We will no longer be providing live coverage on this blog. However, we encourage you to get a deeper insight into the latest developments through our articles and reports, which will continue to explore the topic in detail.
Iran's Cybersecurity Strategic Management Center has announced a state of cyber-readiness, issuing a red alert for financial, monetary, and communication sectors, and an orange alert for other sectors, according to Iranian media reports.
"Organizations are advised to maintain round-the-clock availability of technical teams and rapid response units due to the potential for cyber attacks," it said.
"Any suspicious cyber incidents should be reported immediately to the center. Services that do not require international access should be provided under internal access (Iran Access). Additionally, organizations must coordinate with the center before any disruptions to electronic services due to maintenance or updates. This alert aims to prevent and counter potential cyber threats."
Morteza Kazemian, an Iranian commentator, told Iran International that Nasrallah’s death marks a new era for the Islamic Republic, where it must either “abandon its ambitions or adopt a pragmatic stance regarding Israel."
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militants, says it has launched multiple drone attacks against Eilat in southern Israel.
US President Joe Biden held a call on Saturday with VP Kamala Harris and his national security team on the developments in the Middle East, the White House said.
“President Biden convened a call with Vice President Harris and their national security team to receive an update on the situation in the Middle East, review the status of US military force posture in the region, and direct continued diplomatic efforts to coordinate with allies and partners and deescalate the ongoing conflicts. The President and Vice President will continue to receive regular updates,” the White House added.
The Lebanese Health Ministry announced that 783 people have been killed and 2,312 others injured as a result of Israeli attacks since Monday. That includes 33 fatalities on Saturday.
The number of victims since Monday accounts for nearly half of the 1,640 people killed in Lebanon since October 8, according to Health Ministry figures.
Lebanon's Hezbollah joined the Hamas' war against Israel on October 8, one day after the Palestinian group's coordinated attacks in southern Israel.
The Israeli military targeted Nasrallah because “he was building such a huge arsenal of weapons” including 200,000 rockets, missiles and drones for the sole purpose of going “to war with Israel," IDF spokesman Peter Lerner told CNN.
He added that the primary goal of the Israeli military with regard to Hezbollah is to restore safety and security in northern Israel so that the 60,000 Israelis who have evacuated the area can return home.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Saturday criticized Israel for what he called a “catastrophic” military escalation against Lebanon.
“We hold Israel fully responsible for the catastrophic consequences of its aggression on Lebanon, which it is launching brutally without any legal or humanitarian deterrent, while it continues its aggression on Gaza and its dangerous escalation in the West Bank,” Safadi said on X.
He also condemned Israel’s actions as a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and stressed that the bombing of its capital and the loss of civilian lives threatened the country’s stability.
The US is ready to implement the contingency plans it has put in place to "confront any Iranian threat against its bases in the region," Sky News Arabia reported citing an American military official.
The Israeli military has targeted a car in al-Qusayr area near the Syrian-Lebanese border, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported late Saturday, without giving more details.
Hezbollah announced late Saturday it launched long-range missiles from Lebanon toward the Jerusalem area. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed sirens had sounded in Jerusalem following the launch.
“A short while ago, sirens were sounded in the area of Jerusalem following a launch from Lebanon toward Israeli territory,” the IDF said.
Abbas Nilforoushan, the deputy commander of IRGC for operations, was killed in the Israeli attack on a meeting between Hassan Nasrallah, top Hezbollah members, and IRGC commanders.
In a statement about Nasrallah's death, Khamenei said that the meeting was focused on designing a military plan to counter the recent wave of Israeli attacks in Lebanon.
US Vice-President Kamala Harris on Saturday called Hassan Nasrallah "a terrorist with American blood on his hands," saying, "I have an unwavering commitment to the security of Israel. I will always support Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis."
Israel is preparing for a limited ground incursion into Lebanon, ABC News reported citing a senior US official.
Israel has rejected a cease-fire proposal from the European Union -- even a short one, according to the official, and have not maintained communication with the Biden admin," the report said.
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said in a statement on Nasrallah’s death, “Every time Israel has killed a leader of the resistance, from their blood a more powerful leader has emerged onto the battlefield, and the movement has experienced a new chapter and a great leap forward—a divine tradition that will undoubtedly continue."
