Israel bombs Beirut’s southern suburbs

Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting that there have been eight Israeli attacks on the Lebanese capital in recent hours.

The Lebanese National News Agency said there had been “hostile” raids in the southern suburbs of Beirut, but gave no further details.

The attacks come several hours after the Israeli army issued a warning for Lebanese residents to evacuate several buildings in the Burj al-Barajneh and Hadath areas in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

_{Flame and smoke rises from an Israeli air strike on Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, early Sunday, October 27}

Hezbollah fires rockets at northern Israel

The Lebanese armed group said it launched a salvo of rockets at Kiryat Shmona after issuing an evacuation notice for residents of northern Israel.

The attack set off air raid sirens in Kiryat Shmona, according to Israel’s Ynet News.

Hezbollah issues first evacuation orders for residents of northern Israel

Hezbollah’s one-minute video is its first forced evacuation orders to residents of northern Israel. Now, these warnings are for 25 settlements located in the northern part of Israel, ranging from 3km to 22km (2-14 miles) from the border with Lebanon and this area is home to about 200,000 Israeli citizens.

This is a tactic that we’ve seen the Israeli military use in and around the southern suburbs of Beirut and other parts of Lebanon. And now, Hezbollah is using the same tactic for the first time to warn about their attacks.

This is being seen as another level in this new escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hezbollah said on Friday that it had carried out the largest number of operations against the Israeli military, with 48 operations in a 24-hour period. We have also seen over the past week a barrage of attacks in terms of rockets and drones being fired into northern Israel. Hezbollah has been launching anywhere between 100 to 200 rockets and drones across the border into northern Israel – the largest number we’ve seen on a daily basis since this conflict escalated.

So, clearly, both Hezbollah and Israel are becoming more entrenched in their ideologies and their belief that they are going to continue this conflict regardless of the costs.

Six people killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon

The Lebanese National News Agency (NNA) is reporting that Israeli raids on southern Lebanon on Saturday evening killed at least six people and wounded another person. The killings took place in the town of Jdeideh Marjayoun.

The agency also has more details on Israel’s attacks on Beirut overnight. It said the attacks hit the neighbourhoods of Burj al-Barajneh, Haret Hreik and al-Hadath in Dahiyeh.

Israeli military claims attacks on Hezbollah sites in Beirut

The Israeli military says its fighter jets bombed Hezbollah weapons warehouses and sites used “for the production and maintenance of weapons” in Beirut’s Dahiyeh overnight. It did not provide evidence for its claims.

The military also claimed to have killed 70 Hezbollah fighters and attacked more than 120 of the armed group’s positions on Saturday.

Israeli military hits homes in Nabatieh, launches raids on Baalbek

The Israeli military continues to pound areas across Lebanon, with the latest attacks destroying multiple homes, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA).

In Nabatieh in southern Lebanon, Israeli warplanes raided the town of Yahmar al-Shaqif this morning, destroying two houses. The bombing also led to the partial destruction of another house without causing any injuries.

Another attack had been launched against the town of Doueir in Nabatieh shortly after midnight, destroying a house and causing significant damage to surrounding ones.

Multiple air raids were reported in Baalbek in eastern Lebanon. An Israeli attack hit the outskirts of the town of Shmestar shortly after midnight, with three more raids against surrounding areas at dawn.

Two people wounded in drone attack in northern Israel: Report

Israel’s Channel 12 broadcaster is reporting that a drone attack in Karmiel in the north of the country has wounded two people. It added that the attack targeted a factory producing aviation components.

The Israeli military confirmed the attack, saying the drone was launched from Lebanese territory and “fell in the industrial area of Bar-Lev”.


Injuries after truck strikes bus stop in central Israel

Multiple people were reportedly injured when a truck struck a bus stop at a major intersection in central Israel, Israeli police said. “Currently, the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation,” the police said in a statement. Israeli media said at least 20 people were injured.

Some injured people still stuck under vehicle

What we’ve heard thus far is that this was a truck that ran over a number of people standing near a bus stop in Ramat Hasharon, which is an area in central Israel. That’s according to Israeli police.

Israeli emergency services are saying that this could potentially have many casualties. They said there are also many injured people trapped under this bus that reportedly overturned, and called on people to donate blood.

At least 50 reported injured in bus stop incident

The Israeli emergency services have stated that the police consider this to be a terror attack. We are seeing reports that there were at least 50 injured and that many were taken to hospital. Emergency crews are at the scene.

