18 wounded in Hezbollah drone attack on Israel

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, met Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Wednesday – Maayan Toaf/Shutterstock

At least 18 people were wounded when a drone fired by Hezbollah slammed into a building in Northern Israel on Wednesday.

One of the victims was wounded critically and two others were in a serious condition after the strike on the border village of Arab al-Aramshe, the Galilee Medical Centre in Nahariya said.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack and said it had used drones and missiles to target a building being used by the Israeli military.

Footage showed a drone hitting a building, causing a large explosion.

The IDF said it was investigating why air attack warning sirens did not sound before the strike.

03:08 PM BST

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We’ll be back tomorrow with all the latest updates from the conflict in the Middle East.

02:58 PM BST

Turkey’s Erdogan to welcome Hamas leader to Istanbul

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish President, will host Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Turkey this weekend.

“The leader of the Palestinian cause will be my guest this weekend,” Mr Erdogan told lawmakers.

“Even if only I, Tayyip Erdogan, remain, I will continue as long as God gives me my life, to defend the Palestinian struggle and to be the voice of the oppressed Palestinian people,” the president said, calling Hamas a “resistance group”.

Turkey’s NTV television reported that they would hold talks on Saturday at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.

Mr Erdogan has been one of the strongest critics of Israel since the start of the war in Gaza.

He has called Israel a “terrorist state” and accused it of conducting a “genocide” in the coastal enclave. By contrast, he has described Hamas “liberators” or “mujahideen” fighting for their land.

02:39 PM BST

‘We make our own decisions’, says Netanyahu after Cameron pushed for de-escalation

Benjamin Netanyahu has told Lord Cameron “we make our own decisions” after the Foreign Secretary pushed for de-escalation during a visit to Israel.

Mr Netanyahu said he appreciates “all kinds of suggestions and advice” from the UK and Germany after the visit, but added  “we will make our own decisions, and the State of Israel will do everything necessary to defend itself.”

World leaders spent four days urging Mr Netanyahu to show restraint in planning its retaliation against Iran which launched a drone and missile barrage against Israel on Saturday.

The foreign office said Lord Cameron pushed for “de-escalation” during talks with Mr Netanyahu.

Following his trip to Israel, Lord Cameron said: “It’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act. We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible.”

Earlier on Wednesday, the Iranian president said that the slightest aggression by Israel on Iran’s soil would trigger a “fierce and severe response”.

02:30 PM BST

EU chief demands ‘European awakening’ on defence amid Iran threat

Europe must take the “next leap forward” on defence as it faces threats from an axis of authoritarian powers from Moscow to Tehran, Ursula von der Leyen has said.

“The world is as dangerous as it has been for generations and Europe is in the middle of it,” the European Commission president told a conference in Brussels.

Ms Von der Leyen pointed to a “new league of authoritarians” including Russia, Iran and North Korea that was looking to “stretch our democracies to breaking point”.

“This is why it is time for the European awakening on defence and security,” she said.

02:19 PM BST

Hezbollah strike wounds 14

At least 14 people were wounded in a village in northern Israel after a Hezbollah drone and missile attack, a local hospital has said.

“Fourteen wounded people have been evacuated from Arab al-Aramshe village on the northern border, including two who are seriously wounded,” the Galilee Medical Centre said in a statement.

02:02 PM BST

Iran warns even ‘tiniest’ invasion would bring ‘massive’ response

Iran has warned that even the “tiniest” invasion of its territory would bring a “massive and harsh” response, as Israel weighs retaliation.

Tehran’s threat came as Israel reportedly made a decision on how to respond to the Iranian drone and ballistic missile attack on Saturday.

Speaking during a military parade, Ebrahim Raisi, Iran’s president, said that Saturday’s attack was a limited one, and that if Iran had wanted to carry out a bigger attack, “nothing would remain from the Zionist regime.”

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi flanked by Iranian IRGC and army generals – Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi flanked by Iranian IRGC and army generals

Mr Raisi also praised Operation Honest Promise, saying it “brought down the glory of the Zionist regime” and “showed that our armed forces are ready”.

Israel, meanwhile, has vowed “a response” to the attack, and military spokesman Daniel Hagari has stressed that Iran would not get off “scot-free”.

World leaders have urged both sides to show restraint, fearing a wider outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.

01:44 PM BST

German foreign minister: Middle East cannot slide into unpredictable situation

Annalena Baerbock, the German foreign minister, said she made clear during talks in Israel with Benjamin Netanyahu that the Middle East must not be allowed to slide into a situation whose outcome is completely unpredictable.

“Everyone must now act prudently and responsibly,” said Ms Baerbock before departing Israel on Wednesday for a Group of Seven (G7) meeting that she said would discuss Iran sanctions.

01:20 PM BST

SNP says best form of aid for Gaza to end supply of arms to Israel

The best form of humanitarian aid for Palestinians would be to end the UK’s supply of arms to Israel, the SNP said.

Brendan O’Hara, the SNP foreign affairs spokesman, told the Commons: “The elephant in the room is export arms, export licences. And for how much longer is the UK going to send humanitarian aid to Gaza while simultaneously licensing weapon sales to Israel?

“And wouldn’t the best form of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza be to end supplying Israel with the weapons that will kill them?”

Foreign Office minister David Rutley replied: “The latest assessment carried out by the Foreign Secretary leaves our position on export licences unchanged, this is consistent with the advice ministers have received and we’ll continue to keep this position under review.”

01:03 PM BST

Hamas leader will visit Turkey this weekend

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erodgan said he will host the leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, in Turkey this weekend.

“The leader of the Palestinian cause will be my guest this weekend,” Erdogan, an outspoken critic of Israel, told lawmakers.

12:43 PM BST

Cameron to meet prime minister of Palestinian Authority

Lord Cameron is also set to meet with the newly appointed prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, Dr Mohammad Mustafa, to reiterate his support for the new Palestinian Authority government and the Palestinian people.

In the West Bank, record numbers of Palestinians have been killed by settlers and Israeli forces while the economy grinds to a halt due to Israeli restrictions.

The FCDO said the UK remains committed to providing support to the Palestinian Authority as they take steps on reform, including setting out a pathway to democratic progress.

12:40 PM BST

Hezbollah says it has launched missiles at Israel base

Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it has launched missiles and drones on an Israeli military facility in Arab al-Aramshe in response to the Israeli killing of Hezbollah members and commanders in Lebanon.

12:38 PM BST

Cameron: ‘We need to see a pause in the fighting’

Lord Cameron will also use his meetings with Israeli officials – including the prime minister, president and foreign minister – to call for an immediate pause in the fighting in Gaza.

“More than six months have passed since Hamas’ brutal terror attack on innocent civilians. I’m here to focus back the eyes of the world onto the hostage situation,” Lord Cameron said.

“192 days those people have been held Hamas should release them now and there is a good deal for them on the table. We need to see a pause in the fighting to get aid in and hostages out.”

The Foreign Secretary will also strongly press Israel to open Ashdod Port for aid deliveries, as Israel had promised to do, so that thousands of tonnes of aid can be delivered, the foreign office said.

12:19 PM BST

Cameron: Israel has made a decision to respond to Iran attack

Israel has made a decision to respond to the Iranian drone and ballistic missile attack, Lord Cameron has said during a visit to Israel.

“It’s clear the Israelis are making a decision to act,” said Lord Cameron. “We hope they do so in a way that does as little to escalate this as possible.”

The Government has previously called for restraint following the attack, with Lord Cameron urging Israel to be “smart as well as tough” by not escalating the conflict.

Britain wanted to see coordinated sanctions against Iran, Lord Cameron added on Wednesday. “They need to be given a clear unequivocal message by the G7,” he said.

The United States said earlier that it would impose new sanctions on Iran to disrupt its “malign and destabilising activity”.

Isaac Herzog, Israel’s president, thanked Lord Cameron for his visit, saying: “I appreciate our warm discussion together this morning in Jerusalem.” He added that Israel is “unequivocal” in its commitment to defending its people.

