No injuries were reported in the Israeli raid on Beit Jinn town, the state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV reported.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army or Syrian authorities on the onslaught.
On Sunday evening, Israeli soldiers advanced into the Quneitra province, located within the disengagement zone in the occupied Golan Heights, for the 3rd time in August.
In a statement, the General Staff congratulated the nation on Government Week, commended the government’s sincere service to the Iranian people, and declared that it will continue to support the administration in advancing the sacred goals of the Islamic Revolution more than ever before.
The statement stressed that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, by following the directives and guidance of the Supreme Leader, will dedicate all their strength and efforts to enhancing military capability and defensive power, in order to safeguard the nation’s interests, Iran’s territorial integrity, and the foundations of the Islamic Republic.
The message also stressed the importance of solidarity and the deep bond between the Iranian people and the country’s officials in ensuring Iran’s strength across various domains.
It further stated that the leaders of the United States and the “ignorant” prime minister of the usurping, child-killing Zionist regime, after suffering a military defeat in the 12-day imposed war, have sought to sow division and polarization inside Iran to compensate for their loss by undermining the unity of the people, the branches of power, and the Armed Forces.
The General Staff assured that Iran’s Armed Forces will resolutely and more forcefully than before confront any hostile adventure or threat against the nation, the country, and the Islamic Revolution.
The concert, titled Between Two Seas, drew a crowd of more than 25,000 people and featured a 75-member orchestra along with several international artists.
During the performance, Yusuf dedicated his song Didar (Visitation) to Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Opening the event with remarks in Turkish, Yusuf said, “May God protect the entire Muslim Ummah and all of humanity from harm and evil.”
He added, “Our prayers are always with our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Palestine. We hear your voices, and we are with you. May God be your helper and protector.”
The artist, known for blending spiritual and contemporary music, has frequently used his platform to advocate for humanitarian causes.
The death toll from the Israeli genocide is nearing 62,690, with nearly 158,000 others injured.
The visit took place after Pezeshkian renewed his pledge of allegiance at the mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
The president was accompanied by senior officials during the ceremony, where he laid flowers and offered prayers at the graves of commanders killed in Israeli strikes earlier this year.
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Kazem Jalali told Russia’s TASS news agency that Tehran is in ongoing talks with Gazprom to finalize all aspects of the project.
“Almost all issues have been resolved, but we need to reach a common language on pricing,” he said. “Once that is agreed, everything will be operational.”
Jalali also criticized Western governments for their “silence and inaction” over Israel’s military aggression in Gaza.
He noted that the conflict is a “proxy war,” with Israel acting “on behalf of the West,” and censured Tel Aviv for committing “crimes against humanity” by targeting civilians.
Jalali also touched on the escalation between Iran and the US-Israeli alliance in June, saying Iran demonstrated its ability to respond decisively to attacks. “Iran is not Gaza,” he stressed. “If attacked, we will react seriously.”
The envoy also noted that by the end of 2025, Iran expects to expand the use of Russia’s Mir payment cards nationwide.
Following the war between Israel and Hezbollah last year, the Lebanese army has been deploying in the country’s south and dismantling the group’s infrastructure there.
Lebanon has been grappling with the thorny issue of disarming Hezbollah, with the cabinet this month tasking the army with developing a plan to do so by the end of the year.
Despite the ceasefire that ended the war, Israel has continued to strike Lebanon, saying it will do so until Hezbollah is disarmed.
Israeli forces also continue to occupy five areas of the south that they deem strategic.
“Israel stands ready to support Lebanon in its efforts to disarm Hezbollah and to work together towards a more secure and stable future for both nations,” stated Netanyahu, according to a statement released by his office.
If the Lebanese government follows through with the plan, Netanyahu added Israel was prepared to “engage in reciprocal measures, including a phased reduction of IDF (military) presence in coordination with the US-led security mechanism”.
Hezbollah, the only faction that kept its weapons after Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war, emerged badly weakened from last year’s war with Israel.
Earlier this month, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem promised to push back against the Lebanese government’s plans to disarm his group.
The Israeli statement came with the United Nations Security Council set to vote later on Monday on the future of the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon that has faced US and Israeli opposition.
The Council will vote on a French-drafted compromise that would keep the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), first deployed in 1978 to separate Israel and Lebanon, in place for one more year while it prepares to withdraw.
The resolution would extend the force’s mandate until August 31, 2026.
The Israeli army shelled the top floor of the emergency building, known as the “Al-Yassin” floor
The Gaza Health Ministry announced that the Israeli army hit the fourth floor of one of the complex’s buildings with two airstrikes, noting that the second strike occurred as rescue teams arrived to evacuate the wounded and recover the dead.
Five journalists, including Al Jazeera photographer Mohammad Salama, are among 20 people killed in an Israeli attack on Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza.
