Israel-Iran latest updates: IDF threatens ‘significant retaliation’ to Iran’s missile barrage as ground operations intensify in Lebanon against Hezbollah sparking World War III fears
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Israel has vowed a ‘significant retaliation’ to Iran’s attack last night which saw Tehran fire a barrage of missiles in revenge for Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon, including the assassination of its leader.
A retaliation to the attack would come within days and could target oil production facilities inside Iran and other strategic sites, US news website Axios reported on Wednesday – citing Israeli officials.
As the missile assault unfolded, news also broke of a deadly shooting in Tel Aviv, leaving at least six people dead. Police said two suspects opened fire on a boulevard in the Jaffa neighbourhood, and were also killed in the attack.
Israel’s vow to retaliate came as the IDF said today that regular infantry and armoured units were joining ground operations in southern Lebanon, but said they would remain limited and localised in scope.
Israel said on Tuesday that commando and paratrooper units had crossed a short distance over the border in the first publicly announced ground operation in Lebanon, and subsequently said that special forces units had been carrying out ground raids against Hezbollah targets across the border for months.
During these missions, Israel said, its forces had uncovered tunnels and weapon caches under homes.
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Death toll from Tel Aviv attack rises to seven, hospital officials say
The death toll from the shooting and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv last night has risen to seven after one of the victims succumbed to his wounds overnight, hospital sources said on Wednesday.
New of the attack broke as Iran’s missile barrage unfolded.
‘The injured person came to us in a critical condition, suffering from multi-system damage, and after doctors fought for his life, they had to pronounce him dead a short while ago,’ a statement from Tel Aviv’s Ichilov medical centre said.
On Tuesday, Israeli police said six people were killed and 17 others wounded in the attack, which took place near Tel Aviv’s light rail station in Jaffa.
Police said the two assailants, who were in their 20s, were residents of the occupied West Bank, and that one of the attackers was shot dead and the other was seriously wounded.
Israeli media identified two of the victims as Israeli citizens Shahar Goldman, 30, and Inbar Segev Vigder, 33.
WATCH: Rockets from Iran fill sky over Jerusalem and people run for shelter
Israeli opposition demands ‘tough’ response on Iran after missile strike
Israeli operation leader said Iran should suffer a ‘tough’ response that sends ‘a clear message to the entire axis’ after strikes pounded Israel last night.
Yair Lapid wrote on Twitter/X that ‘in Tehran, they know that Israel will come’.
‘Along with a military response, we must develop an overall regional political strategy that turns military success into strategic change, and we must not forget for one moment the urgent need to return the abductees home.’
Israel is said to be planning a ‘significant retaliation’ against Iran that could involve attacks on the country’s oil production facilities and other strategic infrastructure.
Axios cited unnamed officials in saying an attack could follow ‘within days’, after some 181 rockets struck Israel overnight.
The officials said this could include strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities if Tehran attacks again.
Israel’s opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid (File)
Strikes kill 32 in southern Gaza as Israel continues fight on multiple fronts
Israeli strikes killed at least 32 people in southern Gaza overnight as the military renewed ground operations in Khan Yunis, Palestinian medical officials said today.
The European Hospital in Khan Yunis said it received the bodies after heavy Israeli strikes and ground operations rocked the beleaguered city.
It said the dead include several women and children, with dozens wounded.
Israel meanwhile continued striking the suburbs of Beirut into Wednesday, while defending against a Houthi rocket barrage fired from Yemen.
Houthi rebels claimed to have targeted military posts deep inside Israel with three-winged Quds-5 rockets this morning.
Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesman, said US and UK support for Israel puts their interests ‘under fire’.
There were no immediate reports of damage of casualties.
Palestinians inspect the site of Israeli strikes on houses, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 2
Danish police said on Wednesday they were investigating two blasts that went off near the Israeli embassy in the capital Copenhagen.
