Israel-Iran War News Highlights: Israeli strikes in Southern Lebanon claim 22 lives; Air France suspends flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut

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According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli strikes on towns in southern Lebanon on Sunday resulted in the deaths of 22 individuals and left 111 others injured.

Since September 16, a total of at least 1,448 people have lost their lives and 7,677 have been wounded due to Israeli military operations in Lebanon, based on a CNN tally derived from ministry figures.

Air France and its low-cost subsidiary, Transavia, announced on Monday the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv until October 15 and to Beirut until October 26, citing security concerns.

The Air France-KLM group stated, "The resumption of service will depend on an assessment of the situation on the ground." Previously, the airlines had already suspended flights to both Middle Eastern cities until at least October 8.

The Israeli military announced on Monday that it plans to commence operations in the maritime area off southern Lebanon. Avichay Adraee, the military’s Arabic-speaking spokesman, urged the public in a statement to avoid the beach and refrain from going out to sea south of the Awali River.

In his message, Adraee said, "For your safety, avoid being at sea or on the beach from now until further notice. Being in the water or operating boats in the area south of the Awali River poses a danger to your life." The warning comes as Israel prepares to take action against Hezbollah in the region.

(From CNN)

Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday to discuss the situation in the Middle East, as reported by the Russian state-run media outlet TASS.

The meeting will take place in Turkmenistan, with the announcement made during a briefing by Putin’s aide, Yuri Ushakov. “This meeting is significant for addressing both bilateral issues and the increasingly tense situation in the Middle East,” Ushakov stated, according to TASS.

The Israeli military reported that it targeted over 120 Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon during a concentrated aerial operation on Monday, accomplishing this within just 60 minutes. "The Israel Air Force (IAF) conducted an extensive aerial operation, striking more than 120 terror targets in southern Lebanon within an hour," the military stated. These targets were associated with Hezbollah's elite Radwan forces and other units.

Israel's security cannot be assured through military force alone and will necessitate a diplomatic solution, stated France's foreign minister on Monday. Jean-Noel Barrot, who concluded a four-day tour of the Middle East, emphasized that Paris would continue its efforts to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon.

During his visit to Israel, Barrot marked the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of around 250 individuals taken back to Gaza. The assault led to an Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has reportedly claimed the lives of nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to the health ministry in the enclave.

A Lebanese security official reported that an Israeli airstrike occurred on Monday near Beirut’s only airport, close to Hezbollah's stronghold in southern Beirut. The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, stated, "Israel conducted an airstrike near the airport."

Lebanon's official National News Agency previously reported that Israel launched a series of strikes targeting over 30 towns and villages in the Tyre district, following earlier reports of strikes in other areas of southern Lebanon.

In a related development, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that a ballistic missile fired from Yemen towards central Israel was successfully intercepted by Israeli air defenses, as reported by the Times of Israel. Sirens were activated across central Israel amid concerns about falling debris.

According to the IDF, approximately 17,000 Hamas operatives and members of other terrorist groups have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war began. Additionally, around 1,000 terrorists were killed inside Israel on October 7, when gunmen attacked southern communities, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals to Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry claims that over 41,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza, although this figure cannot be independently verified and is thought to include both civilians and Hamas members.

(From Times of Israel)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a security briefing after a government meeting commemorating the anniversary of the October 7 attacks, according to an Israeli official speaking to The Times of Israel.

The briefing seems important following the last-minute postponement of a scheduled meeting between Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot.

On Monday, the Israeli army announced that its air force is conducting extensive strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, coinciding with the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks.

In a statement, the army confirmed, "The IAF (Israeli Air Force) is currently conducting extensive strikes on Hezbollah terror targets in southern Lebanon."

Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group and ally of Hamas, has launched missile strikes on Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, early on Monday, coinciding with the first anniversary of the Gaza war.

The group announced that it targeted a military base south of Haifa using "Fadi 1" missiles and also carried out another attack on Tiberias, located 65 km (40 miles) away.