Hezbollah's command and control is in complete disarray after the killing of their leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike on Friday, ABC News reported citing a senior US official.
"The US and Israel believe they have eliminated around 30 Hezbollah leaders over the last several weeks weakening the group," the official said. "There is deep skepticism and worry among the remaining Hezbollah leaders that there are spies in their ranks."
In his first public statement following the Israeli killing of Hassan Nasrallah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Nasrallah was the "main engine" of Iran's axis of evil, whose elimination was a necessary step toward shifting the balance of power in the Middle East.
Netanyahu also warned that Israel's work is not yet complete and that challenging days lie ahead.
“I say to the Ayatollah’s regime (of Iran): whoever beat us, we will beat them,” he said. “There is no place in Iran or the Middle East that the long arm of Israel will not reach, and today you already know how true this is."
Netanyahu said that Israel had arrived at a “historic turning point.”
“We are determined to continue to strike at our enemies, return our residents to their homes, and return all our abductees. We do not forget them for a moment,” he said.
The Israeli prime minister made the remarks shortly after arriving back in Israel following a trip to New York, which he cut short after ordering the IDF operation targeting Nasrallah.
A senior Israeli official earlier told The Telegraph that Netanyahu's address to the UN “was part of a diversion” intended to make Hezbollah’s leader believe that Israel would not take dramatic actions while Netanyahu was physically in the United States.
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy says he spoke today with Lebanon's prime minister following the Israeli assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
"We agreed on the need for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to the bloodshed. A diplomatic solution is the only way to restore security and stability for the Lebanese and Israeli people," he said.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was holding talks late on Saturday on possibly expanding Israel's military offensive on its northern front, his office said in a statement.
"Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant is currently conducting an operational situation assessment regarding the expansion of IDF activities in the northern arena," his office said
A group of people in Iraq attacked the US Embassy in the Green Zone of Baghdad in protest at Hassan Nasrallah's death and clashed with security forces.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for a cessation of fighting in the Middle East during his Saturday address to the UN General Assembly.
"Fighting has started in Lebanon again, but might cannot replace justice. There must not be any delay in reaching a comprehensive ceasefire, and the fundamental way out lies in the two-state solution," he said.
US President Joe Biden described Nasrallah death from an Israeli airstrike as "a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians."
He said Nasrallah and his organization Hezbollah "were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said in a message on Hassan Nasrallah's death the Resistance Front will deal more crushing blows on the "dilapidated and decaying body" of Israel.
Khamenei described Nasrallah as a "wise political leader" who, at the time of his death, was "busy planning to defend the defenseless people of Beirut's southern suburbs and their destroyed homes and beloved ones who have perished."
Iran's Supreme Leader said, "The foundation that Nasrallah established in Lebanon and provided direction to other centers of power will not disappear with his loss but will be strengthened by blood of the Hezbollah chief and other martyrs of the Beirut attack."
He also said that "the evil Zionist regime failed to achieve victory in this incident."
The Israeli Air Force "eliminated" Hassan Khalil Yassin, a senior official within Hezbollah's intelligence array, in a strike in the Dahieh area of Beirut, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday.
"Yassin stood at the head of a department responsible for the identification of civilian and military targets, on the northern border and deep within Israeli territory," the statement added.
"As part of his role, Yassin collaborated intensely with all of Hezbollah's offensive units, was personally involved in the planning of terror attacks that were executed during the war against Israeli civilians and soldiers, and planned additional attacks to be carried out in the coming days," the IDF said.
Elon Musk has praised as "hall-of-famer" a community note added to a tweet posted by the X account of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The account had called Hezbollah the "victor", but a community note provided context that "the entire Hezbollah leadership including Nasrallah has been eliminated" in an Israeli air strike.
This is not the first Khamenei tweet being corrected today. Another post on Khamenei's X account said a few hours ago that "the Zionist criminals need to know that they're far too weak to be able to inflict any significant damage on the solid structure of Hezbollah."
A community note was later added to his post which reminds him: "In fact, the "Zionists" referred to here (Israel) just destroyed the Hezbollah HQ and wiped out its entire leadership."
