U.S. Sec of Defense releases readout with Israeli Defense Minister

The Readout of the exchange on Sunday where Secretary Austin expresses support for Israel was posted on X on Monday.

Images from Monday's strikes against Lebanon

- Michael D. Carroll

Biden's last major U.N. meeting likely overshadowed by Israel strikes

The United Nations Assembly is due to be headed up by President Biden on Monday, as questions of his handling of the Gaza conflict have already grown the bombardment of Lebanese territory by Israel is threatening to overshadow the major political event.

World leaders are due to gather in New York to mark what was intended to be one of the President's last opportunities to present his accomplishments in foreign policy and lay the groundwork for his successor.

However, with 274 Lebanese people killed in less that 24 hours by Israeli strikes against Hezbollah and Prime Minister Netanyahu not expected to speak today, the world is likely to expect strong leadership over the conflict raging at the present time.

- Michael D. Carroll

US sending more troops to the Middle East

AP is reporting the U.S. is sending additional troops to the Middle East on Monday.

According to reports, Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder would provide no details on how many additional forces or what they would be tasked to do. The U.S. currently has about 40,000 troops in the region.

"Due to the unpredictable nature of ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and recent explosions throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available," the State Department cautioned Saturday.

- Michael D. Carroll

Explainer: Last time Israel invaded Lebanon in 2006

The 2006 Israel–Hezbollah War, also known as the July War, began on July 12, 2006, when Hezbollah militants launched a cross-border raid from Lebanon into Israel, capturing two Israeli soldiers and killing eight others. This triggered a large-scale Israeli military response, including airstrikes, ground invasions, and naval blockades targeting Hezbollah strongholds, infrastructure, and civilian areas in Lebanon.

Key events include:

• July 13: Israel bombed Beirut's international airport and main highways, effectively blockading Lebanon.
• July 19-20: Israeli forces launched a limited ground invasion to destroy Hezbollah positions near the border.
• August 3: Israel expanded its ground offensive deeper into southern Lebanon.
• August 11: The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1701, calling for a ceasefire and the deployment of Lebanese and UN forces to southern Lebanon.
• August 14: A UN-brokered ceasefire took effect, halting major hostilities.

The conflict lasted 34 days, resulting in significant casualties and destruction. Approximately 1,191 Lebanese, mostly civilians, were killed, and around 4,400 were wounded. Hezbollah and other combatants suffered an estimated 500 casualties. In Israel, 121 soldiers and 44 civilians were killed, with over 1,500 wounded. The war displaced about a million Lebanese and 300,000 Israelis.

The war's aftermath saw widespread damage in Lebanon, estimated at $3.6 billion, and intensified regional tensions. Despite the ceasefire, sporadic clashes and political instability persisted, highlighting the unresolved nature of the underlying conflict.

- Michael D. Carroll

NASA data shows likely conflict fires

India Today has released a map compiled from NASA satellite data showing fires likely caused by the Israeli-Arab conflicts in 2023 compared with the past few days.

- Michael D. Carroll

Reports Lebanese PM has called Israeli strikes a 'war of annihilation'

State Russian news agency, TASS has quoted a speech by Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati describing Israeli strikes against his nation as a "war of annihilation."

"The ongoing Israeli aggression against Lebanon is a war of annihilation in every sense of the word, it is the implementation of a plan aimed at destroying Lebanese villages and settlements," he was reported to have said via the press service of the Lebanese Cabinet on Facebook.

"We call on the UN, the organization's Security Council, and influential countries to stand on the side of truth and deter [Israel's] aggression," Mikati is further reported to have said.

- Michael D. Carroll

Death toll in Lebanon reaches 274 with 1,000+ injured

British television network, Sky is reporting that the number of people killed by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon today has shot up again, to 274.

CNN has also reported the Lebanese health ministry as releasing this latest grim figure, alongside over one thousand people injured so far on Monday in Israeli attacks that have not been ongoing for 24 hours.

The number killed has been steadily increasing since this morning, when Israel's attacks started just shortly after it had sent warning messages telling people to evacuate areas across the south and in Beirut.

Although aerial bombardment has so far been the only reported method of attack used by Israel, a land invasion by Israel has not been completely ruled out.

