War in the Middle East: Israel prepares its response against Iran

After the 200 ballistic missiles fired on Israeli territory by Iran on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that they “would pay the price”. Discussions are continuing with the United States to organize a response.

The essentials

• Iran attacked Israel on Tuesday night, launching nearly 200 missiles at the Hebrew state, according to the Israeli military. An attack confirmed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, who are acting in retaliation for Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon since this weekend and the death of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday evening that Iran had “made a serious mistake” by attacking his country and that he would “pay the price”.
• How could Israel's response translate into ? For the professor of geopolitics at Sciences Po and Paris School of Business, it could focus on “nuclear sites”, with “American agreement”, he explains to BFMTV. “There are the Iranian port areas which constitute the lungs of this regime which is already largely economically asphyxiated by the international sanctions in place since 2007. If Iran is hit on its port areas, it will no longer be able to export much less to China, one of its last lifelines,” he explains. As a reminder, Iran does not have an Iron Dome, unlike Israel, to protect its territory.
• For its part, the United States has warned Iran of the “consequences” of its attack on Israel, saying it has already begun discussions on a response with Israel. “The United States fully, fully, fully supports Israel,” President Joe Biden said. Officials from both countries, Netanyahu and Biden, are expected to speak later today, according to several American and Israeli media outlets.
• Iran has already planned to strike if Israel retaliates. The Islamic Republic will “strike all infrastructure” in Israel if it is attacked in retaliation. its missile launches, said Iranian Army Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri. “If the Zionist regime, which has gone mad, is not controlled by its American and European backers and wants to continue these crimes or act against our sovereignty and integrity, territorial, the operation like the one this evening (Tuesday) will be repeated with greater intensity and all the infrastructures of the regime will be targeted,” he specifies.

Live

11:21 – Spain organizes the repatriation of 350 citizens to Lebanon

The Spanish Minister of Defense Margarita Robles announced the dispatch of two military planes to evacuate 350 nationals to Lebanon. “The Spanish planes are ready, the personnel are ready”, for the citizens who have asked to return to Spain.

In a press release published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs this Wednesday morning, France is requesting a new emergency meeting of the UN Security Council “dedicated to the situation in the Middle East”, the ministry said. The Quai d'Orsay announced that the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot will travel to new in the Middle East in the coming days”.

10:59 – The Lebanese Civil Defense reports 4 deaths since Tuesday evening 8 p.m.

Following the latest Iranian offensives against Israel on Lebanese soil, the Lebanese Civil Defense published this Wednesday morning a report on its action since Tuesday evening, 8 p.m. It reports 4 deaths in Jnah, south of Beirut, and numerous fires. “In this region, rescuers removed the bodies of two people killed and six injured following the strike that targeted a building in the so-called Gondoline sector, between Ghobeiri and Jnah,” specifies L'Orient-Le Jour. The bodies of two other people killed in Jnah have been evacuated and 33 wounded are to be deplored.

10:48 – A rebel group in Yemen claims to have fired three missiles on Israel

According to information from L'Orient-Le JourYemen's Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group, said they fired three missiles at Israel, a day after a massive Iranian attack on Israeli territory. They “carried out a military operation targeting military sites inside the Zionist entity (…) with three Al Quds 5” cruise missiles, their military spokesman Yahya Saree said, without specifying the date. Missiles that would have “hit their target”, assures the latter. For its part, the Israeli army did not react immediately.

10:36 – Images of the latest Israeli strike in Lebanon

A video published this Wednesday morning on X by the Lebanese Minister of Information, Johnny Corm shows the telecommunications equipment targeted and destroyed by an Israeli strike in the south of Beirut. “Here is one of the cellular transmission stations that was destroyed by the Israeli aggression on the southern suburbs of Beirut.  We strongly condemn this attack," he said.

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10:30 – New Israeli strikes in Beirut this Wednesday

This Wednesday, October 2, in the morning, an Israeli strike hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, an important Hezbollah base, indicates the Lebanese National News Agency (ANI). “A photographer from Agence France-Presse saw new columns of smoke rising from this sector already struck several times during the night,” specifies Le Monde. Hezbollah television notably reported eleven Israeli raids in two hours.

