Prime minister, najib mikati, as well as the un Security Coordinator for lebanon, as well as the un Security Coordinatorfor lebanon, have coordinator for lebanon, have launched coordinatorfor lebanon, have launched a 426 Million appeal to help civilians affected by the escalating conflict. Another development, now we are hearing that Air Raid sirens have been sounding across Central Israel as well. We can go through some of the main developments in this report from chi chi izundu. Explosion. A dangerous and pivotal moment in the Middle East. Escalation amid fresh missile strikes overnight. A Ground Offensive launched by israel into lebanon. In southern beirut, less than 30 minutes after israel told residents to leave three neighbourhoods, a huge blast was heard. Explosion. Then the confirmation came. Israel began its Ground Operation in Southern Lebanon. Military chiefs said limited, localised and targeted raids against hezbollah are being carried out something the idf says is based on
The Israeli Military has been describing it as a targeted, localised limited incursion so far. We had some details from a senior israeli Security Official, saying that these are local raids, very limited in scope, in the area, so no crashes happening so no clashes happening at the moment between israeli forces and hezbollah fighters in the south according to this senior israeli official. Obviously hezbollah has remained defiant. Yesterday, we heard from the Groups Number two who said that hezbollah fighters were ready to confront any israeli invasion. This is a part of the country that is a hezbollah stronghold. Obviously after two weeks of widespread israeli Air Strikes, high profile assassinations, hezbollah has been weakened, its leadership has been almost completely decimated, but the group remains a very powerful force. It is believed to have thousands of rockets, including missiles that can strike deep inside israel, also thousands of experienced fighters. So there is here the qu
They can safely seek shelter in they can safely seek shelter in the city. Official saying that nearly 800 people have now been killed in israeli attacks since monday. That monday is that number is expected to rise. The death of the Hezbollah Leader Hassan Nasrallah was first announced by the Israeli Military and was then confirmed on hezbollah s Tv Channel in Lebanon Al Manar heres the presenter announcing the news. Translation we congratulate his eminence the Secretary General of hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah. May god have mercy on him for receiving the highest divine honour. The honour of imam hussein, peace be upon him. In achieving the highest level of faith and pure worship. A martyr on the Path Ofjerusalem and palestine. In the coming hour well be assessing what impact the killing could have on the situation here and across the Middle East. But first, our security correspondent, frank gardner, reports on this latest escalation of the conflict between israel and hezbollah. Heavy art
Hassan nasrallah had been Secretary General of hezbollah for 32 years, overseeing its growth into the worlds most heavily armed non state army. He was born in lebanon in 1960, growing up in beirut s eastern bourj hammoud district. He took over the leadership in 1992 when his predecessor was assassinated by israel. To thousands, maybe millions of Shia Muslims in lebanon and beyond, he was a hero. To israel, he was a wanted terrorist. Armed with up to the minute intelligence, the israeli Air Force targeted the underground bunker where hezbollah s leadership was meeting. This is both a major escalation and a challenge to iran. Translation this is not | the limit of our capabilities. We must be very clear, there are more tools at our disposal and the message is simple anyone who threatens the state of israel will be reached, whether in the north, the south or even a more distant places. Or even in more distant places. Hezbollah s power has been seriously weakened by the recent assassinatio