Biden orders Pentagon to ‘adjust’ military as Israel launches Beirut attacks – live

An Israeli Defence Force spokesperson said in a statement: “The IDF is currently conducting targeted strikes on weapons belonging to the Hezbollah terrorist organization that were stored beneath civilian buildings in the area of Dahieh in Beirut.”

President Joe Biden has directed the Pentagon to “assess and adjust as necessary US force posture” in the Middle East, the White House said after Israeli strikes in Beirut.

“He has directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust as necessary U.S. force posture in the region to enhance deterrence, ensure force protection, and support the full range of U.S. objectives,” the White House said in a statement.

Israel said they had targeted the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group in fresh strikes across southern Lebanon.

The Israeli military said Friday it was striking in southern Beirut, in a statement released by the military.

Israel’s attack on southern Beirut that caused huge explosions targeted a “meeting of bad people” planning more attacks on Israel, the country’s UN ambassador Danny Danon has said.

“When I said this was a meeting of bad actors, Nasrallah is a bad actor. He’s a terrorist. He has the blood on his hands for many Americans, thousands of Israelis, so I think he should be punished for that. I cannot confirm now whether he was at that meeting or not, but when I speak about bad actors, he’s one of them,” Mr Danon said.

Lebanon’s health ministry said there were two dead and 76 wounded from the Israeli strikes, describing it as a preliminary toll.

Hezbollah’s senior leadership was unreachable following Israel’s strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Friday evening, a source close to the Lebanese armed group told Reuters.

Hours after the strikes, Hezbollah had not made a statement on the fate of its head, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Israeli military chiefs have warned they will strike Hezbollah “assets” in southern Beirut in the coming hours.

The army warned residents in certain neighbourhoods to get out of three buildings it says Hezbollah uses to hide weapons.

Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said In a televised address that residents should evacuate “as soon as possible” because Israel was about to strike them and that the buildings could collapse from secondary explosions.

Israel hopes it will not have to proceed with a ground invasion against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a senior Israeli official has said after Israel attacked the group’s central headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters it was too early to say whether the attack hit Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israeli military has called for an immediate evacuation of certain buildings in Beirut’s southern suburbs for the first time, according to an army spokesperson.

Avichay Adraee posted a message on social media to residents of particular buildings, saying: “You are located near Hezbollah interests and for your safety and the safety of your loved ones, you are obliged to evacuate the buildings immediately and move away from them at a distance of no less than 500 metres.”