The number of people killed in an Israeli strike on central Beirut has risen from five to six, according to Lebanese health officials.
Another seven people were wounded, they said. A building damaged in the attack is located just metres from Lebanon’s parliament.
Israel said it had conducted a precise airstrike on the city, as it targets Iran-backed Hezbollah militants who pose a threat to Israeli security.
At the same time, more strikes hit the capital’s southern suburbs after the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) requested urgent evacuations in three neighbourhoods.
Biden opposes nuclear strikes
Joe Biden said he would not support Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in response to Tehran’s missile attack against Israel.
“We’ll be discussing with the Israelis what they’re going to do, but all seven of us [G7 nations] agree that they have a right to respond, but they should respond proportionally,” he said.
Reports had suggested that Israel could target nuclear sites, while Washington is rumoured to prefer an attack on oil facilities.
Eight Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon
Eight Israeli soldiers have been killed during fighting in southern Lebanon, Israel’s military has said.
Hezbollah said its fighters had clashed with Israeli soldiers in two border towns – Maroun Al Ras and Adaisseh – since the IDF began their offensive into Lebanon on Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his condolences to the families of the deceased “heroes”.
Iran takes the floor at UN
Iran’s permanent ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani has said Israel is a “serious threat to international peace and security”.
He described his country’s strikes on Israel as being in self-defence.
Mr Iravani also accused the UN of doing “nothing” in the face of Israeli aggression against Iran and “resistance” movements, referring to Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.
Here are some of the other key updates from the last 24 hours:
- Lebanon’s health ministry said 46 people died across the country as a result of Israeli airstrikes in the last day;
- A charter plane carrying British citizens from Lebanon touched down in Birmingham last night. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said further flights were planned for today, with more still to follow;
- The Gulf Cooperation Council affirmed its support for Lebanon after a meeting in Doha, Qatar. The political and economic alliance of Arab states comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates;
- The US State Department called Israel’s decision to ban UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country “not productive”.