- Michael D. Carroll

Reports Hezbollah has moved troops out of Syria overnight

London-based Levant News has reported on a Syria TV interview stating that 700 mainly elite Hezbollah troops have been moved from Syria to Lebanon.

Hezbollah forces have been stationed in Syria for 14 years, propping up the regime of President Bashir Assad since 2012 during the country's civil war, where government troops fought against ISIS and opposition militia.

Hezbollah fighters located in Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor provinces have been withdrawn according to security sources, with command being handed over to local Syrian Army officers.

The report states that by Sunday evening troops mainly from the Radwan Unit, which is said to be a frontline force, had moved across the border in using local smuggling routes.

- Michael D. Carroll

Australia urges citizens to leave Lebanon

Australia on Monday urged its nationals to leave Lebanon since the escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, according to Australian news outlet, News.Az.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said "Australia is gravely concerned about escalation in the Middle East. Further hostilities put civilians at risk," the minister posted on X.

"The security situation in Lebanon could rapidly deteriorate. Australians in Lebanon should leave immediately while commercial flights are available," she added.

Up to 182 people have so far been killed by Israeli strikes against targets in Lebanon on Monday, the worst death doll in the country since its southern neighbor invaded in 2006.

- Michael D. Carroll

Israeli Air Force Reports 35 Rocket Launches From Lebanon

The IDF Aerial Defense Array, part of Israel's Air Force, said it identified a total of 35 "projectiles crossing from Lebanon into Israeli territory."

Five rockets were fired towards the Carmel region, near Haifa, and five were fired in the areas of the Upper Galilee, at around 4.14 p.m. local time, before 25 rockets were launched into Lower Galilee areas at 4.24 p.m., the IDF posted on Telegram.

Some rockets were intercepted while others fell in open areas. No injuries were reported.

- Jordan King

Netanyahu Again Delays U.S. Trip

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again postponed his trip to New York to address the UN General Assembly, a Turkish state news agency reports.

Netanyahu was originally scheduled to leave for the U.S. on Monday before the flight was pushed to Tuesday, and now Wednesday, according the Anadolu Agency's translation of an Israel's Army Radio broadcast.

He is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Friday.

Benjamin Netanyahu Issues Warning: 'We Do Not Wait'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delivered an update from the underground command room in Tel Aviv...

"Whoever tries to hurt us, we hurt him even more," Netanyahu said, speaking from the Kirya military headquarters.

"For those who have not yet understood, I want to clarify Israel's policy," he said. "We do not wait for a threat, we anticipate it. Everywhere, in every theater, at any time."

He added: "I promised that we would change the security balance, the balance of power in the north. This is exactly what we are doing. We are destroying thousands of missiles and rockets aimed at Israeli cities and Israeli citizens."

'Israel Could Not Be Clearer'

More from that press conference taking place in Israel....

"Israel could not be clearer to Lebanese civilians: If you live next to properties or homes in which Hezbollah is hiding its rocket launchers, and weaponry, you should evacuate immediately," David Mencer, spokesperson at the Israeli prime minister's office.

Mencer told reporters that Israel was trying to protect Lebanese civilians with warnings sent to mobile phones, broadcast messages through Lebanese radios and a website for residents of southern Lebanon.

About 60,000 calls were made across Lebanon, according to the country's telecommunications operator, warning residents to flee Hezbollah posts

In the last half-an-hour, Beirut's Ministry of Health updated its death toll from Monday's airstrikes to 182, with 727 wounded.

'No Country Would Put Up With This Assault': Israel

Israeli prime minister spokesperson David Mencer has been speaking to reporters at a press conference.

"No country in the world would put up with this assault," he said, defending airstrikes in response to Hezbollah rocket attacks launched from Lebanon.

Mencer said more than 9,000 rockets had been launched by Hezbollah since October 8—the day after Hamas raids in southern Israel—with 48 people killed and 325 wounded.

He said the rocket attacks had displaced 60,000 Israelis from their homes, "becoming refugees here in our own homeland."

Mencer added: "We would always prefer a peaceful settlement through negotiations, but that has not borne fruit in 11-and-a-half months now, so Israel will do whatever it takes – through diplomacy or through military means – to secure our northern border. It's what any other country would do."

He later said: "No other country would wait for 11 and a half months – 11 and a half months – to deal with this sort of aggression against our people."

