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IDF’s retaliatory bombing against Hamas: 11 UN staffers, 30 students in UN-run schools killed in Gaza

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IDF’s retaliatory bombing against Hamas: 11 UN staffers, 30 students in UN-run schools killed in Gaza

 At least 11 United Nations staff and personnel, as well as 30 students at UN schools, have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists on Isreal, reported The Times of Israel.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, “11 United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff and personnel have been killed since Saturday”, referring to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees which also runs schools in Gaza.

“30 UNRWA students have also been killed and another eight have been injured,” she said. The victims include five teachers, a gynaecologist, an engineer, a counsellor, and three support staff, UNRWA’s deputy director Jennifer Austin said in a statement.
She further said, “UNRWA mourns this loss and is grieving with our colleagues and the families. UN staff and civilians must be protected at all times during conflict. We call for the fighting to come to an end to spare more civilian lives lost.”

Reportedly, over 250,000 people in Gaza have fled from their homes, the UN said.

However, most of these people have crowded into schools run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, The Times of Israel reported.

Marking the sixth day of the fatal rocket fire attack by Hamas, over 1,200 people have been killed, more than 3000 injured and an estimated 100-150 were abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip.

The Israel Air Force’s chief of staff, Brigadier General Omer Tishler said that the Israeli Air Force was not targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip, but that the strikes were no longer “surgical”.

“We do not act like the other side, we do not attack the civilian population. Behind every attack there is a target,” he said. “We act precisely and professionally but not surgically. I’m not talking about single, tens, or hundreds [of strikes]. We are talking about thousands of munitions,” Tishler said.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday said that he has ordered a “complete siege” of the Gaza Strip.

“I have ordered a complete siege on the Gaza Strip. There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed,” Gallant said. “We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly,” he added.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called on to protect civilians, and for international humanitarian law to be upheld.

“About 220,000 Palestinians are now sheltering in 92 UNRWA facilities across Gaza,” he said, adding that UN premises, hospitals, clinics and schools must “never be targeted.”

The Palestinian envoy also mentioned Israel’s Defence Minister’s statement in the letter, which said, “We are fighting human animals… We are imposing a complete siege on Gaza. There will be no electricity, no water, no fuel. Everything will be closed”.
He claimed that “Israeli occupying forces (IOF)” continue attacking civilian areas across the Gaza Strip, firing missiles, bombs and artillery by air, land and sea. Violating all rules of international humanitarian law, Israel is deliberately targeting homes, including apartment buildings, refugee camps, hospitals and other medical facilities, UNRWA schools, mosques, and other civilian properties and infrastructure, including roads, hampering the passage of emergency vehicles and access of humanitarian personnel to aid the wounded.

The letter mentioned that the casualties are estimated at 849 Palestinians killed, including families in their entirety throughout Gaza, and over 5,350 wounded by lethal IOF attacks in the days since Israel began its onslaught on 7 October. The toll is rising by the minute.

He emphasised that the harm being done to children and women is unspeakable. Children are being traumatized and terrorized, orphaned by the hundreds as their parents are murdered before their eyes, displaced as their homes are blown up and reduced to rubble, and are among the dead and wounded, with reports of over 140 children killed. As of this writing, it is estimated that more than 80 women are also among the dead, with casualty figures still rising.

Giving details about the destruction, the Palestinian envoy sought the stop the bloodshed and save civilian lives and reiterated that the targeting of civilians must be halted immediately.

Meanwhile, earlier, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that the US was “actively discussing” with Israel and Egypt to ensure safe passage for civilians from Gaza, according to The Times of Israel.

“We support safe passage for civilians. Civilians are not to blame for what Hamas has done. They didn’t do anything wrong, and we continue to support safe passage,” Kirby said during a press briefing.

As of Wednesday, the coastal enclave, home to 2.3 million people have been dealing with deteriorating condition as entire city blocks were reduced to rubble and residents searched for places to go.

Moreover, the power plant in the Gaza Strip ceased operations on Wednesday afternoon after running out of fuel, the Gaza Energy Authority announced, The Jerusalem Post reported.