11:19 AM BST

Qatar says Gaza ceasefire talks at ‘delicate phase’

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Qatari prime minister and foreign minister, said that talks on a Gaza ceasefire and a release of hostages are at a “delicate phase”.

“We are trying as much as possible to address this stumbling block,” he added, without giving further details.

11:14 AM BST

Pictured: Airstrike on buildings in southern Lebanon

A Lebanese man checks a destroyed house that was hit by an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging fire since a day after the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct 7 – Mohammed Zaatari/AP

Rubble from an Israeli airstrike in Alma al-Shaab, a Lebanese border village with Israel – AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari

An Israeli army position is seen from Lebanon – AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari

11:05 AM BST

Kremlin urges de-escalation between Iran and Israel

Russia is in dialogue with both Iran and Israel and urged the need for de-escalation in the Middle East, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said on Wednesday.

Mr Peskov said that Russia continues to have close contacts with Iran and also has constructive contacts with Israel.

When asked if Tehran had warned Russia ahead of time about the strikes on Israel, Mr Peskov said he had nothing to say on the matter.

10:49 AM BST

UK aviation regulator monitoring Middle East ‘very closely’

The UK’s aviation regulator said it is monitoring the conflict in the Middle East “very closely”.

Sir Stephen Hillier, the Civil Aviation Authority chairman, told MPs that the CAA is working to ensure “we don’t put anybody at risk”.

Many flights were diverted due to Iran’s missile and drone barrage aimed at Israel on Saturday night.

EasyJet announced on Tuesday that it has extended its suspension of flights to and from Israel until at least late October.

Asked by the Commons Transport Select Committee if he had concerns about flight safety in the region, Sir Stephen said that the system “essentially worked as it should do”. “Notams (Notices to Airmen) were issued to avoid the airspace. Aircraft were rerouted to avoid that airspace. On occasions aircraft were diverted to different locations to avoid landing in those areas,” he said.

“That caused clearly some disruption for passengers but, in the context of protecting passenger safety and the safety of the operation, then clearly that was the priority,” he added. “It’s a situation that we must continue to monitor very closely both as the Civil Aviation Authority working extremely closely with the Department for Transport, who are essentially the lead in this area.”

10:43 AM BST

ICYMI: Israeli strike kills senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon

10:34 AM BST

Analysis: Will Israel retaliate?

There is no doubt that Israel will respond to Iran’s attack, but the question remains when and where. Israel is under pressure to show restraint and prevent a regional war – which the US would most likely be dragged into.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is currently deliberating whether to take advantage of the support Israel is enjoying and use it to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities – something he has wanted to do for well over a decade.

Such an attack, however, would not be able to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities all together, but rather signal to Iran that it should not strike Israel again. But, Israel needs US military support to destroy Iran’s underground facilities, and that is something that Joe Biden, the US president, would not agree to in the middle of the election.

Israel is also enjoying the anxiety in Iran over a looming attack, and considers it pay-back for Iran’s two weeks of threats. The uncertainty has led the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to evacuate its facilities in Syria, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The best-case scenario for Israel would be to choose a middle ground, such as attacking military installations inside Iran and leaving no casualties. This would both show strength and determination, and be acceptable for Israel’s allies.

With Iran vowing to respond to any Israeli attack, however, Tehran has backed itself into a corner. If Israel is to believe Iran, it might as well attack strategic and important targets, rather than proxies, which it’s already doing almost every day.

10:19 AM BST

Iran president to visit Pakistan ‘very soon’

Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi will visit Pakistan “very soon”, prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has said, as the Muslim neighbours look to mend ties after January’s tit-for-tat missile strikes at what they said were militant targets.

The strikes had fed concern about wider regional instability after the war between Israel and Hamas erupted on Oct 7.

News of the visit comes as the United States and its allies plan fresh sanctions against Iran for its unprecedented attack on Israel on Saturday, while seeking to deter the latter from a major escalation.

09:59 AM BST

Health ministry in Gaza says war death toll at 33,899

At least 33,899 people have been killed in Gaza during more than six months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants, according to the Hamas-led health ministry.

