Live: Israel vows Iran response, Hezbollah says repelled south Lebanon raid
- Hezbollah says it attacked and repulsed Israeli troops who infiltrated near the town of Odaisseh in southern Lebanon, and “inflicted losses and forced them to retreat”.
- Israel steps up bombardment of the Gaza Strip, killing dozens of people in separate attacks on shelters and schools, including an orphanage.
Israel bars UN secretary-general from entering country
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz says he is barring UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country for his failure to “unequivocally condemn” Iran’s huge missile attack on Israel.
Shortly after Iran’s attack, Guterres condemned the escalation of violence in the region, but made no mention of Iran.
“Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran’s heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil,” said Katz in a statement. “This is an anti-Israel Secretary-General who lends support to terrorists, rapists, and murderers.”
More from Hezbollah spokesman Afif
We now have more lines from Hezbollah’s Mohammad Afif.
“We assure you, the enemy, that this is only the first round,” Afif told reporters in southern Lebanon, adding that the group was ready to “sacrifice our blood and soul for our homeland by the grace of God”.
“What happened in … Maroun al-Ras and other areas, including Odaisseh, was nothing but the tip of the iceberg,” he added.
Moreover, Afif said Israel’s air superiority will “turn into losses on the ground”.
Hezbollah says it can push back Israel, has sufficient resources
The head of Hezbollah’s media office, Mohammad Afif, says the group has enough fighters, weapons and ammunition to push back Israel.
He was speaking to reporters in an area hit by Israeli raids in southern Lebanon. We will bring you more shortly.
Kremlin calls for restraint
The Kremlin says the situation in the Middle East is developing in an alarming direction and called on all sides to exercise restraint.
“This situation is developing according to the most alarming scenario,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “We call for restraint by all sides against the backdrop of what is happening. And, of course, we condemn any actions which lead to the deaths of civilians.”
Hezbollah says clashes ongoing with Israeli troops near border
The Lebanese group says fighting is ongoing with Israeli forces infiltrating the town of Maroun al-Ras from its eastern side.
Hezbollah said its fighters had “inflicted several casualties among them”.
We will update you as more information becomes available.
‘We must act now’: Former Israeli PM Bennett
Naftali Bennett has called for a decisive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying Tehran now stood exposed.
“We must act now to destroy Iran’s nuclear program, its central energy facilities, and to fatally cripple this terrorist regime,” Bennett wrote on X after Iran fired a barrage of missiles.
“We have the justification. We have the tools. Now that Hezbollah and Hamas are paralysed, Iran stands exposed,” wrote Bennett.
Iran has been accused of seeking to develop atomic weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Death toll from Tel Aviv attack rises to 7
The number of dead from a shooting and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv rose to seven after one of the victims succumbed to his wounds overnight.
“The injured person came to us in a critical condition, suffering from multi-system damage, and after doctors fought for his life, they had to pronounce him dead a short while ago,” a statement from Tel Aviv’s Ichilov medical centre said.
On Tuesday, Israeli police said six people were killed and 17 others wounded in the attack near the light rail station in Jaffa.
Police said the two assailants in their 20s were residents of the occupied West Bank. One of the attackers was shot dead and the other was seriously wounded.
British forces ‘played their part’ in defending Israel: UK defence minister
John Healey condemned Iran’s latest actions saying the United Kingdom stood fully “behind Israel’s right to defend” itself.
British forces “played their part in attempts to prevent further escalation in the Middle East”, he said in a statement. “I want to thank all British personnel involved in the operation for their courage and professionalism.”
The UK performed a similar role in April when Iran last fired missiles and drones towards Israel, with reports then that Royal Air Force jets helped to shoot down some of the unmanned aerial vehicles.
Gaza death toll rises
At least 41,689 people have been killed and 96,625 wounded in Israeli military attacks on Gaza since October 7, the enclave’s Health Ministry says.
Of those, 51 Palestinians were killed and 82 wounded in the latest 24-hour reporting period, the ministry added.
