Israel-Hezbollah conflict: Benjamin Netanyahu warns Lebanon could ‘face destruction like Gaza’, Gaza death toll reaches 42,000

Israel’s Prime Minister has warned Lebanon of his intentions as the humanitarian situation on the ground rapidly deteriorates.

Lebanese state media claims a flurry of Israeli strikes on the country’s capital, Beirut, caused “massive destruction” on Tuesday, local time.

Meanwhile satellite images have emerged showing the devastating effect of the Israeli Defence Forces’ campaign on villages near the border in southern Lebanon.

“Beirut’s southern suburbs are still being subjected to a series of strikes, the latest of which hit the main road at Al-Kafaat, and caused massive destruction,” Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported.

Beirut’s suburbs have been the target of intense Israeli strikes for several consecutive days.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and its foe Israel have been exchanging near-daily cross-border fire for nearly a year in fallout from the Gaza war.

But since September 23, Israel has launched devastating air strikes on targets in Lebanon that have killed more than 1150 people and forced more than a million to flee their homes.

Read on for the latest updates from the conflict in the Middle East.

Smoke rises from an Israeli air strike in, Beirut on Tuesday.

Gaza death toll hits 42,000

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza has claimed that at least 42,010 people have been killed in the war between Israel and Palestinian militants.

The war, which has almost reached its one-year mark, has left countless lives in turmoil with entire regions reduced to rubble under the ongoing assault from the IDF on its mission to eliminate terrorist insurgents.

The Gaza toll includes 45 deaths in the previous 24 hours, according to the ministry, which said 97,720 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began.

At least 42,010 people have been killed in the war between Israel and Palestinian militants.

Lebanon scattered with no ceasefire in sight

Hezbollah has fired projectiles into Israel on Wednesday and now claims it has repelled some of the IDF’s ground incursions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned Lebanon could “face destruction like Gaza”, as efforts to reach a ceasefire continue.

Netanyahu is set to speak with US President Joe Biden on Wednesday about Israel’s response to last week’s missile attack by Iran, Hezbollah’s main backer.

The IDF is charging forward to eradicate key Hezbollah targets, with Netanyahu claiming there has been significant progress amid the most recent escalation. He claims that Hezbollah is now “weaker than it has been for many, many years” following the death of senior commanders.

Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defence system.

Meanwhile, the terror group said it repelled two Israeli attempts to breach border areas, using rocket-propelled weapons and engaging in ground combat with Israeli soldiers.

Israel has also received fire from Lebanon today, with officials revealing its air defences intercepted two projectiles fired from Lebanon, setting off sirens around Caesarea, south of Haifa.

On Tuesday, the military said Hezbollah had fired around 180 projectiles at Israel’s north.

Roughly one quarter of Lebanon’s 5.5 million population has been urged to evacuate their immediate location as conflict continues.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

‘Put an end to it’: Netanyahu’s threat

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken directly to the people of Lebanon, telling them they will suffer “destruction” like that seen in the Gaza Strip unless they rise up and overthrow Hezbollah.

“This is a message to the people of Lebanon,” Mr Netanyahu said in a video message.

“Israel withdrew from Lebanon 25 years ago. The country that has actually conquered Lebanon is not Israel, it’s Iran. Iran, which finances and arms Hezbollah to serve Iran’s interests at Lebanon’s expense.

“Israel has decided to put an end to this. We’ve decided to do whatever is necessary to return our people safely to their homes.

“Israel has a right to defend itself. Israel also has a right to win, and Israel will win. We’ve degraded Hezbollah’s capabilities.

“Today, Hezbollah is weaker than it’s been for many, many years. Now you, the Lebanese people, you stand at a significant crossroads. It is your choice. You can now take back your country. You can return it to a path of peace and prosperity.

“If you don’t, Hezbollah will continue to try to fight Israel from densely populated areas at your expense.

“All of you are suffering because of Hezbollah’s futile war against Israel. Today, I ask every mother and every father in Lebanon a simple question: is it worth it? Because it doesn’t have to be that way.

“Don’t let these terrorists destroy your future any more than they’ve already done. Stand up and take your country back.

“You have an opportunity that hasn’t existed in decades. An opportunity to take care of the future of your children and grandchildren. You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza. It doesn’t have to be that way.

“Each of you can take a step for your future, even a small step.

“You can make a difference. I say to you, the people of Lebanon, free your country from Hezbollah so that this war can end.”

‘Feel the pain’: Hezbollah’s chilling message

Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, has spoken of the terrorist group’s “determination” to keep fighting Israel in a chilling new video.

