Netanyahu’s statement came hours after Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei made his first public comment since the Israeli airstrikes on his country early Saturday. (File)Israel-Iran Conflict: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel hit hard at “Iran’s defence capabilities and its ability to produce missiles that are aimed at us.” His statement came hours after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei made his first public comment since the Israeli airstrikes on his country early Saturday, saying the “malignant” attack “should not be exaggerated nor downplayed.” Speaking to the families of four slain members of the Iranian military, Khameinei said, “It would be wrong for us to say that it was nothing and it did not matter,” adding that Israel tried to exaggerate the impact of the airstrikes.
Israel’s onslaught in Iran: Satellite imagery shows Israeli strikes on Saturday caused damage to Iranian sites used for mixing solid fuel for ballistic missiles, Reuters reported, citing two researchers. The officials said that Israel struck Parchin, a massive military complex near Tehran. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier that it had completed a series of airstrikes against Iranian military sites, termed “Days of Repentance”, claiming the lives of two soldiers. The IDF added that it hit around 20 targets including Iran’s missile manufacturing facilities, surface-to-air missile storage sites, and other sites of military importance.
How did India react? India on Saturday expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in West Asia, urging the involved parties to “exercise restraint and return to dialogue”. It said the ongoing hostilities are to nobody’s benefit, even as innocent hostages and civilian populations continue to suffer.
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The social media platform X has suspended the hebrew account of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, just a day after it was opened.
A note on his suspended account @Khamenei_Heb on X shows that the action has been taken after the account flouted X rules.
Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in Dahiyeh, Beirut, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP Photo)
At least 53 people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza on Sunday, the Palestinian health ministry has stated.
Out of the 53 casualties, 46 of them died in the northern region as Israel tightened its siege with bombings on residential areas and mass arrests.
At least 19 people were killed while 108 others were left injured in Israeli air strikes in Lebanon on Saturday, the health ministry of Lebanon said.
The breakup of casualties provided by the Lebanon's health ministry is as follows:
A ceasefire and hostage deal talks have started in Doha, according to a report by CNN which quoted a diplomat familiar with the situation.
According to reports, negotiators from the United States, Israel and Qatar were bound to meet in Doha on Sunday to discuss the negotiations and reach an agreement.
Earlier, Egypt proposed a ceasefire deal on Sunday in order to get four Israeli hostages released from Gaza in exchange for a few Palestinians prisoners held in Tel Aviv.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that it does not seek war with Israel but will respond to Israel’s airstrikes at military sites “appropriately”.
“We do not seek war but we will defend the rights of our nation and country. We will give an appropriate response to the aggression of the Zionist regime,” Pezeshkian told a cabinet meeting on Sunday.
The United States said that it is concerned that this tit-for-tat strategy between the military powers of the Middle East could turn into a full fledged regional war.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said, “It is up to the authorities to determine how to convey the power and will of the Iranian people to the Israeli regime and to take actions that serve the interests of this nation and country.”
During Israel's airstrike in Iran on Saturday, a few warplanes allegedly breached the airspace of Iran, a former and a current Israeli official told CNN.
As per the report, around 100 Israeli warplanes participated in the strike though not all the planes breached the Iranian airspace.
Israel’s strike was a response to Iran’s large scale missile attack on Tel Aviv on October 1, leading to growing tensions in the Middle East of a full fledged regional war.
After Israel launched its barrage of attacks on Iran's military sites on Saturday, a civilian was killed in the attack which brought the death toll from the attack to 5.
Four Iranian military personnel lost their lives in the attack, according to the country’s state-run news agency, IRNA.
A stream of refugees fleeing Lebanon to Syria crossed a narrow makeshift bridge on foot Sunday in the Qusair area of Syria’s Homs province after the official border crossing was put out of commission by an Israeli strike two days earlier. Only three functioning crossings remain between the countries, which share a border 375 kilometers (233 mi) long. In late September, an Israeli airstrike hit the border crossing of Matraba in Lebanon’s northeast, forcing it to close.
A few weeks later came a strike on Masnaa, the main crossing between the two countries, putting it out of service. The Jousieh crossing was struck on Friday. The Israeli military has accused the Hezbollah militant group of using the crossings to move weapons and military equipment from Syria to Lebanon. But humanitarian officials say that the closure of the crossings have intensified an already severe humanitarian crisis by blocking key routes for supplies and impeding access for those fleeing to safety.
“The situation is a tragedy,” said Ghossoun Mubarak, who fled with her three children from the city of Baalbek in eastern Lebanon, describing the bombardment that pushed her to leave her home.
(Associated Press)
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in an update have said that the Israeli military destroyed a staging area belonging to Hezbollah's elite Radwan force, as the hostilities between Iran backed Hezbollah militant group and Israel continued in Lebanon.
The Israeli military, in a statement said, “The staging area included "command posts, numerous weapons and underground infrastructure,” as reported by BBC.
Further adding to the statement, the IDF said that it also destroyed and neutralized about 150 pieces of "terrorist infrastructure" and Hezbollah headquarters during the last week.
