Tashkent (Uzbekistan): In a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral ties between India and Uzbekistan, General Manoj Pande, the Chief of the Army Staff, inaugurated a high-tech IT Laboratory at the Uzbek Academy of Armed Forces The Army Chief is in Uzbekistan on a visit from April 15-18. This development marks a milestone in the defence cooperation between the two nations, following a commitment made during the Defence Ministers' meeting in September 2018. The request to establish an IT Lab was initially made during this high-level discussion, and the project gained momentum with approval in 2019, funded through the Ministry of External Affairs' 'c' initiative. It has been learnt that the bids exceeded the envisaged budget of Rs 6.5 crore. Therefore, a sum of Rs 8.5 crore was allotted for the project. An Indian firm won the contract, made the lab fully operational well in time. The IT Laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including nine rooms which house two lecture halls, a cutting edge Cybersecurity Lab, a Hardware Programming Lab, an Object-Oriented Programming Lab, a Web Programming Lab, a Server Room, a Multimedia Room, and a Virtual Reality Room. Additional facilities include video conferencing terminals, interactive panels, networking devices, and an assortment of computing equipment comprising large number of high end PCs, workstations and laptops, alongside essential peripherals like printers, cameras, scanners, and storage devices. This collaborative initiative is not just a leap in technological advancement for Uzbekistan's defence academy but also a bridge reinforcing the expanding partnership between the two nations, promising a future of cooperation in defence and technology. The establishment of the IT lab is expected to enrich the training resources available to Uzbek armed forces and foster a deeper understanding and cooperation between India and Uzbekistan in the years to come. —ANI

In a significant step forward in strengthening bilateral ties between India and Uzbekistan, General Manoj Pande

India-Uzbekistan Defence Collaboration: General Manoj Pande Inaugurates State-Of-The-Art IT Lab

Lahore [Pakistan]: One of the accused in the brutal killing of Indian national Sarabjit Singh in Kot Lakhpat jail in 2013 was seriously injured after an unidentified motorcyclist opened fire on him, Pakistan-based Samaa TV reported on Sunday. Aamir Tamba was seriously injured in the attack that took place in Lahore's Islampura area.
Police said Tamba was taken to the hospital for treatment as forces rushed to the site of the incident. The police cordoned off the area to conduct searches to find the assailants, according to Samaa TV report. Sarabjit Singh was a farmer from Bhikhiwind town in Punjab, who used to live near the India-Pakistan border, and who mistakenly crossed the border while he was drunk. However, he was sentenced to death by a Pakistani court in 1991. Singh was kept in the Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore for 22 years and after that, he was beaten up by his inmates and was taken to hospital. Singh was declared dead by doctors at Lahore's Jinnah Hospital after being comatose for five days due to severe injuries in the head after an attack on him on the jail premises in 2013.
In December 2018, the Lahore District and Sessions Court acquitted Tamba and co-accused Mudassar of all charges in the case of Sarabjit Singh in captivity, according to Samaa TV report. The court mentioned a lack of evidence as a reason for the acquittal of Tamba and Mudassar.
—ANI

A key figure in the 2013 killing of Indian national Sarabjit Singh was wounded in a Lahore shooting, reigniting cross-border legal and diplomatic controversies.

Pakistan: Sarabjit Singh's killer seriously injured in shooting in Lahore

Dubai: Iran notified its neighbours of its retaliatory strikes on Israel 72 hours in advance, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Sunday.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/netanyahu-vows-victory-after-iran-strikes-as-israel-airspace-reopens-fears-of-wider-conflict-grow" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/netanyahu-vows-victory-after-iran-strikes-as-israel-airspace-reopens-fears-of-wider-conflict-grow</a>&nbsp;
"About 72 hours prior to our operations, we informed our friends and neighbours in the region that Iran's response against Israel was certain, legitimate, and irrevocable," Amirabdollahian said at a press conference.
—Reuters

Iran pre-informs neighbors about definitive and justified retaliatory strikes against Israel, states Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian.