In an update posted on X, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that dozens of warplanes attacked more than 80 targets throughout Beit Hanon during the night.

“Dozens of warplanes attacked over 80 targets throughout Beit Hanon during the night. Among other things, the planes attacked two bank branches used by the terrorist organization Hamas to finance terrorism in the Gaza Strip, an underground terrorist tunnel in the territory of the Gaza Strip and two operational headquarters used by the terrorist organization Hamas to direct terrorism to the State of Israel,” IDF posted on X.

Gaza’s Civil Defense Department has warned that there were only a few rescue teams to search for survivors buried under rubble and that teams were unable to reach many places owing to the damaged roads and constant bombardments.

“There is no safe place in Gaza right now,” said journalist Hasan Jabar after three Palestinian journalists were killed in the bombardment of a downtown neighbourhood home to government ministries, media offices and hotels. “I am genuinely afraid for my life.” 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Sikh man who housed Khalistani terrorists allowed asylum in Canada despite objections by border service authorities

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Sikh man who housed Khalistani terrorists allowed asylum in Canada despite objections by border service authorities

A Canadian immigration panel ruled that a Sikh man who provided shelter to Khalistani terrorists in India for almost a decade should be permitted to stay in Canada, adding that he did so “mostly out of necessity” and fear of reprisal. The decision in this regard came on 29th August this year.

The original decision to deny entry to Indian citizen Kamaljit Ram came up after he told the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) that he “housed and fed armed Sikh militants on and off between 1982 and 1992 at his farm in India.” He also told them that he supported the separatist ideas propagated by the adherents of slain Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale.

Moreover, Kamaljit Ram claimed in his interviews with CBSA that he did not voluntarily house the armed Khalistani terrorists saying that although he was not supportive of the Khalistani ideology, the terrorists would arrive at his farm located outside the village considering it a safe place and demand food and shelter.

“Mr Ram stated at various times that he did not voluntarily house and feed armed activists and that he was not a supportive member of this group. However, as the activists knew that his farm was outside the village and that it was a safe place to take refuge, they showed up at his house and demanded shelter and food, whether Mr. Ram actively supports them or not,” the Reasons and Decisions document stated.

Notably, it was alleged that there were numerous inconsistencies in the statements made by Kamaljit Ram in CBSA interviews and his testimony at the inquiry. Moreover, Kamaljit gave inconsistent responses regarding the number of times Khalistani terrorists arrived at his farm seeking food and shelter, and the duration and dates of their visits. “However, he always maintained that he did not actively seek to help the activist groups, but that he acceded to their requests or their needs for food and shelter when they
came to his house.”

However, the tribunal of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) observed that the federal government did not have “reasonable grounds” to stop Ram from entering Canada. Heidi Worsfold, an IRB tribunal member, stated that the government failed to include in its assessment that Ram repeatedly stated that he agreed to host the armed individuals because he “feared the consequences” of ending up on the wrong end of the Khalistani group.

“The atmosphere in the Sikh community of the 1980s was rife with militancy where groups of militants, including the Bhindranwale followers, as well as the police created an atmosphere of fear and distrust among many of the local residents,” the court’s verdict said.

The decision comes in the midst of a diplomatic conflict between India and Canada in the aftermath of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the June 18 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia, a claim India dismissed as “absurd” and “motivated.” It was worth recalling that two masked attackers had shot Nijjar dead. Nijjar was designated a terrorist by India in 2020.

Canada providing a safe haven to wanted criminals and terrorists from India has been a constant issue haunting the bilateral relations of the two nations.

Air Canada fires Pilot Mostafa Ezzo who gave genocidal calls to kill Jews

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Air Canada fires Pilot Mostafa Ezzo who gave genocidal calls to kill Jews

On 11th October (local time), Air Canada announced that they removed the pilot, identified as Mostafa Ezzo, for giving genocidal calls to kill Jews. Ezzo was grounded earlier after screenshots of his objectionable social media posts went viral.

In a post on X, Air Canada said, “We can confirm the pilot in question no longer works for Air Canada, following the process initiated on Monday.”

Mostafa was grounded on 10th October by Air Canada pending investigation into his controversial social media posts calling for genocide of Jews. In one of his stories, Mostafa was wearing the Palestinian flag on his uniform. In another photograph, he was seen holding a placard that read, “Israel, Hitler is proud of you”. In another photograph, he was seen holding a placard with a figure throwing the Israeli flag in the dustbin with the caption “Keep the world clean”. In another story, he wrote, “f*ck you, Israel. Burn in Hell.”

According to a report in the Toronto Sun, the action was taken after concerns about the social media posts allegedly containing profane commentary about Israel from the pilot. Air Canada spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick told the Toronto Star, “We did this because this individual’s opinions and publications on social media do not represent Air Canada’s views in any way.” He added, “This person has never been authorised to speak publicly while identifying themselves as an Air Canada employee.” Mostafa’s Instagram page has been deactivated. It is unclear if he did it himself or if he was deplatformed by Instagram.

Israel-Hamas war

On 7th October (local time), the terrorist organisation Hamas launched a brutal terror attack on Israeli soil. Over 1,200 people were killed in the attack. Paragliders and vehicle-borne Hamas terrorists wielding automatic weapons barged inside the border walls and attacked civilians, residential communities, and even a music festival in Southern Israel. In response to the brutal terrorist attack on Israel that killed over 900 civilians and wounded over 2,500 others, Israel has declared war on Hamas and has been pounding the Gaza Strip with bombs for 3 days now.

The US and other NATO nations have declared support for Israel. Hundreds of Israelis and foreign nationals are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas. Hamas has massacred civilians brutally after attacking a music festival, and family homes in Southern Israel. Social media posts have surfaced where Hamas terrorists are seen killing children, women, and the elderly. The exact number of hostages is unknown.

Uttar Pradesh: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh donates Rs 11 lakh for construction of Kuldevi temple

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh donates Rs 11 lakh for construction of Kuldevi temple

On 16th October, Maa Chaudhary Devi’s idol will be consecrated in a temple built with the money donated by Indian cricketer Rinku Singh in village Kamalpur of district Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh.

Rinku Singh had sought blessings from his Kuldevi Maa Chaudhary Devi for IPL matches and promised to build a temple with his own money if he performed well. Rinku Singh’s brother Sonu Singh said that amount of around Rs 11 lakhs was spent on temple construction. The idol’s consecration is still pending, which will be done on 16th October by his family.

Rinku will not be present during the ceremony as he will be busy with Duleep Trophy matches. He is expected to come home during Diwali.

IPL 2023 brought Rinku Singh into the limelight following his memorable performances for his team, Kolkata Knight Riders. One of the most memorable moments during the tournament was against Gujarat Titans, where he hit five sixes in the final over, scoring 48 runs out of 21 balls.

Based on his performance, he was included in the team led by Rituraj Gaikwad for the Asian Games in China. He played a crucial innings against Nepal in the quarter-finals and scored 37 runs in just 15 balls. Indian team won Gold in the Asian Games in cricket.

26 years old, Rinku Singh comes from a humble background. His father works for a gas agency. Rinku’s mother is a homemaker. He has five siblings.

Israel-Hamas War: Death toll crosses 2,400 as Netanyahu vows to finish Hamas, and IDF bombs Gaza in retaliation for terrorist attacks on civilians

OpIndia Staff
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Israel-Hamas War: Death toll crosses 2,400 as Netanyahu vows to finish Hamas, and IDF bombs Gaza in retaliation for terrorist attacks on civilians

On 11th October, the total death toll in the Israel-Hamas conflict, including Hamas Terrorist Attack on Israel and Israel’s counterattack on Gaza, crossed 2,400. Both sides have claimed almost equal numbers of dead, including children, elderly and women.

As per reports, the Israel Defence Force (IDF) said over 1,200 people have died since the 7th October attack, including 155 soldiers. Around 150 civilians and soldiers were taken hostage by the Hamas terrorists. On the other hand, Gaza authorities have claimed that around 1,200 people have died, including nine medics of the Red Crescent in the Israeli counterattack.