Death Toll Rises to 182, Lebanon Says

The death toll from Monday's airstrikes in Lebanon has risen from 100 to 182, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, including "children, women and paramedics."

The number of wounded had risen from 400 to 727 it added in a post on X in the last few minutes.

Russia 'Extremely Concerned' About Escalation in Middle East

Russia has warned the escalation in the Middle East is an "extreme concern."

"The situation is swiftly deteriorating every day," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. "Tension is growing, unpredictability is increasing. This is a matter of extreme concern for us."

It comes after White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby said the U.S. is trying to prevent an "all-out war" with diplomacy efforts as "tensions are much higher than they were even just a few days ago."

Israeli Military Says Airstrikes 'Extensive, Proactive'

Israel Defense Forces said its "extensive, proactive airstrikes" had targeted "infrastructure that Hezbollah has built over many years."

"The scenes that can be seen now in southern Lebanon show Hezbollah's weapons exploding inside homes," it said in an update posted to Telegram.

"Every house that we strike contains weapons—rockets, missiles, UAVs that are intended to kill Israeli civilians."

Why Is Israel Bombing Lebanon?

Israel and Hezbollah's conflict has escalated in recent days.

Here's a short guide to how we got here:

• Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in cross-border attacks since the October 7 attacks, which were led by Hezbollah's Gaza-based ally Hamas.
• Near-daily rocket attacks from Lebanon into Israel led to about 60,000 residents being evacuated from northern Israel, which borders Lebanon.
• Israel's security cabinet approved "returning the residents of the north securely to their homes" as an official objective last Monday.
• A wave of pager explosions last Tuesday, targeting Hezbollah members, killed about 600 people in Lebanon, while Israeli strikes on Friday killed a top commander and dozens of fighters.
• Hezbollah has launched about 150 rockets, missiles and drones into northern Israel, AP reports, in retaliation. Some medium-range rockets targeted the IDF's northern airbase Ramat David.
• Israel has since launched a large-scale air and artillery campaign in Lebanon.
• IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said at least some of its Saturday attacks were following "detection of Hezbollah preparing to fire toward Israeli territory."
• Further strikes on Sunday's were designed, the IDF said, to "damage and degrade the terrorist capabilities and military infrastructure of the terrorist organization Hezbollah."
• The IDF said it had conducted 300 strikes on Monday morning alone.
• The Hamas-led attacks killed about 1,200 people with more than 250 hostages taken into Gaza, per AP. The most recent death toll in Gaza has climbed to 41,431 people, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday.

U.S. Working to Prevent 'All-Out War' in Middle East

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said the U.S. is trying to prevent an "all-out war" in the Middle East, as things continue to escalate between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"We have been watching all these escalating tensions that have been occurring over the last week or so with great concern," he told ABC News' This Week on Sunday.

"We want to make sure that we can continue to do everything we can to prevent this from becoming an all-out war there, with Hezbollah across the border there."

Kirby insisted that the White House believes a diplomatic resolution is possible, but acknowledged, "We all, of course, recognize that the tensions are much higher than they were even just a few days ago."

Israeli airstrikes Lead to Deadliest Day Yet: Lebanon

One hundred people have been killed and more than 400 wounded in Israeli airstrikes on Monday, the Lebanese Health Ministry has said.

That daily death toll would be the largest in Lebanon since Israel fighting against the Hezbollah militant group following the October 7 attacks on Israel that were launched by Hezbollah-ally group Hamas.

The Israeli military has said it struck 300 targets on Monday morning.

Latest: Lebanon Residents Receive 'Evacuate' Phone Calls

Southern Lebanon residents received pre-recorded calls on Monday morning, urging them to immediately distance themselves at least 3,280 feet from any Hezbollah post.

About 60,000 calls were made across all of Lebanon, according to Imad Kreidieh, the chairman of Ogero, which operates Lebanon's telecommunications.

Ogero has "located the source of the calls and will stop it," Kreidieh said.

"What the Israelis are doing is sending a bunch of automated voice recordings through international carriers, the system doesn't recognise them as Israeli calls, most of them are generated as calls coming from a friendly country", he told the Guardian.

Sixth Reported Attack on Israel from Iraq

Israel's military has said its fighter jets shot down a drone launched at the country by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq in the early hours of Monday.

The Israel Defense Force said the drone flew over Syrian airspace before being shot down shortly before it reached Israeli airspace.