Iran says neighbours notified of attacks on Israel 72 hours in advance

Jerusalem/Dubai/Washington: Iran warned Israel and the United States on Sunday of a "much larger response" if there is any retaliation for its mass drone and missile attack on Israeli territory overnight, as Israel said "the campaign is not over yet".
The threat of open warfare erupting between the arch Middle East foes and dragging in the United States has put the region on edge as Washington said America did not seek conflict with Iran but would not hesitate to protect its forces and Israel.  Iran launched the attack over a suspected Israeli strike on its consulate in Syria on April 1 that killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders and followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran's regional allies, triggered by the war in Gaza.  However, the attack from hundreds of missiles and drones, mostly launched from inside Iran, caused only modest damage in Israel as most were shot down with the help of the US, Britain and Jordan.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/g7-leaders-to-discuss-iranian-attack-in-sunday-video-call" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/g7-leaders-to-discuss-iranian-attack-in-sunday-video-call</a>&nbsp;
An Air Force base in southern Israel was hit, but continued to operate as normal and a 7-year old child was seriously hurt by shrapnel. There were no other reports of serious damage.  "We intercepted, we repelled, together we shall win," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on social media ahead of a planned 1230 GMT meeting of the war cabinet to discuss a response to the attack.  Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said despite thwarting the attack, the military campaign was not over and "we must be prepared for every scenario".
Israel's Channel 12 TV cited an unnamed Israeli official overnight as saying there would be a "significant response" to the attack.  Global powers Russia, China and France, as well as Arab states Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates urged restraint.  The Islamic Republic's mission to the United Nations said its actions were aimed at punishing "Israeli crimes", but that it now "deemed the matter concluded".  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/israel-says-hamas-has-rejected-hostage-deal-proposal" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/israel-says-hamas-has-rejected-hostage-deal-proposal</a>&nbsp;
Iranian army chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri warned on television that "our response will be much larger than tonight's military action if Israel retaliates against Iran" and told Washington its bases could also be attacked if it helped Israel retaliate.  US President Joe Biden said he would convene a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven major economies on Sunday to coordinate a diplomatic response to what he called Iran's brazen attack.  US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said America did not seek conflict with Iran but would not hesitate to act to protect U.S. forces and support the defence of Israel.  The UN Security Council was set to meet at 4 pm ET (2000 GMT) on Sunday after Israel requested it condemn Iran's attack and designate the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organisation.
Escalation of hostilities  Analysts debated how far Iran's attack was calibrated to cause genuine devastation in Israel, or to save face at home after vows of revenge while avoiding a major new war.  "I think the Iranians took into consideration the fact that Israel has a very, very strong multi-layer anti-missile system and they probably took into consideration that there will not be too many casualties," said Sima Shine, a former senior Mossad official at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.  But if Iran was hoping for a muted response, like with its missile attacks on US forces in Iraq after the killing of Guards commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, she warned "I don't think Israel sees it this way".  On Saturday Iran's Revolutionary Guards seized an Israel-linked cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes, underscoring the risks to the world economy of a wider conflict.  Some fights were suspended in countries across the region and share prices fell in stock markets in Israel and Gulf states.  The war in Gaza, which Israel invaded after an attack by Iran-backed Hamas on Oct. 7, has ratcheted up tensions in the region, spreading to fronts with Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/us-intercepted-dozens-of-iranian-missiles-bound-for-israel:-us-officials" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/us-intercepted-dozens-of-iranian-missiles-bound-for-israel:-us-officials</a>&nbsp;
Iran's most powerful ally in the region, the Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah - which has been exchanging fire with Israel since the Gaza war began - said early on Sunday it had fired rockets at an Israeli base.  Drones were also reportedly launched against Israel by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group, which has attacked shipping lanes in and around the Red Sea to show solidarity with Hamas, British maritime security company Ambrey said in a statement.  Iran's Fars news agency quoted a source as saying Tehran was closely watching Jordan, which might become the next target in case of any moves in support of Israel.  The Oct 7 attack in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and 253 taken hostage, along with internal discontent with the government and international pressure over the war in Gaza, form the backdrop to Netanyahu's decisions over a response.  The Israeli prime minister has for years advocated a tough military line against Iran, pushing the United States for harder action over Tehran's nuclear programme and its backing for Hezbollah, Hamas and other groups in the region.  In Jerusalem on Sunday, Israelis described their fear during the attack, when sirens wailed and the night sky was shaken by blasts, but differed on how the country should respond.  "I think we've been given license to respond now. I mean it was a major attack from Iran... I imagine Israel will respond and may be over quickly and get back to normal life," said Jeremy Smith, 60.  In Iran, state television showed small gatherings in several cities celebrating the attack, but in private some Iranians were worried about Israel's response.  "Iran gave Netanyahu a golden opportunity to attack our country. But we, the people of Iran, will bear the brunt of this conflict," said Shima, a 29-year-old nurse, from Tehran.
—Reuters

Iran warns of 'larger response' to Israeli or US retaliation after drone and missile attack. Global powers urge restraint amidst Middle East tensions.

Israel vows victory and Iran warns against retaliation after attack

Jakarta: At least 14 people have been killed in landslides on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the country's disaster mitigation agency said on Sunday, with rescue efforts ongoing for those reported missing.
Landslides triggered by high-intensity rains affected two villages in the region of Tana Toraja, in South Sulawesi, killing 14 people and destroying four homes, Abdul Muhari, the spokesperson for the agency said in a statement.  Search and rescue efforts for missing residents are continuing, he said, without providing details about how many were unaccounted for. Local media has reported that at least two people are missing.
Photos of affected villages provided by the agency showed rescuers trawling through the rubble for survivors, with homes flattened and reduced to planks of wood and concrete.  Emergency response efforts have been complicated by poor weather conditions and damage to roads into the affected areas, making it difficult for vehicles, including ambulances to evacuate victims, the agency's spokesperson said.  Located in the centre of Sulawesi island, the mountainous region of Tana Toraja is about 300 kilometres (186 miles) from the provincial capital, Makassar.  Floods and landslides killed at least 26 people on Indonesia's Sumatra island last month, with torrential rains destroying hundreds of homes, and displacing thousands.  Indonesia's rainy season began in January with the meteorological agency forecasting a first-quarter peak, particularly on the islands of Java and Sumatra.
—Reuters

Landslides in Sulawesi, Indonesia kill 14, with rescue efforts ongoing. Tragic disaster strikes Tana Toraja region amid challenging weather conditions.

Landslides kill 14 on Indonesia's Sulawesi island

Tel Aviv: The Indian mission in Israel on Sunday issued a fresh 'important advisory' for its nationals after attacks on the Jewish State by Iran with hundreds of projectiles, advising them to stay calm and adhere to safety protocols.
In an unprecedented attack, Iran and its proxies launched 330 missiles and drones on Israel on Saturday in retaliation to an alleged attack by Israel on a diplomatic installation of the Islamic Republic in Damascus in which several people were killed, including two top commanders.  "In light of the recent events in the region, all Indian nationals in Israel are advised to stay calm and adhere to the safety protocols issued by the local authorities," the Indian mission said in the 'important advisory' posted on its social media handles.  "The Embassy is closely monitoring the situation and it is in touch with the Israeli authorities and Indian community members to ensure the safety of all our nationals," it added.  It also urged Indian nationals to register with the embassy at a given link.  The Indian embassy had also issued an advisory on Friday amid growing speculation of a retaliatory attack by Iran advising its nationals to 'avoid unnecessary travel, remain calm and follow safety guidelines issued by the local authorities'.
It was the first time that the Islamic Republic launched an attack on the Jewish State from its own soil.  Despite the barrage of projectiles fired on Israel, none of the countries have taken any steps so far to evacuate their nationals, even though some of them, including the United States, have issued advisories.

