Mid-East Tensions: Eight IDF Soldiers Killed In Lebanon; Hamas Behind Jaffa Mass Shooting | Highlights

• Adding to the escalating war situation in the Middle East, Iran in afresh salvo fired a barrage of missiles at Israel on Tuesday, sending Israelis diving into shelters. However, no immediate report of casualties were there.

• While Israel claimed its extensive defence repertoire has intercepted many of the missiles, Iran's Paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said 90 per cent of missiles it launched against Israel hit their targets successfully.

• While confirming the attack on Israel, Iran referenced the recent deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Gen. Abbas Nilforushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike. Iran's official statement also mentioned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader of Hamas in Tehran in July.

Commenting on the assisting the Israeli forces in intercepting the Iranian Missiles, US President Joe Biden said, "At my direction, the United States military actively supported the defence of Israel. We are still assessing the impact but, based on what we know, the attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective and this is a testament to Israeli military capability… (It is) also a testament to intensive planning (between) the United States and Israel to anticipate and defend against a brazen attack."

Further reaffirming their strong support for Israel, the president said, "Make no mistake, the United States is fully supportive of Israel. And I just spent the morning and part of the afternoon in the situation room, meeting with my whole national security team… The national security team, as I said, is in constant contact with Israeli officials and counterparts..."

National Security Advisor to President Biden, Jake Sullivan says, "Today, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles towards targets in Israel. The United States military coordinated closely with the Israeli Defense Forces to help defend Israel against this attack. US naval destroyers joined Israeli Air Defense units in firing interceptors to shoot down inbound missiles. President Biden and Vice President Harris monitored the attack and the response from the White House Situation Room, joined in person and remotely by their national security team."

"We are still working with the IDF and the authorities in Israel to assess the impact of the attack. But at this time, we do not know of any deaths in Israel. We are tracking the reported death of a Palestinian civilian in Jericho in the West Bank. We do not know of any damage to aircraft or strategic military assets in Israel... This attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective. This was first and foremost the result of the professionalism of the IDF, but in no small part because of the skilled work of the US military and meticulous joint planning in anticipation of the attack."

Social media platforms and Iranian TV stations are flooded with footage of missiles being launched in the darkness from unidentified locations in Iran. Iranian state television, long controlled by hard-liners, also aired images of people in Arak, Qom and Tehran celebrating Iran's missile attack in Israel.

According to Iran's official statement, the attack targeted air and radar bases as well as security apparatus that planned the killing of senior Hamas and Hezbollah figures.

Taking cognisance of the constantly escalating conflicts in the Middle East, United Nations General Secretary Antonion Gueterres on Tuesday said," I condemn the broadening of the Middle East conflict with escalation after escalation. This must stop. We absolutely need a ceasefire."

According to Israeli police, at least six people were killed in a shooting attack in Tel Aviv's Jaffa on Tuesday evening. Police said two suspects opened fire on a boulevard in the Jaffa neighbourhood in southern Tel Aviv. The two suspects were killed, police said.

The attack came moments before a massive barrage of rockets from Iran towards Israel, sending people towards bomb shelters across the country, including in Tel Aviv.

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In light of the rising tension following the Iranian missile attacks, the Indian Embassy in Tel Aviv issued an advisory for Indian nationals in Israel.

"Please exercise caution, avoid unnecessary travel within the country and stay close to the safety shelters. The Embassy is closely monitoring the situatiuon and remains in regular touch with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all our nationals," the advisory read.

"Following the situational assessment, it was decided that it is now permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas across the country," the embassy said in a separate statement.

Vowing retaliation against Iran for its missile barrage on Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday said, "Iran made a big mistake tonight and it will pay for it. Whoever attacks us, we attack them", he said.

Netanyahu further underlined that the missile attack was a failure and that Iran would soon learn a painful lesson just as its enemies in Gaza, Lebanon and other places have learned.

Further highlighting the skill and bravery of the US troops, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US intercepted multiple missiles launched by Iran towards Israel.

“We condemn this outrageous act of aggression by Iran, and we call on Iran to halt any further attacks, including from its proxy terrorist groups,” he says in a statement.

“I am deeply proud of the skill and the bravery of the US troops who helped to save lives today from Iran’s assault and who continue to support Israel’s defence and to prevent a widening conflict or escalation”, he added.

Terming it a “dangerous escalation”, Asutralian PM Anthony Albanese said, “Australia condemns Iran’s missile attack on Israel. This is an extremely dangerous escalation – Australia and the global community have been clear in our calls for de-escalation,” the Australian prime minister said in a social media post.

“Further hostilities put civilians at risk. We are monitoring the situation closely and encourage Australians in Israel to follow the advice of local authorities.”

United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based airlines FlyDubai temporarily cancelled flights to Jordan, Iraq, Iran, and Israel on Wednesday and Thursdayin view of the escalation in Israel.

