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
Like this when a crisis hits, when our fellow citizens cry out in need, none of that matters. We are not talking about politics now. We have to get together and get this solved. We need a lot of help. We look out for one another and we pulled together and we pitch in and we persevere and we pull it through. That is the american spirit. That is what made america originally great and that is why today i have come to valdosta with large semi trucks, many of them, filled with Relief Aid and a Tanker Truck full of gasoline. We have a couple of the big Tanker Trucks filled with gasoline which they cant get now. We will be working to distributed throughout the day. I want to thank Franklin Graham and everyone. You people are fantastic. And people appreciate you very much. [applause] for the incredible Partnering And Work thAt They have done not only here but all the time. They seem to be the first ones at areas that need help. A short time ago i received a briefing on the situation here and v
Live from atlanta. This is Cnn Newsroom with Michael Holmes. Hello and welcome, everyone. Im Michael Holmes. Appreciate your company. It is now 6 a. M. In beirut where the possibility of a Ground Invasion by israel into lebanon is fueling fears of an even wider conflict across the region. Us officials say israeli troops have mobilized and are Clearing Areas in what could be preparation for Ground Troops to move across the border. Israel saying a Ground Offensive is only one option, being considered. The idf continuing their air offensive. Meanwhile, On Saturday, with blasts hitting close to beiruts airport. Saturdays strikes in lebanon reportedly killing more than 30 people, wounding close to 200. Overall, nearly A Thousand lebanese have been killed since this latest escalation, according to health officials. Hezbollah firing back, saying it launched missiles towards jerusalem, prompting a response from israeli Air Defenses police say pieces of an intercepted missile crashed in the sub
This is brand new video just to us. Israel says it struck the central headquarters of hezbollah in Southern Lebanon. You can see in this video the blast was massive. And israeli official tells Nbc News the target was hezbollahs powerful leader. It comes as israel has been systematically targeting high level commanders of the u. S. Designated terror group, both within and abroad, which prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says israel will continue to do in order to defend itself from groups looking to eliminate the state. Nbcs Matt Bradley is live in beirut for us. Also with us, aaron david miller, former arabisraeli negotiator, and Senior Fellow at the endowment for peace. Give us the latest. Reporter we were here a couple of hours ago when our walls of our hotel shook. You cant see it now but it was just over my right shoulder here in southern beirut. This is a neighborhood that has endured repeated israeli bombardments all week long. And most of that, as you just mentioned in your intro