Israel carries out retaliatory strikes on Yemen and Lebanon

Israeli airstrikes target power plant in Hodeidah, Yemen

Israeli airstrikes target power plant in Hodeidah, Yemen Source: AAP / HOUTHIS SECURITY MEDIA CENTER / HANDOUT/EPA

Israel's military has struck central Beirut for the first time since the conflict began nearly a year ago. It has also struck Yemen, targeting the Houthi rebel strongholds of Hodeidah and Ras Issa, in retaliation for a ballistic missile attack on Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.


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TRANSCRIPT

Israeli fighter jets have struck Yemen killing at least four people and injuring 33 others.

The strikes on the port cities of Hodeidah and Ras Issa came one day after Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport.

The launch took place as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was arriving at the airport from the United States where he spoke before the United Nations.

That missile was intercepted and did no damage.

Sunday's retaliatory strikes by Israel on Yemen targeted power plants and sea port facilities.

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant says fighter jets flew from Israel to carry-out the strikes.

“We see the attack today, 2,000 km away in Hodeidah and its surroundings, and the achievements, as they are reflected, are very impressive. And the meaning is clear, those who try to attack us or harm the citizens of Israel will pay a very heavy price.”

Local media is the reporting the dead include a worker at the port in the city of Hodeida and three engineers at the city's Hali power plant.

Israel has previously struck Hodeidah in July resulting in three deaths.

This comes as Israel struck Beirut's centre for the first time since the conflict began nearly a year ago.

The strike near the Cola intersection, a major transportation hub, hit a multi-story residential building.

Videos from the scene showed ambulances and a crowd gathered under the building, where the strike appeared to have targeted one apartment.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military says it has killed another high-ranking Hezbollah official in an airstrike.

The military says Nabil Kaouk, the deputy head of Hezbollah's Central Council, was killed in an airstrike on Saturday.

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

Several senior Hezbollah commanders have been killed in Israeli strikes in recent weeks, including the group's overall leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

Protestors have mourned the death of the Hezbollah leader.

“We are very shocked, we are very sad today. Hassan Nasrallah was a very great leader. He was a big leader and we are very sad and we are standing here to say that what happened was a very big crime. Israeli occupation go inside Lebanon and kill people.”

Hezbollah has also announced the death of senior military commander Ali Karaki, killed in the large Israeli airstrikes on Dahiyeh - the same strikes which killed Hassan Nasrallah.

Following Mr Nasrallah’s death in a massive airstrike in Beirut on Friday, Hezbollah launched new rocket attacks on Israel.

Iran vowed to avenge his death as Mr Netanyahu celebrated the killing.

“Yesterday, the State of Israel eliminated the arch-murderer Hassan Nasrallah. We have settled accounts with someone who was responsible for the murders of countless Israelis and many nationals of other countries, including hundreds of Americans and dozens of French. Nasrallah was not just another terrorist, he was 'the' terrorist. He was the axis of the axis, the main engine of Iran's axis of evil. He and his people were the architects of the plan to destroy Israel.  ...  The elimination of Nasrallah is a necessary condition in achieving the objectives we have set: Returning the residents of the north safely to their homes, and changing the balance of power in the region for years. ... Therefore, I gave the directive – and Nasrallah is no longer with us.”

Israel’s escalating bombardment has raised fears of the conflict spiralling out of control, potentially involving Iran and the United States.

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has voiced concern over the rising violence in Lebanon following confirmation from Hezbollah that Mr Nassrallah was killed in an Israeli strike in Beirut's south

His death has sparked fears of a wider regional conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected appeals for a ceasefire during his address to the United Nations.

Asked on Sky News if she supported Israel's use of pagers to conduct deadly attacks, Ms Wong pointed to the cycle of violence taking place.

“The continued escalation the continued retribution that continued cycle of violence. will not bring peace and it will not bring security, which is why Australia and others, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have called for a ceasefire in Lebanon and diplomacy to try and resolve this.”

Israel's Defence Minister Yoav Gallant says Israel is not interested in a regional conflict but will not think twice to retaliate if targeted.

“We have no interest in expanding the war, we have no interest in looking for additional fronts, but if someone attacks Israel, as the Houthis have recently done with missiles and throughout the war with cruise missiles and drones, anyone who carries out such an attack we will settle the account with them and we know how to do it. On this day the Air Force, the IDF, attacked both in Lebanon and in Gaza and here (in Yemen) and we can operate in other places.”

The Lebanese health ministry says 105 Lebanese have been killed and hundreds injured in the past 24 hours, the result of Israeli strikes.

On Sunday, the US, Israel’s closest ally, authorised its military to reinforce the region while urging a diplomatic resolution.

White House National Security Communications adviser, John Kirby, says the US must be prepared for some sort of response.

“Well, their rhetoric certainly suggests they're going to try to do something. I mean, just coming out of Tehran, but we don't really know. We're watching this very, very closely. To see how if and how, Hezbollah and or Iran may react, as well as the militia groups in Iraq and Syria. We have to be prepared for some sort of response. We have to make sure that we are ready, and we and we are we believe we have the force capability we need in the region. But it's not clear right now. Too soon to know.”

In Gaza, Israel has killed at least 28 people during the past 24 hours.

On the 7th of October Hamas militants attacked Israel killing 1,200 people and took approximately 240 as hostages.

Israel's response since has killed over 41,595 Palestinians including thousands of women and children.

Since the recent escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah began on the 23rd of September approximately 558 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 50 children.


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