"The ruthless supporters of the Zionists, led by the American regime, are complicit in all the bloodshed... through their comprehensive support, unlimited arming, and backing of these international criminals," Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in his message on Nasrallah's death.
Nabil Qaouk, a deputy leader of Hezbollah's executive council, was the target of the latest Israeli air strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, Al-Arabiya reported, citing sources.
The Israeli military announced earlier today it had conducted a precise strike in the Dahieh area of Beirut, saying it will provide more details later.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a message on Saturday declared five days of national mourning for Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary General of Lebanon's Hezbollah, and his "comrades" who were killed in an Israeli air strike in Beirut on Friday.
Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Mohammad Bagheri said in a statement on Nasrallah death, "The fate of the region and Palestine will soon be shaped by the iron will of the resistance fighters and the support and companionship of the faithful warriors of the Islamic Ummah, led by Hezbollah and the brave fighters of the great Resistance Front."
In his statement, Bagheri did not mention any Iranian plan to retaliate against Israel or avenge the killings of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah or Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh.
The Israeli military has released an image of Hezbollah's military command network in Lebanon, showing the commanders who have been killed. In this image, only the commander of the Bader Unit, named 'Abu Ali Rida,' is still alive.
The IDF's Persian-language X account shared this image and wrote: "The Israeli army is destroying Hezbollah's military leadership in an unprecedented blow to this terrorist organization."
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant , "expressed full support for Israel's right to defend itself against Iran-backed terrorist groups." He also stated that the US remains positioned to protect its forces and facilities in the region and is committed to Israel's defense.
Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar, told Reuters that there is a complex mix of emotions in the region’s Arab capitals following the recent developments. "There's a mixture of apprehension and also a hidden sense of joy," he explained, noting that none of the conservative Arab states have been particularly supportive of Hezbollah. He observed that while some regional leaders are uneasy about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expansion of the war, there is also "some relief that Hassan Nasrallah has been removed."
Kamrava added that Iran is unlikely to act immediately even in the face of this significant loss. "Tehran has a doctrine called strategic patience, whereby they play the long game," he said, suggesting that this doctrine will persist and that Iran is reluctant to engage Israel in any direct confrontation.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, in a message, said Israel "eliminated" the leader of Hezbollah, adding that Nasrallah "was the murderer of thousands of Israelis and foreign citizens. He was an immediate threat to the lives of thousands of Israelis and other citizens."
Public mourning has been declared in Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. However, Iranian officials have not yet issued a formal statement regarding national mourning or the observance of public holidays.
Hassan Nasrallah’s killing and Hezbollah’s weakening raise serious concerns for Iran-backed groups, Lina Khatib, associate fellow at the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, wrote in The Times.
"If Israel is able to bring Iran’s most powerful asset in the Middle East to its knees, then smaller, newer groups in Iran’s network are potentially easier to undermine," she argued.
Khatib also compared Nasrallah’s death with that of IRGC-QF commander Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in 2020. She noted that, unlike Soleimani's assassination, which was an isolated incident, Nasrallah’s killing is part of a broader Israeli strategy to dismantle Hezbollah, potentially signaling the start of Iran's diminishing influence in the region.
In a statement mourning the death of Hassan Nasrallah, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the attack that killed him, placing blame on the US.
"The international community will not forget that the order for this terrorist attack was issued from New York, and the Americans cannot absolve themselves of complicity with the Zionists," the statement published on Iran's official government website read.
The official account of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, on X posted: "The Zionist criminals need to know that they are far too weak to be able to inflict any significant damage on the solid structure of Lebanon’s Hezbollah."
This follows Khamenei's earlier statement, where he called on Muslims "to stand by the people of Lebanon," notably without mentioning Hassan Nasrallah.
Mohammad-Javad Larijani, a former top advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, described the attack that killed Hassan Nasrallah as the result of a "serious informational and security breach" within the Tehran-supported regional militia, referred to as Resistance. He said that the "Zionist regime managed to exploit vulnerabilities, causing significant damage," whether through "pagers or other gaps," and stressed that "even the recent bombing was the result of infiltration."
