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.
US announces nearly $157M in aid for 'escalating crisis' in Lebanon
The United States will provide almost $157 million in new humanitarian assistance in response to the "escalating crisis" in Lebanon, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Friday.
The funding will support populations in and around Lebanon impacted by fighting between Israel and Hezbollah and other conflicts, he said.
People carry their belongings while walking on the rubble, after an Israeli strike, as they flee Lebanon due to ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, at Masnaa border crossing with Syria, in Lebanon, Oct. 4, 2024.
Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
"This funding will address new and existing needs of internally displaced persons and refugee populations inside Lebanon and the communities that host them. The assistance will also support those fleeing to neighboring Syria," Blinken said in a statement.
-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston
Oct 04, 2024, 6:28 PM EDT
IDF issues evacuation warning for Beirut neighborhood
The Israel Defense Forces issued a new evacuation warning for residents in the Burj al-Barajneh neighborhood of Beirut around midnight local time.
"You are located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, against which the IDF will operate in the near future," the alert stated.
Oct 04, 2024, 5:10 PM EDT
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."
