The Israeli army (IDF) announced that eight of its soldiers were killed on Wednesday, October 2, in clashes with members of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, in continuation of Israel's ground operation.
Along with Ethan Isaac Oster, whose death was announced earlier today as the first in Israeli ground operation in Lebanon, the IDF announced the names of seven more soldiers who died in clashes with Hezbollah, reports the Times of Israel.
It is the largest Israeli loss of personnel in the conflicts with Hezbollah in the past year, reports FoNet.
Photo: AP/Mohammed Zaatari
Israel's army chief said on Wednesday that Israel would respond to a missile attack by Iran and that its forces could carry out strikes anywhere in the Middle East.
"We will respond." We can locate important targets and we can hit them precisely and powerfully," Israel's army chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, said in a video message from an air base in central Israel, a day after Iran's missile attack on Israel.
"We have the ability to reach and strike every location in the Middle East and those of our enemies who have not yet understood this will understand soon," Halevi added, Israeli media reported.
Photo: AP/Leo Correa
Last night, Iran fired 181 ballistic missiles at Israel, causing nearly ten million people to seek shelter in shelters. Israel claims that most of them have been intercepted. One Palestinian was killed in the occupied West Bank during rocket fire, and a school in central Israel and a restaurant in Tel Aviv were hit.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attack as a "big mistake" and vowed that Iran would "pay for it". Hezbollah claims to have killed a large number of Israeli soldiers.
Hamas claimed responsibility for the shooting in Tel Aviv
Hamas's armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for a shooting and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv on Tuesday that killed seven people, the BBC reports.
Photo: AP/Itai Ron
In a statement, the group said the men who carried out the attack were from the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank.
Several people were also injured when a gunman opened fire on citizens in the Jaffa area on Tuesday. Israeli police said the deadly "terrorist" attack took place in a train car and continued on the platform.
The police announced that the attacker and another attacker armed with a knife were "neutralized" by the citizens.
Emergency session of the UN Security Council
An emergency session of the UN Security Council is also underway in New York. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the meeting that "the raging firefight in the Middle East is rapidly becoming an inferno."
Photo: AP
He says that since last week things have "gone from bad to much, much worse" and describes Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon as "relentless". He talks about a proposed temporary ceasefire, but says Israel has rejected it and "stepped up" its strikes.
UN peacekeepers remain in position, he says, and "the UN flag continues to fly despite Israel's request that it be moved."
Also, Guterres says he "again strongly condemns" Iran's missile attack on Israel. He was previously barred from entering Israel because they claim he has not yet condemned the attacks.
Guterres adds that it is "absolutely necessary to avoid an all-out war in Lebanon" and says that this would have "profound and devastating consequences".
The presidential candidates also announced themselves
The presidential candidates in the USA also spoke about the conflict in the Middle East. Donald Trump described the situation as a prelude to a "global catastrophe" and shifted the responsibility to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, while she assessed Iran as a dangerous and destabilizing force and sent support to Israel.
World leaders are considering new sanctions against Iran, following Iran's ballistic missile attacks on Israel, the White House announced. This was the topic of conversation between President Joe Biden and his G7 colleagues.
"Today, President Biden joined a call with the G7 to discuss Iran's unacceptable attack on Israel and to coordinate a response to this attack, including new sanctions," the statement said.
It continued: “President Biden and the G7 have unequivocally condemned Iran's attack on Israel. President Biden expressed full US solidarity and support for Israel and its people and reaffirmed the firm commitment of the US to Israel's security.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu also spoke
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the hostages in the south will be freed, that the inhabitants of the northern part of the country will return to their homes and that the eternity of Israel will be guaranteed.
"We are in the midst of a difficult war against the Iranian axis of evil, which seeks to destroy us." That will not happen because we stand together and with God's help we will win together," Netanyahu said.
Iran: "The attack is our act of self-defense"
Iran says its latest attack was an act of "self-defense" in response to Israel's "aggressive actions" against its allies, including the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Photo: AP/Osamah AbdulrahmanPhoto: AP/Osamah Abdulrahman
He also warned Israel of retaliation, with the top military commander threatening to target Israeli infrastructure if Tehran's territory was breached.
The escalation followed Israel's decision to invade Lebanon in a "limited, localized and targeted" ground operation against Hezbollah.
The UN and the EU have repeated calls for a ceasefire.
Source: FoNet, N1