The toll includes at least 56 deaths over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 76,664 people have been wounded in the Gaza Strip since the war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct 7.

09:45 AM BST

Crew of ship seized by Iran are safe

The 25 crew members of the MSC Aries, which was seized by Iran on April 13, are safe, the shipping firm has said, adding that discussions with Iranian authorities are in progress to secure their earliest release.

“We are also working with the Iranian authorities to have the cargo discharged,” the company said in a news release.

Portugal’s foreign ministry summoned Iran’s ambassador on Tuesday to demand the immediate release of the Portuguese-flagged container ship.

MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

09:35 AM BST

Iran hails ‘success’ of attack on Israel during military parade

Iran celebrated the “success” of its weekend drone and missile attack on Israel as it staged an annual military parade on Wednesday.

Iranian army members march during Army Day parade at a military base in northern Tehran – AP Photo/Vahid Salem

The operation called Honest Promise “brought down the glory of the Zionist regime”, president Ebrahim Raisi said at a military base on the outskirts of Tehran.

“This operation showed that our armed forces are ready,” he said in a speech addressed to the regular army and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

09:25 AM BST

Cameron: More can and should be done to sanction Iran

More can and should be done to sanction Iran following its attack on Israel, Lord Cameron has said.

Speaking during a trip to Israel, the Foreign Secretary told broadcasters: “We want to see coordinated sanctions against Iran.”

Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president, and Lord David Cameron meet in Jerusalem – X account of Isaac Herzog

“Britain has in many ways led the way with our new sanctions regime, sanctioning dozens of people in Iran, sanctioning the IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] in its entirety, and I think there is more that we can do to show a united front, that Iran is behind so much of the malign activity in this region, backing Hamas, backing Hezbollah, backing the Houthis,” he added.

“They need to be given a clear and unequivocal message by the G7 and I hope that will happen at the weekend.”

09:19 AM BST

Iran president warns Israel against retaliation

The Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi has said that the slightest aggression by Israel on Iran’s soil would trigger a “fierce and swift response”.

The president made the statement during a parade for Iran’s national army day, which was not broadcast live on state TV as it has been in the past.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi attends a military parade marking the country’s annual army day in Tehran on April 17 – ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images

“The army stands by the nation and acts to defend the homeland, territorial integrity, and the values of the Islamic Revolution,” Mr Raisi said, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.

Al Jazeera reported that he then said that there is no need for a foreign troop presence in the region, as countries in the Middle East are able to defend themselves.

08:39 AM BST

Iran navy escorting Iranian commercial ships to the Red Sea

Iran’s navy is escorting Iranian commercial ships to the Red Sea, Naval Commander Shahram Irani said on Wednesday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The move follows the first-ever direct Iranian attack on Israel, carried out in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Damascus.

Iran is bracing for a possible Israeli retaliation, with Israel’s war cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss a response.

“The Navy is carrying out a mission to escort Iranian commercial ships to the Red Sea and our Jamaran frigate is present in the Gulf of Aden in this view,” Irani said.

Tehran was ready to escort vessels of other countries, he added.

The Red Sea has seen significant disruption to Israel-bound shipping due to attacks from Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.

On April 13, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized the MSC Aries, a Portuguese-flagged container ship which Tehran says is linked to Israel.

08:32 AM BST

US envoy to UN does not see UN resolution on Palestine leading to two-state solution

The US ambassador to the United Nations has said that she did not see a draft UN resolution by the Palestinian Authority recommending it become a full member helping lead to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield made the comments at a news conference in Seoul, after being asked whether the United States was open to recognize the request by the Palestinian Authority to have full UN membership.

It comes after a United Nations Security Council committee considering an application by the Palestinian Authority to become a full UN member “was unable to make a unanimous recommendation” on whether it met the criteria, according to the committee report seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

The Palestinian Authority is still expected to push the 15-member Security Council to vote – as early as Thursday. Security Council member Algeria circulated a draft text late on Tuesday.

