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.
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
Large blast seen in southern Beirut
A large blast was seen in southern Beirut a short time ago.
The blast came about an hour after the Israel Defense Forces issued a new evacuation order for the region.
14 people killed in Israeli strike in West Bank: Palestinian Ministry of Health
Fourteen people were killed in a strike on Thursday in Tulkarm in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The Israel Defense Forces said Israeli forces had conducted a strike in Tulkarm on Thursday.
-ABC News' Dana Savir and Nasser Atta
New evacuation order in Beirut
The Israel Defense Forces issued another evacuation order for residents in southern Beirut suburbs late Thursday local time.
"You are located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, and the IDF will act against them in the near future," the alert stated.
The order comes amid heavy cross-fire. The IDF said Hezbollah fired approximately 230 projectiles from Lebanon into Israeli territory on Thursday.
Earlier Thursday, the IDF said its forces struck 15 Hezbollah targets in Beirut over the past day.
2nd US charter flight departs Lebanon
The U.S. State Department organized a second flight Thursday to evacuate Americans from Lebanon, spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
The flight departed Beirut for Turkey on Thursday morning with 134 passengers, Miller said during a press briefing Thursday.
Following Wednesday's charter flight out of Beirut, that brings the total number of American citizens and their immediate family members who have departed to 250, he added.
In the past week, the State Department has also been able to secure 1,400 seats for Americans on Middle East Airways commercial flights, according to Miller.
"While we don't know the total number of U.S. citizens who have left via the seats we have made available on commercial flights, we do know that a high percentage of those seats have been filled," he said. "We urge Americans to take advantage of these options now, while it is still safe to do so."
-ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston