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Netanyahu claims Israel preparing for scenarios in locations other than Gaza

Netanyahu

Tensions have been mounting throughout the Middle East following warnings from US officials that Iran could carry out an imminent attack on US or Israeli assets in the region. Iran has blamed Israel for a recent deadly attack on its consulate in Syria.

“We are in the midst of the war in Gaza, which is continuing at full force, even as we are continuing our relentless efforts to return our hostages. However, we are also prepared for scenarios involving challenges in other sectors,” Netanyahu said, according to a readout from his office.

Speaking to Israeli air force personnel at the Tel Nof Air Base, south of Tel Aviv, the prime minister stated Israel had developed a strategy in the face of potential attacks.

“We have determined a simple rule: Whoever harms us, we will harm them. We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively,” Netanyahu explained.

On Wednesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei warned the Israeli regime “must be punished and will be punished” for its fatal raid on the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital of Damascus.

The Leader pointed to the Israeli missile attack on the consular section of the Iranian Embassy in Syria on April 1.

Ayatollah Khamenei stated, “The evil Zionist regime committed another mistake … and that was the attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria. The consulate and diplomatic missions in any country are considered to be the territory of that country. When they attack our consulate, it means they have attacked our soil.”

“The evil regime made a mistake and must be punished and will be punished,” the Leader stressed.

The Israeli attack killed two senior Iranian military personnel who were on an advisory mission to Syria as well as five of their accompanying officers.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, and his deputy General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi were among the seven martyrs of the terrorist attack.

Russia says launched massive strike on Ukrainian energy infrastructure

Russia Ukraine War

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said the overnight large-scale attack had involved long-range air- and sea-based weapons, as well as drones. It came “in response to attempts by the Kiev regime to damage Russian oil and gas industry and energy facilities.”

“The goals of the strike have been achieved. All facilities have been hit,” the statement read.

Officials added that the attack had disrupted the work of Ukrainian defense-oriented enterprises, while hampering the transfer of troops and the supply of fuel to Kiev’s frontline units.

Ukrenergo, the national power grid operator, said the barrage had damaged energy facilities in Odessa, Kharkov, Zaporozhye, Lviv, and Kiev regions. It added that Kharkov Region, which borders Russia, had been affected by an emergency shutdown.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Moscow had used more than 40 missiles and 40 drones in the strike, only some of which had been intercepted.

Kiev Region appeared to be particularly hard-hit, with local energy operator, Centerenergo, describing the barrage as “a dark day” in the company’s history. It stated that the attack had “completely destroyed” the Tripolskaya thermal power plant, which had been the largest energy producer in Kiev, Cherkasskaya and Zhitomir regions.

The Ukrainian military has repeatedly used drones to attack Russian oil bases in border regions, with The Guardian reporting earlier this month that the tactic had stemmed from the fact that Kiev knew that it could not defeat Russia on the battlefield.

Russia first started targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure in the autumn of 2022, after the terrorist bombing of the strategic Crimean Bridge in October of the same year. Moscow insists that its strikes never target Ukrainian civilians.

Yemen says targeted Israeli, US vessels off Red Sea

Yemen Houthi

Speaking at a televised press briefing broadcast live from the Yemeni capital city of Sana’a on Wednesday, Yahya Saree said the forces targeted Israeli-affiliated MSC DARWIN and MSC GINA container ships in the Gulf of Aden.

He stated the US-registered MAERSK YORKTOWN container ship was also struck in the deepwater gulf. A US warship was targeted in the area as well with a number of combat drones.

Saree added the naval units will continue anti-Israel operations and prevent Israeli-owned ships and vessels destined to ports in the Israeli-occupied territories from sailing in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean until a permanent ceasefire is enforced in Gaza, and all restrictions on supplies of humanitarian aid for its residents are lifted.

Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine’s struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory’s Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity.

Yemeni Armed Forces have said that they won’t stop their attacks until unrelenting Israeli ground and aerial offensives in Gaza, which have killed more than 33,400 people and wounded over 76,000, come to an end.

Leader of the Ansarullah resistance movement Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has said it is “a great honor and blessing to be confronting America directly.”

