Middle East crisis live: Hamas says its leader in Lebanon has been killed; Israel accused of central Beirut strike

Hamas said Fateh Sherif Abu el-Amin was killed in an Israeli attack in the south; Beirut’s Kola district hit in what may be first Israeli attack on the centre of Lebanon’s capital since 2006See all our coverage from the Middle EastLiving in Lebanon: how have you been affected?Here is the video clip of US president Joe Biden saying “a broader war in the Middle East had to be averted”. Despite diplomatic efforts the US, Egypt and Qatar have been unable to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza since the 2023 deal ended ten months ago on 30 November.Itay Blumental, who is military correspondent at Israel’s Channel 11, reports on social media that the UAV intercepted earlier by Israel’s military was targeted at infrastructure in the Karish gas field out at sea. Israel’s military has also issued a video which it says shows the interception. The Karish gas field belongs to Israel as part of a deal brokered with Lebanon over disputed waters in 2022. Continue reading...

Middle East crisis live: Hamas says its leader in Lebanon has been killed; Israel accused of central Beirut strike

Hamas said Fateh Sherif Abu el-Amin was killed in an Israeli attack in the south; Beirut’s Kola district hit in what may be first Israeli attack on the centre of Lebanon’s capital since 2006

Here is the video clip of US president Joe Biden saying “a broader war in the Middle East had to be averted”. Despite diplomatic efforts the US, Egypt and Qatar have been unable to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in Gaza since the 2023 deal ended ten months ago on 30 November.

Itay Blumental, who is military correspondent at Israel’s Channel 11, reports on social media that the UAV intercepted earlier by Israel’s military was targeted at infrastructure in the Karish gas field out at sea. Israel’s military has also issued a video which it says shows the interception. The Karish gas field belongs to Israel as part of a deal brokered with Lebanon over disputed waters in 2022.

Continue reading...