The death toll on the Gaza side is expected to increase once the rubble of the buildings demolished by Israeli air strikes gets cleared. Despite facing the largest counter-strike by Israel, Hamas is not backing down and continuously firing rockets at Israel. The rockets coming from Gaza led to the temporary closure of Ben Gurion Airport. It also affected the civilian life in Ashkelon.

Humanitarian groups claim there is a shortage of medicine and food in Gaza

Israel has closed all the entry points to Gaza, leading to food, fuel and medicine shortages. The humanitarian groups working in Gaza claimed that due to the blockade, they faced difficulty getting their hands on medicine and food. The sole power plant of Gaza is also shut down due to fuel shortage.

While Gaza authorities claimed they were facing humanitarian disaster, the Israeli government has no plan to back out of its decision to completely degrade Hamas’ military potential.

Israel to shift to remote learning for students

Amid the ongoing war, the students in Israel have been unable to attend school since last week. However, the education ministry has announced they would soon shift to remote learning, possibly from 15th October. As the ministry is planning to shift to remote learning, there is a possibility that Israel expects the war to continue for some time. In a post on X, the ministry said, “Starting next Sunday, all students will return to distance learning, including the kindergartens. The schools will move to a format of regular and continuous learning, through lesson plans adapted to both the possibility of distance learning and the possibility of physical learning in the schools. Learning will focus on emotional and social aspects to strengthen the students’ personal resilience.” (translated using Google Translate)

Hamas called for “global Jihad” and “Financial Jihad”

Israel is also planning to start ground operations soon to clear out the Gaza Strip of Hamas terrorists. Meanwhile, Hamas’s top leaders called for “global Jihad” in Arab and Islamic countries on 13th October (Friday) and urged Muslims around the world for donations (Financial Jihad) to continue the war against Israel.

Israel-Hamas war

On 7th October (local time), the terrorist organisation Hamas launched a brutal terror attack on Israeli soil. Over 1200 people were killed in the attack. Paragliders and vehicle-borne Hamas terrorists wielding automatic weapons barged inside the border walls and attacked civilians, residential communities, and even a music festival in Southern Israel. In response to the brutal terrorist attack on Israel that killed over 1000 civilians and wounded over 2,500 others, Israel has declared war on Hamas and has been pounding the Gaza Strip with bombs for 3 days now.

The US and other NATO nations have declared support for Israel. Hundreds of Israelis and foreign nationals are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas. Hamas has massacred civilians brutally after attacking a music festival, and family homes in Southern Israel. Social media posts have surfaced where Hamas terrorists are seen killing children, women, and the elderly. The exact number of hostages is unknown.

“I am shocked”: Former Israeli envoy to India calls out Shashi Tharoor for not calling Hamas terrorists

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“I am shocked”: Former Israeli envoy to India calls out Shashi Tharoor for not calling Hamas terrorists

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has drawn flak from former Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon for not calling Hamas a terrorist group. In a video that has gone viral on X, formerly Twitter, Shashi Tharoor, while talking to India Today anchor Rajdeep Sardesai, said, “The terrorist organisation label is one that we are very careful not to follow other country’s leads in these matters. The US considers Hamas a terrorist organisation so does Israel. India has not made any such classification and I am gonna stick to the Indian position.”

The interview was shared by many users on the internet including Daniel Carmon who did not mince his words in criticising Tharoor. He wrote, “Seriously, @ShashiTharoor, can you not? After decades of terror against my people, challenging the very Palestinian Authority, especially after this week’s savage slaughter of over a thousand peaceful human beings, can you not label Hamas as terrorists? Frankly, I am shocked.”

In response to Carmon, the Congress MP argued that India has not issued such a label to Hamas. “All I said was that India has not issued such a designation, though others have. Undoubtedly Hamas conducted terrorist acts, which I roundly condemned. Don’t be misled by crude headlines seeking to distort my words, @danielocarmon. I feel for you and other friends in Israel at this difficult time, and hope & pray for your continued safety,” Tharoor wrote.