Reuters reports that the Islamic Resistance in Iraq—a coalition of Iranian-backed militias—has taken responsibility for the attempted drone attack, saying on Monday morning that the group had targeted an Israeli Golani observation base in northern Israel with drones. No injuries were reported on the Israeli side.

The drone would be the sixth known attack on Israel from Iraq since Sunday.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed at least five attacks, according to the Institute for the Study of War research group, including:

• An Arqab cruise missile attack targeting in northern Israel
• A drone attack targeting an unspecified "vital target" in Israel
• A drone attack targeting an unspecified location in southern Israel
• An Arfad drone attack targeting an unspecified location in the Jordan Valley
• A drone attack targeting an unspecified location in the Jordan Valley

Iran Military Group Bans Communication Devices

More now on Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps and its fears of infiltration by Israeli agents...

The IRGC military group has ordered its members stop using communication devices, Reuters reports citing two senior Iranian security officials, while it is also investigating mid and high-ranking members for Israeli links.

"This includes scrutiny of their bank accounts both in Iran and abroad, as well as their travel history and that of their families," one security official said.

It comes after thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by its Hezbollah allies in Lebanon blew up in deadly attacks last week.

As we've just been hearing, the IRGC has claimed it has stopped an "Israeli-linked" group's attack on Iran, and now appears increasingly concerned about infiltration by Israeli agents.

There are growing fears Israel's conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon could spark a wider Middle East conflict.

Iran Detains 12 Members of "Israeli-Linked Network"

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps announced on Sunday it had identified and arrested 12 members of an "Israeli-linked network" across six provinces of Iran.

The IRGC—an influential wing of Tehran's military that provides weapons and training to Iran's allied groups in the Middle East—said the individuals were planning to carry out anti-security activities against Iran.

"As the Zionist regime and their Western backers, most notably the United States, have not succeeded in their sinister goals against the people of Gaza and Lebanon," the statement added, "they are now seeking to spread the crisis to Iran with a series of actions planned against our country's security."

Newsweek contacted via email the Israeli Ministry of Defense and IDF for comment on Monday morning.

Top Israel General Vows 'Blow After Blow' Against Hezbollah

IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said Israel would deliver "blow after blow" until Hezbollah is pushed back from the border.

He said in a statement on Sunday: "We will bring the residents back to their homes providing them with security, and if Hezbollah still hasn't understood, it will receive blow after blow - until that organization understands.

Lloyd Austin Holds Call With Israeli Defense Minister

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on Saturday.

The phone call came after Hezbollah launched rocket attacks into northern Israel, where thousands of Israelis have been evacuated from.

"During the call, the Secretary reaffirmed the United States' commitment to Israel's right to defend itself and stressed the importance of achieving a diplomatic solution to return citizens to their homes in the north," according to a readout of the call released by the Pentagon on Sunday.

"Secretary Austin emphasized his concern for the safety and security of U.S. citizens in the region."

Israeli Defence Minister Urges Calm at Home

Israel's defence minister has urged the Israeli public to be calm amid widespread airstrikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon's south.

"We are deepening our attacks in Lebanon, the actions will continue until we achieve our goal to return the northern residents safely to their homes," Yoav Gallant said in a video published by his office on Monday.

"These are days in which the Israeli public will have to show composure."

About 60,000 people have been evacuated from northern Israel because of attacks by Hezbollah.

Southern Lebanon residents received pre-recorded calls ordering them to immediately distance themselves at least 3,280 feet from any Hezbollah post, according to a Reuters reported in Lebanon, who received the message.

Maps Show Israeli Strikes in Lebanon, Attacks on Israel

Israel is this morning continuing its large-scale airstrike campaign across southern Lebanon.

New maps released by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) plots the location of Israeli Defense Forces' air and artillery strikes on September 21 and 22 (left) and attacks on northern Israel launched from Lebanon on September 22.

IDF said on Saturday it had struck more than 400 rocket launchers, thousands of rocket barrels and other military infrastructure in at least two waves of airstrikes across southern Lebanon.

On Sunday, the IDF said it carried out another wave of airstrikes targeting dozens of Hezbollah rocket launchers and military infrastructure.

The IDF's campaign continues this morning. Israel's military said it struck 300 Hezbollah targets inside Lebanon since Monday morning.