Israel on Tuesday reopened its airspace after the country's airport authority briefly closed airspace to incoming flights during Tuesday's attack. But after the army said the threat had passed, the authority said flights were operating as normal again.

As fragments of the ballistic missiles fell on Jordan which lies on the east of Israel, three people were injured, said a government spokesman. State-run Al-Mamlaka TV reported that a two-metre-long missile fragment fell in the Al-Suwaniyah area while another piece fell on a roof.

According to the Jordanian Minister of Government Communication Mohammad Momani, shrapnel fell in several different regions, However, and no serious injuries were reported.

"Protecting Jordan and Jordanians is our first responsibility," he said, adding that Jordan will not become a battleground.

Following Israeli PM Netanyahu's vow to retaliate, Iran’s armed forces joint chief Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri on Wednesday has threatened to target Israel's’ infrastructure, if it takes any further retaliatory action against Tehran.

"If [Israel]... wants to continue these crimes or wants to do anything against our sovereignty and territorial integrity, tonight's operation will be repeated several times stronger and all their infrastructure will be targeted,” Bagheri said earlier.

Amid Iran's massive missile attack on Tuesday, the Israeli Air Force on Wednesday launched a fresh attack on Hamas "command and control complex" in Gaza. According to the Israeli forces, the former Al-Bureij Preparatory School was being used by Hamas to plot attacks on Israel.

Separately, at least nine people were killed and 20 were injured in an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza, However, it is not immediately clear if the report was referring to the same school.

In light of the escalating tensions in the region, several airlines have extended their suspension of flights to and from Israel and Lebanon.

• As per reports, Dutch airline KLM suspended its flights to Tel Aviv till the end of the year given the situation in the region.

• German airline Lufthansa suspended flights to Beirut till November 30, to Tel Aviv until October 31 and to Tehran till October 14.

• Emirates reportedly cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Iran and Jordan scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday amid rising tensions in the Middle East

• Iran Air, Iraqi Airways, Bahrain-based Gulf Air and Doha-based Qatar Airways suspended all flights to Beirut until further notice.
  

According to Reuters, two blasts were reported in the vicinity of Israel's embassy in the northern outskirts of Copenhagen on Wednesday. Currebtly, an investigation is underway by Danish police.

"No one has been injured, and we are carrying out initial investigations at the scene," Copenhagen police said on social media platform X.

A large area was cordoned off amid heavy police presence, according to local media reports.

Palestinian medical officials said Wednesday that at least 32 people have been killed in Israeli strikes in southern Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

The European Hospital in Khan Younis said it received the bodies after heavy Israeli airstrikes and ground operations in the city overnight and into Wednesday.

(Via AP)

Hezbollah on Wednesday claimed it carried out a series of attacks against Israel this morning, including a rocket attack on an Israeli military barracks. However, Israel has not yet commented on Hezbollah's claims.

In three attacks that occurred between 07:15 to 07:20 local time, missiles struck Israeli troops gathered in the settlements of Shtula and Maskaf Am and "a gathering of the Israeli enemy forces in the Shomera barracks", according to statements released Hezbollah in the last few minutes.

In view of the soaring tension in the Middle-Eastern region, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday issued a travel advisory for Indian regarding travel to Iran.

" We are closely monitoring the recent escalation in security situation in the region. Indian nationals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran. Those currently residing in Iran are requested to remain vigilant and stay in contact with Indian Embassy in Tehran", the advisory read.

Taking into cognisance the enormity of the ongoing conflict in West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday issued an official statement.

"We are deeply concerned at the escalation of security Situation in West Asia and reiterate our call for restraint by all concerned and protection of civilians", the statement read.

"It is important that the conflict doesn't take a wider regional dimension and we urge that all issues be addressed through dialogue and diplomace are deeply concerned at the escalation of security Situation in West Asia and reiterate our call for restraint by all concerned and protection of civilians", it added.

The Israeli military on Wednesday issued a fresh warning to people to evacuate another 24 villages across southern Lebanon.

These villages are in a United Nations-declared buffer zone established after Israel and Hezbollah fought their last war in 2006.

Parallelly with Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah's deadly conflict, Iran on October 1 launched hundreds of missiles at Israel, taking the the Middle East region close towards a broader war. Israel's military said it identified 180 missiles launched from Iran shortly after 7:30 pm on Thursday, triggering sirens across the country, and sending Israelis in protected areas.

An Israeli security official said that in cooperation with the US, the Israeli Air Force intercepted many of the missiles, though there some direct hits damaging buildings and igniting some fires.