Last night, Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip killed at least 60 Palestinians, Reuters reported, including at a school in Gaza City where displaced families were staying, with 17 deaths reported. According to several Gazan media outlets, Israeli tanks reportedly carried out a raid in Khan Younes, the toll could be 40 dead and dozens injured.

09:15 – Iran threatens the United States in case of support for Israel

Threatened with a response by Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran warns the United States against any action in support of its Israeli ally.  “We have also warned the American forces to withdraw from this matter and not to intervene, otherwise they will face a severe response from us,” declared this Wednesday morning the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi, at State television.

09:03 – Israeli army deploys new resources in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army announced the deployment of new regular infantry and armored units in southern Lebanon. "The 36th& ;nbsp;division, comprising soldiers from the Golani Brigade, the 188th Armored Brigade, the 6th Infantry Brigade and additional forces, join the limited, localized and targeted raids against Hezbollah terrorist targets and terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon that began “Monday,” the Israeli army said on Wednesday. The soldiers will also be “accompanied by the IAF ( Israeli Air Force) and the 282nd Artillery Brigade,” it was specified.

08:51 – Two explosions near the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen (Denmark)

This Wednesday, Danish police announced that they were investigating two suspicious “explosions” near the Danish embassy. ;apos;Israel in Copenhagen, the Danish capital. "No one was injured and we are conducting investigations preliminary on-site tests. “A possible link to the Israeli embassy, ​​located in the neighborhood, is being investigated,” the report said. nbsp;the police on X.

08:46 – Israel asks residents of southern Lebanon to leave the area

This Wednesday, October 2, 2024, shortly after 8 a.m., the Israeli army advised residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate the area. In a message published On the social network X, the Arabic-speaking spokesman for the Israeli army wrote the following message: “The Israeli army has no intention of harming you (…) Hezbollah's activities force the Israeli army to act against it with force (…) Any house used by Hezbollah for its military needs is likely to be targeted. “Evacuate your homes immediately,” he warns.

08:37 – Macron asks à Jean-Noël Barrot to return to the Middle East

France, for its part, “will very quickly organize a conference in support of the Lebanese people and their institutions,” the presidency announced in a press release. In addition, Emmanuel Macron asked the head of French diplomacy Jean-Noël Barrot to “visit the Middle East again.”

08:30 – An air raid is possible, but it “takes a certain amount of time”

If Israel is considering an airstrike to hit potential targets such as Iran's port areas to weaken its export capacity, several elements must be taken into account, as General Jérôme Pellistrandi recalled in the columns of BFMTV: “The targets are listed thanks to the support of the Americans. But mounting an air raid means in-flight refueling and flying over the airspace of the countries in between. There is Jordan, which is negotiable, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, which in my opinion will turn a blind eye,” he explains. In addition, such an operation is only possible after meticulous organization, which takes a certain amount of time: “You don't mount an air raid in two minutes even if it is ready.” “The counter-reaction takes some time, even if “it can go quickly,” indicates”Air Force General Patrick Dutartre on BFMTV.

08:23 – Iranian port areas targeted ?

For the professor of geopolitics at Sciences Po and Paris School of Business, Israel's response could focus on “nuclear sites”, with “the American agreement”, he explains to BFMTV. “There are the Iranian port areas which constitute the lungs of this regime which is already largely economically asphyxiated by the international sanctions in place since 2007. If Iran is hit on its port areas, it will no longer be able to export much less to China, one of its last lifelines,” he explains. As a reminder, Iran does not have an Iron Dome, Israel's difference in protecting its territory. eacute;lienne

"Whoever attacks us, we attack", declaredé Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday night. So what might Israel's response look like? ? “The response is the Israeli government, at the time it wants and in the way it wants,” Netanyahu said. Israeli army spokesman Olivier Rafowicz on BFMTV. “This attack will have consequences. We have plans and we will act where and when we decide,” Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari adds.

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