Israel said on Wednesday that eight soldiers were killed in clashes with Hezbollah after the start of an Israeli offensive in southern Lebanon. Tensions in the region increased after Israel vowed to retaliate against Iran’s ballistic missile ban.
The Israeli military has not released any information about how its soldiers were killed, but they have previously said that they were fighting in close proximity to Hezbollah. The clashes took place on the second day of Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon.
This morning the Israeli army released pictures of their 36th division entering Lebanon. Currently, two Israeli divisions are active in southern Lebanon, aiming to destroy Hezbollah’s infrastructure in the area.
Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group, said its fighters had engaged Israeli forces in at least one Lebanese town, Maroun al-Ras. The army said it had targeted Avivim with a rocket attack.
Key points
1.Ahead of the Jewish New Year, which begins at the time of the sun, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a short video message offering condolences to the families of Israeli soldiers who were killed in Lebanon.
“We are in the middle of a fierce battle against the evil Iranian axis that is trying to destroy us,” he said. “It will not happen.” He vowed to “guarantee Israel’s eternity” and return displaced residents to the their homes after Israel captured Gaza by fighting Hezbollah in the north.
2. Speaking at an emergency session of the Security Council, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned Iran’s attack on Israel. “I strongly condemn yesterday’s massive missile attack on Israel by Iran – as I did about the April attack on Iran – as should be clear from yesterday’s criticism,” he said. these attacks do nothing to advance the Palestinian cause or alleviate their suffering.”
3. The New York Times reported that Iran announced that it would hold a public memorial service in downtown Tehran on Friday for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel last Friday. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is to deliver a speech and prayer addressing the assassination of Nasrallah, Iran’s revenge attack on Israel and wider regional tensions.
4. US President Joe Biden will join G7 leaders today to discuss the growing situation in the Middle East, CNN said. The call comes as the US and its allies await Israel’s response to Iran’s missile attack on Tuesday. US officials have warned that the strike on Iran could have “serious consequences”, and the Biden administration has been in regular contact with Israeli officials as they plan their next steps.
5. An Israeli military source told CNN that several Iranian missiles hit Israeli military bases on Tuesday night, but no major damage to the facilities was reported.
#Israeli #soldiers #killed #Lebanon #Israeli #soldiers #killed #Lebanon
2024-10-03 01:37:53