17 October 2023 , 10:08
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Iran has stepped deeper into the war between Israel and Hamas, warning of “pre-emptive action” within hours over attacks on Gaza.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian issued the threat, referring to the “resistance front” - a clear reference to Iranian proxies Hezbollah. It follows escalating tensions on Israel northern border with Lebanon, where Hezbollah have made repeated attempts to launch small attacks. Only this morning four men were killed by an Israeli drone attack as they tried to sneak into Israel and plant a bomb next to a Kibbutz called Hanita. An anti-tank missile was shot from the Lebanese side and Hezbollah has already warned an Israeli ground-offensive on Gaza will result in attacks from them.
It comes as Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said a tweet: "Our numerous intelligence reports show that the US is formulating the Zionist regime’s current policy, and what is being done is governed by US policymaking. The US must be held responsible for this situation."
Palestinians ride on an Israeli military vehicle taken by an army base overrun by Hamas militants (AP)The outburst is the strongest warning yet in over one week of all-out war between Hamas and Israel that this may explode into a wide regional conflict. Speaking to the Israeli Knesset, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran and Hezbollah: "Don't test us in the north. Don't make the mistake of the past. Today, the price you will pay will be far heavier,” on Monday.
Within minutes the entire floor was evacuated as rockets headed toward Jerusalem, one landing in Bethlehem. Sirens in Tel Aviv prompted US and Israeli officials to take shelter in a bunker as a salvo or missiles headed its way. Increasing cross-border missile exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah have threatened a return to the 2006 war between the two.
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An armed Hamas militant in a neighbourhood in southern Israel (AP)In that war Israeli tanks poured over the border and attacked Lebanon’s south, trying to wipe out Hezbollah, air-striking targets in Beirut and elsewhere. The horrific conflict, which was covered by the Daily Mirror in Lebanon, was triggered by a Hezbollah anti-tank missile hitting an Israeli Humvee killing three soldiers. The 34 day war smashed Lebanese infrastructure, displaced a million Lebanese and over 300,000 Israelis, whilst killing 1,300 Lebanese and 165 Israelis.
In the past few days Iran has “back-channelled” via the UN various threats of becoming involved in the Hamas -Israel conflict but this public threat is a step-change. It means it could instruct Hezbollah, which it controls, to attack from Lebanon or even Syria, where they have a large presence in support of the Assad regime. Or they could use Iran-controlled groups in Iraq and Syria, opening up a third front for Israel whilst a US carrier strike group lies off Israel’s coast and will soon be joined by another.
Body bags containing the bodies of Hamas militants in Kibbutz Be'eri (Getty Images)The US is trying to break a deadlock over delivering aid to millions of increasingly desperate civilians in the Gaza Strip as President Joe Biden prepared to head to the region. Israeli air strikes continued to pound Gaza early on Tuesday, even inside an evacuation zone where Israel had told residents to gather in advance of an expected ground offensive. Israel appears set to mount a major assault on the northern part of the territory aimed at rooting out Hamas.
Wounded people were rushed to hospital after heavy attacks outside the southern Gaza cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, Gaza residents reported. Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official and former health minister, reported that 27 people were killed in Rafah and 30 were killed in Khan Younis. Israel has carried out unrelenting strikes against Hamas-ruled Gaza since the militant attack on southern Israel last week killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians.
Lebanese protesters carry Hezbollah flags in solidarity with Palestinians (Marwan Naamani/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)Dozens of Israelis and citizens of other countries were taken captive and brought to Gaza by militants. The Israeli strikes have killed at least 2,778 people and wounded 9,700 others in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry there. The strikes have not stopped Hamas militants from continuing to attack Israel with rockets launched from Gaza. The Israeli military said it was trying to clear civilians for their safety ahead of a major campaign against Hamas in Gaza's north, where it says the militants have extensive networks of tunnels and rocket launchers.
Israel evacuated towns near its northern border with Lebanon, where the military has exchanged fire repeatedly with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group. Speaking to the Israeli Knesset, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran and Hezbollah: "Don't test us in the north. Don't make the mistake of the past. Today, the price you will pay will be far heavier." Soon after he spoke, the Knesset floor was evacuated as rockets headed toward Jerusalem. Sirens in Tel Aviv prompted US and Israeli officials to take shelter in a bunker, officials said.