Iran attacks Israel live updates: At least 2 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Israel issued a new evacuation order for areas in southern Beirut, Lebanon, early Thursday.

Earlier, an Israeli airstrike hit within the city limits of Beirut, near downtown, according to a security source who spoke to Reuters. Witnesses in central Beirut reported hearing a loud explosion.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: The Lebanese health ministry said that at least two people were killed and 11 others injured in an Israeli strike on the Bachoura neighbourhood in central Beirut early Thursday, according to Reuters.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: The American government announced on Wednesday that a U.S. resident from Dearborn, Michigan, has been killed in Lebanon, with friends and neighbours indicating that he died in an Israeli airstrike, Reuters reported.

"We are deeply saddened by the death of Kamel Ahmad Jawad and our hearts go out to his family and friends. His death is a tragedy, as are the deaths of many civilians in Lebanon," a White House spokesperson stated.

Earlier in the day, a State Department spokesperson, when asked about reports of an American's death in Lebanon, said: "It's our understanding that it was a legal permanent resident, not an American citizen (who got killed in Lebanon) but we obviously offer our sincerest condolences to the family."

Iran attacks Israel live updates: A Lebanese security source informed Reuters that an Israeli strike occurred within the city limits of Beirut, close to downtown. Witnesses reported hearing a massive explosion in the centre of the Lebanese capital.

This strike followed an announcement by the IDF regarding a "targeted" attack in Beirut, while a source close to Hezbollah told AFP that Israel had launched three airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut shortly before midnight.

AFP journalists situated just outside Beirut reported hearing the explosions, which were audible from several kilometres away.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: The Lebanese health ministry reported late Wednesday that 46 individuals were killed and 85 others injured due to "enemy Israeli strikes" across the country in the last 24 hours, AFP reported. Additionally, Lebanon's disaster management agency indicated that a total of 1,928 people have died since hostilities resumed between Israel and Hezbollah following the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, 2023.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus raised concerns on Tuesday about Lebanon's struggling healthcare system due to escalating Israeli airstrikes and ground raids.

He warned that the death toll in Lebanon is rising, with hospitals overwhelmed by the growing number of injured patients. "The health system, already weakened by multiple crises, is now battling to meet the enormous demands," he said on X, noting that WHO is ramping up its response. Israel's focus shifted last month from the Gaza conflict to securing its northern border with Lebanon, where over 1,000 people have died in the recent fighting, including Israeli strikes on Beirut and its southern areas.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Hassan Jaafar al-Qasir, the son-in-law of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Damascus on Wednesday, according to an NGO quoted by AFP. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that al-Qasir was one of two Lebanese casualties in the raid, which targeted an apartment in the Mazze district of Damascus. A source close to Hezbollah also confirmed this information to AFP. Al-Qasir's death comes shortly after the recent Israeli strike in Beirut that killed other Hezbollah members

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Israel on Wednesday launched three strikes in south Beirut, AFP reported citing a source close to Hezbollah.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: The United States arranged a flight on Wednesday that evacuated around 100 American citizens and their family members from Lebanon, as Israel continues to target Hezbollah positions, according to the State Department.

"It's been a priority for us to enhance the capacity of flights in and out of the region. So we've contracted with additional carriers to facilitate the transport of American citizens," spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

"There was a flight that left a couple of hours ago from Beirut" headed to Istanbul, carrying "a little over 100 American citizens and their family members," Miller added.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on Wednesday, highlighting that approximately 1.2 million people in Lebanon had been displaced by Israeli strikes.

"Stop fighting. We don't need more blood. We don't need more destruction," Mikati said during an online briefing hosted by the American Task Force on Lebanon, a U.S.-based non-profit. "There is an immediate need for a ceasefire."

Mikati emphasized that a diplomatic solution to the escalating conflict would be a "win-win" for Israel and Lebanon, adding that "all parties" would honour such an agreement.