Israel, a country for which missile attacks are not uncommon, intercepts such salvos with its sophisticated defence system. In an attack that Hezbollah claimed to target Israeli intelligence unit Mossad using Qader-1 missile, Israel used advanced David's Sling defense system to intercept the weapon. Not just this, famed Israeli air defense systems 'Iron Dome' and 'Arrow' have swung into action multiple times, detecting most of the projectiles flying in from the Iranian side. READ MORE

The Israeli military on Wednesday warned people to evacuate another 24 villages across southern Lebanon, according to an Associated Press report. The warning on Wednesday came days after the military launched what it said were limited ground operations near the border to combat the Hezbollah militant group.

The villages are in a UN-declared buffer zone established after Israel and Hezbollah fought their last war in 2006.

Police in Indian capital city of Delhi has beefed up security around the Israel Embassy in Tughlak Road area after the tension increased in the Middle East.

A senior Delhi Police officer, cited in a news agency PTI report, said the checking has been intensified with the deployment of more security personnel around the Israel Embassy located at Tughlak Road area.

The officer said a multi-layered security has already been put in place with several CCTV cameras installed around both structures as the embassy has witnessed blasts twice earlier, though no one was injured in any of the incidents.

Gaza's Health Ministry said on Wednesday that at least 51 people have been killed and another 82 injured in a large Israeli air and ground operation in the southern city of Khan Younis.

Israel's military has not commented on the alleged operation, which is said to have begun early Wednesday. Palestinian residents say ground forces pushed into three neighbourhoods.

Iran shrugged off its strategic patience on Tuesday and fired around 200 ballistic missiles towards Israel, triggering fears of a massive escalation of the ongoing war in an already volatile region. Following the firing, Netanyahu said, “Iran has made a big mistake and it will have to pay a price for it.” As Hamas and Hezbollah have both learnt, Israel’s retaliation can be devastating.

The missiles did not do much damage despite the claims of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Most of them were intercepted by both the Israeli air defence as well as firing from US naval destroyers deployed in the area. Israel and the US have said there would be “consequences” to the Iranian action. The already complicated situation in West Asia has taken a critical turn with Iran’s action even though the damage, according to initial reports, was minimal. Ironically, the only death reported is that of a Palestinian resident in Jericho in the Occupied West Bank. Unlike Israeli nationals who rushed to bomb shelters in place across the country, Palestinians do not have that luxury. READ FULL REPORT

Israel's foreign minister says UN chief will not be allowed to enter the country, accusing him of anti-Israel bias, reports Associated Press.

The head of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah’s media office, Mohammad Afif, said on Wednesday that the group has enough fighters, weapons and ammunition to push back Israel, according to Al Jazeera.

Speaking to reporters in an area hit by Israeli raids in southern Lebanon, Afif said Israel’s air superiority will “turn into losses on the ground”.

The top leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, was assassinated on September 27 when Israeli Air Force’s 119th Squadron of F-161 fighters dropped about 80 bombs (including US-made 5000-pound or 2,300kg of bunker-busters) over several minutes in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiya. According to the New York Times, the explosions flattened six buildings in the Haret Hreik area of the capital’s busy Shia suburb while Hezbollah leaders were meeting at the headquarters beneath residential buildings. The most heavily armed non-state group in the world was caught completely unawares and incapable of firing back at the jets. 

The Israeli military operation, codenamed ‘New Order’, caused 33 fatalities and about 200 injuries. Those killed along with Nasrallah included Ali Karaki, the Commander of Hezbollah's Southern Front; as well as Abbas Nilforoushan, deputy commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and commander of the Quds Force in Lebanon. The killing of Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s secretary general, is deemed a major setback for many anti-Israeli forces in the region, as the cleric also led Iran’s so-called ‘Axis of Resistance’ (Mi?war al-Muqawamah) after the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, Iran’s former IRGC chief. The ‘Axis’ is said to include the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Syrian government, Lebanese Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthi militants, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups. READ FULL REPORT

Hezbollah, Lebanon's most powerful armed force, is a close ally and a proxy of Iran, which supports Palestinian groups like Hamas. Iran had threatened to retaliate for the killing of a senior Palestinian militant group Hamas's leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in an explosion in Iran's Tehran in July that was widely blamed on Israel, which has not said whether it was involved. Later Israeli military claimed responsibility for a targeted strike that killed one of Hezbollah's founding members Fouad Shukur in July itself. Iran's proxies, Houthis in Yemen as well as Hezbollah and other Iranian-backed groups, are also called the “axis of resistance.”

The Lebanese army says Israeli forces breached approximately 400 meters into Lebanese territory on Wednesday and then withdrew “after a short period.”

The statement was the first official acknowledgement from Beirut that Israeli forces have carried out a ground incursion into Lebanon.

Earlier in the day, Hezbollah's chief spokesman, Mohammed Afif, told reporters touring sites of Israeli airstrikes in Beirut's southern suburbs that Hezbollah had “fought a heroic battle this morning” in the southern villages of Odaisseh and Maroun al-Ras against Israeli soldiers who launched a ground incursion into Lebanon.

