‘Israel will exact heavy price for any aggression towards it’: Netanyahu
The Israeli prime minister has said that Israel faces “challenging times ahead” but that it is “prepared for all scenarios”.
This comes following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr in Beirut, and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was on an official visit to Tehran.
In a televised statement, Netanyahu said, “Citizens of Israel, challenging days lie ahead. Since the strike in Beirut, there are threats sounding from all directions. We are prepared for any scenario and we will stand united and determined against any threat. Israel will exact a heavy price for any aggression against us from any arena.”
Netanyahu also said Israel had delivered crushing blows to Iran’s proxies over the past few days, including Hamas and Hezbollah. But he did not mention Haniyeh’s killing, which has drawn threats of retaliation.
‘No point too far for us to attack’: Israeli Air Force commander
Israeli Air Force Commander Tomer Bar has said dozens of aircrafts are “prepared and ready in a matter of minutes, for any scenario, in any arena,” as tensions rise with Lebanon and Iran.
Bar said Israel was in the middle of “the longest war in our history since the War of Independence” and that the killings of a Hezbollah and a Hamas official in Beirut and Tehran had been a “message”.
“This is another message to our enemy in the entire Middle East – we will act against anyone who plans to harm the citizens of the State of Israel, there is no point that is too far for us to attack,” he said in a statement.
UN chief says strikes on Beirut and Tehran mark ‘dangerous escalation’
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has denounced strikes on Beirut and Tehran as a “dangerous escalation,” after Israel targeted a top Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas said its political chief was killed in Iran.
“The Secretary-General believes that the attacks we have seen in South Beirut and Tehran represent a dangerous escalation at a moment in which all efforts should instead be leading to a ceasefire in Gaza”, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
The UN’s Security Council will meet later tonight, at 20:00 GMT.
Hamas senior official says Haniyeh was hit ‘directly’ by missile
We reported earlier that Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya praised Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Iran, “gave up his life for religion and country”. Al-Hayya also said the missile that killed Haniyeh struck him “directly”. As a result of the missile strike, windows, doors and walls in his room were destroyed.
Speaking at a news conference in Tehran, he said that Lebanon and Iran “will never leave this unanswered”. He said Israel was seeking to “burn the entire region … because they’ve failed to achieve their goals.”
“The Israelis don’t want a deal, they just want to continue their aggression despite all the failure,” al-Hayya added.
Qatar, Egypt question future of Gaza talks after Haniyeh’s killing
Qatar and Egypt, key players in the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, have questioned the future of negotiations following the assassination of Haniyeh.
“Political assassinations and continued targeting of civilians in Gaza while talks continue leads us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?” Qatar’s PM wrote on X.
“Peace needs serious partners & a global stance against the disregard for human life.”
Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a “dangerous Israeli escalation policy” over the past two days had undermined efforts to broker an end to the fighting in Gaza where almost 40,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks since October last year.
