Iran has condemned the United States of America for being 'complicit' in the Israeli strikes conducted on Gaza and Lebanon . It has also accused Israel of using over 5,000-pound bunker buster bombs "gifted" by the US in its fresh strikes on residential areas in Beirut. The States responded saying that it had no prior information of the strikes.
Meanwhile, several reports suggest that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target of these strikes.
The Lebanese health ministry announced that Israeli airstrikes led to the deaths of over six people and left 91 others injured.
Here are top developments in the story:
Hassan Nasrallah target, communication lost with Hezbollah leader post strikes
Several Israeli media have reported that the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs. However, Israel is yet to confirm the claim.
Meanwhile, communications were lost with the Lebanon militant chief post the strikes as he was unreachable.
A source close to Hezbollah told Reuters that Nasrallah is alive, and Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported that he is safe. Additionally, a senior Iranian security official stated that Tehran is verifying his status.
'US complicit in crime'
Iranian foreign minister condemned the US for supporting Israel by "gifting" it with bombs used to target residential building in Beriut.
"Just this morning, the Israeli regime used several 5,000-pound bunker busters that had been gifted to them by the United States to hit residential areas in Beirut," Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told the UNSC.
"One cannot disregard the US complicity in the crime," he added.
Reacting to the statement, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said, "We had no advance warning. My call with Minister Gallant took place while the operation was actually already underway."
"As you know, this operation took place just a couple of hours ago, and they're still making assessments. I don't have any further information or specifics to provide you at this time," he added.
Biden orders US forces to 'assess & adjust' in Mideast
The White House announced that the US President Joe Biden directed adjustments to US forces in the Middle East "as necessary," following Israel's series of airstrikes on Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon.
"He has directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust as necessary US force posture in the region to enhance deterrence, ensure force protection, and support the full range of US objectives," the statement said.
Further, he asked the US embassies to "take all protective measures as appropriate."
'Flagrant war crime'
The Iranian president condemned the Israeli strikes calling it a 'flagrant war crime.'
"The attacks perpetrated ... by the Zionist regime in the Dahiya neighbourhood of Beirut constitute a flagrant war crime that has revealed once again the nature of this regime's state terrorism," Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement as reported by IRNA.
Meanwhile, Israel said that it would not allow Iran to supply arms to Hezbollah through the Beirut airport.
"We will not allow arms transfers to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation in any way. We know about Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah and foil them. Air force jets are now patrolling around the Beirut airport," military spokesman Daniel Hagari as quoted by AFP.
Meanwhile, several reports suggest that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target of these strikes.
The Lebanese health ministry announced that Israeli airstrikes led to the deaths of over six people and left 91 others injured.
Here are top developments in the story:
Hassan Nasrallah target, communication lost with Hezbollah leader post strikes
Several Israeli media have reported that the Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was the target of the strikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs. However, Israel is yet to confirm the claim.
Meanwhile, communications were lost with the Lebanon militant chief post the strikes as he was unreachable.
A source close to Hezbollah told Reuters that Nasrallah is alive, and Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported that he is safe. Additionally, a senior Iranian security official stated that Tehran is verifying his status.
'US complicit in crime'
Iranian foreign minister condemned the US for supporting Israel by "gifting" it with bombs used to target residential building in Beriut.
"Just this morning, the Israeli regime used several 5,000-pound bunker busters that had been gifted to them by the United States to hit residential areas in Beirut," Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told the UNSC.
"One cannot disregard the US complicity in the crime," he added.
Reacting to the statement, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said, "We had no advance warning. My call with Minister Gallant took place while the operation was actually already underway."
"As you know, this operation took place just a couple of hours ago, and they're still making assessments. I don't have any further information or specifics to provide you at this time," he added.
Biden orders US forces to 'assess & adjust' in Mideast
The White House announced that the US President Joe Biden directed adjustments to US forces in the Middle East "as necessary," following Israel's series of airstrikes on Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon.
"He has directed the Pentagon to assess and adjust as necessary US force posture in the region to enhance deterrence, ensure force protection, and support the full range of US objectives," the statement said.
Further, he asked the US embassies to "take all protective measures as appropriate."
'Flagrant war crime'
The Iranian president condemned the Israeli strikes calling it a 'flagrant war crime.'
"The attacks perpetrated ... by the Zionist regime in the Dahiya neighbourhood of Beirut constitute a flagrant war crime that has revealed once again the nature of this regime's state terrorism," Masoud Pezeshkian said in a statement as reported by IRNA.
Meanwhile, Israel said that it would not allow Iran to supply arms to Hezbollah through the Beirut airport.
"We will not allow arms transfers to the Hezbollah terrorist organisation in any way. We know about Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah and foil them. Air force jets are now patrolling around the Beirut airport," military spokesman Daniel Hagari as quoted by AFP.
