Israel Iran conflict highlights: IDF chief says Hamas military wing ‘defeated’

Israel Iran conflict live updates: French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed Sunday his country's "unwavering commitment" to Israel's security in a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while insisting on a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, the presidency said.

"On the eve of the first anniversary of the Hamas terrorist offensive against Israel, he expressed the solidarity of the French people with the Israeli people," the French presidency said.

Macron had also voiced "his conviction that the time for a ceasefire has now come".

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told French President Emmanuel Macron that imposing an arms embargo on Israel would strengthen Iran's regional alliances, further empowering its axis of influence.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Thousands gathered in London on Sunday at a memorial for the victims of last year's October 7 Hamas attack against Israel, as the ensuing war in Gaza enters its second year.

Attendees waved Israeli flags and "bring them home" placards with the faces of hostages still held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip at the commemoration in Hyde Park in central London.

The event was organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and other groups in collaboration with the Israeli embassy in London.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Nearly half of Lebanon's 1.25 million school pupils have become displaced, a top education ministry official said Sunday, as Israel's intensifying strikes on Hezbollah strongholds forced more than one million people to flee.

"There are 1.25 million pupils in Lebanese schools," Director General of Education Imad Achkar said, and "40 percent of them of them have been displaced" by Israeli bombardment.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: The United Nations' refugee chief Filippo Grandi said on Sunday that many strikes on Lebanon had violated international humanitarian law, in apparent reference to Israel's bombardment of large parts of the country.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Gaza's civil defence agency said on Sunday that Israeli air strikes in the Jabaliya area in the north of the territory killed at least 17 people, including nine children.

"There are 17 martyrs, including nine children, in Israeli air strikes in Jabaliya," civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP. Israeli forces have encircled Jabaliya in response to indications that Hamas was rebuilding there.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Israeli airstrikes hit three cars carrying medical and relief supplies in Homs, Syria, according to the state news agency.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops along the border with Lebanon on Sunday, his office said, nearly a week after the Israeli military launched ground operations against Hezbollah inside southern Lebanon.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Israeli police reported on Sunday that several people were injured in a suspected shooting attack in the southern city of Beersheba. Authorities confirmed that the attacker had been "neutralised."

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Iran has finalized a response plan for any potential Israeli attack following its missile strikes on Israel last week, local media reported on Sunday.

"The necessary response to any action by the Zionists (Israel) has been fully prepared," the Tasnim news agency quoted an "informed source" from the armed forces as saying.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs overnight and into Sunday, marking the heaviest bombardment of the Lebanese capital since Israel ramped up its offensive against Hezbollah last month.

Explosions lit up the night sky, with blasts heard across Beirut and flashes visible from kilometers away for nearly 30 minutes.

Witnesses and military analysts on local TV described it as the largest assault on Beirut since the escalation began.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: The Israeli military announced Sunday that it has deployed additional troops to protect southern communities and areas along the Gaza border, ahead of the anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack.

The IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) said its Gaza Division has been reinforced with multiple platoons, with forces stationed to secure both the communities and the border region. According to a military statement, the soldiers are fully equipped and operating in coordination with local security forces to ensure the defense of the area.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Iranian oil minister Mohsen Paknejad visited an oil facility on Kharg Island on Sunday, amid rising concerns over possible Israeli airstrikes on key infrastructure.

The visit follows an Israeli official's statement that the country is "preparing a response" after Iran fired a series of missiles at Israel earlier this week.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: German chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated his call for a ceasefire on Sunday, ahead of the first anniversary of the Gaza conflict. He also expressed concern over the rise of anti-Semitism.

"Unfortunately, on this first anniversary of Hamas's terror attack on Israel, peace or reconciliation in the Middle East seems more distant than ever," Scholz said in a video message.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: A massive fireball lit up the sky and thick plumes of smoke rose over southern Beirut on Sunday as Israel launched intense air strikes on Hezbollah targets, marking a significant escalation almost a year after the Gaza conflict began.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati called on the international community to pressure Israel for a ceasefire, as another strike hit the southern suburbs of the capital.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces remained on high alert ahead of Monday's anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack, which triggered the ongoing war.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told a televised briefing on Sunday: "We are prepared with increased forces in anticipation for this day", when there could be “attacks on the home front”, referring to the one year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Sirens sound along Israel's coast as the Israeli military claims that rockets have been launched by Lebanon, though many have been intercepted.

The military said that several "suspicious aerial targets" did not cross into Israeli airspace and were shot down

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding an end to Israeli strikes in Gaza and Lebanon in Rome, Paris, Milan and Cape Town on Saturday and Sunday.

About 40,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London, while thousands gathered in Paris, Rome, Manila, Cape Town and New York City.

Demonstrations were also held near the White House in Washington, protesting against U.S. support for Israel in military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: The Israeli military said on Sunday that its troops had surrounded the Jabaliya area of northern Gaza in response to information that Hamas was rebuilding its operations.

"The troops of the 401st Brigade and the 460th Brigade have successfully encircled the area and are currently continuing to operate in the area," the IDF said in a statement.

The Israeli military claimed it had intelligence indicating the "presence of terrorists and terror infrastructure in the area of Jabaliya... as well as efforts by Hamas to rebuild its operational capabilities in the area".

"Prior to and during the operation, the IAF (air force) struck dozens of military targets in the area to assist IDF (army) ground troops," the military said, claiming that the targets struck were weapons storage facilities and militant infrastructure sites.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Israel has placed its forces on high alert ahead of the anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack. The country is currently in conflict with Iran and Lebanon, as it has been launching strikes into the latter country in an attempt to eradicate Iran-backed Hezbollah's operatives.

It claims to have eliminated 440 Hezbollah fighters and cleared 2,000 Hezbollah terror targets.

Meanwhile thousands have taken to the streets around the world to demand accountability from Israel and march in solidarity with Palestine.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: 30 projectiles had been launched from Lebanon into Israeli territory, the IDF confirmed, with some intercepted, on Sunday.

The Hezbollah said it successfully targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in northern Israel “with a large rocket salvo, hitting them accurately.” though the claim could not be independently confirmed.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Saturday that Israel had killed 440 Hezbollah fighters in its ground operations in southern Lebanon and destroyed 2,000 Hezbollah targets in total.

Further, Saudi news outlet Al-Hadath has claimed that Israel has confirmed the death of Hashem Saffiedine, presumed successor of late Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, by an Israeli strike on Hezbollah intelligence headquarters in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has not confirmed the Israeli death tolls of Hezbollah operatives or the assumed death of Saffiedine.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: The Hezbollah has claimed that their fighters pushed away Israeli troops that attempted to storm into a Lebanese border village early Sunday.

The news comes amidst increased ground incursions by the IDF into Lebanon and additional battalions being added by Israel.

The Hezbollah fighters launched "artillery shells" at "Israeli enemy soldiers who attempted to infiltrate from Blida forcing (them) to retreat," they said in a statement.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: At least 24 people were killed and 93 others wounded when Israeli airstrikes targeted a mosque and a school sheltering displaced people in Gaza, early on Sunday morning.

The Israeli military said it conducted "precise strikes on Hamas terrorists" who were operating within command and control centers embedded in Ibn Rushd School and the Shuhada al-Aqsa Mosque in the area of Deir al Balah.

Israel Iran conflict live updates: An Israeli strike on a refugee camp in north Lebanon killed Hamas official Saeed Atallah Ali and his family on Saturday.

Hamas later confirmed that another military wing member was killed in an Israeli strike in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley.