Tensions build in Middle East over Iran’s multiple strikes on Israel

Emergency restrictions have now been eased across much of Israel, but this is still an anxious time.

During last night’s major Iranian attack, sirens sounded as the entire population was told to head into bomb shelters. Explosions could be heard overhead as air defences intercepted the incoming missiles.

Heading into a security meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to hit back, describing the escalation as “a big mistake” that Iran “will pay for”.

One possibility is that Israel now carries out air strikes on Iran, perhaps targeting sites used for its nuclear programme – a highly dangerous mission that its military has long planned for.

A full-scale regional war that many have feared since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel nearly a year ago now looks even more likely.

Israel launches fresh airstrikes in Gaza

The Israeli Air Force has attacked a Hamas “command and control complex” in Gaza that was “previously” used as a high school, the Israeli military said in a post on X.

It said the former Al-Bureij Preparatory School was being used by Hamas to plot attacks on Israel, and that steps were taken to avoid hurting civilians, including using “precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence information”.

Separately, at least nine people were killed and 20 were injured in an Israeli airstrike on a school housing displaced people in Gaza, according to Reuters citing Palestinian news agency Wafa. It is not immediately clear if the report was referring to the same school.

Hezbollah says it repelled Israeli incursion

Hezbollah successfully repelled an Israeli infantry incursion into Lebanon, the Iranian-backed militia group said in a statement.

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The battle broke out around dawn on Wednesday morning, and happened as Israeli forces “attempted to infiltrate” the town of Adaisseh.

The statement goes on to say the Hezbollah forces encountered the Israeli patrol, “clashed with it, inflicting losses on it, and forcing it to retreat”.

Israel has yet to comment on these claims. We’ll bring you more details when we have them.

bbc.com

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