Live: Five Palestinian journalists killed, Gaza media office says
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Hezbollah fired around 80 projectiles into Israel on Saturday, just hours after Israel launched air strikes targeting military facilities in Iran, the Israeli military said.
"As of 15.00 [12.00 GMT], approximately 80 projectiles that were fired by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation have crossed from Lebanon into Israel today," it said in a statement.
The son of the director of northern Gaza's Kamal Adwan Hospital has been killed in the latest Israeli attack on the facility, health officials reported.
Footage from the funeral of Ibrahim, the son of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, was shared widely on social media as the hospital remains under siege, with 200 critically wounded patients inside.
الدكتور حسام أبو صفية، مدير مستشفى كمال عدوان، يستقبل جثمان ابنه الذي استشهد، بينما كان الدكتور حسام على رأس عمله مرتديًا زيه الرسمي، يؤدي واجبه تجاه أبناء شعبنا الفلسطيني. نسأل الله أن يربط على قلبه.
— د. منير عبدالله البرش (@Dr_Muneer1) October 26, 2024
Dr. Hossam Abu Safia, Director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, receives the body of… pic.twitter.com/aF9novR3YA
The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran received “advance notice” of the Israeli attack hours beforehand through Arab and European intermediaries.
"They said the warning outlined what Israel intended to target and indicated that if Iran planned to retaliate, subsequent attacks would be more powerful," the report said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Ten Iranian border guards have been killed in an attack in southeastern Iran, the interior ministry said.
The Iranian foreign ministry issued a statement later on Saturday asserting Iran's right to respond to the Israeli attack.
“On the basis of its inherent right to legitimate defence, stipulated in Article 51 of the UN Charter, the Islamic Republic of Iran considers itself to be rightful and duty bound to defend against the foreign acts of aggression,” the statement read.
"Iran will employ all of the physical and spiritual capabilities of the Iranian nation to protect its interests and security," it said, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
British prime minister Keir Starmer on Saturday called for restraint after Israel's attack on Iran.
"I am clear that Israel has the right to defend itself against Iranian aggression. I'm equally clear that we need to avoid further regional escalation and urge all sides to show restraint. Iran should not respond," he said at a press conference in Samoa.
Saudi Arabia on Saturday condemned Israel's attack on Iran as a violation of sovereignty.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expresses its condemnation and denunciation of the military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is a violation of its sovereignty and a violation of international laws and norms," a statement by the foreign ministry read.
"The Kingdom affirms its unwavering position in its rejection of the continued escalation in the region and the expansion of the conflict that threatens the security and stability of the countries and people of the region.
The Kingdom urges all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and reduce escalation."
A statement by Pakistan's foreign office condemned the Israeli attack on Iran on Saturday.
"Pakistan strongly condemns Israel’s strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These strikes undermine path to regional peace and stability and also constitute a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region," the statement read.
"Israel bears full responsibility for the current cycle of escalation and expansion of the conflict. We call on the UN Security council to play its role for the maintenance of international peace and security, and to take immediate steps to bring an end to Israeli recklessness in the region and its criminal behaviour."
The Palestinian movement Hamas on Saturday condemned Israel's attack on Iran as an act of "aggression."
"The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) strongly condemns the Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, targeting military sites in multiple provinces, a statement by the group said. "We consider this a flagrant violation of Iranian sovereignty and an escalation that threatens the security of the region and the safety of its people, placing full responsibility on the occupation for the consequences of this aggression, supported by the United States of America."
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, on Saturday, according to a statement by the US Department of Defense.
During the call, Austin "reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of the United States to Israel's security and right to self-defence."
The statement continued: "The secretary emphasised the enhanced force posture of the United States to defend US personnel, Israel and partners across the region in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organisations and the US determination to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or expanding the conflict in the region."
The United Arab Emirates condemned Israel's military attack on Iran on Saturday, calling for maximum restraint.
"The UAE strongly condemns the military targeting of the Islamic Republic of Iran and expresses deep concern over the continued escalation and its impact on regional security and stability," a statement by the foreign ministry read, emphasising the "importance of exercising the highest levels of restraint and wisdom to avoid risks and the expansion of conflict".
Two Iranian soldiers were killed in the overnight Israeli attack on Iranian military targets in the early hours of Saturday, according to a statement by the Iranian army, published by Iran's news agency IRNA.
"The army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in defending Iran's security and protecting the people and Iran's interests, sacrificed two of its fighters while countering projectiles from the criminal Zionist regime," the statement said.
Good morning, Middle East Eye readers,
It is 11am in Palestine, Lebanon and Israel, and here are the latest updates from Israel's wars in the Middle East, now in their 386th day.
Israel attacked multiple sites across Iran early on Saturday, which Iranian media outlets described as being limited in scope.
A number of explosions could be heard around the capital, Tehran. Iranian officials attributed the explosions to missile interceptions by air defence systems.
Israeli air strikes also targeted sites in central and southern Syria, Syrian state media reported.
The full extent of the attacks was still unclear by noon, Iranian time, but Iran's aviation authority opted to restart flights from 9am local time (5.30am GMT).
Israeli media, quoting unnamed Israeli officials, said that Israel had sent a message to Iran on Friday, ahead of the strike, warning Tehran against retaliation.
The Israeli army says air strikes on Iran have been completed and that it targeted military sites including missile manufacturing facilities.
Axios reporter Barak Ravid said that Israel's attack was in three waves targeting different military targets according to US and Israeli officials.
U.S. and Israeli officials said that three waves of strikes took place. The first waves focused on Iranian air defense system and the second an third waves focused on missile and drone bases and productions sites https://t.co/KVCLmNGlwO
— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) October 26, 2024
