War in the Middle East: New threat from Iran ? Biden does not believe in a “total war”

Israel launched a violent air raid on Beirut on the night of Thursday to Friday, some of the strikes were to target the potential future leader of Hezbollah. In Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei is to speak after threatening the United States and any state that would help Israel last night.

The essentials

• Israel launched a new round of strikes against Lebanon, and particularly on Beirut, on the night of Thursday to Friday. The raid was one of the most violent since the start of the Israeli offensive. Some strikes targeted a building that housed “senior Hezbollah leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah's presumed successor, Hashem Safieddine,” according to Israeli officials.
• This Friday, October 4, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is scheduled to lead the weekly prayer and deliver a sermon that could set the tone for Iran's plans against Israel. Last night, Tehran already warned Washington, the Hebrew state's main ally, of a possible attack and indicated that any country that helps Israel will be “considered” as an accomplice and will become a legitimate target.”
• The United States has held talks with Israel on the Israeli response to the massive Iranian attacks of October 1, including the possibility of attacking oil facilities. “We can “avoid” a “total war” in the Middle East, Joe Biden said on the night of Thursday to Friday.
• Prime Minister Michel Barnier estimated that Thursday evening on France 2 that the “risk of a conflagration” between Iran and Israel is very real. Nevertheless, according to him, it would not be “too late to interrupt”.

Live

10:20 – Report of the last 24 hours: 37 dead and 151 injured

In the past 24 hours, 37 people have been killed and 151 injured in Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the Lebanese Minister of Health announced last night. The army of the Hebrew State has in fact carried out a new round of strikes on the south of Beirut, one of the most violent so far. According to the Lebanese news agency ANI, Israel has carried out “more than ten consecutive strikes”.

09:51 – Iranian diplomat visits Lebanon

Iran sent its foreign minister to Lebanon on Friday, October 4. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Beirut at 9:30 a.m. (local time). He is the first representative of Tehran to visit Lebanese territory since the death of Hassan Nasrallah announced on September 27. Iran supports the Shiite movement Hezbollah against Israel.

09:06 – The death of Nasrallah's successor still not confirmed

While Israel says it has targeted the presumed successor to Hassan Nasrallah, the late leader of Hezbollah, the Lebanese and pro-Iranian Islamist movement indicates that it has “no information yet” on the fate of the group's potential leader, Hashem Safieddine.

08:27 – Highway cut between Lebanon and Syria

An Israeli strike launched overnight on the border between Lebanon and Syria has cut the main road linking the two countries, according to the Lebanese news agency ANI. The Lebanese Minister of Transport specifies Reuters that the strike took place near the Masnaa border crossing in Lebanese territory. Since the intensification of the Israeli offensive in recent days, tens of thousands of people have fled Lebanon, heading for Syria mainly by this route.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

The Israeli army spokesman accused Hezbollah of smuggling weapons from Syria through this border crossing, but Lebanon's transport minister retorted that all border crossings were under government surveillance.

08:08 – “We can “avoid” a “total war” according to Joe Biden

Joe Biden, for his part, said on Thursday evening that “we can “avoid” a “total war” in the Middle East. However, the international community does indeed fear an escalation and generalization of the conflict. Shortly before his statement, the American president, as Israel's main ally, discussed with the Hebrew state possible Israeli responses against Iran: strikes on nuclear infrastructure were excluded, but strikes against oil structures are still under consideration.

08:03 – A speech by Iranian Ayatollah Ali Khamenei planned for this Friday

A rare occurrence this Friday, October 4: Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is scheduled to speak to lead the weekly prayer and deliver a sermon that could clarify Iran's positions and plans regarding Israel and the war in the Middle East.

Last night, Tehran already expressed itself via a letter sent by the Iranian mission to the UN and warned all countries that would come to the aid of Israel, and in particular the United States, that they “would be considered complicit and would become a legitimate target.”

Some Israeli strikes targeted Hassan Nasrallah's potential successor as Hezbollah leader. Three Israeli officials cited by U.S. media outlets Axios and The New York Times confirmed that attacks were launched against “a meeting of senior Hezbollah leaders, including Hassan Nasrallah's presumed successor, Hashem Safieddine.” But neither the Israeli military nor Hezbollah have announced the death of the leader of the Shiite movement.

07:55 – One of the most violent salvos of Israeli strikes

Israel carried out a new air raid against Lebanon on the night of Thursday to Friday and this salvo of strikes was one of the most violent since the start of the Israeli offensive. The strikes mainly targeted the south of the capital Beirut, known to be a Hezbollah stronghold. Israel had announced that it would continue to inflict “severe blows” to the Shiite movement.

03/10/24 – 23:33 – New strikes heard in Beirut

END OF LIVE – Earlier in the evening, a resumption of Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon had already been reported. L'Orient-Le Jour claims that there were at least six. The French-language Lebanese daily also indicates that new strikes described as “strong” have been heard around 11 p.m. Paris time in the Lebanese capital and as far as Keserwan.

03/10/24 – 23:02 – Israeli offensive in Lebanon: "This goes well beyond what happened in 2006"

Appearing on CNN, the Lebanese Minister of Economy deplored that the Israeli offensive in Lebanon is “destroying the country.” “This goes way beyond what happened in 2006,” Amin Salam said, pointing to an Israeli strike this Thursday morning less than three kilometers from the Government Palace. The minister went on to note: “We have hospitals full of people, schools full of people, people sleeping in the streets, and this war continues. In my opinion, this war has no purpose.” It is only destroying the country."

03/10/24 – 22:35 – G7 expresses its "deep concern" over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East

The members of the G7 did not hide their "deep concern" on Thursday evening over "the deteriorating situation" in the Middle East. Warning against “an uncontrollable escalation”, they called on the various parties to act “responsibly and with restraint”. “International humanitarian law must be respected”, they pleaded.