Live Updates: Iran’s FM in Lebanon as Israel deepens its assault on Beirut's southern suburbs

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Lebanon’s capital Beirut on Friday, days after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a barrage of missiles at Israel and after the Israeli army began a ground invasion in southern Lebanon, the first such operation in 18 years.

Israel says its ground operation is “limited” and aimed to clear Hezbollah militants from the area between its border and the Litani river. The invasion coincides with extensive Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah commanders and infrastructure. Heavy airstrikes hit Hezbollah’s stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut around midnight on Thursday, reportedly targeting Hashem Safieddine, the potential successor of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah who was killed last Friday in a similar strike in Dahiyeh. The Israeli army and Hezbollah have yet to comment on the reports of Safieddine’s targeting.

Meanwhile, thousands of people attended a ceremony in Tehran on Friday to commemorate Nasrallah. The ceremony was followed by Friday prayers at the Imam Khomeini Grand Mosalla Mosque in central Tehran. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei led the prayers, for the first time since the killing of Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad in January 2020.

In his sermon, Khamenei hailed Iran’s “brilliant” action against Israel, in reference to the missile attack, saying it was “legal and legitimate.”

Israel has vowed to retaliate after Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles at the Jewish state Tuesday night on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.