We’ve not seen anything confirmed yet with regard to the identity of the driver or where he is from. But this is certainly going to cause a lot of concern at a time when a lot of Israelis are feeling vulnerable to the kind of attacks that have happened on the ground in Israel. Over the course of the past year, we’ve had more ramming attacks, more shooting attacks and more stabbing attacks where Israelis in central and other parts were targeted.

But it is also a time when many communities are facing attacks from the air as well.

Truck ramming incident shows Israel ‘not in control’

Ori Goldberg, Israeli political commentator, says Israeli authorities have labelled the ramming of a truck into a bus stop a “terror” attack, adding that the number of those injured is now 50 people.

“An incident like this should not be considered in isolation,” Goldberg said, adding that it occurred as four soldiers were killed in Lebanon and while Israel was celebrating its attack on Iran.

“Israel is not very much in control of circumstances on both fronts where it’s hitting Lebanon and Gaza, and of course, its domestic front,” he said. “So this incident, which looks quite grave, should be appreciated; it should be considered in the context of all of these bits of news.

“This is the basic Israeli dilemma at the moment: do you wake up and realise that Israelis have no security, that in fact, even personal security is worse than it’s ever been?” Goldberg added.

Israel’s Ben-Gvir pledges to expel families of suspected bus stop attackers

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has visited the site of the ramming attack in Glilot, central Israel, according to footage published by an Army Radio correspondent and verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking agency, Sanad.

In the video clip, an Israeli is seen asking Ben-Gvir to expel all the families of the attackers, to which the minister replied: “By God’s will, we will expel them. I just hope that Likud and Bibi [Benjamin Netanyahu] are with us.”

Truck ramming at Israeli bus stop: What we know so far

• It took place at 10:08am (08:08 GMT) at a bus stop close to the Glilot military base in a suburb called Ramat Hasharon.
• Al Jazeera has been told the base also houses the Mossad headquarters.
• Some witnesses say it was a truck-ramming attack, while others say it looked almost as though it might be an accident.
• Thirty-three people are being treated at hospitals, according to medics quoted by local media.
• Six are in serious condition, seven in moderate condition, and 20 are lightly hurt, the Magen David Adom emergency service said.
• Mobile intensive care units, ambulances, paramedics and emergency medical technicians were dispatched to the scene of the incident.

Israeli rabbi among four soldiers killed in south Lebanon fighting

The Israeli army has confirmed that four more of its soldiers were killed while invading southern Lebanon, including a rabbi. Captain Rabbi Avraham Yosef Goldberg was killed along with Major Eliav Amram Abitbol, Captain Amit Chayut, and Master Sergeant Gilad Elmaliach.

They served in a battalion in the Alon Brigade. Multiple other Israeli soldiers were also wounded in fighting with Hezbollah, including four in critical condition.

Hezbollah claims inflicting casualties on Israeli troops in Hula

Hezbollah says its operatives used a guided missile to hit an Israeli infantry group that was advancing in the town of Hula in southern Lebanon, killing and wounding them.

The armed Lebanese group also reported that it used an attack drone to hit the “Yudifat military industries company” southwest of Acre.

Multiple people were injured after the Hezbollah drone hit the roof of the company making aviation parts, Israeli media said.

Three killed in Israeli air attack on Lebanon’s Zawtar al-Sharqiya

The killings in the town located in southern Lebanon’s Nabatieh governorate have been confirmed by the Lebanese Health Ministry and cited by the National News Agency (NNA).

We have reported earlier based on NNA that Israeli warplanes raided the town of Yahmar al-Shaqif in Nabatieh this morning, destroying two houses. The bombing also partially destroyed another house but caused no injuries.

Another attack had been launched against the town of Doueir in Nabatieh shortly after midnight, destroying a house and causing significant damage to surrounding ones.

Iraqi armed group claims attack on occupied Golan Heights

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed groups, said it attacked a “vital target” in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights using drones. Israeli media reported sirens at the Kidmat Tsvi settlement in the occupied Golan Heights at the time of the attack.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has stepped up attacks targeting Israel as the Israeli military intensifies its assault on Gaza and Lebanon. The group has also launched rockets and drone attacks at US forces in Iraq and Syria as part of its campaign.

Iraqi armed group claims third attack on Israel

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it launched drone attacks on a “vital target” in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the Red Sea port city of Eilat. The statements marked the third time the Iran-backed group claimed attacks on Israel today.

