Politics Israeli army continues attacks in Lebanon and Gaza

While Israel's army prepares for a retaliatory strike against Iran's missile attack, it continues to launch fierce attacks against pro-Iranian militias in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

In Lebanon, "terrorist targets" in the area of the capital Beirut are currently being bombed in the fight against Hezbollah, the army announced last night without giving details. In an area in the center of the Gaza Strip, two command centers of the Islamist Hamas were also attacked, it said. One was located in a former school, the other in a former mosque.

The armed forces had taken numerous measures to reduce the danger to civilians before the "precise" attacks, the Israeli army said. According to Arab reports, at least 15 people were killed and dozens injured in the area. Neither the Arab reports nor the information provided by the Israeli army could be independently verified.

Macron calls for halt to arms deliveries to Israel

With regard to the Gaza war, French President Macron called for a halt to the supply of weapons to Israel. It is a priority to return to a political solution and stop supplying weapons for the fighting in the Gaza Strip, Macron said on the radio station France Inter. France would not supply any weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promptly criticized Macron sharply and spoke of a "disgrace".

While Western heads of state and government like Macron were calling for arms embargoes against Israel, Iran was not imposing such an embargo on Hezbollah or the Houthi militia in Yemen, Netanyahu said, adding, according to his office: "Israel will win with or without their support". While his country fights against "the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized countries should stand firmly by Israel's side".

However, as the French television station BFMTV reported after the Macron interview, citing the presidential palace, France will continue to supply Israel with defense equipment, especially for missile defense. The Times of Israel quoted a statement from the French presidential palace according to which Macron "supports Israel's security". Iran or one of its proxies would not be allowed to attack Israel, it said.

Netanyahu: Response to Iran's missile attack is coming

Netanyahu confirmed that there will be a response to the latest Iranian missile attack. He did not comment on the timing or nature of the response. "No country in the world would accept such an attack on its cities and citizens," he said. "Israel has the duty and the right to defend itself," Netanyahu said in a speech at the military headquarters in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv. The military is "in the midst of planning a response" that will be "significant", reported the Times of Israel. It is feared that the entire region could become embroiled in a war with serious consequences.

The commander of US troops in the Middle East, General Michael Erik Kurilla, arrived in Israel to consult with military representatives during the Israeli army's preparations, reported the Times of Israel. The USA is Israel's most important ally. Meanwhile, the army and Hezbollah continue to attack each other in Lebanon. Before the renewed bombardments in the Beirut area, Israel's army had ordered residents of certain buildings in a southern suburb to evacuate.

Another heavy bombardment in Beirut

A dpa reporter in Beirut reported more than 20 heavy attacks. Apparently a weapons depot near the airport had been hit. The explosions could be heard all over the city. According to the army, Hezbollah had previously fired at Israel again. After the sirens sounded shortly after midnight in the area of the town of Kiriat Shmona in northern Israel, around 30 projectiles were identified as having entered Israeli territory. Some had been intercepted, others had fallen.

The militia had previously fired around 130 missiles towards Israel. The military's claims could not initially be independently verified. "We must continue to exert pressure on Hezbollah and inflict further and continuous damage on the enemy, without concessions and without rest for the organization," said Israel's Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. Israel fears that Hezbollah could recover from the heavy blows and regroup in the event of a ceasefire. It wants to drive the militia away from the border so that the 60,000 Israelis evacuated from there can return.

Macron wants to organize conference to support Lebanon

In view of the fighting, the French President wants to organize an international conference to support Lebanon. It is to take place in October, French media quoted Macron as saying. The aim of the conference is to provide humanitarian aid and strengthen security in the south of Lebanon. At a summit of francophone countries, Macron was quoted by Europe 1 radio as saying that there was unanimous support for an immediate and lasting ceasefire and a commitment to de-escalating tensions in the region.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan about the highly explosive situation in the Middle East. The focus was on the implementation of a UN resolution on the return of civilians who have fled to the Israeli-Lebanese border and international support for the Lebanese armed forces and the UN observer mission Unifil, according to Blinken's ministry. The Unifil mission has been monitoring the border area between Israel and Lebanon for decades.

Thousands demonstrate again in Israel for hostage deal

Shortly before the first anniversary of the Hamas massacre on October 7, thousands demonstrated again in Israel in favor of a deal with Hamas for the release of the remaining hostages. Many participants fear that the fate of the hostages will be forgotten in view of the fighting in Lebanon. The rallies were not as large as usual, as there are restrictions on gatherings in many places due to the security situation.

"One year and they are still not here", read one poster at the rally in Tel Aviv. Relatives of the hostages accuse Prime Minister Netanyahu of sabotaging a deal with Hamas and bowing to the demands of his ultra-religious and far-right coalition partners. They are against making concessions to the Islamist organization. Netanyahu is dependent on them for his political survival.

On October 7, 2023, terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and took around 250 others hostage in Gaza. This triggered the war. Since then, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority, around 42,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza. The figure does not distinguish between fighters and civilians and is almost impossible to verify.

SDA