Such membership would effectively recognize a Palestinian state. The Palestinians are currently a non-member observer state, a de facto recognition of statehood that was granted by the 193-member UN General Assembly in 2012.

But an application to become a full UN member needs to be approved by the Security Council, where Israel ally the United States can block it, and then at least two-thirds of the General Assembly.

08:13 AM BST

Pictures from Gaza following Israeli bombardment

Palestinian children check a building destroyed by Israeli bombardment overnight – MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images

A Palestinian man hugs the feet of a victim of Israeli bombardment in Maghazi – AFP via Getty Images

Smoke engulfs the Al-Dara neighbourhood after Israeli bombardment – AFP via Getty Images

Palestinians check the rubble of a building after Israeli bombardment at Al-Dara – AFP via Getty Images

08:02 AM BST

US to impose new sanctions on Iran as tensions escalate

The United States will impose new sanctions on Iran to disrupt its “malign and destabilising activity”, the national security adviser has said.

Jake Sullivan said: “In the coming days, the United States will impose new sanctions targeting Iran, including its missile and drone program as well as new sanctions against entities supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] and Iran’s Defense Ministry.

“We anticipate that our allies and partners will soon be following with their own sanctions.”

The EU, meanwhile, said it is still working on new sanctions. Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, said some member states had asked for sanctions against Iran to be expanded and added that he would send a request to “start the necessary work”.

The Knesset has urged its allies to sanction Tehran’s missile programme after Iran launched more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel on Saturday from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Tehran said the attack was in retaliation of a presumed Israeli air strike on its consulate in which 13 people were killed.

08:01 AM BST

Cameron in Jerusalem

Lord Cameron has met with Israel’s president in Jerusalem for talks following Iran’s attack over the weekend.

Isaac Herzog thanked Lord Cameron for his visit on social media, saying: “I appreciate our warm discussion together this morning in Jerusalem.” He added that Israel is “unequivocal” in its commitment to defending its people.

07:48 AM BST

Israel’s sense of reason has been replaced by revenge, says Irish prime minister

Ireland’s prime minister has said that Israel’s sense of reason has been “replaced by revenge”.

In an interview with CNN, Simon Harris hit back at recent criticisms from Israel, accusing the country of being “on the wrong side of history” when it comes to the war in Gaza.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said ‘reason has been replaced by revenge’ in Israel – Niall Carson/PA Wire

“Excuse me for finding it a little bit hard to see where the representative of the [Benjamin] Netanyahu government is talking about being on the wrong side because I think the actions of the Netanyahu government right now, in terms of allowing this humanitarian catastrophe to unfold in Gaza, and the impact on women, children, civilians and civilian infrastructure is profound,” Mr Harris said.

The newly-appointed Taoiseach added: “Ireland is extraordinarily clear in its condemnation of Hamas… and of the right of Israel to be able to live in safety and security. But we also believe that reason has now been replaced by revenge.”

07:32 AM BST

Ceasefire is necessary, says Italy

The Italian foreign minister has called on Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza, reiterating that it was time for a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.

Italy initially backed Israel’s actions following the Oct 7 attack by Hamas on its southern territories, but more recently it has softened its support in the light of the thousands of civilian deaths.

In an interview with daily La Stampa, Antonio Tajani stressed that the war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’s “barbaric” assault.

He added: “However, now a ceasefire is necessary. Israel must stop the military operations that have massively affected the Palestinian population.”

07:29 AM BST

Saudis and UAE call for ‘self-restraint’ as Israel-Iran tensions boil

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates called for maximum “self-restraint” in the Middle East to spare the region “from the dangers of war and its dire consequences”, in an unusually frank joint statement Wednesday.

The comments, reported by Bloomberg, came after a call between Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE president, as tensions escalate following Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel on Saturday night.

Israel is weighing a response to the attack. Tehran said it was retaliating against an Israeli airstrike on its consulate in Damascus earlier this month that killed some of its top commanders there.

The UAE has formal diplomatic relations with Israel, while Saudi Arabia had been in US-backed talks over the normalisation of ties, though those have been complicated by the war in Gaza.

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