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Schools and other educational institutions in Israel have suspended their activities till Monday but government offices and private businesses largely are functioning as usual with the government instructing all to follow guidelines being issued by the Home Front.  Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson said that 99 per cent of the roughly 330 missiles and drones launched by Iran were intercepted, but that 'the threat is not over'.  Iran has warned Israel of a larger attack on its territory should it retaliate, adding that US bases would be targeted if Washington backs any Israeli military action against Iran.  The United States, France, Britain and Jordan are said to have helped intercept the projectiles fired by Iran.
<a href="https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1779360614718099675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1779360614718099675%7Ctwgr%5Ee06af9deee777c9cf15c6b4a278e3223e045b7b2%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Findia%2Findian-mission-in-israel-issues-fresh-advisory-no-country-evacuating-its-nationals-so-far-following-iran-salvo-2977659" target="_self">https://twitter.com/netanyahu/status/1779360614718099675?</a>
"We intercepted, we stopped [the attack]. Together we will win," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a tweet on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.  Hamas called the Iranian attack a 'natural right'.  Iranian threat had led to worldwide diplomatic initiatives to thwart a possible further conflagration in the region already struggling with Israel's offensive in Gaza following a terror attack carried out by Hamas in its territory on October 7 and also regular exchange of fire between the Jewish state and Lebanese Shia faction Hezbollah, which joined the war in solidarity with Hamas.  Houthis, considered Iran's proxy in Yemen, and other factions seen as close to Tehran have also from time to time carried out attacks against Israel and assets of other countries that seem to be supportive of the Jewish state, disrupting international waters and global trade routes.  Some analysts believe that the United States, preparing for elections, will not be supportive of an Israeli retaliation as it can shake up the oil market and cause further economic turmoil that can adversely impact President Joe Biden's re-election bid.
—PTI

Indian nationals advised to stay calm amid Iran's attack on Israel. IDF intercepts 99% of projectiles. International diplomatic efforts ongoing.

Indian mission in Israel issues fresh advisory while no country evacuating its nationals so far

Jerusalem: Israeli airlines said that operations were returning to normal on Sunday after an overnight attack by Iranian missiles and drones closed the airspace and led to flight cancellations.
Israel reopened its airspace as of 7:30 am (0430 GMT) on Sunday, adding that flight schedules from Tel Aviv were expected to be affected and travelers should check flight times before going to Ben Gurion International Airport.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/g7-leaders-to-discuss-iranian-attack-in-sunday-video-call" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/g7-leaders-to-discuss-iranian-attack-in-sunday-video-call</a>&nbsp;
Flag carrier El Al said that it had resumed operations and was "working to stabilise the flight schedule as soon as possible".  "El Al will continue to operate as much as possible to preserve the air bridge to and from Israel," it said.
The airline had cancelled 15 flights to Europe, Dubai and Moscow scheduled for Sunday while flights that had taken off from Bangkok and Phuket were forced to return.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/israel-says-hamas-has-rejected-hostage-deal-proposal" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/israel-says-hamas-has-rejected-hostage-deal-proposal</a>&nbsp;
Smaller Israeli carrier Arkia said it was in the process of making adjustments to its flight schedule after initially postponing flights to Athens, Milan and Geneva.  According to the airports authority, most flights of foreign carriers have been delayed, including Sunday flights to London by Wizz Air, to New Delhi by Air India, to Madrid by Iberia and to Marseille by Air France.  El Al's flights to London, Frankfurt, Berlin, Bucharest, Athens, Paris and Rome and Ethiopian Airline's flight to Addis Ababa were able to take off.
—Reuters

Israeli airlines, including El Al, return to normal after closing airspace due to Iranian attacks. Check updated flight times for Ben Gurion Airport operations.

Flights from Israel resume after airspace reopened

Rome: Italy, which holds the rotating presidency of the G7, has called a video meeting of G7 leaders on Sunday to discuss Iran's attack on Israel late on Saturday.
The Iranian attack in response to a suspected Israeli air strike on Iran's embassy compound in Damascus on April 1 has raised the threat of a wider regional conflict.
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"We express our deep concern about a further destabilisation of the situation in the region and continue to work to avoid that," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on social media platform X.
<a href="https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/1779417659550900412?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1779417659550900412%7Ctwgr%5E74f4647e44a9c341f14925a1bb655da62cd1f943%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Fworld%2Fg7-leaders-to-discuss-iranian-attack-in-sunday-video-call-2977668" target="_self">https://twitter.com/GiorgiaMeloni/status/1779417659550900412?</a>
The G7 call will be held in the early afternoon European time, an Italian government statement said.  US President Joe Biden has pledged a coordinated G7 diplomatic response to the drone and missile attack, which he condemned, and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he hoped that the Israeli government shows restraint in its response.  Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/netanyahu-vows-victory-after-iran-strikes-as-israel-airspace-reopens-fears-of-wider-conflict-grow" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/netanyahu-vows-victory-after-iran-strikes-as-israel-airspace-reopens-fears-of-wider-conflict-grow</a>&nbsp;
"I hope that the Israeli government will adopt a cautious line. I hope that there will be no counterattack to the counterattack," Tajani told radio station RTL 102.5.  The G7 groups the United States, Canada, Italy, Britain, France, Germany and Japan. Its foreign ministers are scheduled to meet over April 17-19 on the Italian island of Capri.
—Reuters

G7 leaders, under Italy's presidency, urgently meet to discuss the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel following recent attacks.