Hashem Safieddine, a key figure in Hezbollah's political and social efforts, is seen as a potential successor to Hassan Nasrallah as Secretary General of Hezbollah, according to three senior Israeli defense officials cited by The New York Times. Safieddine, a cousin of Nasrallah, was notably one of the senior leaders not present at the site of the strike that killed several Hezbollah commanders.
In a statement on Saturday, Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, confirmed that Israeli attacks in Beirut had killed "a group of Hezbollah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders." He emphasized that "overcoming this sensitive stage requires unity under Khamenei’s leadership."
The spokesperson for Iran Air has announced the suspension of the airline's flights to Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut until further notice, domestic media reported.
Iran’s VP of Strategic Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif, expressed deep sorrow over the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, referring to him as the "Master of Resistance" and a "symbol of the fight against oppression." In his statement, Zarif condemned Israel’s actions, saying that "Netanyahu's and Israel's chaotic plans for the region and the world will fail."
Israeli leaders had been tracking Hassan Nasrallah's whereabouts for months and chose to target him this past week, believing they had a brief window before the Hezbollah leader relocated, according to three senior Israeli defense officials, as reported by The New York Times.
Mehrdad Farahmand, a Middle East analyst and political commentator based in Istanbul, told Iran International that "Hassan Nasrallah has become a casualty of the misguided policies of the Islamic Republic and Hamas."
He further noted, "Hezbollah has lost its leader at a time when its very reputation is also in decline."
Farahmand emphasized, "Had Hezbollah been the sole decision-maker, it would have avoided involvement in the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, it is the pressure from the Islamic Republic that has led Hezbollah to its current predicament."
Influential Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has declared three days of mourning following the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. In a post on X, al-Sadr expressed his grief, saying, "You lived with pride and went as a proud martyr, you and those with you."
Hamas issued a statement saying that the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah will only strengthen the "Resistance," referring to Tehran-backed militias in the region.
Iran-backed Hezbollah of Lebanon has confirmed the death of secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah.
In a statement released on Saturday, Hezbollah vowed to continue its battle against Israel despite the loss of its leader.
France's Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday that, based on its information, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was confirmed dead, after Israel said it had killed him on Friday.
"According to the information we have, Hassan Nasrallah, secretary general of Hezbollah, would indeed have died," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Iran's currency, the rial, has dropped 3.3% in value since last week, when Israel launched strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising concerns about a broader conflict involving the Islamic Republic.
Read more...
European aviation authorities have advised airlines to avoid Lebanese and Israeli airspace for the next month amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
The European Commission and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warned of “an overall intensification of airstrikes and degradation in the security situation,” recommending airlines "not to operate within the airspaces of Lebanon and Israel at all flight levels." This advisory is in effect until October 31.
In his address following the IDF's report on the death of Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei condemned the Israeli attacks in Lebanon, calling them further proof of "the foolish policies" of the leaders of the "usurping regime." He remarked that "the Zionist regime had failed to learn from its year-long criminal war in Gaza" and was now repeating the same mistakes in Lebanon.
Khamenei warned that the "Zionist regime" was "too insignificant to inflict any significant damage on the strong foundation of Hezbollah in Lebanon." He stressed that the entire "Resistance Front"—a term used to refer to Iranian-backed groups across the region—remains united in support of Hezbollah, declaring that "the fate of this region will be determined by the Resistance forces, with Hezbollah at their forefront."
Lebanon's Ministry of Transport instructed an Iranian aircraft to avoid entering its airspace after Israel warned Beirut's air traffic control that "force" would be employed if the plane attempted to land, according to a source at the ministry who spoke with Reuters.
Earlier, Intelli Times reported that Israel infiltrated Beirut's control tower, warning it would block the landing of Iranian Qeshm Air flight QFZ9964. The plane has since canceled its landing and is returning to Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is set to "issue a formal response to the unfolding situation in Lebanon," according to state media.
IDF Spokesperson confirmed the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah: "I want to say this very clearly—Nasrallah was one of the world's strongest and most influential terrorists, and one of the terrorists with the most capabilities in the world. He was a real threat, with the blood of thousands of people on his hands."
Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani continued to say he was with other senior commanders during the strike, which targeted the senior chain of command while they were operating against Israel. Shoshani also confirmed the death of Ali Karki, the commander of Hezbollah’s southern front, along with other senior leaders, during the attacks.
Commenting on the operation that killed Nasrallah, he said, " The target was an underground complex beneath a residential building, and we had real-time intelligence along with an operational opportunity that allowed us to execute the strike. As I mentioned before, every operation is based on extensive intelligence and careful understanding beforehand.
"We are focusing on eliminating the threats of terror attacks, including guided missiles that could be launched at strategic points."
Addressing the possibility of increased conflict, the IDF spokesman said: "We are ready for a wider escalation."
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been relocated to a secure site within the country under enhanced security protocols, according to two regional officials briefed by Tehran who spoke with Reuters.
The officials further indicated that Iran remains in ongoing communication with Hezbollah in Lebanon and other regional proxy groups, as they strategize the next course of action following Israel's announcement of the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in a strike on southern Beirut on Friday.
Intelli Times reported that Israel infiltrated Beirut's control tower communications, warning it would block the landing of Iranian Qeshm Air flight QFZ9964. The transport plane has since canceled its landing in Beirut and is heading back to Iran.
The Israeli military has announced that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Friday's airstrike in Beirut.
Zainab Nasrallah, the daughter of Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah, was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday. The report, first aired by Israel’s Channel 12, has yet to be officially confirmed by either Hezbollah or Lebanese authorities.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi has called for an urgent summit of leaders from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states to be convened as soon as possible. This request comes in response to the "importance and necessity of addressing the Zionist regime’s aggression against Lebanon, as well as the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza", according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry website.
In the wake of Israel’s recent military actions in Lebanon, several Iranian lawmakers took to social media, strongly condemning the attack and calling for punitive measures against Israel.
Mahmoud Nabavian, a member of the Iranian Parliament, posted on X (formerly Twitter), stressing the urgency of action:
"If Iran does not respond to the Zionist regime in defense of the people of Gaza and Lebanon, one day this bloodthirsty regime will come after the Iranian nation. Now, an unforgettable lesson must be given to the criminal Zionist terrorist gang, because tomorrow will be too late."
Ahmad Naderi, another MP, echoed Nabavian's sentiments but added that this was not yet the final confrontation, though a response was imperative. He wrote:
"Although we have not yet reached the Final Battle, the wicked Zionist regime must pay for its recent crimes in Lebanon. The Axis of Resistance must know that if it does not strike, it will be struck."
MP Ali Nikzad praised the ideals of the "Axis of Resistance," a term often used by Iran to refer to its regional alliances, with Hezbollah being one of its most prominent groups:
"Resistance is an irreversible ideal for the freedom-seekers of the world. Every massacre breathes new life into this path. Know that ideals are bulletproof, and your destruction is inevitable."
As Israeli attacks on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon continued into Saturday, the Iranian government limited itself to a few standard announcements, harshly criticizing Israel and to an extent the United States. As of 9:00 am local time in Tehran there has been no statement by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Government-controlled newspapers and websites reported on events in Lebanon with a relatively subdued tone.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in not reachable and his fate cannot be determined, Reuters says citing a source that it says is close to Hezbollah.
Israel says one senior Hezbollah commander has been killed.
Iranian sources with ties to the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) have suggested that a senior IRGC Quds Force commander has also been killed, but it's yet to be announced officially.
Hezbollah is yet to issue a statement about its leader.
The Israeli military announced it had killed Muhammad Ali Ismail, the commander of Hezbollah's missile unit, along with his deputy, Hossein Ahmed Ismail, in southern Lebanon.
Over thirty air strikes hit the southern suburbs of Beirut in the early hours of Saturday Lebanese time, Al Jazeera reported citing its correspondent.
The attacks left several buildings in flames in the area, the correspondent added.
Displaced people gather at Beirut's central Martyrs' Square as Israel strikes Beirut's southern suburbs
Israeli air strikes resumed on Beirut's southern suburb in the early hours of Saturday Lebanese time, Hezbollah's al-Manar media outlet said citing a correspondent.
