Israel Hezbollah war highlights: Israel says strike against Iran will be 'lethal, precise and surprising'

Israel Hezbollah war highlights: Israeli defence minister has said that a strike against Iran will be 'lethal, precise and surprising'

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant appeared on Wednesday to say that retaliation against Iran for its missile attack will be "lethal, precise and surprising," in a video published on Israeli media on Wednesday.

After describing Iran's Oct. 1 missile attack as a failure, Gallant said: "Whoever attacks us will be hurt and will pay a price. Our attack will be deadly, precise and above all surprising, they will not understand what happened and how it happened, they will see the results," he said. (Reuters)

Israel Hezbollah war highlights: Biden, Harris spoke with Israel's Netanyahu, says White House

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke Wednesday with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said, as Israel weighs its response to last week's missile attack by Iran.

"This morning, President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel. Vice President Harris also joined the call," the White House said in a statement, adding a readout would be released later. (AFP)

Israel Hezbollah war: Netanyahu begins call with Biden

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held widely anticipated talks with US President Joe Biden by telephone on Wednesday, the premier's office announced.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now in conversation with the President of the United States Joe Biden, at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem," Netanyahu's office said in a statement. (AFP)

Israel Hezbollah war: Biden and Netanyahu set to speak Wednesday -- US source

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to speak Wednesday, a source familiar with the issue said, as Israel weighs up its response to last week's missile attack by Iran.

The scheduled call between the two leaders comes amid reported tensions between their administrations, and would be their first since August 21, a seven-week gap during which Israel also launched an offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel Hezbollah war: Israeli emergency responders say rocket kills two in Kiryat Shmona

Israeli emergency responders said two people were killed Wednesday in a rocket attack on the northern city of Kiryat Shmona, as the army and Lebanon's Hezbollah exchanged fire along the border.

"We found a man and a woman aged around 40 years old, unconscious and injured by shrapnel," said emergency service provider Magen David Adom in a statement.

"We carried out medical examinations, but their injuries were serious and we had to declare them dead on the spot."

The incident is the first involving civilian deaths since Israel sent ground troops into southern Lebanon and began targeting Hezbollah positions with regular air strikes on Beirut.

Kiryat Shmona has been declared a closed military zone because of its proximity to the Lebanese border, and is a frequent target of Hezbollah rocket salvos.

The Israeli military said approximately 20 projectile launches were identified crossing from Lebanon after air raid sirens were activated in Kiryat Shmona.

Israel expanded operations in Lebanon nearly a year after Hezbollah began cross-border fire in support of its ally, Hamas, following the Palestinian group's deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

While battling Hamas in Gaza, Israel has vowed to secure its northern border with Lebanon to allow tens of thousands of Israelis displaced by Hezbollah fire to return home. (AFP)

Israel Hezbollah war: Hezbollah says 'clashes' with Israel troops in south Lebanon

Hezbollah said it was fighting Israeli troops in a border area in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, after announcing it had repelled two previous infiltration attempts near other frontier villages.

The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group fired "rockets and artillery shells", "as Israeli troops tried to advance in the Mays al-Jabal area from several directions", it said. "Clashes are ongoing."

Stabber wounds six in Israel's Hadera, 'neutralised', say Police

Turkey's Erdogan calls Israel a 'Zionist terrorist organisation'

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called Israel a "Zionist terrorist organisation" over its attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, and repeated his criticism of Western powers, namely the United States, over the support given to Israel.

Speaking to lawmakers from his ruling AK Party in parliament, Erdogan also said the cross-border fire between Israel and Iran in recent days had heightened the risk of a regional conflict.

Israel Hezbollah war: Israel police say stabber wounds six in 'terrorist attack'

Israeli police said at least six people were wounded, some seriously according to emergency responders, in a stabbing in four locations of Hadera city, describing it as a "terrorist attack".

"The attack took place on four different sites where six people were stabbed... a short time ago, the police located the suspect and neutralised him by shooting," said a police statement.

