Middle East conflict: Israel threatens Iran with “deadly and precise” retaliation

After the massive rocket attack from Iran, Israel is preparing a retaliatory strike against its arch-enemy. Today the Israeli security cabinet wants to discuss possible scenarios, as the US news portal Axios reports. Defense Minister Joav Galant threatened Iran with a harsh retaliatory strike. “Anyone who tries to harm the State of Israel will pay a price,” he wrote on the X platform. “Our attack in Iran will be deadly, precise and surprising.”

Iran fired around 200 rockets at Israel last week. The government in Tehran also supports the Shiite militia Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi militia in Yemen, which in turn repeatedly attack Israel. It was initially unclear what the Israeli reaction might be. According to media reports, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently discussed a combination of air strikes on military targets in Iran and covert operations with the top military and intelligence agencies. “Iran will not understand what is happening to it,” Defense Minister Galant announced during a visit to a military unit.

After almost two months of radio silence: Netanyahu is on the phone with Biden

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke by phone with US President Joe Biden for the first time in almost two months. According to the information, Biden reiterated his “ironclad” support for Israel’s security in the phone call and strongly condemned the October 1 Iranian missile attack on Israel. He emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense against the Hezbollah militia, but at the same time called for consideration for the civilian population, especially in the densely populated areas of the Lebanese capital Beirut. According to media reports, frustration is growing in Washington that the Israeli government often only informs its close ally about military operations after the fact. Biden said last week that he would not support an Israeli retaliation against nuclear targets. An attack on the Iranian oil industry is also rejected in Washington.

USA calls on Israel to better protect civilians in the Gaza Strip

Given the great suffering in the Gaza Strip, the US is urging its ally Israel to better protect civilians in the area. “These catastrophic conditions were predicted months ago, and yet nothing has been done. This must change, and it must change now,” American Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the United Nations Security Council. “We call on Israel to take urgent action.” Restricting goods deliveries to the sealed-off coastal strip would “only increase the suffering in the Gaza Strip.” Thomas-Greenfield warned: “We need fewer barriers to the delivery of aid, not more.”

Palestinians: Dozens dead after attacks in Jabalia

According to Palestinian reports, dozens of people were killed in Israeli attacks on the town of Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip. At least 47 Palestinians were killed, medical sources in the Gaza Strip said. Among them is said to be a Palestinian journalist. The information could not initially be independently verified. According to a report by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, one of the attacks was said to have targeted the courtyard of a hospital. Tents of displaced people were also hit. When contacted, the Israeli military said it had attacked Hamas members in a command and control center.

Lebanon: Five civil defense workers killed in Israeli attack

According to authorities, five members of the civil defense were killed in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Health said they were in a civil defense center in the town of Derdghaija at the time of the attack. The ministry condemned the attack on aid workers and rescuers in Lebanon. Israel is once again ignoring international laws and humanitarian conventions.