G7 leaders to discuss Iranian attack in Sunday video call

Cairo: Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon have reopened their airspace on Sunday after closing it late on Saturday as Iran launched drone and missile attacks against Israel, the three countries said on Sunday.
Jordan's state TV said that the country had resumed air traffic operations, citing aviation authorities. The opening of its airspace came more than three hours earlier than scheduled.  Iraq's aviation authority said security risks had now been overcome.  Lebanon said its airport will resume its activities after the overnight closure, state TV reported.
Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday - its first direct attack on Israeli territory in a retaliatory strike that raises the threat of wider regional conflict.  Jordan, which lies between Iran and Israel, had readied air defences to intercept any drones or missiles that violated its territory, two regional security sources said.  US and British warplanes were involved in shooting down some Israel-bound drones over the Iraq-Syria border area, Israel's Channel 12 reported.
—Reuters

Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon resume flights after brief closures due to Iran's attacks on Israel. Regional tensions escalate with international military support.

Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon reopen airspace after Iran attacks

Jerusalem: Hamas has rejected the latest proposal for a deal to return Israeli hostages and Israel will continue to pursue its objectives in Gaza "with full force", Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
The statement said that the rejection of the proposals showed that Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, did not want a deal and was trying to exploit tensions with Iran and bring about a regional escalation of the conflict.
—Reuters

Hamas rejects Israeli hostage deal, Netanyahu vows Gaza action. Tensions rise with Iran. Latest in Middle East conflict.

Israel says Hamas has rejected hostage deal proposal

Karachi: A goods train carrying chemicals from the Iranian border town of Taftan to Pakistan has derailed in the restive Balochistan province, prompting authorities to suspend the rail operations between the two nations.
The accident happened on Saturday near the Tozgi station in Balochistan.  "The derailment took place around 70 kilometres from Taftan, and we are not ruling out a terrorist attack," Pakistan Railways spokesperson Amir Baloch said while speaking to the reporters.
The derailment of the cargo train carrying phosphorus and other chemicals from Iran to Pakistan caused significant damage to the locomotive, the staff rest coach and a few other wagons with the cargo.  The accident happened just a day after a gruesome terror attack on the Noshki highway in the province on Friday night when militants abducted 9 labourers from the Punjab province from a passenger bus and took them into the mountains before killing them in cold blood.  The labourers were identified by their national identity cards by the perpetrators before taking them and killing them. Two other people who were driving a private vehicle were also shot at and were killed on the highway.  The militants had also damaged a railway track near Noshki. Baloch said restoration work was yet to begin as the railway workers engineers were on standby after the area was cordoned off.
—PTI

A goods train derailment in Balochistan, Pakistan, raises concerns of terrorism. Phosphorus cargo spill adds to tensions. Updates on Iran-Pakistan rail link.

Goods train between Iran to Pakistan derails, rails operations suspended

As well as knocking down drones, the US military has also shot down dozens of Iranian missiles bound for Israel as part of its assistance in defending the close Middle East ally against attack, three U.S. official said late on Saturday.
Two of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some of the missiles were shot down by the US Navy.

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The US military assistance to Israel came as Iran launched explosive drones and fired missiles at Israel late on Saturday in its first direct attack on Israeli territory, a retaliatory strike that raised the threat of a wider regional conflict.
—Reuters

Amid Iran-Israel conflict escalation, US Navy intercepts Iranian missiles targeting Israel, aiding in Middle East ally defense. Get the latest updates.

US intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles bound for Israel: US officials

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by telephone on Saturday night, the White House said, after Iran launched a retaliatory drone and missile attack on Israel.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/netanyahu-vows-victory-after-iran-strikes-as-israel-airspace-reopens-fears-of-wider-conflict-grow" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/netanyahu-vows-victory-after-iran-strikes-as-israel-airspace-reopens-fears-of-wider-conflict-grow</a>&nbsp;
The White House said it would provide a summary of the call.
—Reuters

US President Joe Biden and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu discuss Iran's attack on Israel. White House to release summary of their call.

Joe Biden, Netanyahu speak by phone after Iran attack

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday his country would achieve victory after the military said it shot down almost all the more than 300 drones and missiles launched by Iran in a sharp escalation of the Middle East conflict.
Tehran's attacks late on Saturday, launched after a suspected Israeli air strike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1 that killed officers of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, raised the threat of a wider regional conflict.  Iran had relied on its proxies across the region to attack Israeli and US targets in a show of support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza war with Israel, which shows no sign of easing despite numerous mediations efforts.
"We intercepted, we repelled, together we shall win," Netanyahu posted on X.

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The Israeli military said the armed forces had shot down more than 99% of the Iranian drones and missiles and were discussing follow-up options.  Israel's Channel 12 TV cited an unnamed Israeli official as saying there would be a "significant response" to the attack.  The war in Gaza, which Israel invaded after an attack by Iran-backed Hamas on Oct. 7, has ratcheted up tensions in the region, spreading to fronts with Lebanon and Syria and drawing long-range fire at Israeli targets from as far away as Yemen and Iraq.  'Push toward escalation'  Iran's most powerful ally in the region, the Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah - which has been exchanging fire with Israel since the Gaza war began - said early on Sunday it had fired rockets at an Israeli base.  Drones were also reportedly launched against Israel by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group, which has attacked shipping lanes in an around the Red Sea to show solidarity with Hamas, British maritime security company Ambrey said in a statement.  Those clashes now threaten to morph into a direct open conflict pitting Iran and its regional allies against Israel and its main supporter, the United States. Regional power Egypt urged "utmost restraint".  Israel's chief military spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, called Iran's actions "very grave", telling a televised briefing they "push the region toward escalation".  Iran launched dozens of ground-to-ground missiles at Israel, including more than 10 cruise missiles, and most were intercepted outside Israeli borders, Hagari said.  The Iranian salvo caused light damage to one Israeli military facility, he said.  The Israeli military said it was not advising residents to prepare to take shelter, revising an earlier alert in an apparent signal of the end of the threat.  UN Security council to meet  Iran had vowed retaliation for what it called the Israeli strike on its embassy compound that killed seven Revolutionary Guard officers, including two senior commanders. Tehran said its strike was punishment for "Israeli crimes". Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the consulate attack.  "Should the Israeli regime make another mistake, Iran's response will be considerably more severe," the Iranian mission to the United Nations said, warning the US to "stay away". However, it also said Iran now "deemed the matter concluded".

