Israeli Strikes Cut Off Key Crossing into Syria Used by Thousands of Lebanese to Flee

Tel Aviv: An Israeli airstrike has cut off a main highway linking Lebanon with Syria. The airstrike led to the closure of a road near the Masnaa Border Crossing, from where tens of thousands of people fleeing war in Lebanon have crossed into Syria over the past two weeks.

Masnaa Border Crossing

The strikes came as Israel was pursuing a ground incursion into Lebanon, while also conducting strikes in Gaza. The Israeli military said nine soldiers have died so far in the conflict in southern Lebanon.

Iran’s foreign minister who is in Beirut and is expected to discuss the war between Israel and Hezbollah with Lebanese officials, days after Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel.

President Biden's Statement

President Biden said he doesn’t expect Israel to retaliate immediately against Iran and rejects the suggestion the U.S. would grant permission for such an attack.

The Israeli military said Friday that a strike in Beirut the day before killed Mohammed Skafi, the head of Hezbollah’s communications division.

The military said in a statement that Skafi was “a senior Hezbollah terrorist who was responsible for the communications unit since 2000" and was “closely affiliated” with high-up Hezbollah officials.

Khamenei's Statement

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was leading Friday prayers and was to deliver a rare public sermon in the Iranian capital, Tehran, that was being watched for signs of what Iran might plan next.

In a 40-minute speech, he praised Tuesday’s missile barrage against Israel as a shining job by Iranian armed forces.

“It will be done in the future again if it becomes necessary,” he said.

There was a commemoration ceremony for the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah beforehand. Most high-ranking Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Revolutionary Guard’s top generals, attended the ceremony.

The airstrike came a day after an Israeli military spokesperson said Hezbollah has been trying to transport military equipment through the border crossing.

Hezbollah is believed to have received much of its weaponry from Iran via Syria. The group has a presence on both sides of the border, a region where it has been fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces.

Japan Evacuating its Citizens

Japan is preparing to evacuate its citizens from Lebanon. The government is also urging those in Iran to leave as soon as possible, while commercial flights are still operating.

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya told reporters Friday that Japan’s embassy in Iran renewed its safety advisory to Japanese nationals this week after Iran fired missiles into Israel.