"We treated several injured individuals in varying conditions, some of whom were in serious condition," said emergency service provider Magen David Adom. (AFP)

Hezbollah strikes Israel, says it foiled Israeli incursions

Hezbollah launched projectiles into Israeli territory and claimed to have thwarted ground incursions, just a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned that Lebanon could face destruction similar to Gaza. According to US news outlet Axios, citing US officials, Netanyahu is scheduled to discuss Israel's response to last week's missile attack by Iran, Hezbollah's primary supporter, with US President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

Hezbollah stated that it successfully repelled two Israeli attempts to breach border areas, employing rocket-propelled weapons and engaging in ground combat with Israeli soldiers. Israel reported that its air defences intercepted two projectiles fired from Lebanon, triggering sirens in the vicinity of Caesarea, located south of Haifa.

The Israeli military disclosed that on Tuesday, Hezbollah had launched 180 projectiles at Israel, primarily targeting areas around Haifa, as Israel intensified its ground offensive along Lebanon's southern coast. Netanyahu's ominous warning came precisely one year and one day after the commencement of Israel's war against Hamas, an ally of Hezbollah, in Gaza.

"You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza," he said in a video address. "I say to you, the people of Lebanon: Free your country from Hezbollah so that this war can end."

Israel Hezbollah war: Israel says intercepts two projectiles from Lebanon after sirens

The Israeli military said it intercepted two projectiles fired from Lebanon on Wednesday shortly after air raid sirens blared in and around the coastal town of Caesarea, south of Haifa.

Sirens were also sounded elsewhere in northern Israel, a day after the army said the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group had fired 180 projectiles into Israel, mainly at Haifa and the north.

Israel air raid sirens sound in coastal town of Caesarea: Army

Israel on Tuesday shared a video commemorating the October 7 attack by Hamas, which claimed the lives of more than 1,200 people and saw over 100 individuals abducted by the militant group.

Israel said, "One year ago, Iran-backed terrorists launched a war to wipe Israel off the map. They slaughtered more than a thousand innocents and took 251 hostage. Every day since, Israel has been working to bring all the hostages home while protecting its citizens and fighting a multi-front war for its very survival."

Israeli strikes kill at least 12 Palestinians in Gaza, WAFA says

Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 12 Palestinians in northern and central Gaza, including nine members of the same family, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, WAFA, reported early Wednesday.

According to WAFA, the nine family members were killed when their apartment in the Shejaia neighborhood of northern Gaza was targeted. Citing medics from the Palestinian Red Crescent, the report also stated that an Israeli strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza killed three more people, including a child, and left several others wounded.

Biden to speak to Netanyahu about Iran: Axios reports

President Joe Biden is expected to hold a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to discuss potential plans for a strike on Iran, according to a report by Axios, citing three US officials.

"We want to use the call to help shape the limitations of Israeli retaliation," one US official told Axios.

The official also noted that Washington aims to ensure Israel targets significant sites in Iran without resorting to disproportionate actions. The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on the report.

Israel Hezbollah war: Israel says dismantled Hezbollah tunnel that crossed into Israeli territory

The Israeli military announced that its forces have dismantled a Hezbollah tunnel that extended into Israeli territory, as ground operations in southern Lebanon continue. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari shared in a televised briefing, "Tonight we reported that we located and dismantled a tunnel of about 25 metres long, which crossed the border fence about 10 metres ... into Israeli territory," military spokesman Daniel Hagari said in a televised briefing.

"We detected this a few months ago, we identified and investigated it using technological means, we did not let Hezbollah know that we knew about it and now we can confirm that we are also dismantling it."

In a separate statement, the military said the tunnel crossed from the Marwahin area in Lebanon into Israeli territory near the Zarit community. During the operation, the army located weapons, explosive devices and anti-tank missiles in the tunnel, it said.