Britain's foreign minister David Lammy has said that he spoke separately to his Israeli and Iranian counterparts on Sunday to avoid the “catastrophic” regional war after Israel launched a barrage of attacks on Iran’s military site.
After Israel’s attack on Saturday at Iran’s military site, Lammy in a statement on Sunday evening said, “Today I held important calls with Israeli FM (Israel Katz) and Iranian FM (Abbas Araghchi). The UK continues to press for de-escalation and an end to the conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza.”
Lammy further said that a regional war at this juncture would be catastrophic and would be in no one’s interest.
Three journalists were killed in Lebanon by an Israeli strike on Friday morning, drawing condemnation from rights advocates about the number of reporters who have lost their lives in the region over the past year. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it "strongly condemned" the attack, urging the international community to "stop Israel's long-standing pattern of impunity in journalist killings".
The strike around 3 am local time hit a collection of guesthouses housing only reporters in the southern Lebanese town of Hasbaya, killing two journalists from the Al-Mayadeen television network and one journalist from Al-Manar.
Muhammad Farhat, a reporter with Lebanese broadcaster Al-Jadeed, was one of at least 18 journalists staying at the guesthouses in Hasbaya.
There was no evacuation order by Israel's military. Farhat told Reuters he had been woken up by the sound of Israeli jets flying low overhead and heard two missiles strike nearby guesthouses before the roof of his guesthouse collapsed on him.
"The scenes were terrifying. We saw our colleagues and friends cut up, their limbs strewn all over, others were screaming and begging us to pull them out," Farhat said later on Al-Jadeed, tears in his eyes.
(Reuters)
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has announced the killing of two Israeli soldiers, one in southern Lebanon and one following injuries obtained in northern Gaza.
During the combat, a 47 year old Sergeant fell during the combat in southern Lebanon yesterday and another 22 year old Staff Sergeant died after he was injured during an on October 18 in Gaza, the IDF said in a statement.
At an October 7 memorial ceremony in Jerusalem, relatives of those killed during the Hamas militant group’s attack in Israel interrupted PM Benjamin Netanyahu during his live telecast speech.
According to a report by the Times of Israel, Netanyahu can be seen standing silently in the broadcast while a few relatives of the victims, who were not visible, shouted “Shame on you”. A person shouted “my father was killed”, according to AFP.
Around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 people were taken hostage by Hamas in a surprise attack on October 7, 2023 which led to the multiple hostilities in the Middle East region.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has proposed a two day ceasefire in Gaza in order to exchange four Israeli hostages with a few Palestinian prisoners.
Iran is not looking for war but will give an "appropriate response" to Israel's recent attack, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday, news agency Reuters reported, citing state media.
US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Sunday she was not concerned about talks between former President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and reiterated her positions on the conflict in the Middle East.
"No," Harris said when asked if she felt that talks between Trump and Netanyahu could undermine what the current US government is trying to achieve, news agency Reuters reported.
Israeli attacks across Gaza have killed at least 180 journalists and media workers since last October, according to an Al Jazeera report.
The United Nations Security Council is expected to meet on Monday to discuss Israel's attack on Iran, diplomats said on Sunday.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called on the Security Council to meet over the attack and diplomats said the council was likely to discuss the situation on Monday.
“Israeli regime's actions constitute a grave threat to international peace and security and further destabilize an already fragile region," Araqchi said in a letter to the 15-member council on Saturday.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran, in alignment with the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and under international law, reserves its inherent right to legal and legitimate response to these criminal attacks at the appropriate time,” he wrote.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed “to all parties to cease all military actions, including in Gaza and Lebanon, exert maximum efforts to prevent an all-out regional war and return to the path of diplomacy,” his spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday.
(Reuters)
Protesters in Israel disrupt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech marking Oct. 7 attacks, chanting 'shame on you!', news agency AP reported.
Iran reserves the right to respond to Israel's "criminal aggression", Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told the United Nations Secretary-General in a letter calling for an urgent Security Council meeting, Iran's foreign ministry said on Sunday.
(Reuters)
At least two people were killed and 11 injured in an Israeli strike on Sidon (Saida) in southern Lebanon, the country's health ministry said on Sunday.
Hezbollah said it fired rockets at a military base in northern Israel on Sunday, a day after it declared several areas in the region a “legitimate target” due to the presence of Israeli troops, according to a Guardian report.
The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group said it launched a large rocket salvo at a military base north of Haifa after issuing evacuation warnings for parts of northern Israel.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant briefed US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on the success of Israel's strikes on Iran and discussed "strategic opportunities" that may have arisen, Gallant's office said on Sunday.
"Gallant discussed initial assessments regarding the success of the strikes against missile manufacturing facilities, surface-to-air missile arrays, and Iranian aerial capabilities," it said.
"Minister Gallant also discussed the strategic opportunities that have risen as a result of operational achievements, in both the northern and southern arenas," the statement said, referring to fighting in Lebanon and Gaza.
(With inputs from Reuters)
The directors of the CIA and Israel's Mossad will meet Qatar's prime minister in Doha on Sunday to begin negotiations for a new short-term Gaza ceasefire deal and the release of some hostages by Hamas in exchange for Israel's release of Palestinian prisoners, news agency Reuters reported, citing sources.
