WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other UN staff were at Sanaa’s airport in Yemen when Israeli air strikes began on Thursday, reported <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyj88rye1jo">BBC</a>.
At least six people were killed in the air strikes, with the Houthi-run Saba news agency reporting three deaths at the airport and 30 injuries, while another three were killed and 10 injured in Hodeidah province.
Israel’s military said it carried out “intelligence-based strikes on military targets” in Yemen, including the airport, power stations, and ports.
In comments shortly after the strikes, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would “continue to cut off the terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil until we complete the job”, adding “we are only just starting with [the Houthis]”.
The WHO’s Tedros said the airport’s air traffic control tower, departure lounge, and runway were damaged, delaying the departure of UN staff.
The Houthis condemned the strikes as “barbaric” and vowed continued confrontations with Israel and the U.S. until the Gaza conflict ends.
Iran condemned the strikes as a violation of international peace and security.
Houthi rebels have been attacking Israel since the first months of the Gaza war, which began in October 2023.
A Houthi missile strike injured more than a dozen people in Israel last week.
Israel has carried out intermittent strikes against Houthis in retaliation.
Early on Friday, the IDF reported that one missile fired from Yemen was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory.
Local reports from the Sanaa airport suggested multiple casualties, with injuries ranging from critical to minor, particularly in a police hospital where victims were treated.
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Pindula News

The WHO Director-General was at an airport in Yemen with other UN staff when Israeli air strikes started. Six people were killed, and many were injured in the strikes. Israel said they targeted military areas in Yemen. The Houthis and Iran condemned the strikes. There have been ongoing attacks between the Houthis and Israel. Last week, a missile from the Houthis injured people in Israel. Israel has retaliated with strikes too. The IDF intercepted a missile from Yemen. Many people were injured at the Sanaa airport.

WHO Director-General Caught In Israeli Air Strikes In Yemen

Al Jazeera has condemned the targeted killing of journalist Ahmad Al-Louh by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza.
In a statement released on Monday, December 16, the Qatari-based broadcaster reported that Ahmad Baker Al-Louh, 39, was killed in an airstrike that struck a Civil Defence post in the market area of Al-Nuseirat Camp in the central Gaza Strip.
The broadcaster highlighted that more than 196 journalists have lost their lives in Gaza since October 2023, including four journalists from the Al Jazeera Media Network. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
<h2>Al Jazeera condemns the targeted killing of journalist Ahmad Al-Louh by the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza</h2>
Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the killing of its cameraman, Ahmad Baker Al-Louh, 39, by the Israeli occupation forces.
He was brutally killed in an airstrike that targeted a Civil Defence post in the market area of Al-Nuseirat Camp, central Gaza Strip.
He was covering the civil defence forces’ rescue operations of a family that was severely injured in an earlier bombing.
Al Jazeera extends its sincerest condolences to his wife and family. The Network calls on all human rights and media organisations to condemn the Israeli Occupation’s systematic killing of journalists in cold blood, the evasion of responsibilities under international humanitarian law, and to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice.
The killing of Ahmad Al-Louh took place just days after the targeting of his house by Israeli Occupation Forces in the Da’wa neighbourhood of Nuseirat camp, in which it was utterly destroyed.
This crime coincides with the first anniversary of the killing of Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa and the injuring of Wael Al Dahdouh and follows the pattern since the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin Refugee Camp in the West Bank in 2022.
Al Jazeera unequivocally condemns the ongoing crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces against journalists and media professionals in Gaza.
This alarming trend demands immediate attention and action from the international community. We urge relevant international legal institutions to take practical and urgent measures to hold the Israeli authorities and all those who are responsible accountable for their heinous crimes and to adopt mechanisms to put an end to the targeting and killing of journalists.
Al Jazeera affirms its commitment to pursue all legal measures to prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes against journalists.
We stand in unwavering solidarity with all journalists in Gaza and reaffirm our commitment to achieving justice for the journalists and prosecuting the killers of more than 196 journalists in Gaza since October 2023, including four of Al Jazeera Media Network’s journalists.
The Network reaffirms its commitment to continuing its coverage of what is happening in Gaza and other Palestinian territories despite the closure of its offices in Jerusalem and Ramallah and the continuing targeting and harassment of its journalists.
</blockquote>
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A journalist named Ahmad Al-Louh from Al Jazeera was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. This is not the first time journalists have been targeted in Gaza. Since October 2023, more than 196 journalists have lost their lives. Al Jazeera condemns these killings and calls for justice. They will continue to report on what is happening in Gaza despite the risks. Ahmad Al-Louh was covering a rescue mission when he was killed. The international community is being urged to take action against those responsible for targeting and killing journalists in Gaza.

Israeli Airstrike Claims Life Of Al Jazeera Journalist Ahmad Al-Louh

Israel has launched airstrikes targeting military sites across Syria and deployed ground troops into and beyond a demilitarized buffer zone for the first time in 50 years, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/10/middleeast/israel-syria-assad-strikes-intl/index.html">reported CNN</a>.
The demilitarized buffer zone, established by the United Nations after the 1973 Middle East War, is located between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and Syrian-controlled territory.
This zone, patrolled by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), spans approximately 75 kilometres in length and varies in width from 10 kilometres to 200 metres.
The Israeli military reported around 480 airstrikes over two days, targeting strategic weapon stockpiles, airfields, anti-aircraft systems, and military assets in various Syrian cities including Damascus and Homs.
The Israeli navy reportedly destroyed the Syrian naval fleet and struck two naval facilities, taking out dozens of vessels and sea-to-sea missiles.
Israeli officials view the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime as a significant opportunity, attributing it to their military actions against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
While celebrating Assad’s downfall, Israeli officials expressed concern that radical Islamist groups may gain control in Syria, threatening Israeli security.
Several Arab nations, including Egypt, have accused Israel of exploiting Syria’s instability to expand its territory.
Israeli forces have advanced beyond the established buffer zone, with reports indicating movements towards Beqaasem, approximately 25 kilometres from Damascus.
Israeli officials have stated that their military presence in Syria is limited and temporary, aimed at creating a security zone free of heavy weapons and terrorist infrastructures.
Israel’s actions are set against the backdrop of ongoing regional tensions, with implications for its relations with neighbouring countries and international law concerning occupied territories.
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Israel attacked Syria over 480 times and took control of some territory near the Golan Heights. They targeted military sites to prevent threats from Syria, Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. They fear that extremists might take over Syria after Assad's fall. Some Arab nations accused Israel of taking advantage of Syria's chaos to expand its land. Israeli troops moved beyond UN-mandated zones. Israel says its presence in Syria is temporary to create a safer area. These actions have big implications for Israel's neighbors and international law.

Israel Strikes Syria 480 Times And Seizes Territory

Israeli football fans in Amsterdam, Netherlands, faced a series of violent attacks, requiring riot police intervention multiple times to protect them.
According to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2y33ee1klo">BBC News</a>, the attacks took place in various parts of the city, including before and after a Europa League match between Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv and Dutch football giants Ajax.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof condemned the “antisemitic attacks,” and Israel’s military described the incidents as “severe and violent” against Israelis.
Amsterdam’s mayor and authorities said that despite a massive police presence, Israeli fans had been injured in several parts of the Dutch capital.
Amsterdam police arrested 62 people in connection with the violent incidents. Five people were hospitalised, and authorities are investigating the attacks. They also received reports of a potential hostage situation, though this was not confirmed.
Prime Minister Schoof expressed horror at the violence, reassuring that the perpetrators would be tracked down and prosecuted.
Dutch officials, including the national coordinator for combating antisemitism, described the violence as disgusting, stating that a line had been crossed.
Chanan Hertzberger, head of the Central Jewish Committee in the Netherlands, accused taxi drivers of exacerbating the violence by helping to corner Israeli fans. Videos surfaced showing assaults and attempts to run over Israelis.
Israeli airline El Al organized two “rescue flights” to bring passengers back to Israel following the violence. That was after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled plans to send two military planes.
Tensions had been high before the match, with clashes between Maccabi fans and pro-Palestinian protesters, including fireworks and the tearing down of a Palestinian flag.
The unrest escalated after the game, with videos circulating showing beatings and a person being run over, some of which included pro-Palestinian slogans.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the violence a “pogrom” against Maccabi fans and Israeli citizens. 
Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders also referred to the events as a pogrom and criticized authorities for their failure to protect Israeli citizens.
Mayor Femke Halsema tried to prevent further violence by moving pro-Palestinian protesters away from the Johan Cruyff Arena.
However, reports indicated that a large group later attempted to head toward the stadium, only to be stopped by riot police.
The attacks sparked international outrage, with US special envoy on antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt describing them as “horrifying” and “reminiscent of a classic pogrom.”
She said the violence occurred just days before the anniversary of the 1938 Nazi pogrom against Jews in Germany, calling the images “horrific and shameful.”
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Israeli football fans in Amsterdam were attacked in violent incidents. The attacks happened before and after the match between Israeli and Dutch teams. Dutch officials condemned the attacks as antisemitic, and many people were arrested. Videos showed assaults and attempts to run over Israelis. Israeli leaders called the violence a pogrom, and Israeli fans were brought back to Israel on special flights. Tensions were high before the match, with clashes between fans and protesters. International outrage followed the attacks, with comparisons made to historic events.

Israeli Football Fans Targeted In Violent Pogrom-Like Attacks In Amsterdam

Iran has reportedly launched over 180 missiles towards Israel, escalating fears of a regional war in the Middle East.
According to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9dyxxgxv1jo">BBC</a>, millions of people rushed to shelters before explosions lit up the skies over Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with at least one fatality in Jericho due to falling debris.
Air raid sirens sounded all across Israel at around 7:30 PM local time (4:30 PM GMT) on Tuesday, as the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) warned missiles had been launched from Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Iran has made a “big mistake” and will face consequences. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that most missiles were intercepted.
Iranian state media claimed 200 missiles were fired, including hypersonic weapons, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the attack was in retaliation for the recent killings of the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas.
US President Joe Biden said the Iranian missile attack appeared to have been “defeated and ineffective”.
The US Department of Defense confirmed its forces had helped shoot down missiles in support of Israel.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire, while allies like the UK, France, Japan, and Australia expressed support for Israel.
Videos on social media captured streams of light from missiles flying over Israel, along with smoke from interceptions or detonations.
After about an hour, the IDF announced that people could leave shelters, stating there were no further aerial threats from Iran.
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed that a few missiles hit central and southern Israel. He said:
<blockquote>
The majority of the incoming missiles were intercepted by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States.
Iran’s attack is a severe and dangerous escalation. There will be consequences.
Our defensive and offensive capabilities are at the highest levels of readiness. Our operational plans are ready.
We will respond wherever, whenever, and however we choose, in accordance with the directive of the government of Israel.
</blockquote>
The missile barrage followed an Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon aimed at targeting Hezbollah, amidst a backdrop of increased hostilities since the war with Hamas began.
Speaking on Wednesday, Iran’s chief of staff Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri told state TV that it would hit infrastructure across Israel if it decides to strike back.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have targeted unspecified “sensitive security and military” sites in retaliation for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
They described the missile barrage as a legitimate act of self-defence. The attack was also in response to an Israeli airstrike that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Iranian state media later reported that missiles struck multiple Israeli air bases, tanks in Gaza, and gas facilities in Ashkelon.
This occurred shortly after a US official indicated that Iran was preparing to launch missiles.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan later said there was no known damage to aircraft or strategic military assets in Israel.
He concluded that, based on current information, the missile attack appeared to have been “defeated and ineffective.”
The conflict is rooted in a broader struggle involving various Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East, opposing US and Israeli interests.
In April, Iran launched over 300 drones and missiles at Israel in retaliation for an attack on its consulate in Syria that killed several commanders.
Most of the missiles were intercepted by Israel and its allies, resulting in only minor damage to an air base in southern Israel.
In response, Israel targeted an Iranian air base with its own missile strike, amid calls for restraint from Western nations.
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Iran fired more than 180 missiles at Israel. People rushed to shelters before explosions in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. There was at least one death. Israel's Prime Minister said Iran made a mistake. Many missiles were stopped. The US and allies support Israel. The conflict involves Iranian-backed groups. This is part of a bigger struggle. The missile attack seemed ineffective. Some missiles hit central and southern Israel. The conflict started with an Israeli attack in Lebanon. Iran said they will hit back if Israel strikes. The situation is tense in the Middle East.

Iran Launches Over 180 Missiles At Israel

Israel on Tuesday, 30 July, carried out an air raid in Beirut, Lebanon, killing at least three people.
Israel’s military said that Tuesday’s attack targeted Hezbollah commander Muhsin Shukr, who is believed to have survived.
The attack comes three days after a strike on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which Israel blames on Hezbollah, killed 12 young footballers.
As reported by <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/7/30/israel-strikes-beirut-what-we-know-so-far">Al Jazeera</a>, a blast was heard in Beirut’s southern suburbs at approximately 19:40 local time (16:40 GMT) on Tuesday evening.
It hit the Haret Hreik neighbourhood near Hezbollah’s Shura Council, its central decision-making authority.
Half of the targeted buildings in the densely populated neighbourhood collapsed and a nearby hospital suffered minor damages.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry said that three people, including two children, were killed and 74 wounded in the strike, adding that “the search for missing persons under the rubble continues”.
Israel’s military claimed that Muhsen was responsible for an attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights which killed 12 people and wounded 30 on Saturday.
Israel has occupied the western region of the Golan Heights since the 1967 war, while the remaining part is under Syria’s control.
The rocket attack on Saturday hit Majdal Shams, in the northeastern part of the Israeli-occupied territory.
Hezbollah has denied involvement in the attack.
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Israel bombed Beirut, Lebanon, killing at least three people. They targeted a Hezbollah commander, but he survived. Israel says the attack was in retaliation for an attack by Hezbollah on the Golan Heights that killed 12 young footballers. The blast hit a neighbourhood in Beirut, causing buildings to collapse and hurting many people. Lebanon's Health Ministry reported the deaths and injuries. Israel has controlled the Golan Heights since 1967. Hezbollah has denied being involved in the attack on the Golan Heights.

Israel Strikes Beirut In Response To The Golan Heights Attack

Israeli warplanes carried out attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon on Saturday night after 12 children and young adults were killed in a rocket strike while playing football in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
Israel blamed the Iran-backed militant group for Saturday’s strike on the Druze town of Majdal Shams, but Hezbollah denied any involvement.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Sunday:
<blockquote>
Overnight, the IAF struck a series of Hezbollah terror targets both deep inside Lebanese territory and in southern Lebanon, including weapons caches and terrorist infrastructure in the areas of Chabriha, Borj El Chmali, and Beqaa, Kfarkela, Rab El Thalathine, Khiam, and Tayr Harfa.
</blockquote>
Israeli forces and Hezbollah have regularly exchanged fire since 7 October when Hamas attacked Israel, triggering Israel’s military offensive on Gaza.
The rocket strike and the IAF’s retaliation have the potential to trigger an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, had earlier vowed the Lebanese militant group would “pay a hefty price” after the deadly strike.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services said “large numbers” of ambulances were dispatched to the scene to treat the casualties.
Israel’s foreign ministry released the identities of 10 children killed in Saturday’s strike, saying they were aged between 10 and 16.
An 11th person was named but no age was given. Details of the 12th casualty were not confirmed.
Video verified by BBC shows crowds of people on a football pitch and stretchers being rushed to ambulances.
Majdal Shams is one of four towns in the Golan Heights, where about 25,000 members of the Arabic-speaking Druze religious and ethnic group live.
The town is in the mountainous Golan Heights, close to the border with Syria. Israel has occupied the area since 1967, annexing it in 1981.
According to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c29dydz84ngo">BBC</a>, Saturday’s bloodshed at the town’s football pitch was the deadliest loss of life in and around Israel’s northern border since October.
Hezbollah spokesman Mohamad Afif denied responsibility for Saturday’s strike in the Golan Heights.
But IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari, who visited the scene of the air strike, accused Hezbollah of “lying and denying responsibility for the incident”.
Hagari claimed that the rocket was an Iranian-made Falaq-1 “owned exclusively by Hezbollah”.
Iran warned Israel that any new military “adventures” in Lebanon could lead to “unforeseen consequences”.
The air strike prompted Netanyahu, who was visiting the United States, to return home early.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Sunday that “Every indication is that indeed the rocket was from Hezbollah.”
Blinken added that the US stands by “Israel’s right to defend” itself, but does not want to see the conflict spreading.
Lebanon’s government also stated in response to the strike, saying it “condemns all acts of violence and aggression against all civilians and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts”.
The Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib told the BBC that he did not think Hezbollah carried out the attack.
But he added, “it could be a mistake by the Israelis or by Hezbollah – I don’t know”.
In a statement, the United Nations said “maximum restraint” was crucial from all parties as the risk of a wider conflict would “engulf the entire region in a catastrophe beyond belief”.
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Israeli warplanes attacked Hezbollah in Lebanon after rockets killed 12 children in the Golan Heights. Israel blamed Hezbollah but the group denied it. Israel and Hezbollah have been fighting since October. This could lead to a big war. Israel's Prime Minister promised revenge. Lebanon's government wants peace. The United Nations wants everyone to be calm to avoid a bigger conflict. Netanyahu came back from the US because of the attack. The US supports Israel but wants peace. There is tension in the region.

Israel Hits Hezbollah In Lebanon After Rocket Attack Kills 12 Children On Football Pitch

Israel has carried out a military strike inside Iran, six days after Tehran’s unprecedented attack on Israeli territory last weekend.
According to <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/18/middleeast/isfahan-iran-explosion-intl-hnk/index.html">CNN</a>, a United States official said they were given advance notification Thursday of an intended Israeli strike in the coming days, but did not endorse the response.
Citing Iranian State media, the report says three explosions were heard close to a major military airbase near the Iranian city of Isfahan, prompting the activation of Iran’s air defence systems in several locations.
According to BBC, Isfahan province is home to a large airbase, a major missile production complex and several nuclear facilities. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said no nuclear sites were damaged
Iranian officials said air defenses intercepted three drones and there were no reports of a missile attack. Iran has, however, not identified the source of the strike.
Reports of Friday’s strike came hours after Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN that Iran’s response would be “immediate and at a maximum level” if Israel takes any further military action against Iran. He said:
<blockquote>
If the Israeli regime commits the grave error once again our response will be decisive, definitive and regretful for them.
</blockquote>
He said this warning had been communicated to the White House via the Swiss Embassy in Tehran.
Following the reported Israeli strike inside Iran, various state-aligned news agencies reported that sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program were “completely secure”.
Senior military commander, Second Brigadier General Mihandoust, told the state-aligned Tasnim news agency there was “no damage”, adding that the noises heard overnight were due to air defence systems targeting a “suspicious object.”
The Israeli military said it was unable to provide a comment on Friday when asked by CNN about reports of explosions in Iran.
A senior Iranian official tells Reuters news agency “Iran has no plan for immediate retaliation against Israel,” hours after the attack by Israel.
On Friday morning, an Iranian analyst told Iranian state TV that “Mini drones shot down by air defences in Isfahan were flown by infiltrators from inside Iran”, downplaying the reports that Israel had carried out the attack.
The Middle East has been on edge following Iran’s unprecedented direct strike against Israel late Saturday.
Iran launched more than 300 drones and cruise missiles toward Israel after a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in the Syrian capital, Damascus, on 1 April, which killed a top commander, and several others.
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Israeli Missile Strikes Inside Iran, US Officials Say