“War has never, ever hit our will, our determination to still resist and to still fight,” Qassem said in the video message.

“Netanyahu can say that he wants a war, Netanyahu can start a war, but Netanyahu cannot achieve his goals or his aims.

“We hit them. We let them feel the pain, using our drones and our missiles, and we will hit at the time we decide, according to our military plan to achieve our goals.”

Naim Qassem has vowed that Hezbollah will keep fighting. Picture: Al Jazeera

Israeli minister’s trip to US cancelled

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has cancelled a scheduled visit to the United States, where he was expected to meet with his counterpart, General Lloyd Austin.

“We were just informed that Minister Gallant will be postponing his trip to Washington. Secretary Austin looks forward to seeing him soon,” the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly blocked the trip, telling Mr Gallant not to go until he receives a call from US President Joe Biden.

Mr Netanyahu has been trying to organise a call with Mr Biden since last week, when Iran struck against Israel, to speak about Israel’s potential retaliation. That still hasn’t happened. Perhaps it has something to do with Mr Biden’s private views of the Israeli Prime Minister, which you can read about in an earlier post.

‘Bibi, what the f***!?’: Biden’s fury with Netanyahu

The veteran investigative journalist Bob Woodward, of Watergate fame, has written a new book revealing behind-the-scenes details about US President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump.

While the biggest headline, among media previews of the book, is probably the revelation that Mr Trump has continued to have private phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin after leaving office, Mr Woodward’s reporting also sheds light on Mr Biden’s stormy and increasingly frustrated relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In one exchange between the pair highlighted in the book, Mr Biden expresses frustration with Mr Netanyahu for having “no strategy” in Gaza.

“What’s your strategy, man?” the US President said during a phone call in April.

“We have to go into Rafah,” Mr Netanyahu replied.

“Bibi, you’ve got no strategy!” a frustrated Mr Biden replied.

Joe Biden. Picture: Scott Olson/Getty Images via AFP

Benjamin Netanyahu. Picture: Charly Triballeau/AFP

Three months later, in July, Mr Biden yelled at Mr Netanyahu in frustration over a strike in Beirut that killed a top Hezbollah commander, along with three civilians.

“Bibi, what the f***!?” he shouted.

Privately, to his staff, Mr Biden reportedly referred to Mr Netanyahu as a “f***ing liar”.

“That son of a b****, Bibi Netanyahu, he’s a bad guy. He’s a bad f***ing guy!” Mr Biden said privately on one occasion.

Before-and-after satellite images show devastation

Planet Labs, a satellite imaging company, has released a set of photos showing the devastation wrought upon a village in southern Lebanon by Israeli strikes.

Maroun al-Ras is a mere 700 metres or so from Israel’s side of the border with Lebanon. Video posted online today showed an Israeli flag being planted in the “Iran Garden”, on the outskirts of the village.

The IDF says it isn’t actually occupying Maroun al-Ras, though Hezbollah claims to have attacked a grouping of Israeli soldiers, inside the village, with a missile.

The satellite images from Planet Labs show Maroun al-Ras from above.

The first image was taken on September 29. The second, taken on October 8, shows large areas that are black and burnt out after Israeli bombardment.

On the bottom you can see Maroun el-Ras on September 29. Above is the same village on October 8, with large parts of it burnt out. Picture: Planet Labs/AFP

Israel again targets Beirut suburbs

The IDF is once again going after Hezbollah targets in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

It recently warned residents of Haret Hreik and Hadath Beirut to move clear of multiple buildings, highlighted on a map.

“Urgent warning to the residents of the southern suburb of Haret Hreik and Hadath Beirut, specifically in the buildings specified in the maps and those adjacent to them,” it said.

“You are located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, and the IDF will act against them in the near future. For your safety and the safety of your family members, you must evacuate this building and the buildings adjacent to it immediately and stay away from it for a distance of no less than 500 meters.”

#عاجل ‼️ انذار عاجل إلى سكان الضاحية الجنوبية في حارة حريك وحدث بيروت وتحديدًا في المباني المحددة في الخرائط وتلك المجاورة لها:
🔴أنتم متواجدون بالقرب من منشآت ومصالح تابعة لحزب الله وسيعمل ضدها جيش الدفاع على مدى الزمني القريب
🔴من أجل سلامتكم وسلامة أبناء عائلتكم عليكم اخلاء… pic.twitter.com/W00ws3Q8bh

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) October 8, 2024

– with AFP