Hours earlier huge blasts there leveled buildings and targeted the Iran-backed group's leader Hassan Nasrallah, according the Israeli officials.
The New York Times on Friday evening cited five Israeli officials saying intelligence agencies' initial assessment was that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had been killed.
The indications were preliminary and might change, the officials said.
Israel's increasingly larger attacks on Iran and its proxies have been met with smaller or no responses from Tehran, said Ghassan Ashour, a Middle East analyst, adding that this has, in turn, motivated Israel to escalate its assaults.
“In case the Islamic Republic decides to retaliate against Israel, it would inevitably draw in the United States and other countries into the war, which is undesirable for Iran. Even if Hassan Nasrallah were killed, Tehran would refrain from retaliation,” Ashour told Iran International.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel of using multiple US-made "bunker buster" bombs in its strike on Beirut.
"Just this morning, the Israeli regime used several 5,000-pound bunker busters that had been gifted to them by the United States to hit residential areas in Beirut," he told a UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East.
"Netanyahu and his team should now be in prison for their crimes, not giving speeches at the United Nations... The Islamic Republic, with all means, stands alongside Lebanon and the Axis of Resistance," Araqchi said.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to the UN “was part of a diversion” intended to make Hezbollah’s leader believe that Israel would not take dramatic actions while Netanyahu was physically in the United States, a senior Israeli official told The Telegraph.
"Israel has no intention of attacking Iran. But if the Islamic Republic attacks Israel, Israel has the capability to reach any location," Israel's UN envoy Danny Danon told Iran International during a press conference in New York.
US President Joe Biden has directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust as necessary US force posture in the region. Biden also directed his team to ensure that US embassies in the region take all protective measures, the White House said.
The Israeli military says it is conducting 'targeted strikes' on weapons belonging to Hezbollah in southern Beirut.
The Israeli military's spokesman Daniel Hagari earlier said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will strike Hezbollah's assets in southern Beirut in "coming hours."
The Lebanese Health Ministry says the death toll from Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburb has risen to six. 91 people have also been wounded.
Al-Manar TV, affiliated with Hezbollah, earlier said the bodies of eight individuals killed in the Israeli attack on southern Beirut have been recovered, and several others are still missing.
IRGC-affiliated Tasnim says Quds Force (QF) commander Ismail Qa'ani is well and safe, following media reports that QF personnel were among the casualties of Israeli strikes on Beirut.
Some social media users close to the IRGC have speculated that QF commander in Lebanon, Abbas Nilforoushan, may have been killed in the attack Friday.
The Middle East is at the precipice of a full-blown war, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
The Israeli military has issued evacuation warnings to residents of Dahieh in Beirut, hours after it was bombed in an attempt to kill Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The Arabic spokesperson of Israel's army posted maps of the area on X, urging residents to leave certain buildings and move at least 500 meters away for their safety.
US President Joe Biden said he’s waiting for more information before commenting on Israel’s Friday airstrikes in Beirut, reiterating that the US was not involved in the Israel Defense Forces operation.
“We’re still gathering information, I can tell you — the United States had no knowledge of or participation in the IDF action. We’re gathering more information. I’ll have more to say when we have more information,” Biden told reporters traveling with him in Delaware, according to CNN.
Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a statement calling Israel the "biggest threat to regional peace and security," following the Israeli air strike on what it said was Hezbollah headquarters in Beirut.
Pezeshkian called on Islamic countries to condemn Israel's attack, calling it "state terrorism" and a "blatant war crime".
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the Middle East and the world are at a precarious moment, after Israel's air strikes targeted southern Beirut.
"On the events of the last hours, we are still gathering information, making sure that we fully understand what happened, what the intent was. And until we have that information, I can't address in detail our response to it. So, we'll continue to work on that in the hours ahead," he noted.
He emphasized that the way Israel defends itself matters, and the choices all parties make in the coming days will determine the future path of the region.
Addressing a press conference in New York, Blinken stressed that the United States has made it clear that diplomacy, not conflict, is the way forward.
He also warned that anyone using this moment to target American personnel or interests will face decisive action, as the US will take every measure necessary to defend its people.