Earlier, the group said it had attacked Israeli positions in the occupied Golan Heights. For its part, the Israeli military said it intercepted an “unmanned aircraft that made its way from the east”. It said the drone did not cross into Israeli territory.

Houthis hold exercises to drill defence against potential invasion

The Houthis in Yemen have held exercises to simulate defence against waves of attacks coming from land, sea and air.

The group’s armed forces released images from tactical military manoeuvres on Yemen’s western coasts, saying their moves continue to be “in support of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples”.

Houthi soldiers trained for responding to “large-scale offensive operations launched by hostile forces through four virtual enemy offensive waves on Yemeni territory, with the full participation of enemy ships and naval warships” in different environments, the group said, adding that they also drilled defending a village against an aerial attack.

Translation: From the Yemeni Armed Forces’ manoeuvre, simulating confronting four large waves of attacks by sea and land.

UN Security Council to convene Monday following Israel’s Iran strikes

The United Nations Security Council will convene on Monday following Israel’s retaliatory strikes in Iran, according to Israel’s mission to the UN. Iran requested the Security Council meeting, claiming that Israel violated international law with its direct strikes against it early Saturday.

In a letter to the Security Council, Iran’s permanent mission to the UN said Israel’s actions “constitute a serious violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of Iran and are “a flagrant breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.”

Israel’s ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said Iran’s request was “another attempt by Iran to harm us, this time in the political arena,” vowing to “stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself.”  Danon called claims that Israel has violated international law “ridiculous.” “Iran will not be allowed to continue hiding behind its affiliates, as long as Iran continues to threaten and try to harm us, it will pay the price,” Danon said.

Netanyahu says strikes on Iran ‘achieved all objectives’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he is happy with the result of Israel’s air strikes on Iran on Saturday.

“We promised we would respond to the Iranian attack and on Saturday we struck,” Netanyahu said in a speech marking the Hebrew calendar anniversary of the October 7 attacks last year.

“The attack in Iran was precise and powerful, achieving all of its objectives.”

Iran’s response to Israel will be ‘certain’, says parliament speaker

Iran’s parliament speaker has said Israel’s attacks on his country were a failure when compared with Iran’s October 1 missile attacks and promised that Tehran will retaliate.

“The Zionist regime has no achievement but genocide and the mass murder of defenceless children and women in Gaza and Lebanon, and today, it has no credibility on the international stage,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a televised opening address to a closed-doors meeting to evaluate the Israeli attack.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, in the framework of its inherent right of legitimate self-defence, and Article 51 of the UN Charter, considers itself to have the right to defend itself, and a response to this violation will be certain and in adherence to considerations,” said the former air force commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Ghalibaf called the US “the main partner in all the war crimes” of Israel, and said Washington must “reign in” Israel and push it towards reaching a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon to stop the killing of civilians.

The parliament speaker thanked regional neighbours for condemning the Israeli attacks on Iran.

Iran says it will not hesitate to respond to Israeli attacks

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said his country “will not hesitate to respond decisively and appropriately to any violation of its territorial integrity and security at the appropriate time” following Israel’s attack on Iran early Saturday.

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian made similar remarks on his “X” account late Saturday stating Iran “will respond to any act of foolishness with wisdom and intelligence.”

Araghchi spoke on separate phone calls with his counterparts from Qatar, Egypt, and Syria on Saturday “to exchange views on the latest development in the region,” according to a statement released by Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

The three countries’ foreign ministers condemned Israel’s attacks on several military sites in Iran, the statement said.

They also emphasized the importance of “increasing efforts to establish a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, halt the Zionist regime’s war machine, and restore stability and security to the region,” the ministry statement added.

Araghchi also urged the international community to take effective measures to prevent further escalation in the region.

Iran’s Khamenei says ‘wrong’ to downplay Israel’s attack

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first comments about the “malignant” Israeli air strikes on Iran early Saturday in a meeting with the families of the four members of the armed forces who were killed.

The Israelis try to make the impact of the strikes appear larger than reality, but any move inside Iran to make them appear smaller would also be “wrong”, he said. “It would be wrong for us to say that it was nothing and it did not matter,” Khamenei said.

“The calculation error of the Zionist regime must be disrupted. They do not know Iran, its youth, its nation. They have not yet been able to fully comprehend the power, capabilities, initiative and will of the Iranian nation, we must make them understand it.”

