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.
Over 250 British nationals have left Lebanon on chartered flights so far
More than 250 British nationals have left Lebanon on three flights chartered by the government of the United Kingdom this week amid escalating tensions in the region, UK officials said Friday.
A fourth chartered flight is scheduled to leave Beirut on Sunday, the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said.
"There are no more scheduled flights, due to a decrease in demand. However, the situation will be kept under constant review," the office said in a press release.
Oct 04, 2024, 3:11 PM EDT
Israel has 'not concluded' retaliation plans yet, Biden says
President Joe Biden told reporters Friday that the Israelis have "not concluded" how they will retaliate to Iran's missile attack, saying it's "under discussion."
During remarks in the White House briefing room, the president did say that if he "were in their shoes" he would be "thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields."
President Joe Biden speaks at the top of the daily press briefing, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, at the White House in Washington.
Ben Curtis/AP
Pressed further on how Israel should respond, Biden said, "That's between me and them."
Asked by ABC News' Selina Wang about the general state of diplomacy with Israel, coming off a week where the president's calls for a cease-fire in Lebanon were chiefly ignored, Biden defended his relationship with the country.
"Look, our teams are in contact 12 hours a day. They're constantly in contact," Biden said. "They're not going to make a decision immediately."
On whether he thinks the Israelis are going to listen to his advice, Biden said, "What I know is the plan that I put together received the support of the U.N. Security Council and the vast majority of our allies around the world as a way to bring this to an end."
"Look, the Israelis have every right to respond to the vicious attacks on them, not just from Iranians but from everyone to Hezbollah to the Houthis," he said. "But the fact is that they have to be very much more careful about dealing with civilian casualties."
-ABC News' Justin Gomez
Oct 04, 2024, 2:38 PM EDT
US conducts strikes on 15 Houthi targets in Yemen: CENTCOM
American self-defense strikes were conducted on Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday, a United States official confirmed to ABC News.
U.S. Central Command said its forces conducted strikes on 15 Houthi targets, including "Houthi offensive military capabilities," in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Smokes raise after U.S. aircraft and ships struck Houthi strongholds, according to the official, in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
Osamah Abdulrahman/AP
"These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels," CENTCOM said in a statement.
The strikes come a week after U.S. Navy warships in the Red Sea intercepted Houthi drones and missiles fired at the ships, a U.S. official confirmed to ABC News. There was no damage to U.S. Navy ships, the official said.
Houthi rebels have been targeting commercial ships in the Red Ship for months, as part of a campaign they've said is to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
-ABC News' Matt Seyler and Ahmed Baider
Oct 04, 2024, 2:23 PM EDT
IDF says it's killed 250 Hezbollah members over 4 days in Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces said Friday it's killed 250 Hezbollah members, including 20 commanders, over the past four days through "targeted activities" in southern Lebanon.
Israeli forces have also struck more than 2,000 military targets, "including terrorists, terrorist infrastructure, military buildings, weapon warehouses, launchers, and more," the IDF said in a statement.