Iran directly attacked Israel for the first time on Sunday morning, in what is the largest ever drone strike in the world, and its biggest missile attack ever.
As reported by <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/14/true-promise-why-and-how-did-iran-launch-a-historic-attack-on-israel">Al Jazeera</a>, Iran used hundreds of drones and missiles to directly target Israel in retaliation for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, two weeks ago.
An Israeli air strike flattened the Iranian consulate in Damascus and killed two commanders from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and five other people.
Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in the elite Quds Force of the IRGC and his deputy General Mohammad Hadi Hajriahimi were killed in the Israeli attack.
The two generals were in charge of leading operations in Syria and Lebanon.
Iran’s attack on Israel on Sunday was the single largest drone attack ever carried out by any country, and it was the first time Iran directly attacked Israel.
Operation “True Promise” was mainly aimed at strengthening Iran’s deterrence, which critics said had been compromised after increasingly confrontational policies and military strikes by the United States and its allies across the region, reported Al Jazeera.
The attack, despite briefly shifting the world’s attention from the deaths of tens of thousands of women and children in the Gaza Strip, could translate into soft power gains for Iran in the Muslim world in the long run, when compared with other regional powers.
Iran would also justify its actions at the United Nations Security Council since attacks on diplomatic missions signal a violation of the Vienna Convention.
Furthermore, Article 51 of the UN Charter enshrines the “inherent right” of self-defence, something Israel has been heavily leaning on since the start of the Gaza war.
As of Sunday, Iran had not officially confirmed the exact number of drones or ballistic and cruise missiles it used to attack Israel, but the Israeli military said more than 300 were launched.
As reported by the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/apr/14/how-irans-attack-on-israel-was-stopped">Guardian</a>, Israel’s military said all 170 drones launched from Iran, likely to be from its Shahed family, were shot down before they reached Israeli airspace.
The drones are not much threat, able only to carry a modest bomb of up to 50kg, but they intend to tie up defenders.
Videos of the craft circulated on social media hours before being shot down, gave those responding plenty of time to react.
The drones’ noisy engines suggested they were the slow-flying Shahed-136, which would take six hours to fly from Iran to Israel.
However, some Israeli media reported Iran had launched the faster jet-engined Shahed 238, which travels three times more quickly.
The spokesperson of Isreal’s military, Daniel Hagari, said Iran also launched 30 cruise missiles towards its territory, with IDF jets intercepting 25 “outside the country’s borders”.
The missiles are most probably the newly designed Paveh-351, designed to be manoeuvrable in flight but still take two hours from Iran.
More than 120 high-speed ballistic missiles, capable of flying several times the speed of sound and making the journey from Iran to Israel (about 600 miles at the closest points) in less than 15 minutes, were launched at Israel.
Hagari said that “a few” crossed into Israel’s airspace, some striking at the Nevatim airbase.
Israel’s air defence system’s Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 systems, manufactured in an Israeli-US collaboration, supported by David’s Sling, a medium-range interceptor, were deployed to hit the Iranian ballistic missiles.
The United States said it had knocked out about 70 drones and three missiles. The UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, added that the British airforce had intercepted an unspecified number. Jordan, a longstanding US ally, reportedly shot down dozens more drones over its airspace that Iran had launched towards Israel.
Brig Gen Reem Aminoach, a former financial adviser to the IDF chief of staff, told Israel’s Ynet News that an Arrow missile typically costs $3.5m (£2.8m) a time, and David’s Sling interceptors $1m (£800,000).
He estimated that adding up the cost of eliminating 100 ballistic missiles, plus the costs of the whole air defence campaign, is “an order of magnitude of 4 to 5 billion shekels (£850m to £1.1bn)”.
However, the attack was also expensive for Iran, with ballistic missiles generally costing upwards of £80,000.
Following the attack, the Rial, Iran’s falling national currency, dropped to a new all-time low of about 670,000 per US dollar on Sunday before regaining some ground.
Iran’s chief of general staff, Gen Mohammad Bagheri, said on Sunday that the operation was considered a success and further attacks on its part were not necessary.
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Here Is Why And How Iran Attacked Israel

South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has expressed concern over the safety of Minister Naledi Pandor.
As reported by <a href="https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/dirco-concerned-about-pandors-safety/">SABC News</a>, this comes after Pandor told the media on the sidelines of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week that she was worried about the safety of her family.
Pandor, who is South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister, has been publicly condemning Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over allegations of genocide in Gaza in the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian enclave.
DIRCO Director-General Zane Dangor said that the department will ensure the safety of the Minister and her family. Said Dangor:
<blockquote>
I think the Minister is doing well and she will be cared for. Her safety is of paramount concern to all of us. So the Minister is doing fine.
</blockquote>
South Africa has since sent a letter to the court in The Hague in the Netherlands requesting it to add provisional measures against Israel.
This was in response to the latest Israeli military attack on Gaza’s overcrowded city of Rafah which resulted in the death of 67 Palestinians in an overnight attack, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Hamas (Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya), which translates to the Islamic Resistance Movement, runs the Gaza Strip.
On 07 0ctober 2023, Hamas launched the deadliest attack against Israel since the state’s establishment in 1948, killing more than 1 200 people and taking others hostage.
Since that attack, Israel has been bombarding Gaza to destroy Hamas and to rescue the more than 200 hostages but the conflict has resulted in the death of more than 28 000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
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South Africa Concerned About Minister Pandor's Safety

The United States has imposed sanctions on several Israeli settlers for attacking Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank, reported <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/1/us-imposes-sanctions-on-four-israeli-settlers-over-west-bank">Al Jazeera</a>.
The sanctions target David Chai Chasdai, Einan Tanjil and Yinon Levi, who are accused of undermining stability and security in Israel and the Palestinian territories.
The individuals allegedly assaulted and intimidated Palestinians. Another sanctioned Israeli, Shalom Zickerman, is accused of assaulting Israeli activists.
The sanctions, which were announced on Thursday, 01 February, will freeze the individuals’ assets in the US and restrict financial dealings with them.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Thursday:
<blockquote>
There are no plans to target with sanctions Israeli government officials at this time.
</blockquote>
Kirby said the US informed the Israeli government before announcing the sanctions.
The White House also announced a new decree to penalise perpetrators of “extremist settler violence” in the West Bank.
In a statement, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that settler violence,
<blockquote>
… poses a grave threat to peace, security, and stability in the West Bank, Israel, and the Middle East region, and threatens the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.
</blockquote>
The announcement on Thursday came amid increasing pressure on President Joe Biden over his unwavering support for Israel’s war on Gaza ahead of presidential elections set for November.
The executive order coincided with Biden’s visit on Thursday to Michigan, a Midwestern swing state that is home to a large Arab American community.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu differed with the Americans, saying the overwhelming majority of West Bank settlers are “law-abiding citizens”. He said in a statement:
<blockquote>
Israel acts against all Israelis who break the law, everywhere; therefore, exceptional measures are unnecessary.
</blockquote>
The West Bank is the largest of the two Palestinian territories and home to some three million Palestinians, administered by the Palestinian Authority.
The other Palestinian territory is the Gaza Strip which is administered by Hamas, a group considered a terrorist organisation by Western countries such as the United States.
The Gaza Strip is currently being bombarded by the Israeli army after Hamas fighters broke into Isreal on 07 October and killed more 1 200 people, most of them civilians, and took scores as hostages.
Hamas (Palestine), Hezbollah (Lebanon) and Houthis (Yemen) are among several armed groups funded by Iran.
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United States Imposes Sanctions On Four Israelis

An Israeli airstrike outside the Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday, 25 December, killed a senior adviser in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-air-strike-syria-kills-senior-iranian-revolutionary-guards-member-2023-12-25/">Reuters</a> cited sources as saying Sayyed Razi Mousavi, who was one of the top IRGC commanders in Syria, was responsible for coordinating the military alliance between Syria and Iran.
Responding to a reporter’s question at a nightly press conference, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said:
<blockquote>
I won’t comment on foreign reports, these or others in the Middle East. The Israeli military obviously has a job to protect the security interests of Israel.
</blockquote>
Iran’s state television interrupted its regular news broadcast to announce that Mousavi had been killed, describing him as one of the Guards’ oldest advisers in Syria.
It said he had been “among those accompanying Qassem Soleimani”, the head of the Guards’ elite Quds Force who was killed in a drone attack in Iraq in 2020 by the United States military.
Iran’s official IRNA news reported that Mousavi “was killed during an attack by the Zionist regime a few hours ago in Zeinabiyah district in the suburbs of Damascus.”
Iran’s ambassador in Damascus Hossein Akbari told Iranian state TV that Mousavi was posted at the embassy as a diplomat and was killed by Israeli missiles after returning home from work. He said:
<blockquote>
[Israel] will definitely get a response to this crime at the right time and the right situation.
</blockquote>
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said the assassination of Mousavi showed Israel’s “frustration and weakness”. He said:
<blockquote>
This act is a sign of the Zionist regime’s frustration and weakness in the region for which it will certainly pay the price.
</blockquote>
In a statement read on state TV, the IRGC said that the “usurper and savage Zionist regime will pay for this crime”.
The killing of Sayyed Razi Mousavi comes amid ongoing fears of the Israel-Hamas war sparking a regional spillover. 
Iran-backed groups in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq have launched attacks on Israel and its allies in support of Hamas.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Israeli Airstrike In Syria Kills High-ranking Iranian General

A video has surfaced on social media that shows an Al Jazeera field reporter screaming and ducking on LIVE show after an Israeli missile hit the Palestine Tower in the heart of Gaza City behind her.
The bombing came after Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on Saturday.
Hamas, a Palestinian nationalist organisation, announced the beginning of a new operation – Operation Al Aqsa Storm.
In the viral video, the reporter was going live on air from Gaza when the building behind her was bombed. She immediately screams and then ducks.
Soon after witnessing the bombing, the TV anchor requested the reporter to “take cover”.  Said the TV anchor:
<blockquote>
Please take cover. If you are in a position to do so safely, you can explain to us what was happening. If you are not in a position to do it safely, please get to safety.
</blockquote>
Replying to the TV anchor, the reporter said, “No it’s okay. This is a missile attack on a Palestine tower, right in the middle of Gaza City.”
Watch the video below:
<div class="wp-video" style="width: 640px;">
<video class="wp-video-shortcode" controls="controls" height="360" id="video-264829-1" preload="metadata" width="640"><source src="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Gaza.mp4?_=1" type="video/mp4"/><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Gaza.mp4">https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Gaza.mp4</a></video></div>
Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel early on Saturday, with militants infiltrating the border and capturing scores of hostages including Israeli soldiers and civilians.
In response to the attack by the military wing of Hamas, Al Qassam Bridages, Israel launched an operation called Operation Iron Swords.
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for an emergency meeting and declared war against Hamas.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

