Israel’s military maintains pressure on Iran’s allies. At the same time, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterates that they will respond to the enemy’s rocket attack. Just when and how is still unclear.
As Israel’s army prepares to retaliate against Iran’s rocket attack, it continues to launch heavy attacks against pro-Iranian militias in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. In Lebanon, “terrorist targets” in the area of the capital Beirut are currently being bombed in the fight against Hezbollah, the army announced last night without giving any details. Two command centers of the Islamist Hamas were also attacked in an area in the center of the Gaza Strip, it said. One was in a former school, the other in a former mosque.
The Israeli army said the armed forces had taken numerous measures to reduce the danger to civilians before the “precise” attacks. According to Arab reports, there were at least 15 dead and dozens injured in the area. Neither the Arab reports nor the Israeli army’s statements could be independently verified.
Macron calls for a stop to arms sales to Israel
French President Macron called for a stop to the supply of weapons to Israel in view of the Gaza war. The priority is to return to a political solution and stop arms supplies for the fighting in the Gaza Strip, Macron said on France Inter radio station. France will not supply any weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately criticized Macron sharply and called it a “disgrace.”
While Western leaders like Macron have called for arms embargoes against Israel, Iran is not imposing such an embargo on, for example, Hezbollah or the Houthi militia in Yemen, Netanyahu said, adding, according to his office: “Israel will win with or without their support.” . As his country fights “the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should stand firmly with Israel.”
As the French television station BFMTV reported after the Macron interview, citing the presidential palace, France will continue to supply Israel with defense equipment, especially for missile defense. The Times of Israel quoted a statement from the French presidential palace saying Macron “supports Israel’s security.” It was said that Iran or one of its proxies would not be allowed to attack Israel.
Netanyahu: Reaction to Iran’s missile attack is coming
Netanyahu reiterated that there will be a response to the recent Iranian missile attack. He did not comment on the timing or nature of the reaction. “No country in the world would accept such an attack on its cities and citizens,” he said. “Israel has the duty and the right to defend itself,” Netanyahu said in a speech at the military headquarters in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv. The military is “in the midst of planning a response” that will be “significant,” the Times of Israel reported. There are fears that the entire region could become embroiled in a serious war.
The commander of US troops in the Middle East, General Michael Erik Kurilla, has arrived in Israel to consult with military representatives during the Israeli army’s preparations, the Times of Israel reported. The USA is Israel’s most important ally. Meanwhile, the army and Hezbollah continue to attack each other in Lebanon. Before the renewed bombings in the Beirut area, the Israeli army had asked residents of certain buildings in a southern suburb to evacuate.
Heavy bombing again in Beirut
A dpa reporter in Beirut reported more than 20 serious attacks. Apparently a weapons depot near the airport was hit. The explosions could be heard all over the city. According to the army, Hezbollah had previously fired on Israel again. After sirens sounded shortly after midnight in the area of the town of Kiriat Shmona in northern Israel, around 30 projectiles were identified that had penetrated Israeli territory. Some were intercepted, others fell.
The militia had previously fired around 130 missiles towards Israel. The military’s information could not initially be independently verified. “We must continue to put pressure on Hezbollah and inflict further and continuous damage on the enemy, without concessions and without respite for the organization,” said Israel’s Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi. Israel fears that Hezbollah could recover from heavy blows and regroup in the event of a ceasefire. It wants to drive the militia from the border so that the approximately 60,000 Israelis who were evacuated from there can return.
Macron wants to organize a conference to support Lebanon
In view of the fighting, France’s president wants to organize an international conference to support Lebanon. It is scheduled to take place in October, French media quoted Macron as saying. The aim of the conference should therefore be to provide humanitarian aid and strengthen security in the south of Lebanon. At a summit of Francophone countries, they unanimously voted for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and expressed their commitment to de-escalating tensions in the region, Macron was quoted as saying by radio station Europe 1.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Saudi colleague Faisal bin Farhan about the highly explosive situation in the Middle East. The focus was on the implementation of a UN resolution on the return of refugee civilians on the Israeli-Lebanese border and international support for the Lebanese armed forces and for the UN observer mission Unifil, as Blinken’s ministry announced. The Unifil mission has been monitoring the border area between Israel and Lebanon for decades.
Thousands demonstrate again in Israel for hostage deal
Shortly before the first anniversary of the Hamas massacre on October 7th, thousands of people in Israel demonstrated again for a deal with Hamas for the release of the remaining hostages. Many participants fear that the fate of the hostages will be forgotten in view of the fighting in Lebanon. The rallies were not as large as usual because there are restrictions on gatherings in many places due to the security situation.
“One year and they are still not here,” read one poster at the rally in Tel Aviv. Relatives of the hostages accuse Prime Minister Netanyahu of sabotaging a deal with Hamas and bowing to the demands of his ultra-religious and far-right coalition partners. These are against concessions to the Islamist organization. Netanyahu depends on them for his political survival.
On October 7, 2023, terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped around 250 others as hostages to Gaza. This was the trigger for the war. Since then, around 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. The number does not distinguish between fighters and civilians and is difficult to verify.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
