International

Israel says 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers hit in Lebanon

Published

2 years ago

September 20, 2024

An Israeli fighter jet takes off to conduct strikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

Israel says 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers hit in Lebanon

Israel has carried out extensive air strikes on southern Lebanon, saying its warplanes have hit more than 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers and other “terrorist sites” including a weapons storage facility.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the launchers were ready to be fired against Israel. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said Israel carried out at least 52 strikes in the south of the country on Thursday evening, and that Lebanon had also launched strikes on military sites in northern Israel.

Earlier, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said deadly explosions earlier in the week “crossed all red lines”, accusing Israel of what he said represented a declaration of war.

Israel has not said it was behind the attacks – which saw pagers and walkie-talkies explode simultaneously across the country – on Tuesday and Wednesday, and which Lebanese authorities said killed 37 people and wounded 3,000.

But Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has said Israel is embarking on a “new phase of the war”, concentrating more of its efforts on the north.

The previously sporadic cross-border fighting escalated on 8 October 2023 – the day after the unprecedented attack on Israel by Hamas gunmen from Gaza – when Hezbollah fired at Israeli positions, in solidarity with the Palestinians.

Since then hundreds of people, most of them Hezbollah fighters, have been killed in the cross-border fighting, and tens of thousands have also been displaced on both sides of the border.

Hezbollah has said it is acting in support of the Palestinian armed group Hamas. Both are backed by Iran and proscribed as terrorist organisations by Israel, the UK and other countries.

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In a statement late on Thursday, the IDF said its warplanes “struck approximately 100 launchers and additional terrorist infrastructure sites, consisting of approximately 1,000 barrels that were ready to be used in the immediate future to fire toward Israeli territory”.

“The IDF will continue to operate to degrade the Hezbollah terrorist organisation’s infrastructure and capabilities in order to defend the state of Israel”.

Lebanese security sources cited by Reuters news agency and the New York Times said the Israeli strikes were one of the most intense since the war in Gaza began in October last year.

The IDF also urged residents in northern Israel close to the Lebanese border to avoid large gatherings, guard their neighbourhoods and stay close to bomb shelters.

On Thursday morning, Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon fired two anti-tank missiles across the border, followed by drones.

The IDF said two Israeli soldiers were killed and a third seriously wounded.

In his televised address on Thursday, Hassan Nasrallah said of Tuesday and Wednesday’s attacks: “The enemy crossed all rules, laws and red lines. It didn’t care about anything at all, not morally, not humanely, not legally.”

“This is massacre, a major aggression against Lebanon, its people, its resistance, its sovereignty, and its security. It can be called war crimes or a declaration of war – whatever you choose to name it, it is deserving and fits the description. This was the enemy’s intention,” he added.

As Nasrallah spoke, Israeli warplanes caused sonic booms over Beirut, scaring an already-exhausted population, and others struck targets in southern Lebanon.

The Hezbollah leader acknowledged that this was a massive and unprecedented blow for his group, but he insisted that its ability to command and communicate remained intact.

Nasrallah’s tone was defiant and he vowed a harsh punishment. But, again, he indicated that Hezbollah was not interested in an escalation of its current conflict with Israel.

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The group’s cross-border attacks, he said, were going to continue unless there was a ceasefire in Gaza, and that no killings or assassinations would return residents to northern Israel.

The IDF said on Thursday that its chief of staff, Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, had “recently completed approval of plans for the northern arena”.

Gallant later said that “in the new phase of the war there are significant opportunities but also significant risks”.

“Hezbollah feels that it is being persecuted and the sequence of military actions will continue,” he added.

“Our goal is to ensure the safe return of Israel’s northern communities to their homes. As time goes by, Hezbollah will pay an increasing price.”

It is not clear how Israel intends to achieve this goal. But reports earlier this week suggested that the general in charge of the IDF’s Northern Command favoured the creation of an Israeli-controlled buffer zone inside southern Lebanon.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for restraint on all sides.

“We don’t want to see any escalatory actions by any party” that would make the goal of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza more difficult, he said as he joined European foreign ministers in Paris to discuss the widening crisis.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who was also at the talks in Paris, called for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

“We are all very, very clear that we want to see a negotiated political settlement so that Israelis can return to their homes in northern Israel and indeed Lebanese to return to their homes,” he said.

Israel says 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers hit in Lebanon

BBC

International

Netanyahu Condemns ‘Christian Persecution’ in Nigeria in Easter Message

Published

15 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu Condemns ‘Christian Persecution’ in Nigeria in Easter Message

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again condemned what he described as Christian persecution in Nigeria, using his Easter message to spotlight growing concerns over religious violence.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Netanyahu extended Easter greetings to Christians in Israel, the United States, and across the world, while raising alarm over what he termed the continued targeting of Christian communities in several countries.

He listed Nigeria alongside Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey as regions where Christians face persecution. However, he maintained that Israel remains the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population is protected and continues to grow.

The remarks come amid renewed global attention on insecurity in Nigeria, particularly following recent attacks on churches in Kaduna State, where worshippers were killed and abducted during Easter celebrations.

