Israel says it attacked Iran as blasts heard across Tehran, Damascus
Barnea to meet Burns in Doha to renew hostage talks • IAF intercepts suspicious aerial threat • IDF announces three dead soldiers
Israel confirms it has struck Iran, as explosion rock Tehran
Blasts heard in Tehran, nearby Karaj • Explosions were also heard in Syria and Iraq, and air defense systems were reportedly activated
Five explosions were reported heard across Tehran and the nearby city of Karaj early on Saturday morning, according to Iranian media, in what is alleged to be the beginning of an Israeli retaliatory attack on Iran.
Israeli officials confirmed to Army Radio that Israel had started striking targets across Iran.
Reports of explosions at the Imam Khomeini International Airport in the Iranian capital were also received.
Arab media reported that Israel attacked the location of the headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in Iran.
There were no planes flying over Syria or northern Iraq during the time of the suspected attack.
Earlier explosions
On Friday, a fire was reported at an Iranian Defense Ministry site in Tehran, although the Tehran Fire Department denied any connection.
Explosions were also heard in Syria and Iraq, and air defense systems were reportedly activated, according to Maariv.
This is a developing story.
Go to the full article >>Israel strikes Beirut suburbs, members of press team killed in Hasbaya hit - report
The airstrikes came approximately two hours after IDF Arabic Spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued warnings to residents to evacute.
Multiple journalists from a press team were allegedly killed in an Israeli strike on Lebanon's Hasbaya that took place during the early hours of Friday, the Lebanese news channel Al Mayadeen reported.
Footage shows the aftermath of the Israeli attack on a group of journalists in Hasbayya, #Lebanon, leaving several killed or injured. pic.twitter.com/2ZIfAoLFl2
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 25, 2024
According to the report, the strike targeted the hotel where the press team stayed.
The report came after Israel hit Beruit suburbs with airstrikes during the late hours of Thursday night, Reuters images of the strikes showed.
Go to the full article >>
Israel requests urgent UN investigation for UNRWA employee involvement on October 7
Israel has requested urgent clarification from senior UN officials regarding UNWRA employee involvement in the October 7 Hamas attack, the IDF announced on Thursday evening.
The IDF also called for an"urgent investigation" into the UNWRA employees.
This follows the IDF's Thursday statement that Hamas terrorist Mohammad Abu Itiwi, who commanded the attacks on October 7, was eliminated and confirmed to have been a UNRWA employee.
Go to the full article >>Aerial target from eastern Red Sea area strikes open area, Eilat police scan for drone pieces
An aerial target aimed at Israel was fired from the eastern Red Sea area during the late hours of Thursday night, the IDF announced shortly after the incident.
According to the IDF, the aerial target struck an open area before it was able to cross into Israeli territory.
Following the incident, Eilat police received a report about a drone hit and began attempting to locate pieces of it.
According to the police, the item has not yet been identified, and police are working to determine whether what stuck in the area was the remains of an Iron Dome interception or a crashed drone.
Go to the full article >>Pentagon concerned over reports of Israeli strikes against Lebanese Armed Forces
Austin emphasized the importance of taking "all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL forces."
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concerns over reports of Israeli strikes against the Lebanese Armed forces in a call on Wednesday with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the Pentagon said Thursday.
Austin emphasized the importance of taking "all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL forces," Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters.
According to Singh, she thinks Israel "certainly hears our concerns and they understand them."
Go to the full article >>Four reservists, one soldier killed in combat, five soldiers wounded, IDF announces
In the same incident, an officer and two reservists in the 222nd Battalion, 2nd "Carmeli" Brigade were severely wounded.
Four IDF reservists fell in combat in northern Israel and southern Lebanon, the military announced on Thursday evening.
The fallen soldiers were Chief Warrant Officer (res.) Mordechai Haim Amoyal, Warrant Officer (res.) Shmuel Harari, Staff-Sergeant-Major (res.) Shlomo Aviad Nayman, and Sergeant-Major (res.) Shuvael Ben-Natal, the military said.
Go to the full article >>Mossad chief Barnea to meet Burns in Doha to renew hostage talks
Hamas officials have also stated that they are sending representatives for talks in Doha.
Mossad Chief David Barnea will promote a new framework for a hostage deal when he heads to Doha on Sunday to join the first high-level negotiations held by CIA Director William Burns in almost two months.
Barnea has “been working under the radar” on a new deal “together with the Qataris, the Americans and the Egyptians,” a source told The Jerusalem Post.
Go to the full article >>Israel at war: What you need to know
- Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
- Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Re'im music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across Gaza border communities
- 101 hostages remain in Gaza
- 48 hostages in total have been killed in captivity, IDF says