Targeted Mossad Headquarters

Hezbollah announced on Wednesday that it launched a ballistic missile aimed at the headquarters of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency near Tel Aviv. In response, Israel intercepts missile airstrikes against Hezbollah positions in southern and eastern Lebanon.

The Israeli military reported that it successfully intercepted the missile from Hezbollah, which triggered air raid sirens in Tel Aviv. Fortunately, there were no reports of damage or injuries.

Lebanon’s state news agency indicated that heavy Israeli bombardments struck various areas throughout southern Lebanon on Wednesday.

According to the Israeli military, their targets included numerous ammunition depots. They also noted that around 40 rocket launches from Hezbollah were detected, with some intercepted by Israeli air defence systems.

The escalating conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border is expected to be a key topic at a U.N. Security Council meeting scheduled for later Wednesday in New York.

Pope Francis expressed his sadness over the situation in Lebanon on Wednesday, stating that the international community will strive to halt what he described as “this terrible escalation.”

Diplomatic efforts aimed at containing the fighting and preventing a broader regional conflict included a meeting on Tuesday between French President Emmanuel Macron and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. During this meeting, Macron’s office emphasised Iran’s responsibility to promote a general de-escalation and leverage its influence over destabilising actors.

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Iran supports both Hezbollah and the Hamas militant group, which is currently engaged in conflict with Israel in the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remarked that Israel’s actions against top Hezbollah commanders will not incapacitate the group.

“The organizational strength and human resources of Hezbollah are very robust and will not be significantly undermined by the loss of a senior commander, even though it is undoubtedly a setback,” Khamenei stated.

Israel intercepts a missile and announced that one of its airstrikes in the suburbs of Beirut on Tuesday resulted in the death of Ibrahim Muhammad Kobeisi, whom they identified as a senior military commander of Hezbollah responsible for overseeing the group’s missile systems.

The ongoing conflict has led several governments to advise their citizens to leave Lebanon. The United States revealed plans to deploy additional military personnel to the region to support its current forces, while Britain indicated that around 700 of its troops are expected to arrive in Cyprus on Wednesday to prepare for possible evacuations of British nationals from Lebanon.

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According to Lebanese health officials, Israeli attacks since Monday have resulted in at least 564 fatalities and over 1,800 injuries.

The United Nations refugee agency expressed its outrage and deep sadness over Israeli strikes that claimed the lives of two of its staff members.

In search of safety from the Israeli bombardments, thousands of Lebanese have fled southern Lebanon, either on their own or at Israel’s urging, causing significant traffic congestion on the roads leading north to Beirut.

“We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated during a speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. “The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, and the people of the world cannot afford for Lebanon to become another Gaza.”

Since the war in Gaza erupted on October 7, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire, with the militant group launching rockets in solidarity with Palestinians and its ally Hamas, which is backed by Iran. The violence has resulted in numerous casualties in Israel, and hundreds in Lebanon, and has displaced tens of thousands on both sides of the border.