Even as Tharoor used the Prime Minister’s statement to justify not calling Hamas terrorists, several users replied to the MP pointing out that PM Modi has categorically called the attacks on Israel as “terrorist attacks”.

Moreover, in an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Tharoor lobbied for Palestine saying that “India should not forget the cause of Palestine”.

“India has so far — judging by the Prime Minister’s Tweets — has taken a stand unambiguously on the side of Israelis who have been subjected to this unjust and inhumane attack by the Hamas. That’s fine as far as it goes. But it doesn’t go far enough because there is a broader picture that seems to be missing from the traditional Indian position,” he told NDTV.

On 9th October, just two days after the terrorist attack by Hamas, the Congress Party expressed its sympathy for Palestinians. The Congress passed a resolution voicing concern over the situation and urged for a ceasefire, however, backed Palestine.

Delhi crime: Md Asif and Md Mehraj murder taxi driver Bijendra to steal his car, arrested after video of them dragging the victim goes viral

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Delhi crime: Md Asif and Md Mehraj murder taxi driver Bijendra to steal his car, arrested after video of them dragging the victim goes viral

Two accused were arrested from Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district in connection with the viral video of a man being dragged by a car in Delhi, ANI reported.

During initial interrogation, the accused revealed that they boarded the taxi as passengers and, after some time, threatened and pushed the taxi driver out of the car with the intention of robbing the vehicle, said Sagar Preet Hooda, Special Commissioner of Police (L&O) on Wednesday, a report in ANI stated.

As per reports, the accused have been identified as Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Mehraj, both residents of Meerut.

Earlier on Wednesday, the police said, after a video of a man being dragged by a car in Delhi surfaced online, the body of a 43-year-old man was found lying with injuries near the service road of National Highway-8 (NH8).

As per Delhi police, the viral video showed the man being dragged by a car in Delhi on the National Highway-8 near Mahipalpur.
Police said that the deceased was identified as Bijender, a resident of Faridabad, Haryana.

Giving information about the case, police said, “On October 10, at around 11:20 PM, a PCR call was received at Vasant Kunj North Police Station that an unidentified body of a male with injuries was found near the service road of NH8.”

Shortly after the information was received, the police reached the scene and recovered the body of the deceased.
Later, after an investigation, the body was identified as that of a taxi driver named Bijender, who is 43 years old and a resident of Faridabad.

Subsequently, the police registered a case under sections 302 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Vasant Kunj North Police Station.

As per reports, Bijender was driving his taxi, a Swift Dzire, in the Mahipalpur area when the robbers tried to steal his car. Bijender had last called his wife at around 7.30 pm saying he is picking up the first passengers of the evening. Both the accused Mehraj and Asif, are history sheeters and have around 15 cases registered against them.

Mehraj and Asif had boarded Bijender’s cab at Saket, posing as passengers, and had attacked him near the Delhi cantonment area.

Union Cabinet approves royalty rates for mining of 3 critical and strategic minerals including Lithium, enabling the govt to auction blocks for the first time

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Union Cabinet approves royalty rates for mining of 3 critical and strategic minerals including Lithium, enabling the govt to auction blocks for the first time

On 11th October (Wednesday), the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the amendment of the Second Schedule of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (‘MMDR Act’). This would specify the rate of royalty with respect to 3 critical and strategic minerals, namely, Lithium, Niobium, and Rare Earth Elements (REEs), a PIB statement said.

The rate of royalty fixed for these critical and strategic minerals is as follows – 

(i)  Lithium – 3% of London Metal Exchange (LME) price,

(ii)  Niobium –3% of the Average Sale Price (both for primary and secondary sources),

(iii) Rare Earth Elements – 1% of the Average Sale Price of Rare Earth Oxide

The Cabinet’s decision to specify the rate of royalty for these minerals will enable the Central Government to auction blocks for Lithium, Niobium, and REEs for the first time in the country. 

Taking to X, Union Minister for Coals and Mines, Pralhad Joshi highlighted that this decision will allow the central government, for the first time, to auction these minerals. He also added that this decision will attract active participation from the bidders and boast the economic activities that are dependent on these minerals in the coming days.