No-one was hurt in the explosions, which occurred overnight in the ‘immediate proximity’ to the Israeli embassy, police spokesman Jakob Hansen told reporters.
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Israeli army orders evacuations of Lebanese villages
Israel has ordered the evacuation of Lebanese villages in the south as it presses on with its ground invasion.
Avichay Adraee, spokesperson for the Israeli army, told people in 24 communes to ‘evacuate their homes immediately’.
‘Anyone who is near Hezbollah elements, installations, and combat equipment is putting his life at risk.
‘Any house used by Hezbollah for its military needs is expected to be targeted,’ he said on Twitter/X.
Israel maintains its war is not with civilians, but has urged residents to flee in order to avoid getting caught in crossfire.
Some one million people have so far been displaced by the conflict in Lebanon, many travelling back into war-torn Syria for lack of safer options.
The ailing Lebanese government has tried to provide shelters for civilians in the capital of Beirut, which has also come under Israeli fire.
Smoke billows after an Israeli Air Force air strike on a village in southern Lebanon, as seen from Jish, northern Israel, October 2
An Israeli Apache helicopter fires a missile towards southern Lebanon as seen from northern Israel this morning
Artillery is fired by the Israeli Army into Lebanon, as seen from Jish this morning
Israeli forces ‘suffer casualties’ in renewed press on Lebanon
Israeli forces are believed to have suffered casualties amid a renewed press into Lebanon this morning.
Some 20 ambulances were reported to be stationed in northern Israel to receive soldiers being evacuated from the frontlines in Lebanon.
Israel continued to pound southern Lebanon with rockets this morning, claiming intense clashes with Hezbollah soldiers at the border.
Infantry and armoured units were expected to join the cross-border raids today, so far defined mostly by small commando raids.
Israel revealed yesterday its special forces had been working in Lebanon for months, targeting Hezbollah strongholds and destroying Iranian weapons.
Israel maintains that its military operations in Lebanon will be swift – but continues to face pressure from world leaders to de-escalate.
Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live blog covering the ongoing conflict between Israel, Hezbollah and Iran on October 2. Here’s what you need to know this morning:
The IDF launched a ‘limited, localised and targeted’ invasion into Lebanon, claiming to be targeting Hezbollah strongholds, in the early hours of Monday morning;
Israel fended off attacks from Hezbollah and Houthi rebels in Yemen as thousands headed for emergency shelters during waves of rocket and drone attacks;
Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles into Israel, claiming to have targeted military positions with 90 per cent efficiency. One Palestinian was killed in Israel;
The US confirmed two naval destroyers were used to shoot down Iranian missiles, as British and Jordanian forces lent support;
Israeli rhetoric has turned to a response this morning as Iran urged de-escalation, while threatening anybody opening air space to Israel;
Israel announced renewed operations in Lebanon today, claiming infantry and armoured units would join the ground offensive, hitherto mainly defined by commando raids;
Israeli forces appeared to suffer casualties in their first close combat with Hezbollah in Lebanon, with some 20 ambulances waiting in northern Israel to receive the injured.
Jewish charity in the UK reports spike in antisemitic incidents since October 7
Amid the mounting tensions in the Middle East, a Jewish charity said it has recorded more than 5,500 antisemitic incidents in the UK in the year since the Hamas attacks on Israel.
The Community Security Trust (CST) said the 5,583 incidents recorded between October 7 2023 and September 30 is the highest total of any 12-month period.
The figure is three times that of the previous 12-month period, which saw 1,830 incidents recorded in total.
The charity, which monitors antisemitism and provides security for the Jewish community in Britain, said most incidents took the form of abusive behaviour (4,583), while others involved threats (401) or assault (302).
One incident of what it described as extreme violence was recorded.
The majority of incidents were recorded in London (3,167), while 729 were recorded in Manchester and 642 in West Yorkshire.
There were 1,400 incidents in October 2023 alone, the charity said, and more than 200 have been recorded every month since then.
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