Wednesday, October 2, 2024
06:00 GMT — Iran strikes at Israel draw vows of response as region on edge
Iran's chief of staff has vowed to hit infrastructure across Israel if its territory is attacked, after Tehran fired around 200 missiles at its arch-foe, which is carrying out its war in besieged Gaza and striking Lebanon relentlessly.
The barrage "will be repeated with bigger intensity and all infrastructure of the regime will be targeted," Major General Mohammad Bagheri said on state TV.
Bagheri said Tehran showed restraint after US and EU promised Gaza ceasefire following Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh's assasination, adding "the situation was no longer tolerable" after Israel killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Brigadier General Abbas Nilforoushan.
05:39 GMT –– Hezbollah reports 1st direct clash with Israeli ground forces in southern Lebanon
Hezbollah said that its fighters clashed with an Israeli infantry force trying to infiltrate the town of Odaisseh in southern Lebanon.
In a statement, the Lebanese group said it inflicted losses on the Israeli force and forced it to retreat.
It marked the first direct clash between Hezbollah fighters and Israeli forces since Israel launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon on Tuesday.
05:00 GMT –– Bodies of 20 Palestinians recovered in Khan Younis
Bodies of 20 Palestinians were recovered after Israeli attacks on homes in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, a medical source tells Anadolu news agency.
04:41 GMT –– Pentagon chief tells Israel that US is 'well-postured' against Iran
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke to his Israeli counterpart late on Tuesday, hours after Iran's missile attack on Israel following Israel's military campaign in Lebanon, and said Washington was "well-postured" to defend its interests in the Middle East.
"The Secretary (Austin) reaffirmed that the United States remains well postured to defend US personnel, allies, and partners in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations," the Pentagon said in a statement after Austin's call with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
04:10 GMT –– Israel kills 10 Palestinians in Gaza school bombardment
At least 10 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes on an institute in Gaza City that was providing shelter for displaced civilians, according to the Civil Defence Service.
The agency said five people lost their lives when Israeli forces struck Al-Amal Orphanage.
Five more people, including three children, were killed in a strike targeting the Muscat School in Gaza City, a medical source said.
03:22 GMT –– Netanyahu says Iran will 'pay for' missile strikes on Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called Iran's massive missile attack on Israel "a big mistake" and vowed to make Tehran "pay for it".
"Iran made a big mistake tonight and will pay for it," said Netanyahu hours after the attack, and warned: "Whoever attacks us, we attack them."
In a separate statement, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who was at the command and control centre monitoring the interception of Iranian missiles, also vowed to punish Iran for the attack.
02:55 GMT –– Israel launches new air strikes on Beirut
Israel again has launched air strikes in a southern suburb of the Lebanese capital Beirut.
Warplanes carried out strikes in several neighborhoods in southern Beirut, including Haret Hreik, Chyah, Choueifat, Er-Rouaiss and Jamous, according to an Anadolu Agency reporter. No information was immediately available on casualties or damage.
The strikes followed immediately after an ultimatum by the Israeli army to civilians to flee.
02:30 GMT –– Russia says US responsible for the escalation of tensions in the Middle East
Russia has said that the US is responsible for the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, calling the Biden administration’s efforts in the region "a complete failure."
Commenting on Iran's retaliation for the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah by Israel, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the latest White House statements on the matter "demonstrate complete helplessness in crisis resolution."
"The complete failure of the Biden administration in the Middle East. A bloody drama that is only gaining momentum. The White House's inarticulate statements demonstrate complete helplessness in resolving crises. The efforts of (US Secretary of State) Blinken have led to tens of thousands of victims and a stalemate," she said.
02:25 GMT –– Israel orders residents of southern Beirut to flee, bombing begins
The Israeli military warned residents in southern Beirut to flee before launching its strikes on alleged Hezbollah sites in the Lebanese armed group's bastion.
"You are located near dangerous Hezbollah facilities, which the IDF (Israeli military) will act against with force in the near future," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X, specifically mentioning the area of Haret Hreik in south Beirut. Minutes later, Israel began bombing the area.
02:15 GMT –– Israel kills 55 people in Lebanon in 24 hours
Israeli strikes in several regions of Lebanon killed 55 people and wounded 156 in 24 hours, the country's Health Ministry said.
Lebanon's disaster management agency had said earlier that 1,873 people had been killed since Israel and Hezbollah began trading cross-border fire after the Gaza war erupted on October 7, 2023.
02:00 GMT –– Iran warns against any direct military intervention in support of Israel
Iran's armed forces have warned against any direct military intervention in support of Israel in response to Iran's missile attack.
"In the event of direct intervention by countries supporting the regime (Israel)... their centres and interests in the region will also face a powerful attack by the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran," the armed forces said in a statement quoted by Fars news agency.
For our live updates from Tuesday, October 1, 2024, click here.
