Israeli soldiers ready for anything; indications that land war on Lebanon will take place soon; Netanyahu addresses UN

TEL AVIV: Israel with land war threat on Lebanon. An Israeli security official said the land war against Hezbollah would begin soon. He said several Hezbollah militants had been killed in the Israeli attack and that the Iran-backed group's military capability has dropped significantly.

Hezbollah commander Muhammad Hussein Srour, 51, was killed in an Israeli air strike in high-altitude southern Beirut on Thursday. He was the head of Hezbollah's drone unit. Hezbollah had commissioned Srour to train Houthi fighters in Yemen. This is the fourth attack by Israel in southern Beirut, targeting Hezbollah commanders. A few commanders, including Ibrahim Aqil, the head of Hezbollah's Radwan army, were killed.

Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthis launched a missile attack against Israel. Israel's military said that their Arrow air defence system neutralized the missile fired by the Houthis. Israel intercepted the ballistic missile launched from Yemen on Thursday night outside the border.

Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, said he would support Lebanon and Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN. Israel had rejected an agreement proposed by the U.S.-led allies for a cease-fire in Lebanon.

The death toll in the missile strikes in southern Lebanon since Monday has risen to 700. More than 30,000 people have fled Lebanon to Syria in the past 72 hours.

Air strikes

Lebanese Health Minister Firass Abiad said 25 people were killed today in the Israeli air strike in Lebanon. Several Israeli air strikes took place in the Lebanese towns of Karak and Schmeistar, as well as in the Becca Valley. Hezbollah launched a number of rockets against Israel.

Evacuate immediately

The Indian embassy in Beirut has warned Indian nationals to avoid travel to Lebanon as the tension swells. The embassy also asked them to come back home. Countries, including the US, have also recalled their citizens.