WATCH: Israeli Missile Hits Building In Gaza, Al Jazeera Reporter Screams And Ducks Live On TV

Israel’s ambassador to Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana was mugged on a street in Lusaka last week, with the robbers getting away with her diplomatic passport, her cellphone, and some cash that was in her bag.
Ambassador Ofra Farhi was crossing a street in Lusaka on Friday when she was mugged, according to Ynet, as cited by <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-ambassador-to-zambia-mugged-on-street-in-front-of-her-bodyguards/">The Times of Israel</a>.
A car pulled up alongside her and the occupants grabbed her bag and dragged her resulting in her sustaining some minor injuries.
Farhi’s bodyguards, who were with her at the time, did not manage to prevent the crime.
She was treated at a local clinic and continued on to her scheduled meetings with local officials.
Zambian Foreign Minister Stanley Kakubo and a presidential adviser both called Farhi to offer their support.
Farhi is a roving ambassador who lives in Israel and makes diplomatic visits to the countries she serves.

Israel’s Ambassador To Zambia And Zimbabwe Robbed On Street In Front Of Her Bodyguards

Benjamin Netanyahu has won Israel’s elections defeating Prime Minister Yair Lapid who has since called his predecessor to congratulate him.
Netanyau is returning to power after <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2021/06/03/israeli-opposition-parties-team-up-against-netanyau/">being dislodged in 2021 by a coalition of the opposition led by Lapid.  </a>
Israel’s Central Election Committee on Thursday announced the final allocation of seats for the 25th Knesset, giving Netanyahu and his likely political allies 64 seats in the legislature, enough for a governing majority.
President Isaac Herzog will begin consultations with politicians on forming a new government after results are officially certified on November 9, he said Wednesday,CNN reported.
A Netanyahu return to the head of government could spell fundamental shifts to Israeli society. A Netanyahu government would almost certainly include the newly ascendant Jewish nationalist Religious Zionism/Jewish Power alliance, whose leaders include Itamar Ben Gvir, once convicted for inciting racism and supporting terrorism.
Netanyahu he doesn’t want a government with the Muslim Brotherhood, who support terrorism, deny the existence of Israel and are pretty hostile to the United States, he told <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/11/03/middleeast/israel-election-benjamin-netanyahu-intl/index.html">CNN</a>. 
Netanyahu allies have talked about making changes to the judicial system. That could put an end to Netanyahu’s own corruption trial, where he has pleaded not guilty.
The 72-year-old leader who faces a series of bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges, has denied all accusations,  attacking those who seek to prosecute him. 
If convicted, he could go to jail.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Benjamin Netanyahu Re-elected As Israel's Prime Minister

Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has been criticised for alleging that the founder of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler, may have “had Jewish blood”.
Hitler and his fellow Nazis were anti-Semites (who were prejudiced against Jewish people) and murdered six million Jews in Europe between 1933 and 1945.
According to a transcript posted on the Russian foreign ministry website, Lavrov told Italian outlet Mediaset’s Rete 4 channel in an interview released Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “puts forward an argument of what kind of Nazism can they have if he himself is Jewish”. He added:
<blockquote>
I could be wrong, but Hitler also had Jewish blood.
</blockquote>
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid on Monday, 2 May summoned Moscow’s ambassador for “clarifications”.
In a statement from the foreign ministry, Lapid condemned Lavrov’s remarks as “an unforgivable and outrageous statement as well as a terrible historical error”. He said:
<blockquote>
Jews did not murder themselves in the Holocaust. The lowest level of racism against Jews is to accuse Jews themselves of antisemitism.
</blockquote>
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also castigated Lavrov’s “lies” that he said effectively “accuse the Jews themselves of the most awful crimes in history”, perpetrated against themselves. Said, Bennett:
<blockquote>
No war in our time is like the Holocaust or is comparable to the Holocaust.
The use of the Holocaust on the Jewish people as a political tool must cease immediately.
</blockquote>
Zelensky, who himself drew criticism from some Israeli officials in March for comparing Russian aggression in Ukraine to the Holocaust, denounced Lavrov’s comments in his nightly address on Monday. He said:
<blockquote>
These words mean that Russia’s top diplomat is blaming the Jewish people for Nazi crimes… no words.
… The question is will the Israeli ambassador stay in Moscow knowing their new position?
Will relations with Russia remain as usual? Because (Lavrov’s remarks are) not accidental.
</blockquote>
The office of the US State Department envoy on combatting antisemitism wrote on Twitter:
<blockquote>
To invoke the lie of “denazification” in Ukraine, a country with a Jewish president and a significant Jewish population living in peace among their fellow citizens is baseless and cruelly deranged.
</blockquote>
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, whose country has led international support for Ukraine, tweeted:
<blockquote>
It is incumbent on the world to speak out against such vile, dangerous rhetoric and support our Ukrainian partners in the face of the Kremlin’s vicious assault.
</blockquote>
In Berlin, German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit told reporters:
<blockquote>
I think the Russian propaganda being spread here by Foreign Minister Lavrov needs no comment… it’s absurd.
</blockquote>
When Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, it said it wants to “de-militarise” and “de-Nazify” Ukraine.
According to Britannica Dictionary, a Nazi is an evil person who wants to use power to control and harm other people especially because of their race, religion, etc…
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/israel-slams-russian-claims-hitler-091839733.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall&amp;guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly90LmNvL0xRMkF3d2szZU0&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAEObbe7yCHw-VToOCPtPqs3MZ7MCxEqVUhXK6QtpEGeKy8h5fMQWRVcwxhqRDuo6_CbKjRCLoIZc1NBxONzYxusrAVitRIguBE8Qd-6wwyRccmqszmibLrHUR7ePRZWIlQk37cL0T-0rQHBsrngZppZGr3Oa1S0TAA_GfV4h2Fqi">Yahoo</a></h4>