The talks aim to get Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza that would last less than a month, with the hope that it would lead to a more permanent agreement, the official said. The details of which or how many hostages and prisoners would be released as part of the deal is not yet clear, the official said.
(With inputs from Reuters)
The Israeli military urged residents of 14 villages in southern Lebanon on Sunday to evacuate immediately and move north of the Awali River.
In a post on X, Israeli military’s Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned that Hezbollah elements, facilities, or weapons are nearby, and those who stay risk being killed.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has repeatedly issued evacuation orders during its attacks on Lebanon over the last month.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday that Iran is no longer able to effectively use its proxies Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon against Israel.
"Over the past year, the security establishment led by the Israel Defense Forces turned the tide of the war and had unprecedented achievements in all arenas of fighting," he said.
Gallant said Hamas was no longer functioning as a military network in Gaza, while Hezbollah's senior command and most of its missile capabilities had been wiped out, adding that both groups "are no longer an effective tool" to be used by Iran.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Sunday said that his country hit hard at Iran's ability to defend itself and to produce missiles when Israel launched airstrikes early Saturday targeting military sites in Iran in response to several attacks by Tehran on Tel Aviv.
"The air force attacked throughout Iran. We hit hard Iran's defence capabilities and its ability to produce missiles that are aimed at us," Netanyahu said in a speech, as quoted by news agency Reuters.
"The attack in Iran was precise and powerful, and it achieved all its objectives," he said.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first public comments since the Israeli airstrikes on his country early Saturday, told the families of four slain members of the Iranian military that the "malignant" attack “should not be exaggerated nor downplayed,” an Al Jazeera report said.
“It would be wrong for us to say that it was nothing and it did not matter,” Khamenei said, adding that Israel has tried to exaggerate the impact of the airstrikes.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Khameinei said, "The Zionist regime made a wrong move two nights ago. We must make them understand the power, determination, and initiative of the Iranian people."
He added, "Zionists don't know Iran. They still haven't been able to correctly understand the power, initiative, and determination of the Iranian people."
At least three people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Zawtar Al Sharkiya in southern Lebanon, the country's health ministry said on Sunday, adding that an airstrike on Marjayoun the previous day resulted in five fatalities and one injury, news agency Reuters reported.
Iran's supreme leader said Sunday that Israel's attack on Iran this weekend “should not be exaggerated nor downplayed,” though he stopped short of calling for retaliation, reported AP.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's remarks suggest Iran is carefully weighing its response to the attack.
The Israeli military said it carried out a precise strike on militants in a structure in Beit Lahiya and took steps to avoid harming civilians. It disputed what it said were “numbers published by the media,” without elaborating or providing evidence for its own account, reported AP.
Israel is still carrying out daily strikes across Gaza, even as it wages and air and ground war with the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
An Israeli airstrike on a southern neighbourhood of Beirut sent flames and smoke climbing into the air early Sunday.
AP is reporting Palestinian officials as saying that latest Israeli strikes in northern Gaza have killed 22 people. Gaza Health Ministry's emergency service are saying that 11 women and two children were among those killed in the strikes in the northern town of Beit Lahiya.
Besides India and the US, world leaders from UK, France, among other places expressed concern over the war in West Asia.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer mirrored the US position and said: “I firmly believe Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression. Equally, I am clear that we must avoid regional escalation and call for all parties to exercise restraint. Iran should not retaliate. We will work with allies to reduce tensions across the region.”
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz similarly urged Iran to refrain from escalating the situation. On social media, he stated: “My message to Iran is clear: mass escalation must not continue. Only then can we create the opportunity for peace in the Middle East.”
Hezbollah has warned residents in over two dozen towns in northern Israel to evacuate immediately, stating that these areas have become legitimate targets due to the presence of Israeli military personnel, news agency Reuters reported.
The Iran-backed group also issued a similar warning for several communities in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, shared in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app.
This comes after Israeli military eased safety restrictions in northern areas, suggesting it does not anticipate an immediate large-scale attack from Iran or its proxies.
After the airstrikes, Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it “considers itself entitled and obligated to defend against foreign acts of aggression." Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran has “no limits” in defending its interests and called for the UN Security Council to condemn Israel for the attacks, reported AP.
US President Joe Biden reacted to Israel's attack on Irani saying that he hope the airstrikes will mark the end of a months-long cycle of escalation. “I hope this is the end,” he told reporters. Iran’s foreign ministry has said that it had a right to self-defence after on Saturday’s attack.
Decker Eveleth, an associate research analyst at CNA, a Washington think tank, says the Israeli strikes may have "significantly hampered Iran's ability to mass produce missiles", as per Reuters.
Two American researches have claimed that satellite imagery shows Israeli strikes have caused damage to ballistic missile fuel-mixing plants in Iran. The officials told Reuters that Israel struck Parchin, a massive military complex near Tehran. Israel also hit Khojir, a sprawling missile production site near Tehran, as per the report.