Those killed also included Hussam al-Masri, who worked as a photojournalist for the Reuters news agency; Mariam Abu Daqqa, who worked as a journalist with several media outlets, including The Independent Arabic and The Associated Press news agency; and journalist Moaz Abu Taha, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.
A fifth journalist Ahmed Abu Aziz, who worked for the Quds Feed Network and other media outlets, succumbed to his wounds, according to the Media Office statement.
“The journalist colleagues were martyred when the Israeli occupation committed a horrific crime by bombing a group of journalists who were on a press coverage mission at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis Governorate and many martyrs fell victim to this crime,” the Media Office announced in a statement.
“We hold the Israeli occupation, the American administration, and the countries participating in the genocide crime such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France fully responsible for committing these heinous brutal crimes.”
The attack raises the death toll of Palestinian journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023 to at least 273, according to an Al Jazeera tally.
Israel has killed nearly 62,700 Palestinians in a brutal assault in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
Earlier this month, the Israeli government approved a plan to seize control of Gaza City, and destroy it both above and below ground.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned that Gaza City “will become Rafah and Beit Hanoun if Hamas didn’t surrender, referring to the two cities that have been almost completely wiped out by the Israeli military.
Israel this week called up tens of thousands of reservists as it pressed ahead with its plan to capture Gaza’s biggest urban centre despite international criticism of an operation likely to force the displacement of many more Palestinians.
According to the newspaper, the Israeli military announced that such a large-scale operation would cause a more severe crisis with reserve units amid falling turnout and low morale.
The military has summoned around 60,000 reservists to report on 2 September, the Israeli paper reported. The majority are set to relieve regular forces in the occupied West Bank and the northern border, allowing those troops to join the Gaza City operation.
Army chief Eyal Zamir presented a plan to the government, stating that Israeli forces would not launch a major assault on Gaza City until a “humanitarian zone” is established.
While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded that the army accelerate its offensive in Gaza City, Zamir stated that the operations would begin after necessary operational and legal preparations are carried out.
Tensions have been running high between the military leadership and the government over the next phase of the war.
In recent weeks, far-right Israeli ministers have increasingly clashed publicly with Zamir over Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza, which the military has warned would overstretch forces and endanger the captives.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has urged Netanyahu to dismiss the army chief unless he “immediately announces that he is replacing his far-left political hive” of advisers.
“When you see who the people close to the chief of staff are, it is understandable why he is standing on his hind legs against our plan to occupy Gaza,” Ben Gvir noted.
Zelensky’s statement follows a recent report by the Wall Street Journal saying that the U.S. has quietly implemented a review process giving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authority to bar Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia with American missiles, effectively blocking strikes for months.
An unnamed official told WSJ that the unannounced high-level Defense Department approval process has prevented the use of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against targets inside Russia since late spring.
At a press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Aug. 24, Zelensky said no such restrictions were being discussed, noting that Ukraine strikes targets inside Russia using domestically produced weapons.
“At the moment, we are using our long-range domestically produced weapons, and we haven’t been discussing such matters with the U.S. lately. There was a time when there were different signals regarding our retaliatory strikes after their (Russian) attacks on our energy system,” Zelensky said.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Aug. 21 said that Ukraine had “no chance of winning” if not permitted to attack Russia and criticized former U.S. President Joe Biden for not letting Kyiv “fight back, only defend.”
Despite this, Trump has previously stated he disagreed “very vehemently” with the previous White House administration’s decision to permit Ukrainian long-range strikes against Russia with U.S. weapons.
Zelensky had announced that Ukraine plans to begin mass production of its domestically developed long-range Flamingo cruise missile this winter.
Having its own long-range missile capabilities could be a game-changer for Ukraine in its efforts to undermine Russia’s war machine deep behind enemy lines.
Zelensky said that Flamingo had undergone successful tests, describing it as “the most successful” missile Ukraine currently has. The Flamingo missile is capable of flying up to 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles), he claimed.
“By December, we’ll have more of them. And by the end of December or in January–February, mass production should begin,” the president added.
Brigadier General Iraj Masjedi, the Quds Force’s coordinating deputy, stated that neither the Lebanese people nor Hezbollah would accept such a move, emphasizing that the group’s weapons are seen as essential for defending Lebanon against Israeli aggression.
“The issue of disarming the resistance is not new,” General Masjedi said, “but it will never happen. The resistance’s weapons belong to the people of Lebanon and are for the defense of their land.”
The comments come as Iran’s regional ally Hezbollah has rejected a US-backed disarmament plan, warning of civil war if forced to lay down arms.
The top commander also highlighted the enhanced readiness of Iranian armed forces involving regional resistance groups, following the 12-day conflict with Israel two month ago.
General Masjedi warned that any hostile actions against Iran would be met with “a strong and decisive response.”
“The capabilities of our forces have increased significantly,” he said, adding, “we are fully prepared to respond to any threat.”
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