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The Israeli military announced Wednesday that eight of its soldiers were killed in fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, a day after it started what it says is a "limited" ground operation to destroy militant infrastructure there.
"We are in the midst of a tough war against Iran's axis of evil that is seeking to destroy us," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message offering his condolences. "It won't happen, for we'll stand together. And with God's help, we'll win together. We'll return our hostages in the south. We'll bring back our residents to the north. We will ensure Netzah [the eternity of] Israel."
Overnight, the Israeli air force carried out fresh strikes in Hezbollah's stronghold in Beirut's southern suburbs.
Tuesday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said at least 55 people had been killed and 156 wounded in Israeli strikes during the 24-hour period. It does not differentiate between militants and civilians.
Iran attacks Israel
Tensions have dramatically escalated in the region since late Tuesday, when Iran unleashed an unprecedented barrage of around 200 ballistic missiles aimed at Israel.
Iran conducted the attack on the eve of the Jewish New Year in retaliation for a series of successful Israeli attacks on its proxies, including the assassinations of Palestinian Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July and the head of Lebanese Hezbollah Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted a message on the social media platform X saying Iran had given a "decisive response to the aggression of the Zionist regime" - a pejorative for Israel.
"This action was in defense of the interests and citizens of Iran. Let Netanyahu know that Iran is not a belligerent, but it stands firmly against any threat. ... Do not enter into a conflict with Iran," Pezeshkian wrote.
U.S. and Israeli officials said Israeli forces aided by U.S. warships intercepted most of the missiles. Videos posted online showed some of the Iranian missiles striking the ground in Israel and exploding. There were no immediate reports of Israeli casualties, but a Palestinian man was killed by falling debris in the West Bank.
Netanyahu warned that Tehran "will pay" for the attack, and his security Cabinet met late Tuesday to discuss possible retaliation.
Some reports have suggested Israel may strike at Iran's oil refineries or even its nuclear sites.
Asked if he would support a strike on Iran's nuclear sites, U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he would not.
"The answer is no," he told reporters after a phone call with G7 leaders. "And I think there's things we'll be discussing with the Israelis - what they're going to do - but all seven of us agree that they have a right to respond, that they should respond in proportion."
UN Security Council meets
In New York, the U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss the worsening situation.
"The raging fires in the Middle East are fast becoming an inferno," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council.
He reiterated his calls for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and a cessation of fighting in Lebanon.
The United Nations has nearly 10,000 peacekeepers in south Lebanon monitoring the border with Israel, and Guterres said they would remain in position despite Israel's request to relocate them.
Lebanon's envoy said Israel's claims that its military incursion into Lebanon is limited are false.
"What Israel is claiming that this is merely limited surgical military operations, this is untrue," Hadi Hachem told the council. "The damages to civilians and the civilian infrastructure are immense."
Council members expressed concern over Iran's missile attack on Israel and Israel's sending of troops into south Lebanon on Tuesday, and they warned that a further escalation could not be tolerated.
"The situation in Lebanon is serious," said French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere. "Military operations are intensifying, the Israeli army has carried out land incursions in violation of Lebanese sovereignty, and Hezbollah is pursuing its attacks against Israel."
He said France is opposed to any Israeli ground operation in Lebanon.
Israel's envoy rejected council calls for de-escalation, saying they only emboldened Iran.
"Iran must pay a heavy price for this attack," said Danny Danon of Iran's missile attack. "Anything less is complicity. Do not be fooled by the fact that Israeli air defenses performed near-miracles last night, saving countless lives beyond imagination."
The U.S. envoy said Iran's attack was "not in any way defensive" and called on council members to impose sanctions on Tehran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, for supporting terrorism.
"There can be no doubt: Iranian support to regional proxies has directly contributed to the crises in Gaza and Lebanon," said Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
Hamas and Hezbollah have been designated as terror groups by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others.
"Let me be clear: The Iranian regime will be held responsible for its actions," Thomas-Greenfield added. "And we strongly warn against Iran - or its proxies - taking actions against the United States, or further actions against Israel."
VOA White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara and VOA reporter Natasha Mozgovaya contributed to this report.