Iran and Israel have long been at loggerheads. Iran does not acknowledge Israel’s right to exist, and backs a multitude of groups in West Asia that are fighting Israel and its occupation of Palestine. Most notable among these are Hamas and Hezbollah, who Israel is currently at war with. The Israel-Iran relationship went downhill following the October 7 Hamas attacks last year.
This year, Israel struck the Iranian consulate in Syria, plunging both the countries into a deeper crisis. Iran retaliated with a direct attack on Israeli soil, and a series of attacks and counter-attacks took shape.
At this point, everything rests on how Iran responds to the latest barrage of strikes carried out by Israel. Read our explainer here
On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had completed a series of airstrikes against Iranian military sites, termed “Days of Repentance”. Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim said that the attacks claimed the lives of two soldiers.
The IDF added that it hit around 20 targets including Iran’s missile manufacturing facilities, surface-to-air missile storage sites, and other sites of military importance. Meanwhile, Iran says its air defense system successfully countered Israel’s attacks causing “limited damage”.
The strikes were reportedly in retaliation to a missile barrage Iran launched on October 1, in which around 200 ballistic missiles were fired towards Tel Aviv and Israeli military bases. However, the attack had inflicted next to no damage.
The White House officially deemed Saturday’s attack to be an “excercise in self-defence”.
India on Saturday expressed deep concern over the escalating conflict in West Asia, urging the involved parties to “exercise restraint and return to dialogue”. It said the ongoing hostilities are to nobody’s benefit, even as innocent hostages and civilian populations continue to suffer. Earlier in the day, Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had launched a drone attack on Israel’s Tel Nof airbase, south of the country’s capital Tel Aviv.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of the soldiers who lost their lives in the recent Israeli overnight strikes.
In a powerful message posted on X, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran's brave defenders will fearlessly protect their land and respond to any aggression with strategic intelligence .
فرزندان ایران در دفاع از حریم میهن جان فدا کردند، شهادت دلیران وطن را به دلاوران ارتش، جان برکفان فراجا، خانوادههای معظم و مردم قهرمان تسلیت میگویم.
— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) <a href="https://twitter.com/drpezeshkian/status/1850279442444333246?ref_src=twsrc%
دشمنان ایران بدانند این مردم سلحشور در دفاع از خاکشان بی هیچ هراسی ایستادهاند و پاسخ هر حماقتی را با تدبیر و هوشمندی خواهند داد
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned the Israeli attack on Iran, labeling it "reckless and cowardly".
In a statement posted on X, Araghchi emphasized that the attack on Iranian military centers violates international law and the UN Charter . He confirmed that four Iranian army soldiers lost their lives in the assault.
We strongly condemn the criminal attack on Iranian military centers as a violation of international law and the UN Charter. Four of our Army heroes sacrificed their lives in defeating this reckless and cowardly assault.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) October 26, 2024
We fully reserve our right to duly respond to this… pic.twitter.com/itS2WTfDja
Israel's President Isaac Herzog recently expressed his gratitude to the United States, calling them a "true ally" following Israeli strikes on Iranian military targets. In a statement, Herzog said, "I especially wish to thank our great friend the USA for being a true ally, and for the overt and covert cooperation."
This sentiment reflects the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations, which has been reinforced by their shared commitment to democracy, security, and regional stability.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, has expressed grave concern regarding the well-being and whereabouts of one of its physicians, Dr. Mohammed Obeid, an orthopedic surgeon. According to MSF, contact with Dr. Obeid was lost on Friday afternoon while he was providing medical care and shelter at Kamal Adwan hospital in northern
1/3 We are deeply concerned for the safety and whereabouts of Dr. Mohammed Obeid, an MSF orthopaedic surgeon who was sheltering and working in Kamal Adwan Hospital, North Gaza, with whom we lost contact since 25 October afternoon.
— MSF UK (@MSF_uk) October 26, 2024
Israeli forces took control of Kamal Adwan Hospital last Friday, detaining dozens of medical staff and patients. Reports indicate that 44 out of 70 hospital staff members were detained, but 14 were later released, including the hospital director . Tragically, the incident resulted in the deaths of at least two children in the intensive care unit after Israeli fire damaged the hospital's generators and oxygen station.
The office of Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has refuted claims that Israel initially intended to target Iran’s oil and natural gas facilities but altered its strategy to concentrate on military sites following pressure from the US.
Netanyahu’s office described the report as “completely false,” as reported by the Times of Israel. In a statement, the Prime Minister’s office asserted:
“Israel selected the targets for the attack based on its national interests, not according to American directives. This was the case then, and it will remain so.”
The repercussions continue to unfold after Israel’s airstrikes on Iranian military sites on Saturday.
The strikes, launched in response to Iran’s missile barrage on 1 October, echoed across Tehran for several hours.
Here’s our video report:
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has issued a stark warning that the situation in northern Gaza is “catastrophic” amid “intensive” operations taking place around and within healthcare facilities.
Posting on X on Saturday, he said that “a critical shortage of medical supplies, coupled with severely restricted access, is depriving people of life-saving care” in the northern part of the Palestinian territory.
