Live Middle East: Death toll after Israeli attack on southern Lebanon rises to 16

Live

1. 13:36

   Death toll after Israeli attack on southern Lebanon rises to 16

   The death toll following yesterday’s series of Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon has risen to sixteen. Among the dead are several Hezbollah militants, international news agencies report based on Lebanese state media.

   The air raids took place on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. The Israeli army then attacked the village of Hebbariyeh in southern Lebanon. Israel said the target was a military base of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya, an Islamist group that has carried out attacks across the border. The group joins forces with Hezbollah in the fight against Israel.

   Hezbollah responded by firing dozens of rockets at the city of Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel. At least one civilian was killed, it was later announced. Wednesday is the deadliest day in the conflict between Lebanese militants and Israel since October 7.

   After the outbreak of the war in Gaza, Hezbollah declared its solidarity with the Palestinians and Hamas. Both Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel have said they do not want a wider war in the region and are open to a diplomatic solution, but the number of attacks on both sides has recently increased, especially in the border area. Israel’s attacks have also recently been reaching further and further inland. For example, Israel has managed to hit the region around Baalbek, in the northeast of Lebanon, several times in recent weeks.

   Maartje Geels

2. 06:09

   US shoots down four long-range missiles over the Red Sea

   The United States shot down four long-range missiles over the Red Sea on Wednesday night. The American military command in the Middle East (Centcom) announced this on Wednesday on X.

   The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, fired the missiles at an American warship, according to Centcom. That ‘turned into self-defense’.

   No injuries or damage were reported.

3. 10:46 PM, Yesterday

   Welcome to this live blog

   This was the most important news about the crisis in the Middle East on Wednesday, March 27:

   • The Dutch naval ship Tromp has arrived in the Red Sea. There it will take part in an international mission against the Yemeni Houthis who have been targeting ships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones for months.

   • Israel wants to talk to the US soon about the impending offensive in Rafah. On Monday, Prime Minister Netanyahu canceled the meeting after the US failed to veto a resolution on a ceasefire in Gaza in the UN Security Council.

   • At least eighteen Palestinians have been killed in food drops in Gaza. On Tuesday, six Gazans drowned trying to rescue food parcels that fell into the sea.

   Read yesterday’s full live blog here.