- Anger in Nepal over relief delays as flood toll hits 225
- More than 20 feared dead in Thai school bus inferno
- Rwandan ex-doctor on trial in France accused of genocide
- European stocks diverge as eurozone inflation drops further
- Alcaraz sweeps into Beijing final as home hero extends fairytale
- Russian strike kills six as Ukraine marks defenders day
- Mariners stunned at home by Buriram in AFC Champions League Elite
- UAE oil giant ADNOC swoops on German chemicals firm Covestro
- Alcaraz downs Medvedev in straight sets to reach Beijing final
- Anger in Nepal over relief delays as flood toll hits 218
- Eurozone inflation falls under 2% for first time since 2021
- Jaiswal leads India to remarkable victory in rain-hit Bangladesh Test
- Assange says 'pleaded guilty to journalism' to gain freedom
- China Open history-maker Zhang nearly quit after long losing run
- Rutte dismisses Trump fears as he takes reins at NATO
- 'I pleaded guilty to journalism,' Wikileaks' Assange
- Defence 'geek' Ishiba becomes Japan PM
- Bangladesh crumble for 146, India need 95 to sweep series
- Multiple deaths in school bus fire in Thailand: PM
- Tokyo recovers some losses to lead markets higher
- Coldplay ticket scalping fiasco sparks backlash in India
- Droughts drive Spanish boom in pistachio farming
- Frustrated French clubs turn away players in post-Olympics sports boom
- With bulging in-tray, Ishiba becomes Japan PM
- Tokyo recovers some losses to lead Asian markets higher
- Defiant history-maker Zhang Shuai powers into Beijing last eight
- India police detain top activist after month-long climate march
- Matisse retrospective traces journey through artist's career
- Major League Eating: the sport of stuffing your face
- Sacred filth offers India's sex workers brief respect
- Bloomers and flats: Paris Fashion Week's big trends
- Rural schools empty in North Macedonia due to exodus
- Locals toil as experts toast Turkish wine renaissance
- US dockworkers launch strike after labor contract expires
- Thousands evacuated as Super Typhoon Krathon approaches Taiwan
- Indian Kashmir votes in final round of regional polls
- Kenya airport whistleblower fears for his life
- Goff perfect as Lions claw Seahawks, Titans sink Dolphins
- Champions League can put Asian women's football on map, say players
- Vinicius taking control as holders Madrid face Lille
- Bologna living the dream with Champions League clash at Liverpool
- Tokyo recovers some losses as most Asian markets rise
- 'Teflon Mark' Rutte to stick to his guns as NATO chief
- Rutte takes reins at NATO as US vote looms
- Australia look to cement dominance in women's T20 World Cup
- Aston Villa target repeat of 1982 Champions League heroics against Bayern
- Rwandan ex-doctor goes on trial in France accused of genocide
- With bulging in-tray, Ishiba to become Japan PM
- Sheinbaum to take office as Mexico's first woman president
- Scientists fear underfunded Argentina research on verge of collapse
'Intense fighting' as Israel launches Lebanon ground offensive
The Israeli army said its troops were locked in fierce clashes in Lebanon after launching a ground offensive Tuesday, escalating the conflict after a week of air strikes that killed hundreds.
The ground assault came as Israel targeted south Beirut, Damascus and Gaza, despite international calls for restraint to avoid a regional conflagration.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned the fight was far from over, even after a massive strike on Beirut killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday. His death dealt a heavy blow to the Iran-backed group.
The Israeli military said its forces, backed by air strikes and artillery, carried out "targeted ground raids" on Hezbollah positions in settlements along the border.
It said the targets posed an "immediate threat" to northern Israeli communities, and warned Lebanese civilians against driving in a southern zone along the border.
"Intense fighting is taking place in southern Lebanon," army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on Telegram. "For your personal safety, we ask you not to travel by vehicles from the north to the south of the Litani River."
The military had earlier declared a military zone on parts of its border with Lebanon. It said projectiles were fired from Lebanon into the northern Israeli towns of Avivim and Metula.
Hezbollah said it had twice targeted "a movement of enemy soldiers in Metula with artillery shells".
Lebanon's official National News Agency said an Israeli air strike Tuesday on Ain al-Helweh camp killed six people, including Hassan Maqdah, the son of Mounir Maqdah who heads the Lebanese branch of Palestinian group Fatah's armed wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades.
It also reported Israeli shelling of border settlements, killing 10 people from the same family, including at least two children, in Daoudieh village.
- Deadly strikes on Damascus -
As Israel announced its ground raids, Syria's official news agency SANA said the country's air defence systems had intercepted three rounds of strikes in the Damascus area.
State television said anchor Safaa Ahmad was killed "in the Israeli aggression" on Damascus, while SANA reported three civilians killed and nine others wounded.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military, which has carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria in recent years.
There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah following the Israeli army's announcement of the ground raids, but the group's al-Manar television reported the Israeli statement on its Telegram channel.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin late Monday gave Washington's backing to Israel "dismantling attack infrastructure along the border".
Hezbollah previously said it is "ready if Israel decides to enter by land".
US news site Axios cited two Israeli officials saying the military incursion is "targeted and limited in time and scope and is not intended to occupy southern Lebanon".
Lebanon's national army, dwarfed by Hezbollah's military power, was "repositioning" troops farther from the border, a military official told AFP.
World leaders have urged de-escalation, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric saying: "We do not want any sort of ground invasion."
- Israel orders Beirut evacuations -
Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed 95 people on Monday, the health ministry said.
On Monday evening, the Israeli military ordered people in three districts of southern Beirut to evacuate.
"You are located near interests and facilities belonging to the terrorist Hezbollah group... you must evacuate the buildings immediately," Adraee said.
Hezbollah began low intensity strikes on Israeli troops a day after its Palestinian ally Hamas staged its unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, which triggered Israel's devastating assault on the Gaza Strip.
Iran has said Nasrallah's killing would bring about Israel's "destruction", though the foreign ministry said Monday that Tehran would not deploy any fighters to confront Israel.
Austin warned on Monday of "serious consequences for Iran" if Tehran directly attacks Israel.
Following a deadly strike on central Beirut Monday, resident Kahier Bannout, 42, said it was "supposed to be a safe area -- not a war zone".
"Everyone is afraid."
Lebanon's Health Minister Firass Abiad said more than 1,000 people have been killed since September 17.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Tuesday appealed to the United Nations and donor countries for aid for the displaced, whom he previously estimated could be as many as one million people.
- Gaza strikes -
In Gaza, the civil defence authority said Tuesday that Israeli bombardment on homes killed 12 people in the central Nuseirat refugee camp.
Seven others were killed in Israeli strikes on a school sheltering displaced people east of Gaza City.
Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures that include hostages killed in captivity.
Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 41,615 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures provided by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The UN has described the figures as reliable.
burs/jsa/dv
T.Ward--AMWN