His comments followed the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza earlier on Saturday, a day after they stormed the facility. The siege “came at a heavy cost,” Tedros noted.
The WHO chief reported that 44 male hospital staff members were detained, leaving only female staff, the hospital director, and one male doctor to care for nearly 200 patients “in urgent need of medical attention.”
“Reports of hospital facilities and medical supplies being damaged or destroyed during the siege are deplorable,” Tedros wrote.
The entire health system in Gaza has been under attack for more than a year. WHO cannot emphasise strongly enough that hospitals must be protected from conflict at all times. Any attack on healthcare facilities constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law.
Israel’s military announced it is easing certain safety restrictions for residents in northern areas, suggesting it does not anticipate an immediate large-scale attack from Iran or its regional allies.
The decision followed a "situational assessment," the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stated on Saturday.
The IDF made no reference to Israel's bombing of military sites in Iran in the early hours of Saturday, according to Reuters.
Iran’s UN mission reported that Israeli warplanes attacked multiple Iranian military and radar sites from Iraqi airspace, accusing the US of “complicity” in the incident.
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js1. The Zionist regime’s warplanes attacked several Iranian military and radar sites from Iraqi airspace, approximately 70 miles from Iran’s border.
— I.R.IRAN Mission to UN, NY (@Iran_UN) October 26, 2024
2. Iraqi airspace is under the occupation, command and control of the U.S. military.
Conclusion: The U.S. complicity in this crime…
Calling for an end to the cycle of confrontation, the United States and other nations, including India, urged for restraint as Iran reaffirmed its “right and duty to defend itself” following Israel’s first open airstrikes on Tehran early Saturday.
In a pre-dawn assault, the Israeli air force targeted around 20 military sites across Iran, including missile and drone production facilities and air defence systems. The strikes were reportedly in retaliation to a missile barrage Iran launched on October 1, in which an estimated 180 ballistic missiles were fired towards Tel Aviv and Israeli military bases. Iran said it acted in support of Hezbollah following Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon.
India on Saturday said it was deeply concerned over the “evolvng escalation” in West Asia and urged all sides to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.
President Joe Biden said it appeared Israel had only struck military targets in its attack on Iran, and that he hoped they were “the end.” Read More
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday condemned the escalation in the Middle East and called for an end to all military actions in the region following Israeli strikes on military sites near Tehran, a UN spokesperson said.
"The secretary-general urgently reiterates his appeal to all parties to cease all military actions, including in Gaza and Lebanon, exert maximum efforts to prevent an all-out regional war and return to the path of diplomacy," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
US President Joe Biden on Saturday said it appeared Israel had only struck military targets in its attack on Iran, and that he hoped they were "the end," news agency Reuters reported.
Israel launched airstrikes early Saturday targeting military sites in Iran in response to several attacks by Tehran on Tel Aviv, plunging the Middle East into a deeper crisis.
The Israeli strikes on Iran came 26 days after Iran fired several waves of ballistic missiles at Israel, forcing millions of Israelis to take cover in bomb shelters, and damaging several homes and air bases.
Israel’s military described the operation as “precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” though no further details on the damage were immediately available. Read More
Following the killing of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in September, Israeli experts began talking about immediate Iranian retaliation.
Iran had been “holding” fire since the killing of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July in an Israeli intelligence operation. On October 1, Iran launched 200 ballistic missiles at Israeli targets and managed to hit a few military bases.
After weeks of posturing and deliberation, Israel finally responded with aerial attacks on Iran in the wee hours of October 26. Within an hour or so, announcing Israeli strikes against military centres in Tehran, Ilam, and Khuzestan, Iranian defence command claimed that all strikes had been intercepted and countered successfully with limited damage.
In his rallies, Trump has openly asked Israel to target Iranian nuclear sites. It was under his orders that top IRGC commander General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in 2020. Read More
As Israel launched airstrikes early Saturday in response to the barrage of ballistic missiles the Islamic Republic fired upon Tel Aviv earlier in the month, India has expressed “deep concerns” over the evolving escalation in West Asia and urged parties concerned to exercise restraint.
New Delhi also highlighted the ramifications of the tensions for peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Without naming any country, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement said, “We reiterate our call to all concerned to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy.” Read More
UN humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya accused Israeli forces of showing "disregard for basic humanity" in their recent operations in northern Gaza.
"What Israeli forces are doing in besieged North Gaza cannot be allowed to continue," she says in a statement posted to X.
She said that hospitals had been hit, health workers detained, shelters were burned down, and first responders were prevented from rescuing people.
She added, "Families have been separated, and men and boys are being taken away by the truckload."
She also said, "The entire population of northern Gaza is at risk of dying."
India, along with other nations, expressed concern over the escalating conflict in West Asia, urging the involved countries to “exercise restraint and return to dialogue and diplomacy.”
"We are deeply concerned by the evolving escalation in West Asia and its ramifications for peace and stability in the region and beyond. We reiterate our call to all concerned to exercise restraint and return to the path of dialogue and diplomacy," the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Saturday.
