Updates From Israel

IDF said to strike overnight near Beirut; Iraqi militia claims drone attack on south

TOI STAFF

 Times of Israel is liveblogging Wednesday

Israeli strike near Beirut said to have targeted a warehouse

A Lebaneses security source says an Israeli strike several hours ago hit the Saadiyat area near Beirut.

“An Israeli strike hit Saadiyat” on the coast around 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Beirut, with a “warehouse” targeted, the security source says, requesting anonymity as they aren’t authorized to speak to the media. AFP journalists in the capital reported hearing an explosion

Macron urges ‘deescalation’ in Lebanon, asks Iran president to use influence on Hezbollah

French President Emmanuel Macron calls on his Iranian counterpart in talks Tuesday to use his influence to reduce soaring tensions in Lebanon, the Elysee says.

Meeting President Masoud Pezeshkian, Macron “highlighted the responsibility of Iran to support a general deescalation and use its influence with destabilizing actors,” an Elysee statement says, in a clear reference to Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Hezbollah confirms senior commander Ibrahim Qubaisi killed in Israeli strike

Hezbollah confirms the death of its senior commander Ibrahim Qubaisi, releasing a statement saying he was “martyred on the road to Jerusalem,” the Lebanese terror group’s term for operatives killed in Israeli strikes.