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US President Joe Biden, who spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he would convene a meeting of leaders of the Group of Seven major economies on Sunday to coordinate a diplomatic response to what he called Iran's brazen attack.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said America did not seek conflict with Iran but would not hesitate to act to protect US forces and support defence of Israel.  The U.N. Security Council was set to meet at 4 pm ET (2000 GMT) on Sunday after Israel requested it condemn Iran's attack and designate the Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organisation.  Iran's Fars news agency quoted a source as saying Tehran was closely watching Jordan, which might become the next target is case of any moves in support of Israel.  Israel and Lebanon said they were closing their airspace on Saturday night. Israel reopened its airspace at 0430 GMT on Sunday, its airports authority said. Jordan, which lies between Iran and Israel, had readied air defences to intercept any drone or missile that violated its territory, two regional security sources said.  Residents in several Jordanian cities said they heard heavy aerial activity.  Syria, an ally of Iran, said it was putting its ground-to-air defence systems around the capital and major bases on high alert, army sources there said.  The European Union, Britain, Japan, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Mexico, the Netherlands and Norway condemned Iran's attack.
—Reuters

Netanyahu vows victory after Israel intercepts Iranian attacks, escalating Middle East tensions. Global leaders urge restraint as the conflict threatens wider regional involvement.

Netanyahu vows victory after Iran strikes as Israel airspace reopens, fears of wider conflict grow

Washington, DC [US]: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has stressed that the US does not seek conflict with Iran but will not hesitate to act to protect their forces and support Israel's defence. US Defense Secretary further highlighted that the US forces, at the direction of President Joe Biden, intercepted dozens of missiles and UAVs en route to Israel.
"At the direction of President Biden, U.S. forces in the Middle East on April 13 intercepted dozens of missiles and UAVs en route to Israel, launched from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Our forces remain postured to protect U.S. troops and partners in the region, provide further support for Israel's defense, and enhance regional stability," Austin said.
US Defense Secretary further condemned the "reckless and unprecedented attacks" by Iran and its proxies on Israel.  <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1779358455444161001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1779358455444161001%7Ctwgr%5Ed77165e1fd8ee5d34461194ccb991d047da30b8c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aninews.in%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Fus%2Fwe-do-not-seek-conflict-with-iran-but-will-not-hesitate-to-protect-american-israeli-forces-us-defense-secy20240414115736" target="_self">https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1779358455444161001?</a>
"We condemn these reckless and unprecedented attacks by Iran and its proxies, and we call on Iran to immediately halt any further attacks, including from its proxy forces, and to deescalate tensions," he said. US Defense Secretary Austin added, "We do not seek conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to act to protect our forces and support the defense of Israel."
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Moreover, Austin commended the bravery of US troops who stood guard to prevent further conflict or escalation. "I am grateful for the professionalism and the skill of the brave U.S. troops who took part in today's actions and who continue to stand guard to prevent further conflict or escalation. I will continue to monitor the situation closely and to consult with our allies and partners," he said. Earlier today, US President Joe Biden condemned Iran's attack on Israeli soil, adding that he will convene G7 leaders on Monday to coordinate a united diplomatic response. "Earlier today, Iran--and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq--launched an unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel. I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms," Biden said, according to the White House statement. US President Biden also held talks with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and reaffirmed the US's "ironclad" commitment to Israel's security. "I've just spoken with Prime Minister Netanyahu to reaffirm America's ironclad commitment to the security of Israel. I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks - sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel," he said.  Moreover, Biden reaffirmed that the US will be in close touch with Israeli leaders.
—ANI

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asserts US commitment to Israel's safety amid Iran's missile attacks, reinforcing peace and stability without seeking conflict.

"We do not seek conflict with Iran, but will not hesitate to protect American, Israeli forces': US Defense Secy

Tel Aviv: Israel, in a move to protect its citizens, has announced to close all schools and other educational systems, effective Sunday, as the country's defence forces remain on high alert following Iran hitting Israel with over 200 projectiles, the Jerusalem Post reported. Moreover, it further urged the Israeli civilians to be vigilant, to head to shelters upon hearing a warning siren, and to remain there for 10 minutes.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been on high alert for an attack from Iran, with dozens of planes in the sky prepared to defend the country. IDF Spokesperson Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari, in a video statement, said, "Starting tomorrow morning and during the next few days, none of the educational systems, camp programs, or planned trips will take place." No public events with more than 1,000 people can be held, the Home Front Command stated, reported the Jerusalem Post.
The statement also highlighted the growing sense of emergency due to the threats from Tehran following Israel's attack in Damascus on April 1, killing seven Iranian generals, according to the Jerusalem Post.
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"We are taking all steps possible to ensure your safety," Hagari told the Israeli public. Hagari reassued the Israeli citizens and said, "Since the start of the war, we have faced a variety of threats sent here by Iran's proxies and adapted our defense and attack systems accordingly," adding that the IDF was "fully prepared." "The air force's defense and attack formations are on alert and dozens of planes are in the sky. We are conducting a situational assessment with our strategic partners, led by the USA, and we are maintaining close coordination with them," he stated. Hagari spoke as Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a situational assessment with IDF Chief-of-Staff Herzl Halevi and other senior defense officials and the security. Gallant said the IDF was "closely monitoring a planned attack by Iran and its proxies against the State of Israel." "We have added new capabilities - on land, in the air, at sea, in our intelligence directorate, within the State of Israel, and together with our partners, led by the United States," he said. Iran, on late Saturday, attacked Israel with more than 200 projectiles, including dozens of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.
—ANI

Israel heightens security, closing schools and urging public caution as it faces over 200 Iranian projectiles. IDF on high alert, coordinating with US on defense strategy.