"The ongoing hostilities are to nobody's benefit, even as innocent hostages and civilian populations continue to suffer. Our Missions in the region are in contact with the Indian community," the statement read.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Iran to end the cycle of escalation following Israeli strikes on Iranian military sites Saturday morning, saying restraint could pave the way for peace in the Middle East.
"My message to Iran is clear: We cannot continue with massive reactions of escalation. This must end now. This will provide an opportunity for peaceful development in the Middle East," Scholz said in a post on X.
As many as 10 members of Iran’s national police force have been killed 1,200 kilometers southeast of Tehran, according to an Associated Press report.
The assault came after Israeli airstrikes on Iran early Saturday morning. No suspects have been identified so far, and no group has claimed responsibility.
No Iraqi military, economic or civilian facilities were affected during Israeli airstrikes this morning on neighbouring Iran, the state news agency cited a security source as saying, news agency Reuters reported.
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday expressed concern regarding the escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. They called for a normalization of the situation in the Middle East following Israel's airstrikes on military sites in Iran.
"We urge all parties involved to exercise restraint, stop the violence, and avoid a catastrophic scenario," the ministry's spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
At least 42,924 people have been killed and 100,833 injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, the Gaza health ministry said on Saturday.
Saudi Arabia's airspace was not used during Israel's overnight airstrikes on Iran, a Saudi official said on Saturday, as quoted by news agency Reuters.
Lebanon's Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned Israel's airstrikes on multiple sites in Iran, describing them as a violation of Iranian sovereignty and a serious threat to regional and international peace and security.
Egyptian national carrier EgyptAir said on Saturday it had cancelled flights to Iraq's capital Baghdad and the northern city of Erbil, citing regional developments, after Israeli airstrikes on military targets in neighbouring Iran.
(Reuters)
Iran has said it is "entitled and obligated to defend itself" after Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on Iranian military targets.
Calling the Israeli attack a 'clear violation' of international law, the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement that Tehran "recognises its responsibilities towards regional peace and security."
Egypt expressed concern over the escalation in the Middle East including the Israeli air attack on Iran, and condemned all measures that threaten regional security and stability, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) condemns the airstrike and stressed the importance of exercising “maximum restraint” to avoid escalation.
“The UAE strongly condemns the military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran and expresses deep concern over the continued escalation and its impact on regional security and stability,” a statement from the UAE’s foreign ministry reads.
Qatar also adds to the list of countries that have condemned Israeli airstrikes on Iran on Saturday urging restraint and dialogue to avoid regional instability.
Pakistan Foreign Office condemned Israel's strikes on Iranian military installations urging for immediate actions by the UN Security Council to bring an end to the Israeli 'recklessness', marking the attack's influence to constitute a 'dangerous escalation' in the region.
(With Reuters inputs)
Meanwhile, Sky News Arabia quoting an unnamed source said that Russia warned Iran ahead of the impending Israeli airstrikes this morning.
The report says that the intelligence was provided hours before Israel announced the waves of strikes on Iranian military targets.
(With Sky News Arabia inputs)
Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim, citing Iranian military said that the attacks claimed lives of two soldiers. Iran says its air defense system successfully countered Israel’s attacks with “limited damage” caused to some locations.
(With inputs from Reuters)
Meanwhile, Baghdad announces the reopening of its airspace and the resumption of flights, according to state news agency INA, citing the Iraqi Transportation Ministry, following a brief suspension attributed to regional tensions.
Iran also announced the resumption of all flights this morning, following a brief suspension.
(With INA, Times of Israel inputs)
Israel's Opposition Leader Yair Lapid criticised the IDF’s 'apparently' limited military response to Iran’s massive ballistic missile attack on Israel, saying Tehran “is the head of the ‘Axis of Evil’ and must pay a heavy price for its aggression.”
In a statement after Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on military targets in Iran, Lapid said, “The decision not to attack strategic and economic targets in Iran was wrong. We could and should have exacted a much heavier price from Iran.”
The opposition leader also lauds the Israeli Air Force for “once again demonstrating world-class operational capabilities and air superiority.”
The military said that dozens of IAF aircraft, including fighter jets, refuelers and spy planes, participated in the “complex” operation early this morning some 1,600 kilometers from Israel.
(With Times of Israel inputs)
Emirati airline FlyDubai cancels flights to Jordan, Iran, Iraq, and Israel, diverts others amid regional tensions, the spokesperson said.
(With Reuters inputs)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Saturday Iran should not respond to the wave of Israeli strikes, urging restraint on all sides. Earlier on Saturday, Israel struck military sites in Iran, saying it was retaliating against Tehran's strikes on Israel this month, the latest attack in the escalating conflict between the heavily armed rivals.
"I am clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression. I'm equally clear that we need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint. Iran should not respond," he said, speaking at a press conference in Samoa, where he has been attending a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
(With Reuters inputs)
The Israeli military stated that following the alerts that were activated at 9 AM in the Western Galilee area, the Air Force intercepted an unmanned aircraft that crossed over Lebanese territory.
They further stated that this is the second UAV that crossed Lebanese territory in the last hour and was successfully intercepted by the Air Force.
