Israel-Gaza-Lebanon updates: Nasrallah killed for tying Hezbollah cause to Gaza war

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday.

Last Updated: September 29, 2024, 2:21 PM EDT

Israel is firing strikes into Lebanon as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies.

Israel believes it has eliminated around 30 top Hezbollah leaders over the last several weeks, including Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Friday, U.S. and Israeli officials said.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Sep 28, 2024, 5:49 PM EDT

It's time for a cease-fire: Biden

President Joe Biden reiterated his message calling for a ceasefire Saturday when pressed by reporters for more reaction from the Israeli strike targeting Hezbollah's leader as he left church in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

When asked whether a ground incursion into Lebanon was inevitable now, Biden only said, "It is "time for a cease-fire."

When asked how the U.S. will respond to attacks on the U.S. warships in the Red Sea, Biden only said "We’re responding."

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart

Sep 28, 2024, 3:55 PM EDT

'Work is not yet complete,' Netanyahu says

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah "settled accounts" for those who had a hand in killing.

"The elimination of Nasrallah is a necessary condition for achieving the goals we have set: Returning the residents of the north safely to their homes, and changing the balance of power in the region over the years, because as long as Nasrallah lives, he would quickly restore the capabilities we took away from Hezbollah," Netanyahu said in a video message Saturday.

Netanyahu said he came to the decision that what Israel had done to Hezbollah was "not enough" earlier this week when he gave the order to assassinate Nasrallah. But, he warned that Israel's work is "not complete."

"The work is not yet complete. In the coming days we will face significant challenges ... There is no place in Iran or the Middle East that the long arm of Israel will not reach, and today you already know how true this is," Netanyahu said.

"We are determined to continue to strike at our enemies, return our residents to their homes, and return all our abductees," Netanyahu said.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Sep 28, 2024, 1:41 PM EDT

US orders departure of some Beirut embassy employees, families

The U.S. State Department has ordered the departure of some embassy employees and families in Beirut "due to the volatile and unpredictable security situation."

"U.S. Embassy Beirut personnel are restricted from personal travel without advance permission. Additional travel restrictions may be imposed on U.S. personnel under Chief of Mission security responsibility, with little to no notice due to increased security issues or threats," according to the State Department advisory.

U.S. citizens in Lebanon are also being told to leave the country and the travel advisory for Lebanon remains at "do not travel."

"Due to the increased volatility following airstrikes within Beirut and the volatile and unpredictable security situation throughout Lebanon, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available. At this time, commercial flights are available, but at reduced capacity. If the security situation worsens, commercial options to depart may become unavailable," the advisory said.

"If you choose to remain in Lebanon, be prepared to shelter in place should the situation deteriorate further. The U.S. Embassy strongly encourages U.S. citizens in Southern Lebanon, near the borders with Syria, and/or in refugee settlements to depart those areas immediately," the advisory said.

Sep 28, 2024, 1:09 PM EDT

Hezbollah command, control in complete disarray after Nasrallah killing: US official

Hezbollah's command and control is in complete disarray after the killing of their Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike on Friday, according to a senior U.S. official.

The U.S. and Israel believe they have eliminated around 30 Hezbollah leaders over the last several weeks weakening the group, the official said. There is deep skepticism and worry among the remaining Hezbollah leaders that there are spies in their ranks, according to the official.

The group's means of communication has also been dramatically disrupted after Israel blew up pagers and walkie-talkies that Hezbollah had used to communicate.

-ABC News' Martha Raddatz