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‘Israel must just go crazy and attack Iran'
Early this morning the Israeli army said it assassinated two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon. It also claimed to have killed Hezbollah commanders in Syria, in Homs and the occupied Golan Heights. These claims remain unconfirmed by Hezbollah.
The military also confirmed the death of an Israeli soldier and a critical injury to a reservist during clashes with Hezbollah fighters during these incursions into southern Lebanon that are increasing by the day.
The mood in Israel is about what the coming escalation with Iran would look like. In the media, there are very few opinion pieces about the need not to attack Iran and prevent an all-out regional war. One piece was titled “Israel must just go crazy and attack Iran”, with another talking about the “golden opportunity”.
In contrast, regional Arabic media are discussing the wider consequences of such an attack – how it would affect the stability of the region, what it would do to oil prices and the economy.
Iran’s foreign minister holds war-focused meetings in Qatar
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is meeting Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Doha. The Iranian diplomat has been on a regional tour he says is aimed at finding ways of ending Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
He arrived in Qatar late last night after completing a trip to Saudi Arabia. Araghchi visited Lebanon and Syria before that, despite the intense Israeli bombing of the two countries.
In a statement on X, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the two officials held “important consultations” on developments in the region.
“It is only responsible for all states to maximise their efforts to shield our region against an imposed catastrophe by stopping genocide in Gaza and aggression on Lebanon,” he said after the talks.
Hezbollah now led by longtime military, political figures: Report
Hezbollah continues to show it’s still capable of launching projectiles at Israel and countering its ground invasion of Lebanon, despite the assassination of a large number of its top political and military leaders.
Israel’s national broadcaster Kan reports the Israeli military believes Haitham Ali Tabatabaei, a former commander of the elite Radwan Force, has now taken over command of military operations for the group.
Mohammad Haidar, a member of the Jihad Council, is also overseeing military manoeuvres, the report said.
Naeem Qassem, who released two defiant video messages following the assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, is believed to have taken the political lead, after Israel said it succeeded in killing Hashem Safieddine.
Arrested Israeli in Lebanon deported to US after intervention: Reports
An Israeli man arrested in Lebanon after entering the country with a British passport and exhibiting suspicious behaviour has been freed and deported to the US, according to multiple Israeli media outlets.
Joshua Tartakovsky, a 42-year-old Israeli citizen born in the United States, is believed to have entered Lebanon in the past few weeks with a group of journalists. He was arrested by Lebanese security forces in Beirut’s southern Dahiyeh district on suspicion he may be engaged in espionage.
Israeli media report Tartakovsky’s release came after pressure from Washington.