Meanwhile, the IDF says it intercepted a suspected drone that crossed into Israel’s airspace from Lebanon a short while ago. Sirens were activated in cities and towns near the northern border including Kiryat Shmona, Metula and Tel Hai.
There are no reports of injuries or damage in the incident.
Saudi Arabia has condemned Israel's airstrikes on Iranian military sites, labeling them a "violation of sovereignty" and international law. The Saudi Foreign Ministry urged all parties to exercise restraint and called on the international community to act towards de-escalation in the region.
Tensions in the region have been exacerbated by the lack of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, despite previous US efforts to foster dialogue.
(With Reuters, times of Israel inputs)
Sirens are sounding in northern communities near the border with Lebanon, warning of a suspected drone infiltration.
The sirens are sounding in largely evacuated towns including Kfar Giladi, Metula, and Kfar Yuval, Times of Israel reported.
(With Times of Israel inputs)
In the lead-up to these strikes, Israel warned Iran through various intermediaries, including the Dutch foreign minister, to refrain from retaliating. The warning specified what targets Israel would strike and emphasised that further retaliation from Iran would provoke more powerful Israeli responses. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that their operations targeted military installations in Iran, including air defense systems and ballistic missile manufacturing sites used in previous attacks against Israel.
The IDF stated that these strikes were necessary due to ongoing Iranian aggression and reaffirmed Israel's right to defend itself against such threats, Times of Israel reported.
US officials were informed prior to the strikes but clarified that there was no American involvement in the military operations. President Biden had previously cautioned Israel against targeting Iranian nuclear or oil facilities to prevent a broader conflict. As the situation evolves, concerns about potential miscalculations leading to wider hostilities remain prevalent among international observers.
(With Times of Israel, Reuters, AFP inputs)
Iran will resume flights as normal from 9 AM, the semi-official news agency Tasnim reported on Saturday following a brief suspension after Israel struck military targets in the country.
The US National Security Council spokesman, Sean Savett, on Saturday said that “We urge Iran to cease its attacks on Israel so that this cycle of fighting can end without further escalation.”
Stressing that the US did not participate in the operation, he also stated that "It is our aim to accelerate diplomacy and de-escalate tensions in the Middle East region."
A senior administration official said President Joe Biden and his national security team had worked with the “Israelis over recent weeks to encourage Israel to conduct a response that was targeted and proportional with low risk of civilian harm”.
“And that appears to have been precisely what transpired this evening,” the official told the media.
(With Agence France-Presse, Reuters inputs)
A senior Biden administration official indicated that while the US did not participate in the strikes, it had been actively involved in discussions with Israel, encouraging a 'targeted and proportional response' to minimise civilian casualties. President Biden had specifically advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "design a response that would deter further aggression while avoiding escalation into broader conflict."
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that their operations were aimed at military targets outside populated areas and were executed with precision. Reports from Iranian state media noted loud explosions around Tehran, although there was no immediate confirmation regarding the source of these blasts.
The US remains prepared to defend against any potential Iranian retaliation, having recently deployed THAAD missile defense systems to Israel.
“Should Iran choose to respond, we are fully prepared to once again defend against any attack,” the US official stresses, pointing to the recent US deployment of THAAD missile defense batteries to Israel.
(With inputs from AP, Times of Israel)
The White House has stated that Israel's recent strikes on Iranian military installations should effectively end the direct military exchanges between the two nations. A senior official emphasized that the Israeli operation was extensive, targeted, and precise, and warned Iran of potential 'consequences' if it retaliated. The US administration, including President Joe Biden, was kept informed throughout the operation, but it clarified that there was no American involvement in the strikes.
These Israeli strikes were described as an "exercise of self-defense" following Iran's earlier ballistic missile attack on October 1, which involved nearly 200 missiles aimed at Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted these operations in response to ongoing assaults from Iran and its proxies, which have escalated since early October.
Explosions were reported in Tehran as a result of the strikes, indicating significant military activity
Meanwhile, Iran says its air defense system successfully countered Israel’s attacks but that “limited damage” was caused to some locations.
In a statement, the Iranian air defense says Israel attacked military targets in the provinces of Tehran, Khuzestan and Ilam.
IDF spokesperson for foreign media, Lt. Col. Daniel Hagari said on Saturday in a video statement that “I can now confirm that we have concluded the Israeli response to Iran’s attacks against Israel,”.
He further added, “We conducted targeted and precise strikes on military targets in Iran — thwarting immediate threats to the State of Israel. The Israel Defense Forces has fulfilled its mission,” Hagari says.
“If the regime in Iran were to make the mistake of beginning a new round of escalation — we will be obligated to respond,” he continues.
“Our message is clear: All those who threaten the State of Israel and seek to drag the region into a wider escalation — will pay a heavy price. We demonstrated today that we have both the capability and the resolve to act decisively — and we are prepared — on offense and defense — to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel,” Hagari adds.
(IDF/X)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it has completed a series of airstrikes against Iranian military sites, termed "Days of Repentance," in response to ongoing attacks from Iran, including a significant missile barrage on October 1.