He also hopes to deploy 10,000 Lebanese army troops to the south if a ceasefire is reached.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Israel's foreign minister announced on Wednesday that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres would be barred from entering the country, citing his failure to "unequivocally" denounce Iran's missile strikes on Israel, Reuters reported

Iran launched over 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday during a surge in hostilities involving Hezbollah, Iran's ally in Lebanon. While many missiles were intercepted, some managed to breach Israel's defence systems.

In response, Guterres issued a brief statement condemning the "widening of the Middle East conflict" and the ongoing escalations. Earlier that day, Israeli troops had entered southern Lebanon.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian cautioned that Tehran would retaliate strongly against any additional Israeli actions and called on Asian nations to back Iran during his visit to Qatar on Wednesday.

Pezeshkian's trip came just a day after Iran launched multiple ballistic missile strikes on Israel, while Israel intensified its conflict with Tehran's ally, Hezbollah, by deploying troops into Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against Iran in response to Tuesday's missile attack.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Lebanese militant group Hezbollah said it was fighting off Israeli troops trying to infiltrate Lebanese territory Wednesday, destroying three Israeli tanks as they advanced towards a border village. The Iran-backed group said it "destroyed three Merkava tanks with rockets as they advanced towards the village of Maroun al-Ras". It was the latest in a series of attacks during the day.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: US president Joe Biden said that he does not support an attack on Iran's nuclear sites.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Iran's president Pezeshkian said they don't seek war but will respond to any Israeli attacks.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: As tensions escalate in the Middle East following Iran's attack on Israel with nearly 200 ballistic missiles, Congress leader Salman Khurshid expressed on Wednesday that this situation is a major concern for humanity.

Khurshid said, "It’s a major concern for humanity. Peace is paramount, and everyone wants peace. We can discuss responsibilities later, but let’s prioritize peace first. Women, children, and everyone are losing their lives."

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Israeli Air Force chief said: "We have the ability to reach and attack any point in the Middle East. And any of our enemies who have not understood this until now, will understand it soon"

Iran attacks Israel live updates: The Israeli military reported that its combat losses in southern Lebanon rose to eight on Wednesday during clashes with Hezbollah fighters after crossing the border to target the group’s positions.

“The IDF announced that seven more soldiers have fallen,” it said in a statement, following the earlier announcement of the first soldier's death in Lebanon.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Several missiles fired by Iran hit inside Israeli air force bases but did not cause any casualties or damage, the military said Wednesday, without specifying which bases.

"During the Iranian attack yesterday (Tuesday), several missiles fell within Israeli air force bases. No offensive infrastructure or capabilities located on IAF (Israel Air Force) bases were damaged," the military said, adding that no casualties or damage to aircraft were reported.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: A 38-year-old Gazan, the only known fatality in Iran's missile attack against Israel, was buried on Wednesday.

Sameh Khadr Hassan Al-Asali had been staying in a Palestinian security forces compound in the occupied West Bank when he was killed by falling missile debris during Tuesday's attack, which Israel said was largely thwarted by its air defence systems.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Police in Denmark and Sweden are stepping up security after two explosions occurred near Israel’s embassy in Copenhagen, followed by a shooting near its diplomatic mission in Sweden.

Copenhagen police are investigating possible links between the blasts and the embassy, among other leads, deputy police Inspector Jakob Hansen said at a news conference on Wednesday. Three individuals have been detained in connection with the blasts, including two arrested on a train at Copenhagen's central station.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Israeli military announces its first combat death after incursions into Lebanon, reports AP

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Germany's foreign ministry urged its citizens on Wednesday to leave Iran, saying the situation there was volatile and could change at any time.

The warning came after Iran fired waves of ballistic missiles at Israel, and Israel stepped up its war with Tehran's proxy Hezbollah by sending troops over the border into Lebanon.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Danish police announced on Wednesday that they have arrested three individuals as part of the investigation into two explosions near Israel's embassy in Copenhagen.

Iran attacks Israel live updates: Israel's foreign minister announced on Wednesday that he is barring UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres from entering the country for failing to "unequivocally" condemn Iran's missile attack on Israel.