Lebanese officials report that an Israeli airstrike has resulted in the deaths of at least 10 firefighters in southern Lebanon.

(From AP)

An explosion occurred on Monday near the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark, approximately 500 meters from the diplomatic mission. The blast coincided with the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.

The Gaza health ministry has reported that around 42,000 Palestinians have been killed and approximately 97,000 injured as a result of Israel's military offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi arrived in Beirut on Monday aboard a Jordanian aid plane, marking the seventh aircraft dispatched to Lebanon since the outbreak of war. The plane carried 13 tonnes of food, relief items, and medical supplies, as stated by the Jordanian foreign ministry.

During his "solidarity visit," Safadi met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, emphasizing Jordan’s support in light of the escalating Israeli aggression. He reaffirmed his country's commitment to achieving a ceasefire and providing Lebanon with the necessary aid to address the consequences of the ongoing Israeli bombardment.

The Israeli army announced on Monday the deployment of a third division to assist in operations in Lebanon as part of its ongoing ground conflict with Hezbollah. The soldiers from the 91st Division have begun localized and targeted operations in southern Lebanon, according to a statement from the army.

Hezbollah announced today that it had launched an attack on Israeli troops stationed in the southern Lebanese village of Maroun al-Ras. The Iran-backed militant group claimed to have bombarded a gathering of Israeli forces in the area with a rocket salvo.

In response to the escalating hostilities, the Israeli army has deployed an additional division to participate in operations in Lebanon. Hezbollah also stated that it had targeted multiple locations in northern Israel and military positions along the border, heightening the ongoing conflict between the two factions.

Global commemorations began today, marking the first anniversary of Hamas’s deadly October 7 attack on Israel. Memorial events honored the victims and those still held hostage in Gaza, while protests worldwide decried the wars that erupted in Gaza and Lebanon following the attack.

In Israel, President Isaac Herzog led a moment of silence at Kibbutz Reim, where the Nova music festival was targeted, killing over 370 people. A rally was also held at Kibbutz Beeri to call for the return of hostages held by Palestinian militants. Vigils continued in cities like Tel Aviv, London, and Paris, with large crowds in Hyde Park holding signs demanding the release of hostages.

French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the victims of the Hamas October 7 attack on Israel during the first anniversary of the incursion, which deeply impacted the Middle East. In a message posted on social media in English, Hebrew, and French, Macron acknowledged the enduring pain of the Israeli people, as well as the suffering of those affected globally. He expressed solidarity with the families still grieving and waiting for their loved ones.

In a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Macron reaffirmed France's unwavering commitment to Israel's security and urged for a ceasefire in both Gaza and Lebanon.

The Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has reportedly fired a barrage of rockets at the Israeli city of Karmiel in northern Israel at 6:55 AM local time this morning. The attack triggered sirens in Karmiel and surrounding areas in the Upper Galilee region, as reported by Israeli media. According to YNet News, a total of 15 projectiles were launched from Lebanon toward Upper Galilee, with the majority intercepted by Israeli defense systems. This incident marks a significant escalation in cross-border tensions between Lebanon and Israel, following ongoing military operations and hostilities in the region.

Hamas' armed wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, announced this morning that it fired rockets into southern Israel, during the first anniversary of the group's attack on the country last year. The Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades stated that their fighters targeted "enemy gatherings" by launching projectiles at the Rafah crossing, Kerem Shalom crossing, and kibbutz Holit, all located near the Gaza border.

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that projectiles were launched from Lebanon into Israel shortly before midnight, activating sirens in the HaCarmel and HaMifratz regions. Retaliating, the IDF conducted significant strikes on Dahiya, a stronghold of Hezbollah located in the southern suburbs of Beirut.

The Israeli army reported the death of a soldier, Master Sergeant Etay Azulay, along the northern border with Lebanon. This marks the latest casualty as the military continues ground operations against Hezbollah positions in the region, which commenced last week.

"Master Sergeant Etay Azulay... fell during combat on the Lebanese border," read the army statement.