The operation involved dozens of Israeli aircraft, including fighter jets and refuelers, targeting military installations across various regions in Iran, approximately 1,600 kilometers from Israel. These strikes were executed in multiple waves over several hours, focusing on air defense systems and ballistic missile manufacturing sites linked to recent Iranian attacks on Israel.
The IDF asserted that these actions have enhanced the Israeli Air Force's operational freedom in Iran and established a broader range of potential targets for future operations. While the extent of damage from the strikes is yet to be disclosed, the IDF emphasized that Iran has faced repercussions for its assaults on Israel. Currently, the IDF is assessing possible Iranian retaliation, but there are no immediate changes to civilian safety guidelines.
Reports indicate that loud explosions were heard in Tehran and nearby Karaj during the strikes, although Iranian state media has not confirmed any casualties or provided official commentary on the incidents. The U.S. government was informed prior to the strikes but did not participate in the operations, reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense amidst rising tensions in the region.
On October 1, Iran responded to the Israeli assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, Hezbollah Secretary General Seyed Hassan Nasrallah, and IRGC general Abbas Nilforoushan by launching as many as 200 ballistic missiles toward Israel’s military and intelligence bases all over the occupied Palestinian territories.
Iran has said that it reserves its right to respond to any act of aggression, Tasnim, Iran's semi-official news agency reported.
Early Saturday morning, people reported hearing several explosions in the Iranian capital. The blasts were heard west of Tehran, Tasnim reported.
Iranian officials have warned that Tehran’s reciprocal response to any Israeli action will be harsh, proportional and well-calculated.
(With Tasnim News Agency inputs)
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said that following the alerts that were activated at 4 AM in the Western Galilee, an unmanned aircraft that crossed the territory of Lebanon fell in the area. Np injuries were reported.
Iran's Press TV, citing military official said that air defense operated to foil attacks on three different locations near Tehran.
US and Israeli officials said that three waves of multiple explosions are reported in the capital and at nearby military bases over more than two hours, highlighting Iran's air defenses, news agency Reuters reported.
Israeli strikes on military targets in Iran are “an exercise of self-defense” following Tehran’s ballistic missile attack earlier this month, the National Security Council spokesman said.
National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett says the “targeted strikes on military targets” are “an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1.”
(With AFP inputs)
Citing an unnamed Israeli official NBC reported, Israel is not striking Iranian nuclear sites or oil facilities and is focusing on military targets.
“We’re targeting things that might have threatened us in the past or could do in the future,” the official told NBC.
The Biden Administration has been urging Israel not to strike nuclear or energy targets, while backing Israel’s right to respond to Iran’s October 1 ballistic missile attack.
A spokesperson for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said flights on all routes have been cancelled until further notice, the country’s state news agency IRNA reports.
Until now, the Iranian state television reported that operations at Tehran’s airports, including Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad Airport, are continuing as scheduled without any disruptions due to the strikes.
(With Reuters inputs)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials are assessing the security situation, his office says, as the military carries out airstrikes on Iran.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is conducting an assessment of the security situation at the air force base in the Kirya (defense ministry) with the defense minister, the army chief, the head of the Mossad and the head of the Shin Bet,” a statement from his office says.
(With Times of Israel)
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— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) October 26, 2024
Israeli Defense Forces/X
Meanwhile, Syria’s state-run SANA news agency reports that Israel struck several military sites in southern and central Syria at around 2 AM.
The strikes came simultaneously as Israel launched attacks on Iran.
SANA says that air defenses shot down some of the Israeli missiles, and authorities are still assessing the damage.
(With Times of Israel inputs)
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a call with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, a US defense official says, after Israel announced strikes on targets in Iran, news agency Reuters reported.
The US official, who speaks on condition of anonymity, doesn’t immediately provide details on Austin and Gallant’s conversation, including what they discussed, how long the call was or what time it took place.
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing sources, stated that Iran is prepared to respond to any Israeli “aggression,”
“There is no doubt that Israel will face a proportional reaction for any action it takes,” quoting the sources Tasnim said.
Israeli media reports a second wave of airstrikes targeting military installations in Iran, particularly in eastern Tehran and at an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command facility. Continuous explosions and light trails have been observed in the sky over central Tehran following these attacks.
Reports indicate that four additional explosions were heard in eastern Tehran, with active air defense systems noted in the capital. Despite the ongoing strikes, Iranian media confirmed that there were 'no fires or explosions' reported at a key oil refinery south of Tehran.
Former IDF Operations Directorate head Yisrael Ziv commented that Israel's ability to strike important military targets presents a dilemma for Iran regarding its response options. The situation is expected to remain tense, with no Israeli casualties reported thus far.
The attacks are anticipated to be a one-night operation, and further updates are expected as the situation evolves.
(With inputs from Times of Israel, Reuters and AFP)
Citing a person briefed on Israel’s military plans, The Washington Post reports that Israeli strikes on Iran are expected to last several more hours.
The source says among the military sites being targeted are air defenses and missile production plants.
The Israeli Defense Forces in a post on X stated, "In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel—right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran. The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th—on seven fronts—including direct attacks from Iranian soil. Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel.
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