Three children and seven women killed as Israel strikes at Hezbollah

Israel has launched strikes into Lebanon following increased tensions between it and terrorist organisation Hezbollah has fired rockets into the Jewish state amid the ongoing war in Gaza

Three children and seven women have are among those killed following an Israeli air strike on Beirut, Lebanon, a top Hezbollah official has claimed.

At least 31 people were killed in the Lebanese capital following yesterday's airstrike. Hezbollah commanders Ibrahim Aqil and Ahmed Wahbi were also among those killed.

In a statement the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the commanders were "eliminated in a targeted intelligence-based strike". It added: "During the strike, senior operatives in Hezbollah's Operations Staff and commanders from the Radwan Unit were eliminated alongside Aqil.

"Ibrahim Aqil and the Radwan commanders who were eliminated today were planning Hezbollah’s 'Conquer the Galilee' attack plan, in which Hezbollah intended to infiltrate Israeli communities and kidnap and murder innocent civilians in a similar manner to the October 7 Massacre. The IDF will continue to remove the threat of Hezbollah's capabilities and will continue to operate in all arenas to protect Israeli civilians."

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari yesterday added the commanders were gathered underground under a residential building in the heart of the Dahiyah neighbourhood, "hiding among Lebanese civilians, using them as human shields."

But Lebanon's health minister Firas Abiad said three children and seven women were among those who were killed. He added 68 people were wounded in the Israeli strike and that 15 of those remain in hospital, as reported by Sky News.

Hezbollah fired 140 rockets in northern Israel in three waves on Friday. the terrorist organisation said the rocket attacks were in response to Israeli strikes on villages in southern Lebanon where it has its stronghold.

It comes after pagers used by Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon earlier this week. The targeted detonations are claimed by Hezbollah to have been carried out by Israel, who are alleged to have planted the explosives in Taiwan made devices.

Increased tension between Israel and Hezbollah, which operates within Lebanon and is not directly affiliated with the Lebanese government, has come amid rocket strikes by Hezbollah which supports Hamas in Gaza. Cross-border conflicts increased following Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip in response to the Hamas terrorist into the country which left hundreds of Israelis killed and hundreds taken captive.

In response, Israel has launched several strikes into the Gaza Strip in what is described as necessary to eliminate Hamas' grip on the region. Critics claim the strikes are indiscriminate and have led to the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians being killed and nearly 2 million being displaced.

Outgoing US President Joe Biden aims to secure a peace deal in the Middle East before he leaves office next year. The US and Western nations fear the war can escalate into a wider conflict that can further destabilise the Middle East.