"The tunnel was under full operational control until the arrival of the soldiers in the area to prevent its use for terrorist activities," the army said.

Israel-Hamas War: Indians in Israel pin hopes on PM Modi to end war

Indians in Israel appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "come forward with his friends" in Russia, Iran and Israel to resolve ongoing conflict in the region. Speaking to ANI, Reena Vinod Pushkarna, an Indian national residing in Israel, said, "If anybody can bring all this situation to an end, it's Modi Ji."

"I request PM Modi ji to come forward with his friends Russia, Iran and Israel to resolve the ongoing conflict in the region," Reena added.

Reena expressed hope that PM Modi can bring peace to the region. She said that she believes that PM Modi's calm and decisive leadership can make a difference.

"India supported Israel morally like another civilian world. PM Modi is not worried about what the world will think about him. He came forward and he wished everybody a new year here. Whether it's a Muslim New Year, he wishes them. Whether it's a Jewish New Year, he wishes them," she said.

"So I feel when somebody says, oh, India is supporting Israel, they are supporting Israel morally, like the rest of the world, like the rest of the civilian world. I feel if Modi Ji comes forward, we will have peace. We will have peace," she added.

Israel Iran war: Netanyahu says Israel has taken out Nasrallah's successors

Israeli forces have taken out the would-be successors of late Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday, without naming them.

"We've degraded Hezbollah's capabilities. We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah's replacement, and the replacement of the replacement," Netanyahu said in a pre-recorded video message.

Earlier, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Hashem Safieddine, the man expected to replace the slain Nasrallah, had probably been "eliminated". It was not immediately clear whom Netanyahu meant by the "replacement of the replacement".

Israel Iran war: Gaza ceasefire is "meaningless" unless a deal is actually reached, says Harris

There has been some progress on a Gaza ceasefire deal but it is "meaningless" unless a deal is actually reached, US Vice President Kamala Harris said during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The full interview with Harris, who faces Donald Trump in next month's presidential election, will air during Tuesday night's edition of the program.

"We must have a ceasefire and a hostage deal as immediately as possible," she said.

Israel Hezbollah war: Israeli strike targets residential building in Syria's Damascus, say state media

Hezbollah calling for a ceasefire shows it is on the back foot: US state dept

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that Israeli forces have successfully targeted and eliminated potential successors to the deceased Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also indicated that Hashem Safieddine, a likely successor, had likely been 'eliminated'. Safieddine, like Nasrallah, is a cleric and has served as the head of Hezbollah's executive council and its military operations body, the Jihad Council.

Netanyahu warns Lebanon faces destruction 'like Gaza'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the people of Lebanon they could face "destruction and suffering" like the Palestinians in war-battered Gaza if they don't "free" the country from Hezbollah.
"You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering like we see in Gaza," Netanyahu said in a video address directed to the people of Lebanon.

"I say to you, the people of Lebanon: Free your country from Hezbollah so that this war can end."

Degraded Hezbollah's capabilities: Israel

"We've degraded Hezbollah's capabilities. We took out thousands of terrorists, including Nasrallah himself and Nasrallah's replacement, and the replacement of the replacement," Netanyahu said in a pre-recorded video message.

Earlier, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Hashem Safieddine, the man expected to replace the slain Nasrallah, had probably been "eliminated". It was not immediately clear whom Netanyahu meant by the "replacement of the replacement".

Israeli military says two launches that crossed the Gaza Strip were detected and intercepted

The Israeli military said on Tuesday it had detected and intercepted two launches crossing the Gaza Strip, shortly after the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad said it had launched rockets towards Sderot in southern Israel. While the country's home front command said that it is tightening restrictions on civilians in haifa area

Hezbollah says repelled Israeli troops who 'infiltrated' near UNIFIL post

Israel's Gallant says it appears Nasrallah's replacement has been eliminated

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Tuesday that it appears that the replacement of slain Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has been eliminated.
Hashem Safieddine, a top Hezbollah official was widely expected to succeed Nasrallah.

