Israeli strike in West Bank 'kills 18' as more huge blasts hit Beirut

At least 18 Palestinians are said to have died in an Israeli attack in the West Bank - as airstrikes in Lebanon continued with large blasts seen near Beirut airport.

The Palestinian health ministry said Thursday's deaths occurred in the Tulkarm refugee camp.

In a post on X, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa called it a "massacre" and said Israel was "ignoring global calls for justice".

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Israel's military confirmed the airstrike and said it had killed the main Hamas figure in Tulkarm.

It said Zahi Yaser Abd al-Razeq Oufi supplied weapons to terrorists in the West Bank and was planning a terror attack in the "immediate" future.

Israel Defence Forces added "multiple other significant terrorists" were eliminated.

Hamas, which carried out the 7 October attacks, is not in charge in the West Bank and no hostages are being held there.

In Lebanon, health authorities said 27 people were killed and 151 wounded in Israeli attacks on Thursday.

At least 1,276 have reportedly died since mid-September.

Israel said it hit 200 targets and told people in another 20 or so Lebanese towns to evacuate, as it continues targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.

It says its aim is to allow its citizens displaced by rocket fire to return to their homes near the border. Those Hezbollah attacks began a year ago in response to the Israel-Hamas war.

Most of Israel's strikes so far in Lebanon have been in the south and officials there say 1.2 million have been forced to flee.

Attacks continued on Thursday night with more blasts in Beirut's southern suburb of Dahieh.

Reuters news agency said witnesses reported some hit close to the city's international airport, which borders the area.

Hezbollah also said it launched rockets at two bases for military industry in Haifa Bay in northern Israel on Thursday.

Israel's military said they were either intercepted or allowed to fall on open ground, and that about 230 projectiles had been fired from Lebanon in total.

Hezbollah, designated a terror entity by countries including the US and UK, said it killed 17 Israeli personnel in combat yesterday.

Israel did not comment on the claim, but did confirm the death of one soldier.

That followed the announcement of eight deaths on Wednesday as it conducts what it says is a limited ground invasion.

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The crisis in the region escalated rapidly and dramatically after booby-trapped pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah personnel exploded two weeks ago - an attack widely blamed on Israel.

Its warplanes then began striking targets in Lebanon and a number of Hezbollah's top commanders have been killed, including Hassan Nasrallah, its leader.

The situation took another grave turn on Tuesday when Iran responded by launching around 200 missiles at Israel - a move Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu labelled a "major mistake".

President Joe Biden has said America is now "discussing" whether it will support an Israeli retaliation on Iran's oil industry - a comment that has caused the oil price to spike.

But in comments to reporters, he added: "I don't believe there is going to be an all-out war. I think we can avoid it."

On Wednesday, Mr Biden said the US would not support any attack on Iran's nuclear sites.

An American official told Reuters yesterday that Washington did not believe Israel had yet decided how to respond.

(c) Sky News 2024: Israeli strike in West Bank 'kills 18' as more huge blasts hit Beirut