The attacks have forced some of the world’s biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes. Tankers are instead adding thousands of miles to international shipping routes by sailing around the continent of Africa rather than going through the Suez Canal.

“Imminent risk of famine for most, if not all’ in Gaza: US Gaza humanitarian envoy

“There is an imminent risk of famine for the majority, if not all, the 2.2 million population of Gaza,” Satterfield was quoted as saying by Israeli media, including Haaretz and The Times of Israel.

“This is not a point in debate. It is an established fact, which the United States, its experts, the international community, [and] its experts assess and believe is real.”

The US envoy also stressed that since Israel is seen as the effective controlling power in Gaza, the country had an obligation to help the civilians there.

“The horrific dehumanization of Israelis that took place on October 7 and the ongoing dehumanization of the Israeli hostages every day they’re held cannot be matched by the dehumanization of innocent Palestinian civilians,” Satterfield added.

Israel has waged a military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas which killed around 1,200 people.

Around 33,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began.

It has also imposed a crippling blockade on the seaside enclave, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

The war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while much of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has urged it to do more to prevent famine in Gaza.

Lightning lights up Iranian capital’s skyline

The image shows a lightning in the Saadat Abad district, northwest of Tehran.

Iranian attack against Israel ‘imminent’: Report

Iran Drone Missile

Two generals of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force were killed in the Israeli air raid on April 1, which for the first time targeted an internationally protected diplomatic mission.

There has been a widespread expectation that Iran would refrain from reprisal until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Speaking on Wednesday, as Muslims celebrated the feast of Eid al-Fitr, Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stressed that Israel “must and shall be punished” for what it did.

“Major missile or drone strikes” are now imminent, Bloomberg reported citing “people familiar with” the Israeli, US and allied intelligence reports. They will likely be carried out by either Iran directly, or its allies such as the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, the anonymous sources added.

The US is helping Israel with planning and sharing intelligence assessments, the sources stated. Israel is reportedly waiting for the Iranian attack before it launches a ground offensive against the city of Rafah in Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that Tel Aviv would respond in kind if the attack on Israel comes from Iranian territory. Several media outlets reported on Tuesday that Israel has been preparing to target Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The US has publicly promised Israel support against an Iranian attack, including helping shoot down the incoming missiles. Washington has reportedly also floated the idea of taking part in any Israeli counter-strikes.

“We do not rule out launching joint retaliatory strikes with Israel if it is attacked by Iran or its agents,” an unnamed US official told Al Jazeera Arabic.

Israel killing Hamas leader’s sons proof of its brutality: Iran president

In a message addressed to Haniyeh on Wednesday, Raisi offered condolences on the deaths earlier in the day of his three sons and their children in a refugee camp in Gaza as a result of an Israeli airstrike.

“Undoubtedly, this crime made clearer the savage and child-killing psyche of this regime,” he said in the message, adding that the Israeli regime continues to resort to any action it deems necessary to save itself from the “collapse quagmire”.

The Iranian president also condemned the inaction and silence of the so-called advocates of human rights in the world in the face of the unprecedented crimes committed by the Israeli regime in Gaza.

Three sons and four grandchildren of Haniyeh were killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a vehicle in al-Shati refugee camp in north of Gaza.

Haniyeh, who is based in Qatar and represents Hamas in international meetings and negotiations, said in a statement that blood of his children and grandchildren would create hope and freedom for the people and the cause of Palestine.

Nearly 33,500 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its brutal aggression on the enclave in early October.

The one-sided war has also left tens of thousands of people wounded in Gaza while making more than a million people displaced across the narrow strip of land on the Mediterranean.

The aggression began after Hamas led an operation into the Israeli-controlled occupied territories of Palestine near Gaza, killing 1,200 settlers and military forces.

UK says Biden is right to press Netanyahu for a halt in fighting in Gaza

Gaza War

In an interview with CNN’s John Berman on Wednesday, Cameron said he agrees with Biden that a temporary ceasefire is needed.

It comes after Biden offered one of his sharpest rebukes of Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza during an interview Tuesday, describing Netanyahu’s approach to the conflict as a “mistake” and calling for a halt to the fighting.

“He is rightly pressing Netanyahu, as I have many times that we need a pause in fighting to get aid in and hostages out,” Cameron stated.

“That’s long been Britain’s position,” he added.

On Wednesday, Biden said he’s been “very blunt” and “straightforward” with Netanyahu about the need for more humanitarian aid to Gaza, and more deliberate efforts to protect civilian life “in any action taken in the region”.

He cited “a long discussion” with Netanyahu during their phone call last week. He told reporters gathered in the Rose Garden that the Israeli leader had agreed to do several things related to getting more aid, both food and medicine, into the enclave and reducing civilian casualties in “any action taken in the region”.

Biden would not say Wednesday if he was considering conditioning aid to Gaza, despite being asked, though the White House warned last week of “changes in our own policy”, if Israel did not take additional steps to protect human life in Gaza.

The president also cited Vice President Kamala Harris’ meeting Tuesday with the families of hostages being held in Gaza, taking the opportunity to call on Hamas to respond to a proposal to release some of the hostages in return for a temporary ceasefire.

Nearly 33,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began in October following a cross-border attack led by Hamas that killed less than 1,200 people.

In addition to its sweeping military offensive, Israel has imposed a crippling blockade on the seaside enclave, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

The war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water and medicine, while much of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which has urged Israel to do more to prevent famine in Gaza.

Ukrainian FM ups urgency for more arms, says ‘nice and quiet diplomacy didn’t work’

Russia Ukraine War

In an interview with The Washington Post, Kuleba stressed the urgency of getting military aid to the front lines and resolved to change his approach.

“Nice and quiet diplomacy didn’t work,” he said to the Post.

The top diplomat added he hopes a tougher approach will break through with Western allies, whose aid to the war-torn country has declined in recent months. In the United States, Congress has been sitting on a roughly $60 billion aid package for Ukraine that President Joe Biden requested at the end of last year.

“Yes, people may hate me, and I may ruin the relationship,” Kuleba told the Post.

“The other part of me is saying diplomacy is all about private relations. But then I told that part to shut up, and the part of me that wanted to speak out started speaking up. We’ve tried everything, and nothing seems to work.”

The minister stated the U.S.-designed Patriot air defense system is the country’s top priority. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tasked Kuleba with trying to convince countries to give Ukraine its spare systems.

Kuleba’s sharper rhetoric has been evident in some of his recent interviews.

Late last month, in an interview with Politico, Kuleba said, “Give us the damn Patriots.”

“If we had enough air defense systems, namely Patriots, we would be able to protect not only the lives of our people, but also our economy from destruction,” he added.

Congress returned to Washington this week after a two-week holiday recess. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has said he plans on putting a Ukraine aid package on the floor for a vote, but he has yet to say publicly what that package would include.

Zelensky has also addressed participants in the Delphi Economic Forum, saying that Ukraine needs air defense systems and fighter aircraft to protect itself from Russian attacks.

“Ukraine does not ask too much. We need air defense systems and fighter aircraft that can protect our cities from Russian terror. Few dozen systems and a sufficient number of modern jets – and there will be no problem of Russian jets and bombs. We need artillery to move the frontline away and restore normal life in the territories occupied by Russia,” Zelensky stated.

Also, according to Zelensky, Ukraine needs justice – “such pressure on Russia that won’t allow [President Vladimir] Putin to increase his military potential – growing sanctions against Russia, confiscating Putin’s assets and zero toleration of Russian disinformation”.

“It is all absolutely realistic. And it depends only on the political will of our partners. Putin can fill with his aggression only the deficit of the world’s decisions. Deficit that takes too long. It is possible to win this war. But deficits do not advance victory,” he added.

Funeral held for security forces killed in Iran’s southeast

People carried the caskets of five security forces who were killed in the armed conflict with the separatist Jaish al-Adl terrorists in the Sib and Suran town on Tuesday.

Jaish al-Adl, which wants to cede Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan Province, has launched a series of deadly coordinated attacks in Iran’s eastern border region.

A week earlier, in an hours-long skirmish in the cities of Rask and Chabahar, the militants killed 15 Iranian security forces and in return, the security forces killed all 18 terrorists involved in the terrorist attacks.

Iran has called on Pakistan on several occasions to harness the terrorist group.

Relations between the two countries soured last year after Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Pakistan’s Balochistan province to target the terror outfit’s positions.