Hezbollah said late on Friday that it had fired a salvo of rockets on the city of Safed in Israel, its first announced attack since Israeli strikes hit the southern suburbs of Beirut hours earlier.
Israel's military confirms that 65 rockets were launched from Lebanon at northern Israel. "Some of the rockets were intercepted," the statement says.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called an emergency meeting of the Supreme National Security Council, according New York Times citing two Iranian officials with knowledge of the matter.
All reports on the fate of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah are "unworthy of attention," IRGC-affiliated Fars News says.
"Given the current situation in Lebanon and the means of access to Nasrallah, there is no way for Western media to verify the accuracy of these reports," according to the report.
Iran has accused the United States of complicity in Israel's attack on Beirut.
"This barbaric attack has been carried out by bombs gifted by the American regime to the brigand Zionist regime," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a statement Friday night local time.
This was Iran's first official reaction to the attack.
Kanaani called the air strike a "glaring war crime" and reaffirmed Iran's "absolute support" for the Lebanese government and Resistance.
The Lebanese army has set up a security cordon around the US embassy in northern Beirut, Reuters said citing a security source.
Earlier, the UK Foreign Office urged Britons to leave Lebanon with the "next available flight".
"There are indications that Nasrallah was in the compound that was attacked. Those who were there have a very small chance of getting out alive," Axios said citing a senior Israeli official.
"Hezbollah should know that we will stand by their side as comrades in battle until the last moment," Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in reaction to the Israeli air raid on Hezbollah's headquarters.
Israel's air strike on Beirut "changes the rules of the game," Iran's embassy in Beirut posted on X.
"Once again, the Israeli regime is committing a bloody massacre, targeting densely populated residential neighborhoods", the embassy said.
"There is no doubt that this reprehensible crime and reckless behavior represent a serious escalation that changes the rules of the game and brings upon its perpetrator appropriate punishment and discipline."
No senior leader from Hezbollah was killed Israel's air strike on Beirut, IRGC-affiliated Tasnim said citing informed sources in Lebanon.
"The operation was a failure," Tasnim quoted its sources as saying.
Reuters has also said that senior Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine is alive, citing a Hezbollah source.
Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said that Washington received no advance warning from Israel on its attack on Beirut.
The US defence secretary Lloyd Austin was on the phone with Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant when the air strike happened, Singh said.
The Lebanese Health Ministry says at least two people have been killed and 76 others injured in the Israeli air strikes on Hezbollah's headquarters.
A correspondent for the Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar said the casualties were being brought to hospitals in Beirut's southern suburb.
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and some of his aides were in Beirut making a quick visit when the Israeli strike took place, ABC news says citing a US official.
Israeli channel 13 goes one step further, asserting that Nasrallah was at the targeted building but "his fate is unknown."
Now Reuters is reporting that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is alive, citing a source close to the group.
Israeli media had reported earlier that the target of the attack on Beirut was Nasrallah.
Hassan Nasrallah is "in a safe place", according to IRGC affiliated Tasnim News, citing Hezbollah security sources.
"The reports on Israeli media are not true," the report said.
Najib Mikati, the caretaker prime minister of Lebanon said the Israeli airstrike on Beirut shows it “does not care” about international calls for a ceasefire.
Makati is in New York for the United Nations general assembly.
A spokesperson for UN said the attack on Beirut is being watched with "great alarm".
Israeli military has issued a statement acknowledging that they hit residential blocks in their attempt to destroy Hezbollah headquarters.
"Hezbollah's central headquarters was intentionally built under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh, in Beirut, as part of Hezbollah's strategy of using Lebanese people as human shields," the statement reads.
The attack happened shortly after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly.
Israeli air strikes on Beirut turned four buildings into rubble, according to Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV, which added that more than 15 missiles struck the area at the same moment.
Al Arabiya and Fox News say the target of Israel's airstrike on Hezbollah's central headquarters was Hassan Nasrallah. However, Al Arabiya's report says the operation "failed".
The Israeli military says it conducted a precise strike on the Central Headquarters of the Hezbollah, embedded under residential buildings in the heart of the Dahieh in Beirut. Israeli media say the target was Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