Hailing the decision, PM Modi stated, “Today’s Cabinet decision is great news for the sector and will also boost economic activities.” 

It is important to note that the royalty rate on minerals is believed to be one of the important financial considerations for the bidders in the auction of blocks. Further, the Ministry of Mines has also prepared the manner for calculation of the Average Sale Price (ASP) of these minerals which will enable the determination of bid parameters.
Recently, the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 was passed by the Parliament. Subsequently, it came into force on 17th August 2023.

The Amendment delisted six minerals which included Lithium and Niobium, from the list of atomic minerals. With this, it allowed the grant of concessions for these minerals to the private sector through auction.

Further, the amendment allowed the Central Government to auction the mining lease and composite license of 24 critical and strategic minerals (which are listed in Part D of the First Schedule of the Act), including Lithium, Niobium, and REEs (not containing Uranium and Thorium).

Notably, the royalty rates for various minerals are provided in the Second Schedule of the MMDR Act. Under the previous rule, if royalty rates for certain minerals weren’t mentioned specifically, they were set at 12% of the Average Sale Price (ASP) which would have pegged the royalty rate for Lithium, Niobium, and REE at 12% of the ASP, the default royalty rate. However, this royalty rate of 12% would not have been comparable with other mineral-producing countries and was considerably high compared to other critical and strategic minerals.

Further, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and other exploration agencies have been conducting explorations to find critical and strategic minerals in the country and has
recently handed over the exploration report of REE and Lithium blocks.

The government is planning to soon start auctioning critical and strategic minerals like Lithium, REE, Nickel, Platinum Group of Elements, Potash, Glauconite, Phosphorite, Graphite, Molybdenum, and others.

Critical minerals have now become indispensable for the country’s economic growth and national security. Minerals like Lithium and REEs, in particular, have gained immense importance in line with India’s dedication to energy transition and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. The strategic significance of minerals such as Lithium, Niobium, and REEs has grown due to their various applications and the geopolitical landscape. Promoting domestic mining would reduce the need for imports and pave the way for the development of associated industries and infrastructure projects. Moreover, this proposal is anticipated to boost employment opportunities in the mining sector.

Israel-Hamas war: Sirens go off across northern Israel after dozens of aircraft infiltrate Israeli airspace from Lebanon

OpIndia Staff
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Israel-Hamas war: Sirens go off across northern Israel after dozens of aircraft infiltrate Israeli airspace from Lebanon

As Israel continues retaliatory military action against Hamas in Gaza following the horrific multi-front terror attack by Hamas in Southern Israel on Saturday (7 October), the attacks on Israel from Lebanon in the north has also intensified. After missiles and mortars were fired into Israel from Lebanon, the base of the armed group Hezbollah, today sirens went off in towns across northern Israel after several drones infiltrated from Lebanon.

Reports suggest that dozens of drones were launched from Lebanon into Israel. As a result, alarms were sounded in several places including the Golan Heights, Tiberias, Safed, Beit Shean and other areas. Residents in those places were asked to lock their houses and enter shelters due to threats of bombings and terror attacks.

As per a report by Channel 12, 15 to 20 drones and aircraft were spotted near Upper Galilee in northern Israel. The head of the Galil Elyon Regional Council, Giora Zaltz, told Channel 12 news that some of the aircraft that infiltrated from Lebanon are carrying people, and residents need to seek shelter. “This is what we feared, what we were preparing for,” he added.

Channel 12 also published a map showing the places where alarms went off, and it shows that hundreds of places along the Lebanon border are considered under threat.

Map showing places where alarms were sounded (Source: Channel 12)

The aircraft carrying people could be paragliders, the aircraft used by Hamas terrorists to enter Israel from Gaza during the Saturday attack.

However, the Israel Defense Forces said it has not identified any impacts and there are no reports of injuries following drone infiltration alerts that sounded across northern Israel. “IDF forces are scanning the area from the ground and from the air,” the military said.

Moreover, long-range rockets fired from Gaza fell in an open area in Haifa, the coastal city in northern Israel. This rocket attack triggered alarms in the city.

