Israeli defence minister says Hezbollah chief is now 'target for elimination'

DUBAI - Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on  Monday that Hezbollah chief Naim Kassem was now a "target for elimination", after the Iran-aligned militant group fired at  Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 

Israel launched new air strikes targeting Iran and expanded its assault to include attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon on Monday, as Tehran said it launched a new wave of missiles that had "opened the great gates of fire" on Israel.

Israel said it was attacking sites connected to Lebanon's Shiite Muslim Hezbollah militants, one of Tehran's principal allies in the Middle East, after Hezbollah said it launched missiles and drones toward Israel.

Lebanese state news agency NNA said an initial tally showed 31 people had been killed and 149 injured in the strikes, which Israel said targeted Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut. Israel said it also struck senior Hezbollah militants.

The Hezbollah and Israel tit-for-tat attacks, which follow a US-brokered ceasefire in 2024, widen the conflict that has spread through the Middle East since the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday, sending oil prices soaring and snarling air travel.

Israeli's military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said combat operations against Hezbollah could be prolonged, lasting days.

"This requires strong defensive readiness and sustained offensive readiness, operating in continuous waves while constantly utilising opportunities," Zamir said in a statement.