By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-02 07:51:22 | Updated at 2024-10-02 10:19:21
2 hours ago
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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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.
Good morning
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.