Israel closes schools, educational systems in wake of Iran's airstrikes

Dutch airline KLM will no longer fly over Israel and Iran, Dutch press agency ANP reported on Saturday, citing a KLM spokesperson.
KLM, the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM, said the move was a precaution, referring to the rising tensions between Iran and Israel, but added that it would continue flying to Tel Aviv, on Israel's Mediterranean coast.
—Reuters

KLM stops flights over Israel and Iran due to rising tensions, prioritizes safety; Tel Aviv flights to continue amid operational adjustments.

KLM will no longer fly over Israel and Iran

Tel Aviv: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy seized the Israel-linked MSC ARIES container ship near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, The Times of Israel reported, citing Iranian news agency. The ship in question was the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, a container ship owned by Zodiac Maritime, based in London. Zodiac Maritime is a division of Zodiac Group, owned by Israeli billionaire Eyal Ofer.
The MSC Aries was last seen on Friday, sailing towards the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Dubai, according to The Times of Israel. The ship is currently sailing through the Persian Gulf, according to ship tracking site, Marine Traffic. Tensions escalated between Iran and the West amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Amid fears of the ongoing hostilities in Gaza devolving into a larger Middle-Eastern conflict, US President Joe Biden said earlier today that he expects Iran to attack Israel 'sooner than later'. "I don't want to get into secure information but my expectation is sooner than later," Biden told reporters when asked how imminent an Iranian attack on Israel would be.

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As has been reported globally, Tehran vowed revenge after Israel launched airstrikes on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital, Damascus, taking out three top military generals. The US has been on high alert for a significant Iranian retaliatory attack on Israel in recent days, as fears grow of a wider regional war. There remains a "real, credible and viable" threat of Iran launching strikes, the White House said on Friday, following Israel's attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria last week, killing three Iranian generals. Biden, who warned this week that Iran was threatening a 'significant attack' on Israel, has been receiving constant updates on the situation from his national security team. The US and several other countries, including India, Britain and France, issued new travel guidelines for government employees in Israel as the Iranian threat loomed. "In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indians are advised not to travel to Iran or Israel until further notice. All those who are currently residing in Iran or Israel are requested to get in touch with Indian embassies there and register themselves," the Ministry of External Affairs stated in an official release.  "We're watching this very, very closely," said John Kirby, the US National Security Council spokesman, who declined to provide information about the expected timing of the threat.
—ANI

Iran seized a Portuguese-flagged ship linked to Israeli interests near the Strait of Hormuz, heightening Middle East tensions and international concern.