Adolf Hitler May Have "Had Jewish Blood", Says Russia's FM Lavrov

The Asian nation of Israel has announced a 3rd national lockdown since the onset of the pandemic which will start next week, eNCA reports. Israel which recently started vaccinating its population against COVID-19 announced that in the country’s third lockdown, Israelis will be prohibited to travel over 1KM away from their homes and all businesses will be closed except for deliveries. An exception will be made for those traveling for schooling purposes and for those who will be going to get vaccinated.
A statement for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that:
<blockquote>A general lockdown will be imposed from 17:00 (1500 GMT) on Sunday for two weeks.
There is an option to extend the lockdown for an additional two weeks unless the basic reproduction number (for the virus) falls below 1 and the number of new cases per day falls below 1,000.</blockquote>
Over 3,150 people have died due to the virus in Israel and the county of nine million people recorded 385,022 coronavirus cases. At some point, Israel has the world’s highest per capita infection rate.
More: <a href="https://www.enca.com/news/israel-announces-third-nationwide-virus-lockdown">eNCA</a>

Israel Announces 3rd Lockdown

Zimbabwe has engaged the Israeli government for a possible deployment of security experts to Harare to train local forces in public order enforcement, among other security services as public anger grows over corruption, economic mismanagement and a crackdown on dissenting voices.
Since the November 2017 military coup, the government has increasingly resorted to the use of brute force to put down protests resulting in the deaths and maiming of civilians.
Government efforts to bring in Israeli security experts to train Zimbabwe’s military, police and intelligence on how to effectively contain civil disobedience was revealed by Zimbabwe’s honorary consul in Israel, Ronny Levvy Musan, during an interview with the Zimbabwe Independent from his base in Tel Aviv this week. He said:
<blockquote>Zimbabweans have a bit of a problem on human rights because of lack of training of security forces.
I am in touch with highly trained security professionals in Israel. We are working on plans to bring them. We will put our proposal to the Israeli security institutions.
For now, I cannot mention them (institutions) by name. But the Israeli defence force has many departments.
I spoke with His Excellency (Mnangagwa) about defence and we observed what we can do.
We need approval from Israeli institutions. There are security professionals I am in touch with.
I would like to bring them to Zimbabwe to train the police on how to control civilians.</blockquote>
Musan was appointed honorary consul in Israel by Mnangagwa in August as Harare sought to build cordial relations with the Jewish State.
Israel’s security forces are famous in the Middle East for the way the tiny country has managed to ward off an invasion from its hostile neighbours since 1948 when it came into existence.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2020/09/25/govt-turns-to-israelis-as-populace-gets-restive/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Zimbabwe Independent</a></h4>

Zimbabwe To Harness Israeli Expertise To Deal With Restive Populace

MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa was recently in Israel on a private visit to Israel to re-energise and strengthen his Christianity faith. Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said,
<blockquote>The trip had three dimensions basically; he undertook it to learn from the fastest growing economy on how they did it and see the level of infrastructure development so that his vision can be constructed along those lines and ethos.
As you would know, he is also a devout Christian and he took the time to visit sacred places, have time with his Creator, pray for the nation as well as pray for peace. He also undertook the trip to re-energise his resolve in the fight for a better Zimbabwe.</blockquote>
Writing on Twitter, Chamisa said,
<blockquote>In Israel, I have just been to Nazareth, Cana, Sea of Galilee, River Jordan, Bethlehem, Mount of Olives and Jericho on a private visit. I’m fortified in my faith.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.thestandard.co.zw/2018/07/01/chamisa-goes-israel/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Standard</a>

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