Following Iran’s missile attack on Israel on Tuesday night, the situation remains tense in the Middle East and West Asia region. With the threat of a regional war looming, nations across the world, including India, have called for restraint and an urgent cessation of all hostilities.

Iran’s attack on Tuesday, as per the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp, was a response to the recent Israeli killing of two of its commanders and several militant leaders such as Ismail Haniyeh, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and more.

However, before the attack from Tehran, Iran’s proxy groups - Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthis in Yemen - intensified their attacks against Israel, as part of the spillover from the war in Gaza, which started on October 7, 2023. READ MORE

Following Iran's attack on Israel on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation and called for an immediate ceasefire. However, as the UN chief did not condemn Iran directly, Israel has declared the Secretary General as "persona non grata".

Israeli military has reported that one of its soldiers was killed in combat operations in Lebanon on Wednesday, marking the first loss since the IDF crossed the border to target Hezbollah.

"Captain Eitan Itzhak Oster, aged 22... fell during combat in Lebanon," the military said in a statement, without providing any other details.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, held a meeting with security chiefs including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the head of the armed forces, Herzi Halevi.

During an address on late Tuesday, the Israel PM pledged to retaliate against Iran following its missile attack on Israel.

As per the Danihs police, the two blasts on Wednesday near the Israel embassy were likely caused by hand grenades.

“Two explosions occurred at 3:20 am at the Israeli embassy. It is our preliminary assessment that it was due to two hand grenades,” said Jens Jespersen of Copenhagen police tells a press conference, adding that three young Swedes had been arrested.

Israeli troops have reportedly entered southern Lebanon as they continue their ground incursion of Lebanon. As per reports, clashes have been reported on the ground with Hezbollah fighters.

Israel's combat losses in Lebanon have risen to eight, according to the Israeli military. The army reported that clashes with Hezbollah fighters intensified after crossing the border to strike the group's positions in southern Lebanon.

“The IDF (Israeli army) announced that seven more soldiers have fallen,” the statement said, following the earlier announcement of one soldier's death in Lebanon earlier in the day.

Three civilians were killed and nine others were injured after an alleged Israeli airstrike on the Syrian capital Damascus on Tuesday.

As per state media, one of the presenters of Syrian state television was killed in an Israeli strike on Damascus.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict in the region. As Israel intensifies its attacks against militant group Hezbollah, the caretaker PM said a total of 1.2 million Lebanese citizens have been displaced due to Israel's bombardment.

As Israel continues its operation in Lebanon against Hezbollah, the IDF reported eight deaths of soldiers. In a video message, Israeli PM Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers.

The Israeli PM further added that Israel will continue to fight against Iran's axis of evil and until the Israeli hostages are returned safely.

“I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to the families of our heroes who fell today in Lebanon, may God avenge them, and may their memories be a blessing,” he said.

“We are in the middle of a tough war against Iran’s axis of evil, which seeks to destroy us. This will not happen,” Netanyahu continues, “because we will stand together, and with God’s help — we will win together.”

“We will rescue our hostages in the south, we will return our residents in the north, we will guarantee Israel’s eternity,” Netanyahu added further.

The French embassy in Iran has called on all French nationals who are permanent residents in Tehran to leave the country temporarily as soon as international air traffic resumes. This warning comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.

Along with this, the embassy has also called on citizens visiting Iran to cancel their plans and leave the country immediately.

Hamas has taken responsibility for the deadly terror attack in Jaffa on Tuesdya night. The mass shooting in the Israeli capital of Tel Aviv left seven people dead and another 16 injured.

Hamas confirmed that the two terrorists who carried out the attack, Mohammad Mesek and Ahmed Himouni from Hebron, are members of the terror group.

Six of the seven victims have been named as Revital Bronstein, 24, Ilia Nozadze, 42, Shahar Goldman, 30, Inbar Segev Vigder, 33, Nadia Sokolenco, 40, and Jonas Chrosis, 26.

Thank you for joining us for the live coverage of the tensions in the Middle East. As we close this live blog, here is a look at the top developments of the day -

• Israel has stated it will respond to Iran's attack at a "time and place" of Tel Aviv's choosing. Israeli PM Netanyahu vowed to make Iran regret attacking Israel.

• The US also backed Israel and stated that Iran will face "serious consequences" for launching an unprecedented attack against Israel. The US at the UN also called for support for more sanctions against Tehran.

• Israel reported its first losses from the ongoing conflict in Lebanon. As per the IDF, a total of eight Israeli soldiers have been killed in the clashes with Hezbollah.

• Hamas, the militant group from Gaza, has claimed responsibility for the terror attack on Tuesday night in Jaffa in south Tel Aviv.