The Guardian – Hezbollah chief vows ‘retribution’ against Israel after wave of attacks
Hezbollah’s leader has vowed “just punishment” against Israel after a wave of explosive attacks in Lebanon, The Guardian reports. It comes just a day after electronic devices exploded killing 37 and injuring thousands – including children.
The ongoing Sue Gray pay row continues to make the front page as ministers have reportedly rallied around Downing Street’s Chief of staff following a leaked report that revealed she earns more than the prime minister.
Israel bombards southern Lebanon after Hezbollah chief vows ‘punishment’
Israeli warplanes carried out dozens of strikes across southern Lebanon late on Thursday, hours after Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, threatened “tough retribution and just punishment” for the wave of attacks that targeted the organisation with explosives hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies.
The Israeli military said it had hit hundreds of rocket launchers which it said were about to be used “in the immediate future”.
The bombardment included more than 52 strikes across southern Lebanon, the country’s state news agency NNA said. Three Lebanese security sources told the Reuters news agency that they were the heaviest aerial strikes since the conflict began in October.
As Israeli jets roared over Beirut in a show of force earlier in the day, Nasrallah threatened retribution against Israel “where it expects it and where it does not”.
‘Appalling’ rows over Sue Gray must stop, senior ministers say
Cabinet ministers have begun rallying around the Downing Street chief of staff, Sue Gray, saying the briefing against her is “appalling” and risks undermining the whole government.
In an attempt to put an end to a series of damaging rows, Keir Starmer denied he had lost grip of his team and insisted he was “completely in control” of his No 10 operation.
Several senior ministers defended Gray after a series of briefings about her pay and her apparently acrimonious relationships with senior colleagues.
Ministers told the Guardian the briefing against her “has to stop”.
Other allies said the role was always the “lightning rod” for discontent within government but that Gray just wanted to get on with the job.
Their intervention follows the revelation by the BBC that Gray had been given a salary of £170,000 – more than Starmer – angering more junior Labour colleagues who had taken a pay cut on entering government.
Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read
Editorial 20 September 2024.
For a third day, the latest developments in the Middle East find a prominent place on the UK front pages. Many of the papers report the latest strike is taking the region a step closer to an ‘all-out war.’
A BBC investigation into Mohammed Al Fayed – the former owner of Harrods – makes several of the front pages. The papers report the BBC’s investigation found more than 20 female ex-employees say Mr Al Fayed sexually assaulted or raped them.
Friday’s papers also feature a dash of domestic politics as the Tory leadership race heats up and speculation over the upcoming Budget continues to cause fear and worry.