Hezbollah Hammers Haifa, Overwhelms Iron Dome With 100+ Missiles; Terrified Israelis 'Run For Life'

Israel Hazbollah war: Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll at 41,965

Israel Iran War: WHO warns of possible Lebanon disease outbreaks as hospitals shut

A World Health Organisation (WHO) official warned of potential disease outbreaks in Lebanon due to overcrowded displacement shelters and hospital closures as medics flee escalating Israeli ground operations against Hezbollah, as per Reuters reports. The conflict, which has killed over 1,000 people in two weeks, has forced the closure of five hospitals, with others partially operational. The risk of diseases like diarrhoea and hepatitis A is increasing. Additionally, the World Food Programme expressed concern over Lebanon's ability to feed itself, as farmland has been destroyed or abandoned due to the hostilities.

Israel Iran War: Iran-backed Houthis Fire New Zulfiqar At Tel Aviv; Ballistic Missile 'Succeeded In Reaching Target'

Israel Iran War: IDF reports 85-rocket barrage fired at Haifa from Lebanon

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that 85 rockets were launched from Lebanon at Haifa, marking the heaviest attack on the coastal city since the conflict began. While interception attempts were made, details on the number of rockets shot down are still under investigation. Although no injuries have been reported, some rockets and shrapnel hit the city, causing damage.

Israel Iran war: Hezbollah deputy chief says supports Lebanon efforts for ceasefire

Naim Qassem, the deputy leader of Hezbollah, expressed the Lebanese militant organisation's backing for ceasefire with Israel on Tuesday. This statement comes following a fortnight of relentless Israeli airstrikes targeting Lebanon.

"We support the political efforts that (Lebanese parliament speaker) Nabih Berri is undertaking towards a ceasefire," he said in a televised speech.

Israel Iran war: Sirens in Haifa, says Israeli military

"Sirens sounding in Haifa exactly a year after Hezbollah started attacking Israelis on October 8," said the IDF.

Israel Iran war: 'More and more Israelis will be displaced from the settlements,' says Hezbollah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Kassem

Sheikh Naim Kassem, the acting leader of Hezbollah, declared in a televised address on Tuesday that the militant group will continue to extend its rocket fire deeper into Israel, displacing even more Israelis. The statement was made on the anniversary of the fighting that escalated into war last month.

Kassem asserted that despite weeks of intense Israeli airstrikes, Hezbollah's capabilities remain intact, and they have replaced senior commanders who were killed in the strikes. "We are firing hundreds of rockets and dozens of drones. A large number of settlements and cities are under the fire of the resistance," he said, adding that their "capabilities are fine and our fighters are deployed along the frontlines."

The acting leader emphasised that Hezbollah's top leadership is directing the war effort and that there are no vacant posts, as the commanders who were slain by Israel have been replaced. He also mentioned that Hezbollah will appoint a new leader to succeed Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on an underground base in Beirut last month, but noted that "the circumstances are difficult because of the war."

Israel Iran war: Hezbollah deputy chief speaks on the ongoing conflict on Lebanese TV

“Our fighters on the front line are solid. What happened over the last 10 days is the pain of the Israelis is increasing. We are telling them, more and more Israelis will be displaced from the settlements. The Israeli plan is to kill Lebanese civilians and empty villages to cause chaos."

Israel Iran war: CIA Director Burns discusses Israel's response to Iran

CIA Director William Burns stated that Israel is carefully considering its response to a recent Iranian missile attack, warning of the risk of unintended escalation in the Middle East. While neither Israel nor Iran seeks full-scale conflict, the situation raises concerns about its impact on global markets. The US supports Israel's right to defend itself, and negotiations with Hamas for the release of hostages remain difficult. President Biden has opposed Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, but Israel’s final decision is unclear.

