We’re pausing our coverage
That brings an end to our live coverage of the conflicts in the Middle East for this evening.
Before we go, here’s a recap of the day’s key developments:
- At least 18 people, including four children, were killed and 60 injured in an Israeli airstrike near Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Beirut’s main state hospital, overnight.
- The Israeli military said it had struck a Hezbollah target, without giving more detail, and said it had not been targeting the hospital itself.
- Israel’s military confirmed the killing of top Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, who had been widely expected to be the militant group’s next leader. He was killed in an airstrike in southern Lebanon earlier this month – but his death had not been confirmed until this evening;
- US secretary of state Antony Blinken sat down for talks with Benjamin Netanyahu lasting more than two hours today, as he embarked on his 11th tour of the Middle East in the hopes of reviving ceasefire efforts;
- Mr Blinken told Mr Netanyahu to seize on Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week to bring the conflict to an end, while the Israeli prime minister called for security and political change in Lebanon that would allow displaced Israeli citizens to return to their homes in the north;
- Meanwhile, the IDF said an Israeli deputy commander had been killed in battle in southern Lebanon;
- The FBI said it was investigating the leaking of two highly classified intelligence documents describing Israel’s preparations for a retaliatory strike on Iran.
Middle East humanitarian appeal by UK charities raises £15m in five days
A humanitarian appeal to address the “overwhelming” need in Gaza, Lebanon and the wider Middle East has raised £15m in the first five days.
Fifteen charities making up the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) launched the appeal to raise urgent funds for the millions in the region requiring food, water, shelter and medical care after fleeing their homes in search of safety.
The UK government said it would match the first £10m of donations from the public.
DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed said charities were “scaling up their responses” across the region “knowing they have the support of the British public to do all they can to help and reach as many of those in need as possible”.
Rebuilding Gaza’s economy ‘could take 350 years’, UN report warns
It could take 350 years to rebuild Gaza’s economy if it remains under a blockade, a UN report has warned.
The organisation has previously estimated that rebuilding Gaza fully after the Israel-Hamas conflict could drag on for decades, but a new report from the UN’s trade and development wing now speaks in terms of centuries.
The report says if the war ended tomorrow and the region returned to the status quo prior to Hamas’s 7 October attacks, it could take 350 years for its economy to return to its already shaky pre-war level.
Gaza’s economy had been impacted by an Israeli and Egyptian blockade imposed after Hamas seized power in 2007, four previous wars and divisions between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
“Once a ceasefire is reached, a return to the pre-October 2023 status quo would not put Gaza on the path needed for recovery and sustainable development,” the UN report said.
“If the 2007- 2022 growth trend returns, with an average growth rate of 0.4%, it will take Gaza 350 years just to restore the GDP levels of 2022.”
Report author Rami Alazzeh clarified that the figure was more of a calculation than a prediction.
Israel has not commented on the report.
Inside the Beirut hospital Israel claims Hezbollah is using to store cash
Israel has claimed Hezbollah is storing gold and cash in a bunker under Al-Sahel Hospital in Beirut.
Our international correspondent Alex Rossi visited the basement of the hospital and spoke to emergency doctor Omar Mneimne, who called the allegations “wholly un-based”.
“It’s important the truth about this hospital comes out before anything happens,” said Dr Omar.
You can watch Alex Rossi’s report here:
Smokes rises over Beirut after fresh Israeli strike
Smoke is billowing from an area of Beirut after what appears to be a new Israeli strike on the Lebanese capital tonight.
The city’s southern suburbs have been targeted repeatedly by the Israeli military since a recent eruption in hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
An Israeli airstrike late last night in Beirut destroyed several buildings near Lebanon’s largest public hospital, killing at least 18 people and injuring 60 others. Israel said it struck a Hezbollah target and had not been targeting the hospital itself.
IDF confirms killing of Hezbollah official expected to be group’s next leader
Israel’s military has confirmed the killing of top Hezbollah official Hashem Safieddine, who had been widely expected to be the militant group’s next leader.
The IDF said he was killed in an airstrike in southern Beirut earlier this month.
Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant said on 8 October that Safieddine had probably been “eliminated”, but his death had not been confirmed until now.
Hezbollah has not commented.
The Lebanese group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed by an Israeli airstrike last month. Speculation over who would replace him began quickly after, with Safieddine widely touted to take over the role.
You can find out more about who he was here:
Blinken scraps visit to Jordan
US secretary of state Antony Blinken will no longer undertake a planned visit to Jordan tomorrow, but will be travelling to Saudi Arabia, a senior US state department official has said.
The Jordanian foreign ministry confirmed the visit had been postponed but said no reason was given.
Mr Blinken is on a multi-day trip to the Middle East – his 11th since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict – in hopes of reviving ceasefire efforts.
The state department said yesterday that Mr Blinken would travel to “Israel and other countries” in the region from 21 to 25 October.
At least 10 people killed in separate Israeli strikes on Lebanon – health ministry
As reports emerge that an Israeli soldier has been killed in battle in southern Lebanon (see previous post) the Lebanese health ministry says at least 10 people have died in two separate Israeli strikes on the country.
The ministry said on X that five people were killed and 21 wounded after an Israeli raid in the Nabatieh area in the south.
In a separate post, it said five people were killed and 10 injured in the northeastern Baalbek-Hermel region.
Earlier, the health ministry said at least 63 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon over the past day, bringing the total number killed in a year of conflict to 2,530 (see 16.19 post).
Israeli deputy commander killed in Lebanon – reports
An Israeli soldier has been killed in battle in southern Lebanon, Israeli media is reporting.
The reports, citing the Israeli military, say Major Aviram Harib was the deputy commander of IDF battalion 9308.
Sky News has not independently verified the report.
Fresh Pentagon audit to ensure US weapons to Israel being properly tracked
Pentagon inspector general Robert Storch has announced an audit of the defence department’s oversight of military aid from the US to Israel.
The audit will look at what the Pentagon calls enhanced end-use monitoring, which ensures sensitive weapons and defence equipment are accounted for, used properly, stored correctly and physically secured.
The inspector general will not assess whether the systems are being used according to the law of armed conflict, but will look at whether the weapons are being tracked and provided to the correct Israeli forces rather than being diverted.
No timeline has been given for completion of the audit. It is among several oversight projects the inspector general’s office is conducting in relation to US assistance to Israel.