ISRAEL has wiped out 250 Hezbollah terrorists in just four days since the invasion into Lebanon, says the nation’s military.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are continuing to fight on multiple fronts across the Middle East with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei even defending Hamas’ October 7 massacre today.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Hamas’ October 7 attacks a legitimate act[/caption]
Thousands of Iranians turned up to hear Khamenei speak[/caption]
Israel launched their ground offensive into Lebanon this week as they continue to look to eliminate Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah from the Middle East.
The IDF announced the precise operations have already wrecked the Iranian proxy – blasting militants, weapons sites and infrastructure.
In a statement they said: “250 Hezbollah terrorists were eliminated, of which 21 were commanders.”
Along with the kills, the Israeli army also claims to have hit more than 2,000 sites in total during the four-day incursion.
Their ground offensive was met with a strong reaction from arch rivals Iran who have invested billions in Hezbollah to train them up to help fight their battles.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 85, has sent out a number of chilling warnings towards Israel and its Western backers in recent days.
Khamenei vowed Tehran will keep on attacking Israel if they are targeted as he led Friday prayers in Iran for the first time in four years.
He told the IDF they “will not last long” if they chose to keep attacking Hezbollah with his state prepared to defend its proxies relentlessly.
Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” is made up of the Lebanese terror group and Hamas who have continued to cause issues for Israel in Gaza.
Speaking in front of thousands of his loyal followers at a packed out Mosalla Grand mosque in central Tehran, Khamenei said whatever Israel does “cannot seriously harm” the terror trio.
Standing next to a rifle, the Ayatollah also described Hamas’ thuggish plot to attack innocent civilians on October 7 as a “legitimate” act.
Hamas launched a deadly assault on Israeli civilians almost a year ago killing 1,200 people with another 250 taken hostage by the terror group.
Israel hit back as an all out war in Gaza broke out and is still ongoing to this day with helpless Palestinians left to suffer in the midst of the conflict.
The Ayatollah said the Hamas attacks were justified because they were “logical and legal”.
Claiming they were done in self-defence against its Israeli oppressor.
It comes as…
- Israel launched airstrikes in Beirut and expanded no-go zone
- Sinwar’s ‘right hand man’ was killed in bunker blitz in Gaza
- Brits fleeing Lebanon in superyachts to Aiya Napa for £2,500
- Iran could have nuclear missiles in six months, expert warns
- Iran’s missile blitz ‘killed more of its own soldiers than Israelis’
- Vid shows guards on Brit ship firing at Houthi drone boat
- Eight IDF soldiers died in Hezbollah ambush in Lebanon
- Israel plans revenge on Iran from secret mountain bunker
Moments after he also justified and praised his own nation’s retaliatory blitz on Israel this week where 181 ballistic missiles were launched from Iran.
Khamenei said the barrage of strikes – many of which were intercepted before causing any damage – was a “brilliant action” and “completely legal and legitimate”.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, also pledged his army will retaliate to “any step or measure” at the hands of Israel with a “stronger” response than the missile barrage missiles on Tuesday.
It comes as Israel says they have eliminated the “top three tiers” of Hezbollah’s terror leadership.
Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant pledged “more surprises in store” for Hezbollah after the assassination of their leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Gallant said: “Hezbollah is receiving very severe blows, one after the other.”
Khamenei holding a rifle as he conducted Friday prayers in Iran[/caption]
Large crowds held up their fists in support of their leader’s chilling comments towards Israel[/caption]
Israel has continued its campaign of assassinations to decapitate Hezbollah even after troops crossed the border.
The IDF today pounded Beirut trying to kills Nasrallah’s cousin and closest aide Hashem Safieddine who was rumoured to be the group’s next leader.
In their biggest strikes on Hezbollah to date, the IDF pounded targets south of the capital, where many of the terror group’s compounds are located.
It remains unclear whether Safieddine was killed in the strike.
Israel has also taken out senior commanders of divisions within the group as it has sought it degrade their capabilities.
Gollant said: “[Hezbollah’s] missile and rocket division suffered a very heavy blow. A significant part was destroyed as a result of a high-quality and precise operation.
“Command and control headquarters, communications, the entire leadership of [the elite Radwan Force], and in fact the entire second and third tiers of command below Nasrallah were eliminated.”
Among those killed in the recent blasts was senior Hezbollah militant, Mohammed Anisi.
So far, ground clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants have been confined to a narrow strip along the border.
At least nine Israeli soldiers have been killed in battles as troops are advancing in southern Lebanon trying to wipe out Hezbollah fighters.
The new wave of strikes came after Israel issued another evacuation order for communities across southern Lebanon.
Thousands of civilians have already fled the country’s south as the showdown between Hezbollah and Israel intensifies.
Israel expanded its no-go zone and told citizens to urgently leave 25 areas.
150 Brits get out
By Nick Parker, Foreign Editor
MORE than 150 Britons have left Beirut on the first UK Government-chartered plane.
There are concerns about how long the Lebanese capital’s airport will remain open as Israel continues its offensive against Hezbollah.
The Foreign Office said a limited number of additional flights had been chartered.
Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines also continues to operate its scheduled services.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “I urge all British nationals still in Lebanon to register with the FCDO and leave immediately.”
Apartment blocks and family homes have been ruined in the recent strikes[/caption]
Israel’s war cabinet planning for their next move as the regional conflict escalates[/caption]