Israel Iran war: Hezbollah's missile salvo 'blows up' Israel army's artillery - Watch

Israel Iran war: Emirates cancels its flights to and from Iran on Oct. 8

Emirates announced on Tuesday that all flights to and from Iran have been cancelled for October 8. The airline stated that it is closely monitoring the situation in the region and is in communication with the relevant authorities about ongoing developments.

Israel Iran war: Israel army says begins operations against Hezbollah in southwest Lebanon

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Tuesday that it had initiated precision strikes targeting Hezbollah positions and infrastructure in Lebanon's southwestern region. These operations, carried out by the 146th Division, represent an expansion of Israel's ground-based military activities along the Lebanese coast following the deployment of additional troops to the area.

Israel Iran war: Israel says it has killed three Hamas members involved in October 7 attack

"On September 30, 2024, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet carried out a coordinated operation targeting a command and control complex previously known as the "Shagaia" school in Darj Tupah. This facility was used by terrorists to plan and execute attacks against IDF personnel and Israeli citizens. The airstrike resulted in the deaths of several terrorists, including Muhammad Rafai, a member of Hamas’s Gaza division. Rafai was implicated in the brutal massacre on October 7 near Kfar Gaza and Nahal Oz, as well as other attacks against IDF forces and Israeli civilians. In a separate operation on October 1, 2024, in Rafah, the IDF and Shin Bet targeted and eliminated two additional Hamas terrorists, Muhammad Zenon and Bassel Ahars. Both were involved in the October 7 massacre and were actively planning further terrorist activities against Israeli citizens," the Israeli military said in a statement.

Israel Iran war: Israeli troops caught in Al-Qassam's trap; major Hamas ambush & snipers 'kill' soldier | Watch

Israel Iran war: 'Fourth IDF division enters Lebanon,' IDF says

Israel Iran war: Iran warns Israel against attacks, Israel keeps up pressure on Hezbollah

Iran has cautioned Israel against launching any attacks on the Islamic Republic, a week after Tehran fired a volley of missiles at Israel, escalating tensions in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that any attack on Iran's infrastructure would be met with retaliation, serving as a warning to Israel against targeting his country.

The Israeli military has intensified pressure on Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah by eliminating the commander of Hezbollah's headquarters in a strike near Beirut, according to an official statement released on Tuesday. If confirmed, the death of Suhail Hussein Husseini would be a consequence of Israel's strategy of dealing significant blows to Hezbollah and its ally Hamas, which has been engaged in a year-long conflict with Israel in Gaza, by targeting their leaders and commanders.

"In the biggest blow to Hezbollah in decades, Israel killed its leader Hassan Nasrallah with an air strike in Beirut's southern suburbs late last month."

The attacks have raised concerns about the possibility of the United States, Israel's closest ally, and the Islamic Republic of Iran being drawn into a full-scale conflict in the oil-rich Middle East. The tension between long-time adversaries Iran and Israel has reached a boiling point after years of covert warfare and assassinations have escalated into direct confrontations, putting the region on high alert.

Israel has been considering its options for responding to Tehran's ballistic missile attack last week, which was carried out in retaliation for Israel's military action in Lebanon.

Israel Iran war: Any attack on Iran's infrastructure will be faced with retaliation, foreign minister says

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi issued a stern warning to Israel on Tuesday, stating that any offensive action taken against Iranian infrastructure would be met with retaliatory measures. Araqchi emphasized that Iran would not hesitate to respond to such attacks.

Israel Iran war: Trump, Kamala show up in solidarity with Jewish community

As a high-ranking member of Hezbollah's Jihad Council, the group's top leadership body, Husseini was instrumental in supervising Hezbollah's plans in the armed conflict. He played a key role in orchestrating terrorist strikes against Israel, launched from both Lebanese and Syrian territories.

Israel Iran war: Israel says Husseini was in-charge of 'logistics and budgeting of the group's most sensitive projects'

Israel Iran war: Israeli military says commander of Hezbollah HQ killed in Beirut

Israel Iran war: Israel reports another soldier killed in Gaza operations