Netanyahu also referenced ongoing tensions in the region, noting that Israel continues to face missile threats targeting Jerusalem, even during the Easter period.

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Despite these security challenges, he said Israel remains committed to protecting religious freedom and ensuring that people of all faiths can worship without fear.

“Even under fire, our commitment is unwavering: to defend life, to safeguard liberty, and to ensure that every believer can pray in peace,” he said.

The Israeli leader stressed that Israel guarantees freedom of worship and provides a safe environment for Christians, especially during important religious observances like Easter.

He also expressed hope that the Easter season would bring renewal, faith, and hope to Christians worldwide.

The latest statement follows similar remarks made by Netanyahu during Christmas, when he condemned attacks on Christians in Nigeria and called for an end to violence against religious communities.

Analysts say the repeated statements highlight increasing international concern over religious violence in Nigeria, as well as broader issues of security and protection of vulnerable communities.

Netanyahu Condemns ‘Christian Persecution’ in Nigeria in Easter Message

International

Trump Confirms Rescue of Second F‑15E Crew Member From Deep Inside Iran

Published

22 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

US President Donald Trump

Trump Confirms Rescue of Second F‑15E Crew Member From Deep Inside Iran

U.S. forces have successfully rescued the second crew member of a downed F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jet from deep inside Iran, President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday. The operation has been described as one of the most daring search-and-rescue missions in American military history, highlighting the skill and coordination of U.S. forces in a highly contested region.

The rescued airman, a highly respected weapons systems officer and U.S. Air Force colonel, was trapped in treacherous mountainous terrain for nearly two days after the jet was shot down on Friday, April 3, 2026. He sustained injuries but is expected to make a full recovery, according to Trump and U.S. officials.

Trump praised the officer’s bravery and detailed the scope of the mission, saying he was monitored around the clock while behind enemy lines. Dozens of U.S. aircraft, equipped with advanced weaponry, supported the operation, which also involved special forces units. A firefight against Iranian troops occurred during the extraction, underscoring the high-risk nature of the rescue.

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“This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave pilot yesterday,” Trump said. “This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory. No American personnel were killed or wounded in either operation.” The first crew member, the pilot, was rescued shortly after the jet went down.

The F‑15E was downed amid ongoing joint U.S.–Israeli military operations, marking the first confirmed loss of a U.S. combat aircraft to enemy fire in the conflict. Reports indicate the colonel defended himself while evading capture, reportedly armed only with a handgun, before being extracted.

U.S. officials described the operation as a high-risk nighttime-to-daylight mission involving heavy air support and tactical commando movements. Suppressive fire from supporting aircraft helped secure the airman and ensured that all U.S. forces exited Iranian territory safely.

The rescue comes amid continuing military strikes in Iran, including recent damage at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran caused by U.S.–Israeli airstrikes. Trump used the announcement to rally national unity, saying, “This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal military in the history of the world.”

The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command have withheld further operational details due to security concerns. The colonel’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, and officials emphasized the operation demonstrates both the capability and commitment of U.S. forces to recover personnel under extreme conditions.

Trump Confirms Rescue of Second F‑15E Crew Member From Deep Inside Iran

International

US Conducts Daring Rescue of Second Downed Pilot Deep Inside Iran

Published

23 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

US Conducts Daring Rescue of Second Downed Pilot Deep Inside Iran

United States forces have successfully carried out a high-risk operation to rescue a second American pilot trapped deep inside Iran, officials confirmed Sunday, marking a dramatic development amid escalating U.S.–Iran tensions. The pilot had been stranded for more than 24 hours after an F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down by Iranian forces on Friday.

President Donald Trump celebrated the mission on social media, calling it “one of the most daring search and rescue operations in U.S. history” and confirming that all personnel involved were safely extracted from Iranian airspace. Trump described the rescued airman as a highly respected U.S. Air Force colonel who sustained injuries but is expected to make a full recovery.

“The brave warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies,” Trump said. “At my direction, the U.S. military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the world, to retrieve him. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”

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This extraction follows the earlier rescue of the F‑15E’s first crew member, highlighting an unprecedented dual operation behind enemy lines. U.S. officials noted that elite special operations forces, aerial support, and real-time intelligence were critical to locating and safely evacuating the pilot. The successful mission demonstrates U.S. military capabilities and air superiority over hostile territory.

Rising Regional Tensions

The rescue comes less than two days before President Trump’s deadline for Iran to negotiate a deal with the United States or open the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. Meanwhile, Iranian forces have reportedly deployed new domestic air-defense systems, and a recent projectile strike near a nuclear power plant killed one person, further intensifying concerns over regional instability.

Analysts warn that while the rescue represents a major U.S. success, the situation underscores the high stakes of U.S.–Iran confrontations, particularly following last month’s Iranian strike on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which caused more damage than previously disclosed. Efforts by regional mediators, including Qatar, to broker a ceasefire have stalled, leaving tensions elevated.

The operation is a significant military and political achievement for the U.S., highlighting both the risk and precision of modern combat search-and-rescue missions in hostile environments, and reasserting the commitment of the United States to recover its personnel under the most challenging conditions.