Israel-Lebanon conflict live: US urges Israel not to attack Beirut airport

The US has urgently warned Israel not to bomb Lebanon’s airport, as Hezbollah fired several rockets at the IDF’s intelligence unit. Follow live updates.

The US has warned Israel not to attack Beirut airport, or the roads leading to it, as the Israeli army carried out deadly strikes in Lebanon’s capital overnight.

US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller said: “We think it’s very important that not only the airport be open, but that the roads to the airport be open, so that American citizens who want to leave can get out, but also citizens of other countries.”

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has taken responsibility for firing five rockets on central Israel, claiming to have targeted the IDF’s Glilot base near Tel Aviv.

The base, which is home to the IDF’s signals intelligence Unit 8200 and is near to the Mossad headquarters, had no major damage.

It comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to press on fighting until achieving the “sacred mission” of the war against Hamas.

This picture taken from the southern city of Tyre shows smoke billowing from the site of an Israeli air strike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of Rmadiyeh. Picture: AFP

“As long as the enemy threatens our existence and the peace of our country, we will continue to fight. As long as our hostages are still in Gaza, we will continue to fight,” Mr Netanyahu said in a pre-recorded television address, vowing not to give up on the “sacred mission”.

However, the former head of Israel’s National Security Council Giora Eiland says Israel will not be able to achieve “complete victory” in Gaza or Lebanon.

In an interview with the Israeli Channel 12, Eiland reiterated Hamas and Hezbollah “will not surrender and there will always be those who continue to fire”.

He said by continuing the war on two fronts, it won’t serve Israel’s interest and it would be “wise” to open the door to political settlements.

11-year-old Mohammed from Ayn al-Dilib lies in bed at Geitaoui Hospital after receiving serious injuries in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon. Picture: Getty Images

Meanwhile, hundreds of Australians fleeing Lebanon arrived at Sydney Airport on Monday night after being evacuated on government-assisted flights via Cyprus, with more expected to come.

An additional 400,000 Lebanese people have also been forced to flee from their homes across the border into Syria.

The Israeli army declared four areas “closed military zones” in the country’s northwest, following an earlier call to evacuate the nearby Lebanese coastline.

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Originally published as Israel-Lebanon conflict live: US urges Israel not to attack Beirut airport