Iran seizes Israel-linked ship MCS ARIES near Strait of Hormuz

Yossi Levi is a member of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, whose exemption from compulsory military service is dividing Israel and threatens to topple its government. He is also a major in the infantry reserves of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
The long-standing military waiver for the ultra-Orthodox has sparked waves of protest in recent weeks by more secular Israelis, angry that they are shouldering the risk and drudgery of fighting the war in Gaza, now six months old. In city streets, ultra-Orthodox demonstrators have scuffled with combat veterans who sport khaki shirts and hoist national flags.  In fact, around 10% of the haredim, as the ultra-Orthodox are known, come forward voluntarily for the standard three years of military service, Levi said. Some go on to be officers, like him.  That amounts to just 1,200 ultra-Orthodox volunteers a year – a tiny number compared to an estimated 170,000 active soldiers and nearly 500,000 reservists in Israel. The IDF does not publish troop numbers.
But Levi, who runs the Netzah Yehuda organisation that encourages ultra-Orthodox enlistment, says attitudes are softening within some parts of the community towards military service amid the war. And that, he hopes, could be enough to ease the current crisis.  "We can double it and can triple it in one, two years, and we can see a lot of haredim and it's going to be enough for the IDF," said the 33-year-old at his Jerusalem headquarters, where one wall is adorned with pictures of fallen haredi soldiers. "They don't want all of the haredim."  Thousands of angry Israelis took to the streets last weekend – many of them military reservists - to call for the removal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government relies on ultra-Orthodox support for its survival.  Ultra-Orthodox political parties are deeply invested in keeping their constituents in seminaries and away from the IDF. They see in the military's brawn a distraction from the Torah and Talmud; in its gender mixing and other progressive facets, affronts to their conservative mores.  The exemption from conscription dates back to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, designed in part to rebuild rabbinical dynasties destroyed during the Holocaust. But it has attracted criticism as the ultra-Orthodox population has grown rapidly. The issue is coming to a head. As of April 1, state subsidies for draft-age men in seminaries have been suspended on the orders of the Supreme Court. The tribunal, however, granted Netanyahu's request for an extension until month's end to keep negotiating over a much-delayed blueprint for a fairer sharing of the burden of military service.  Two government officials briefed on the talks - who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the information - said that a doubling of the number of haredi voluneers, to 2,500 troops a year, with further increases thereafter, was among the ideas under discussion. One of the officials said the IDF was considering creating haredi border garrisons that would double as seminaries or assigning haredi soldiers to policing roles enabling regular home leave.  At present, most of the ultra-Orthodox volunteers serve in seven units tailored for their needs. They have all-male training staff, strictly kosher rations and lectures by rabbis.  The IDF declined to comment on the conscription debate, referring policy questions to the government. Netanyahu's office had no immediate response. The prime minister told reporters on March 29 that the thinking within the ultra-Orthodox community on conscription had come a long way.  "There is real desire here to reach agreement, and not a collision, at the height of a war and with victory just a short distance away," he said.  Reuters spoke to six serving officials, as well as three figures on opposite sides of the debate, who said the room for compromise is extremely narrow.  Many ultra-Orthodox say they will not accept forced conscription. "Better Dead than Drafted," read a placard at a recent protest.  "They (secular Israelis) don’t want us to be religious," said Yisrael Kaya, a haredi attending an anti-conscription protest in Jerusalem grouping a few dozen people. "Therefore, we prefer to die and not to go to the army.”  Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Israel's Sephardi chief chaplain and the spiritual mentor of ultra-Orthodox party Shas, warned the government in a March 9 sermon that haredim would move abroad rather than be forced into the army.  Rabbi Motke Bloy, an educator linked to another ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism (UTJ), said the vast majority of haredim remained opposed to compulsory IDF service.  "This is persecution for persecution's sake, with a strong whiff of political antagonism toward Bibi," he told Reuters, using Netanyahu's nickname. He said any attempt to impose a compulsory draft would fail: "Tens of thousands of Torah students would rather sit behind bars."  Cabinet divided  Keeping haredi recruitment voluntary may not satisfy the official tasked with expanding the ranks of an overstretched IDF: Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.  When a compromise bill, setting no quotas for haredi troops in the military nor criminal penalties for such quotas going unmet, leaked to Israeli media last month, Gallant announced that he and the military brass would not back it.  Gallant is being reinforced by two centrist members of Netanyahu's war cabinet, Benny Gantz and Gadi Eizenkot. Both are former top IDF generals who have also long demanded a comprehensive expansion of conscription and civilian national-service options for Israel's Arab minority, who, like haredim, are now exempted. "There is every indication that we're headed toward a rupture in the government," said an aide to one of the ministers who, like all six Israeli officials briefed on the closed-door conscription debate, spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity. All of the officials concurred the discussions were at an impasse, though only one went as far as suggesting that there could be a "rupture".  Gallant, Gantz and Eizenkot, like the UTJ and Shas, have not formally laid out their red lines. Nor have they indicated where gaps may be bridged in time. The ministers did not respond to a request for comment on the talks. With the end-month deadline looming, an anti-government protest group drawing on IDF veterans, Brothers in Arms, has staged marches in haredi neighbourhoods, leading to altercations with locals.  Asked about initiatives that might incentivize haredi joining the military, such as the creation of special border garrisons, a Brothers in Arms spokesperson said: "We will be in favour of any solution that entails the full enlistment of haredim society in the military or civilian national service."  Shortage of troops  While the IDF does not publish personnel numbers, it has made no secret of needing more troops.  Almost 3,800 have been killed or wounded in the war - a whole brigade's worth. "And we're short of several brigades beyond that," one official said.  With the conflict liable to last months and potentially spread to other fronts, many Israelis say their national cohesion hinges on broader and more equitable conscription.  The ultra-Orthodox are Israel’s fastest-growing minority. The black-coated haredim make up 13% of Israel's population and are due to reach 19% by 2035 given their high birth rates.  According to the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), an independent think tank based in Jerusalem, 66,000 ultra-Orthodox men could now be under arms but are not - a dizzying rise from the 400 scholars who were initially exempted at the country's founding.  The Jerusalem Post reported in late December that, out of a total of 20,000 Haredi reservists, about 7,000 had been operational during the Gaza war. An IDF spokesperson said those were not official figures and declined further comment.  Three of the six Israeli officials interviewed by Reuters said that dragooning haredim would be an untenable threat to delicate ties between synagogue and state. One quailed at the idea of military police chasing draft-dodgers through haredi districts.  Yair Lapid, a liberal ex-prime minister who now leads the parliamentary opposition, has suggested that a haredi draft should be enforced through withholding funds - rather than jail.  "If they don't get conscripted, they won't get money," he said told lawmakers from his secularist party on March 11.  Changing Haredi  Polls show that Israel's Jewish majority - haredim included - remains strongly supportive of the war, which was triggered by the Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Hamas militant group that controlled Gaza. Hamas fighters killed some 1,200 people in the lightning strike and seized 253 hostages, of whom 129 remain captive. Gaza's health ministry says more than 33,600 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli offensive in Gaza began.  Levi says haredi soldiers, whose uniforms once stirred hostility in their hometowns, were getting greater respect. "A lot of people there support the IDF much more. They feel that something is different," he said.  But Bloy, the educator, saw no such change due to the conflict. Those haredim more open to the IDF are motivated mostly by considerations pre-dating the war, such as economic factors, he said. The IDI has found a 34% poverty rate among haredim, compared to 21% overall in the population. Economists say that has been caused, in part, by many haredi men staying in seminaries - and out of the workforce.  Still, the haredi poverty rate is declining, having been at 44% as recently as 2019, the IDI said - a indicator of a dovetailing with mainstream society, which may be linked to military service.  "There's a shift taking place in the haredi world today. There is the open haredi, the new haredi," said Rabbi Karmi Gross, head of the Derech Haim seminary, where some students combine scientific with scriptural studies. Some then go on to serve in IDF technology units that equip them with a future profession.  In combat units, too, haredim were learning leadership skills that help them find civilian careers, Levi said.  Both he and Gross counselled against strong-handed enlistment tactics, saying haredim could be drawn in by incentives.  Levi recommended inducements aimed at haredi men less suited for long hours of scriptural studies: "If we want to be smart, we have to split between the haredim that are learning Torah all day in the yeshivot (seminaries) and the haredim that are not."  Marking a generational evolution, haredi soldiers who were once considered off-limits for marriage within their disapproving communities can now find like-minded wives through a match-making service offered by Netzah Yehuda.  In its first year of existence, the service has already produced dozens of couples, a spokesman for Netzah Yehuda said.  "After 20 years of work with the haredi society, we can see a lot of girls who want to meet soldiers," Levi said, referring to haredim who did army service and kept their community values. "They (the women who use the service) want that type of guy."  Gross said some haredi parents are wary of their daughters ending up the sole bread winner by marrying a seminary student - and that this has helped ease taboos against men's IDF service.  Yet few haredim inculcate reverence for the military, unlike in mainstream Israeli society, where children are often raised on their parents' or elder siblings' war lore.  That alienation from what is a core national institution prompted Bloy to warn against a "culture war" over the issue.  Shimi Schlesinger, a 25-year-old haredi seminary student, told Reuters he understood the anguish of more secular families who had lost their sons and daughters in the war.  "But honestly, we aren't able to serve in the military. Because, without Torah, a Jewish community would not exist," he said. "And I believe that Torah protects us even more than the military."
—Reuters

Explore the intense debate over IDF conscription exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel, which challenges government stability and sparks widespread protests.