As dawn broke in Israel today, people began gathering at the Nova Music Festival site to commemorate the first anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas, which resulted in 347 deaths and 40 hostages.

This event in the Negev desert, as per a CNN report, is part of several memorial gatherings honoring the over 1,200 victims and the more than 250 hostages taken during the attacks that sparked Israel's war in Gaza.

Israeli military vehicles have reportedly stormed the city of Tulkarem in the occupied West Bank, surrounding the Martyr Thabet Thabet Governmental Hospital, according to the Wafa news agency. Two Israeli bulldozers have commenced the destruction of infrastructure in the area, targeting key locations including the al-Alimi roundabout to the west, the al-Younis roundabout to the north, and the Iktaba roundabout to the east.

Additionally, bulldozers are damaging roads and infrastructure around the Nour Shams refugee camp within the city. Clashes and raids have also been reported in other parts of the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that their soldiers have been actively dismantling Hezbollah's booby traps, tunnels, and weapons caches in southern Lebanon. During one operation, the IDF discovered a booby-trapped pit intended for an ambush and successfully neutralized it. Additionally, the military indicated that they had conducted raids to dismantle parts of Hezbollah's underground tunnel network and seized significant stockpiles of weapons in the process.

The Syrian defense ministry has reported that Israel conducted air strikes on military positions in central Syria on Sunday, though there were no reported casualties. This action is part of Israel's ongoing campaign against military targets in Syria, which has intensified since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011. The strikes primarily focus on Iranian-backed forces and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

According to the ministry, the air strikes began around 20:05 local time, originating from northern Lebanon and targeting military sites in central Syria, leading to "material losses." Syrian state media indicated that air defenses were activated to intercept what they referred to as "hostile targets."

United Nations peacekeepers (UNIFIL) in southern Lebanon expressed serious concerns on Sunday regarding Israel's military operations near one of their positions, labeling the situation as "extremely dangerous" and compromising their safety. The warning follows an Israeli request for the UN peacekeeping force to relocate, which UNIFIL has declined.

Calls for a ceasefire have been made by regional leaders, including Jordan's and the UAE's, while U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris stated that the Biden administration would continue to pressure both Israel and Arab leaders to agree on a truce. In Israel, heightened security measures are in place due to fears of retaliatory attacks.

On the October 7 anniversary, tensions remain high. Recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have reportedly killed over 41,870 people, the majority of whom are civilians, and left much of the territory devastated. Hamas referred to the attack as "glorious," insisting that Palestinians are "writing a new history" through their resistance.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed his commitment to victory on Sunday, stating that Israel's military has "completely transformed reality" in the year since the Hamas attack on October 7, which has led to ongoing conflicts with both Hamas and Hezbollah. Addressing troops at the Lebanon border, Netanyahu asserted, "Israel will win" as the nation faces threats from multiple fronts, including preparations for potential strikes on Iran.

A year after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack, Israel has opened a new front in Lebanon against Hezbollah, which has been trading fire with Israel along the border since the conflict in Gaza began. Late Sunday, airstrikes were launched in Beirut's southern suburbs, as shown in AP video footage.

Israel also vowed retaliation against Iran following a ballistic missile attack on its territory last week, signaling a broader escalation that risks drawing in the United States. Washington has been providing crucial military and diplomatic support to Israel, and Iran-backed groups in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen have joined the fight with long-distance strikes on Israeli targets.

Iranian authorities have resumed air traffic after suspensions at certain airports due to "operational restrictions," state media reported, amid escalating tensions with Israel. Jafar Yazarloo, the spokesperson for Iran's Civil Aviation Organisation, confirmed that flights were operational again as of 11:00 pm (1930 GMT) Sunday, following a brief halt.

The flight disruptions came in the wake of Iran launching around 200 missiles on Tuesday in retaliation for the killing of Tehran-aligned militant leaders and a general in the Revolutionary Guards. Israel has vowed to retaliate for the missile strike.