braking news Hezbollah leader’s killing

The document presents a series of reports and statements related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon and Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted another airstrike in the Dahiyeh area of Beirut, following multiple strikes in recent days. This strike resulted in the death of a senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Abbas Nilforoushan, along with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and other commanders. Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, vowed that this attack "will not go unanswered," and the Speaker of Iran's Parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, stated that Iran-aligned forces will continue to defy Israel.

The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is dire, with approximately one million people displaced by Israeli attacks, and around 300,000 lacking access to clean water. The aid sector is stretched thin, with limited capacity to respond to the crisis. The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an emergency plan to provide food support, but it only accounts for a fraction of those affected. Lebanon is described as being at a "breaking point" and unable to endure further conflict.

Pope Francis called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon, expressing concern for the escalating conflict and its devastating impact on the population. He also called for the release of hostages and the allowance of humanitarian aid.

The United States reiterated its support for Israel's right to defend itself and its commitment to preventing Iran and its proxies from escalating the conflict. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin emphasized the US's readiness to defend its forces in the region.

In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have killed eight people in the last 24 hours, bringing the death toll since October 7 to over 41,000. The IDF discovered and dismantled a one-kilometer-long underground lair used by Hamas.

The Patriarch of the Maronite Church in Lebanon, Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, condemned the assassination of Nasrallah, calling it a "crack in the heart of the Lebanese" and urging the international community to work towards stopping the cycle of violence. He also criticized the culture of death that has brought only "illusory victories and shameful defeats" to the country.