Can Israel's ultra-Orthodox military volunteers help defuse the battle over conscription?

Jerusalem: For decades, Israel and Iran have fought a shadow war across the Middle East, trading attacks by land, sea, air and in cyberspace.
Iran has largely used foreign proxies to strike Israeli interests, while targeted assassinations of Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists have been a key part of Israel’s strategy.  Israel’s strike in the Syrian capital, Damascus, that killed three top Iranian commanders Monday was the most brazen attack in years, raising fears of a wider confrontation. That would be particularly dangerous in a region already in turmoil on multiple fronts, including Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip, cross-border skirmishes between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militia against Western interests in the Red Sea. An escalation between Israel and Iran would also risk further entangling the United States, given the presence of U.S. troops in the region.  Here are some key moments in the yearslong conflict.  January 2020: A Major Target  The assassination of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the foreign-facing arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, in a US drone strike in Baghdad was greeted with satisfaction in Israel.  Iran hit back by attacking two bases in Iraq that housed US troops with a barrage of missiles, injuring about 100 US military personnel.
US officials accused Soleimani of causing the deaths of hundreds of soldiers during the Iraq War. They also said that he was behind destabilizing Iranian activities throughout the Middle East and that he was accused of plotting attacks against US embassies and Israeli targets.  The general had built a network of allied militias to defend Iran’s interests across the Middle East and to counter the United States and Israel.  October 2023: Tit-for-Tat Strikes Before Oct. 7  Iran and Israel reportedly carried out a number of covert attacks and counterattacks in the years following Soleimani’s death.  Israel killed Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, in November 2021, and followed up with the assassination of a Revolutionary Guard commander, Col. Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, in May 2022.  In July 2021, an oil tanker managed by an Israeli-owned shipping company was attacked off the coast of Oman, killing two crew members, according to the company and three Israeli officials.  Two of the officials said the attack appeared to have been carried out by several Iranian drones that crashed into living quarters underneath the ship’s bridge. Iran did not explicitly claim or deny responsibility, but a state-owned TV channel described the attack on the ship as a response to an Israeli strike in Syria.  Once Israel’s bombardment of Gaza began after the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, Iranian-backed militias stepped up their attacks.  December 2023: Another High-Profile Killing  At the end of last year, Iran accused Israel of killing a high-level military figure, Brig. Gen. Seyed Razi Mousavi, in a missile strike outside Damascus. A senior adviser to the Revolutionary Guard, Mousavi was described as having been a close associate of Soleimani and was said to have helped oversee the shipment of arms to Hezbollah.  Israel, adopting its customary stance, declined to comment directly on whether it was behind Mousavi’s death.  January 2024: Back-and-Forth Attacks Ratchet Up  The Pentagon launched a drone strike in Baghdad that killed a senior figure in an Iran-linked militant group.  The attack came days after an explosion in a suburb of Beirut that killed Saleh Arouri, a Hamas leader, along with two commanders from that group’s armed wing. The blast was the first such assassination of a top Hamas official outside the West Bank and Gaza in recent years.  Officials from Hamas, Lebanon and the United States ascribed the attack to Israel, which did not publicly confirm involvement.
Arouri was the most senior Hamas figure to be killed since Israel vowed to destroy the organization after October 7.  Hezbollah, which receives major support from Iran, stepped up its assaults on Israel after Arouri’s death. Israel’s military hit back at Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing a number of the group’s commanders.  Later in January, Iran accused Israel of launching an airstrike on Damascus. A number of senior Iranian military figures were killed, including the head of intelligence in Syria for the overseas arm of the Revolutionary Guard and his deputy, according to the Iranian news media and an Israeli defense official.  Then, a drone strike by an Iran-backed militia killed three US service members and injured at least 34 others in Jordan. Ten days later, US forces launched a retaliatory drone strike in Baghdad that killed a senior militia leader that US officials blamed for the attacks on US personnel.  February 2024: Further Strikes by Israel  The United States’ retaliatory airstrikes against Iran-backed militias appeared to temper Iran’s actions.  Israel was blamed for a number of attacks in Syria and Lebanon. In February, Syrian state news media said Israel was behind an airstrike on a residential building in Damascus that killed two people.  The Israeli military declined to comment on that strike, though it has acknowledged hundreds of past strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria.  But the Israeli military did acknowledge a strike in southern Lebanon in February that it said killed a Hezbollah commander, and in March, it killed a senior Hamas operative in an airstrike also in southern Lebanon.  March 2024: A Tense Atmosphere  An Israeli drone strike targeted a car in southern Lebanon, killing at least one person. Israel’s military said it had killed the deputy commander of Hezbollah’s rocket and missile unit. Hezbollah acknowledged the death of a man, Ali Abdulhassan Naim, but did not provide further details.  The same day, airstrikes killed soldiers near Aleppo, in northern Syria, in what appeared to be one of the heaviest Israeli attacks in the country in years.
Those strikes killed 36 Syrian soldiers, seven Hezbollah fighters and a Syrian from a pro-Iran militia, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based group that tracks Syria’s civil war.  Israel’s military did not claim responsibility. However, the country’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, wrote on social media, “We will pursue Hezbollah every place it operates and we will expand the pressure and the pace of the attacks.”  Three days later, on Monday evening, Israeli warplanes struck the building in Damascus in the attack that killed the three top Iranian commanders.
—International New York Times

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