Video of a drone flying over northern Israel had also appeared, but later it was found to be Israeli.

The drone infiltration comes after Hezbollah fired anti-tank missiles at an Israeli military position near the Lebanon border earlier on Wednesday. The Israel Defense Forces said that it responded with a drone strike on a Hezbollah post. Earlier, 15 rockets were launched from Lebanon at the Western Galilee, however, nobody was injured in the attack. IDF has been engaging with Hezbollah on the northern border since the Hamas attack.

It is notable that earlier today the US and several other Western powers warned Hezbollah against escalating the Israel-Hamas war.

The US and other Western powers warn Lebanon-based Hezbollah against escalating the Israel-Hamas war

ANI
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The US and other Western powers warn Lebanon-based Hezbollah against escalating the Israel-Hamas war

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has been cautioned by the United States and its allies against escalating the conflict in Israel. This comes after the deployment of US military assets to prevent a potential widening of the war, multiple US officials aware of the matter told CNN.

At this point, senior administration officials do not believe that Hezbollah is likely to join Hamas’ war in force against Israel, and officials think the warnings are having an impact even though there has been some escalation on the border.

A message has been sent to Hezbollah to stay out of the conflict through a number of channels, including the Lebanese government and the Hezbollah-allied Speaker of Lebanon’s Parliament, Nabih Berri.

Berri was mentioned by administration officials briefing Congress on Sunday as a go-between, according to a person familiar with the briefing. The US won’t officially engage with what has been designated a terrorist group, so Berri is one natural conduit, as per CNN.

At Israel’s request, France has also conveyed to Hezbollah that they must stay out of the war and not escalate further or Israel will respond significantly, a source briefed on the talks said. Those discussions were also coordinated with the US, the source said.

“Western allies who have informal ties with Hezbollah have conveyed some messages,” a Western diplomat confirmed, adding that the response by Hezbollah indicated “the pre-existing will of Hezbollah not to escalate for now.”

A senior defence official said on Monday, “We are deeply concerned about Hezbollah making the wrong decision and choosing to open a second front to this conflict,” adding: “We are working with Israel and with our partners across the region to contain this to Gaza.”

Hezbollah is a highly trained, well-armed and sophisticated military force that also receives Iranian support, so its entry into the conflict would mark a significant escalation. But current and former senior officials don’t believe Hezbollah is eager to join the war, largely because the risks for the group would outweigh any potential rewards.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean in large part as a message to Hezbollah and its Iranian backers to refrain from entering the war.

US security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House on Tuesday: “Let me be clear, we did not move the carrier for Hamas. We moved the carrier to send a clear message of deterrence to other states or non-state actors that might seek to widen this war.”

President Joe Biden reinforced that message in remarks on Tuesday from the White House.

“Let me say again, to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: Don’t. Don’t. Our hearts may be broken, but our resolve is clear,” he said.

US Mission to Israel Charge d’Affaires ad interim Stephanie Hallett was on Wednesday present at the Gaza periphery to bear witness to the atrocities that were committed on Saturday. “We’ve come down here along the Gaza periphery to bear witness to the atrocities that were committed here on Saturday. And it’s really unbelievable, as a mother and just as a human being, to see and to know what happened here is really important, to say that we’ve been here, we’ve seen it, and it is evil. And we stand with Israel. All of us. We stand with Israel.”

The IDF earlier said an anti-tank missile was launched from Lebanon towards a military post near the community of Arab Al-Aramshe.

Taking to X, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) stated, “An anti-tank missile was launched from Lebanon toward a military post adjacent to the community of Arab Al-Aramshe on the #BlueLine.”

A suspected infiltration attempt occurred near the border town of Rosh HaNikra.

A senior Israel Defence Forces (IDF) officer and two soldiers were killed during a firefight with terrorists who infiltrated into Israeli territory from southern Lebanon on Monday afternoon, the military confirmed on Tuesday.

Five additional Israeli troops were wounded in the attack, according to the IDF.

The officer was identified as 300th Brigade Deputy Commander Lt Col Alim Abdullah, 40, from the Druze village of Yanuh-Jat in northern Israel.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

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