- 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”.
- Israeli media report a “serious security incident” with hospitals in the north preparing to receive casualties as military helicopters evacuate the wounded.
- Israeli officials vow to respond after Iran fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at key military and security targets in Israel. Iran says the strikes were in response to attacks on Gaza and Lebanon.
- In Gaza, at least 41,638 people have been killed and 96,460 injured in Israeli attacks since October. In Israel, at least 1,139 people were killed in the Hamas-led attacks on October 7 and more than 200 people were taken captive
Hezbollah says it forced Israeli soldiers to retreat from Lebanese town
Israeli military talks up role of US ‘before, during and after’ Iran missile barrage
The Israeli military appears eager to publicise its close cooperation with the US armed forces “before, during and after the Iranian attack” on Tuesday evening.
In a post on social media featuring two photos and a video clip featuring Israel’s chief of staff Herzi Halevi on a phone call, the military said General Michael Kurilla, chief of US Central Command (CENTCOM), was on the other end of the line.
Israel and the US Army had “acted together”, the Israeli military said, and Halevi’s featured call with Kurilla was “at the end of the attack from Iran”.
The US military assisted in intercepting some of the estimated 200 missiles fired at Israel and the White House publicly offered unequivocal support for Israel in the aftermath of the Iran strike, while some Republican lawmakers called for the US to carry out raids on Iran in response.
Germany’s Scholz says Iran risks setting ‘entire region on fire’
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called on Iran and Hezbollah to immediately end their attacks on Israel.
“Iran is risking setting the entire region on fire – this must be prevented at all costs,” he said.
Germany and its partners will continue to work towards a ceasefire, he added.
Israeli army orders residents to evacuate south Lebanon villages
The Arabic language spokesman of the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, has issued orders for people in 24 southern Lebanon villages 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 in a post on X.
‘The fact is wherever Israel goes, the US is likely to follow’
Obviously, the US knew this was coming because it telegraphed that an attack was imminent. It seems likely it came from intelligence from satellite imagery or drones.
It could have come from Israel because we understand Iran warned Arab neighbours that this attack was coming. Israel got wind of it and said to Iran it would respond no matter how big or small this action was. So it could be the Israelis told the Americans.
The big question now, though, is what happens next? We’ve heard Prime Minister Netanyahu say Iran’s going to pay for this. President Biden said he will “exact severe consequences”. Those words sound like fighting talk.
But remember, we’ve also been here before. Back in April – when Iran launched attacks against Israel – the US president said something similar. He later had to backtrack because the last thing Joe Biden wants is for this to escalate into a bigger conflict.
The fact is, wherever Israel goes, the US is likely to follow. It says Israel has its full support. Biden doesn’t want this to turn into an all-out war, but if Netanyahu is going that way, it seems likely the US may very well be drawn into it.
‘Iran acts decisively on what it says’: Foreign Ministry
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said his country had “acted decisively and firmly” against Israel under the UN charter pertaining to a state’s “right to legitimate defence” and protection of security and sovereignty.
In a lengthy post on social media on Wednesday morning, Kanaani said the Iranian armed forces had acted bravely, referring to Tuesday evening’s launch of a barrage of missiles at Israel.
“The Zionist regime and its supporters should know that the Islamic Republic of Iran acts decisively on what it says,” Kanaani said.
“It was proved that Iran’s long hands can reach any point it wants,” he said.
The missile strike on Israel comes after Tehran had promised to retaliate, at a time of its choosing, to Israel’s recent assassination of the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as an IRGC commander in Lebanon.
“The future of the region and West Asia will be drawn by the owners of the region and its authentic and rooted nations, not the rootless and identity-less invaders and aggressors,” Kanaani added.
Infantry, armoured units to join ground operation in Lebanon: Israeli army
The Israeli military announced the 36th Division and additional forces are joining the ground offensive in southern Lebanon.
The addition of infantry and armoured troops from the 36th Division – including the Golani Brigade, the 188th Armoured Brigade, and 6th Infantry Brigade – suggests the operation has moved beyond limited commando raids.
The army on Tuesday announced a “limited, localised and targeted” ground assault against Hezbollah. The military has said the ground invasion is largely aimed at destroying tunnels and other infrastructure on the border.
