Israel-Gaza-Lebanon updates: IDF orders evacuations in Beirut as huge blast hits city

Over 1,000 people in Lebanon have been killed in the last two weeks.

ByNadine El-Bawab, Emily Shapiro, David Brennan, Julia Reinstein, and Meredith Deliso
Last Updated: October 6, 2024, 7:29 PM EDT

Israel's Lebanon operation continues as leaders consider their response to Iran's long-range attack on Tuesday, in which hundreds of missiles were fired into the country, according to Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations.

Iran said the unprecedented attack was retaliation for a wave of assassinations carried out by Israel over the last several weeks targeting Hezbollah, including leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Most of the missiles were intercepted, but "several hits were identified, and the damage is being assessed," an Israeli security official said.

Tune in to ABC News Live at 4 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, for "Oct 7th: Race to Survive" -- special coverage of the anniversary of the conflict. Veteran correspondent Matt Gutman highlights voices of Israelis and Palestinians impacted by the war and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Key Headlines

Here's how the news is developing.
Oct 03, 2024, 5:18 AM EDT

'Sleepless night' in Beirut as Israel continues strikes

More than a dozen Israeli airstrikes shook Beirut over the last 24 hours, with the United Nations' special coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis reporting "another sleepless night" in the capital.

Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in Beirut's southern suburb on October 3, 2024.
Fadel Itani/AFP via Getty Images

One strike occurred around midnight local time in the heart of central Beirut, close to the Lebanese parliament building. It is rare for Israel to bomb the center of the capital, with most recent attacks occurring in the southern suburbs.

Israel called the bombing a "precise strike." Lebanese health officials said seven people were killed and another seven injured.

Israeli warplanes also continued their bombardment of Beirut's densely-populated southern Dahiya suburb into Thursday morning, with at least 17 strikes there over the past 24 hours.

-ABC News' Joe Simonetti

Oct 02, 2024, 5:43 PM EDT

46 killed in strikes across Lebanon in past 24 hours: Ministry of Health

Forty-six people were killed and another 85 injured in Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health said.

The Israel Defense Forces said earlier it had conducted a series of strikes in southern Lebanon targeting "terrorist infrastructures," including munitions production sites.

The IDF said it also conducted a "precise strike" on Beirut late Wednesday local time.

Oct 02, 2024, 4:46 PM EDT

German air force plane evacuates 130 people from Lebanon

The German air force said it evacuated 130 German citizens out of Lebanon on Wednesday.

"These are mainly embassy employees, their family members and others who have asked for help," the German air force said in a release.

The four-hour flight arrived in Berlin safely at 9 p.m. local time, the German air force said.

-ABC News' Ellie Kaufman

Oct 02, 2024, 2:51 PM EDT

State Department charters 1st flight for Americans out of Beirut

The United States arranged a charter to carry 100 American citizens and their family members out of Lebanon on Wednesday, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

The flight marked the first U.S. government-organized charter from the country since Hezbollah and Israel began trading rocket fire almost a year ago.

The flight, which had capacity for 300 people, departed Beirut for Istanbul, Turkey, several hours ago, Miller said during a press briefing Wednesday afternoon.

"We do hope to organize additional flights in the coming days, depending on demand," Miller said.

There are 7,000 people in contact with the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, according to Miller. Not all are asking for assistance, but "some of those, I presume, will eventually look to depart Lebanon," Miller said.

Middle East Airlines is the only commercial carrier currently flying out of Lebanon.

-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston

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