Khamenei also opened a Hebrew account on X after the Israeli strikes.

Khamenei’s statement ‘extremely cautious’

Iran’s supreme leader issued an extremely cautious statement. Following Israel’s attack, the sense was that this was not what Iranians expected. They viewed it as relatively insignificant, and now he is issuing a warning, suggesting that indeed we should not exaggerate its importance – but dismissing it as insignificant is also incorrect.

He emphasised that while it shouldn’t be exaggerated, it shouldn’t be underestimated, either, because Israel’s miscalculations are still ongoing. His reference to these miscalculations suggests that Israel has not yet been deterred. We should keep that in mind.

The previous attacks by Iran on Israel aimed to achieve two things: reestablish deterrence and prevent a regional war.

So, when we look at the tone of the language, it’s noticeably softer than his previous statements following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran or the Israeli bombing of Iran’s embassy in Damascus, Syria.

However, it remains extremely cautious. He is urging the authorities to stay on alert until deterrence is reestablished.

Date of Israel’s attack no ‘accident’

Menachem Klein, professor of political science at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, says Israel’s decision to retaliate against Iran on Saturday was not an “accident”.

Klein told Al Jazeera that the attacks coincided with the Jewish calendar’s official day of remembrance for fallen soldiers and victims of the October 7 Hamas attack, which is observed today. “On the one hand, Israel commemorates its fallen civilians and soldiers,” Klein said. “And on the other hand, the Israeli establishment, including Netanyahu, they want to rebuild, to regain legitimacy and public support.

“So, today, Netanyahu and his cabinet can build on what happened yesterday.”

WHO chief says northern Gaza in ‘catastrophic’ danger

The World Health Organization chief warned of a disastrous situation in besieged northern Gaza with “intensive military operations unfolding around and within healthcare facilities”.

“The situation in northern Gaza is catastrophic,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, adding that “a critical shortage of medical supplies, compounded by severely limited access, are depriving people of life-saving care”.

He highlighted Kamal Adwan, northern Gaza’s last functioning hospital, which was stormed by Israeli forces on Friday. Israeli troops left early Saturday after arresting 30 healthcare staff.

Tedros said that Gaza’s Health Ministry informed the WHO, which temporarily lost contact with its staff at the hospital, that the siege had ended. “But it came at a heavy cost,” he said.

Northern Gaza is what you imagine hell to be – and probably worse

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/10/24/life-in-northern-gaza-is-what-you-imagine-hell-to-be-and-probably-worse

Can you imagine what it feels like to be told that you and your family may be killed if you do not leave your home? That you all have minutes to leave, with no possessions, or face death? I do. Five times.

Orders are handed down by the Israeli military demanding that we must move on within hours. Other times, we only know to leave when the bullets crack against the walls of our shelter. In these cases, we have to run with nothing but the clothes on our backs and what little we can hold in our hands.

‘Entire population of Gaza at risk of dying’: UN expert

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has said that “the entire population of Gaza is at risk of dying in a genocide that has been announced and executed under our watch”, in a post on X.

Albanese was responding to an earlier statement from the UN humanitarian chief Joyce Msuya warning that “the entire population of North Gaza is at risk of dying” under Israel’s siege.

EU’s top diplomat calls for global action ‘to end human tragedy unfolding in Gaza’

Josep Borrell has issued a statement underscoring what he called “the urgent need to respect” international humanitarian law in Gaza.

“By signing the Geneva Conventions, signatories have a legal responsibility to ensure adherence to international law by all parties involved. It is our duty to protect civilians and human rights, and it is high time to act on it,” he said.

“The too little information coming out from North Gaza still attests to a catastrophic level of killing, destruction and starvation, in addition to forced displacements of civilians while an entire population is under bombings, siege and risk of starvation, as well as being forced to choose between displacement or death,” he said.

Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, S Korea and UK slam Israel’s UNRWA bill

The foreign ministers of the seven countries expressed “grave concern” over a draft Israeli law that proposes to revoke the “privileges and immunities” and prohibit the presence of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in Israel.

The ministers described UNRWA’s work as “lifesaving” and said the halting of its services would have “devastating consequences on an already critical and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, particularly in northern Gaza”.

“We urge the Israeli Government to abide by its international obligations, keep the reserve privileges and immunities of UNRWA untouched and live up to its responsibility to facilitate full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance in all its forms as well as the provision of sorely needed basic services to the civilian population,” they said.