Iraq’s Islamic Resistance launches drone attack on Israeli base

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has launched a drone attack on an Israeli military observation base, the pro-Iranian group said.

The group said the target was located “in occupied Palestine” but did not elaborate.

It comes a day after the Islamic Resistance said it had attacked a location in the Israeli-occupied Jordan Valley.

The Israeli military said interceptors were launched towards an unmanned aerial vehicle that had been launched from Iraq and was identified crossing into Israeli territory from Syria.

Iraqi Shi’ite armed factions, like other pro-Iranian groups, have pledged to carry out attacks in solidarity with Palestinians.

The drone attacks come after a week of rising tensions in the Middle East, with Israel and Lebanon exchanging fire.

Warnings were sounded by the Lebanese ambassador to the UK, Rami Mortada, that the region was on “the brink of an all-out war”.

Israeli strike kills four children in Gaza

There has been a lot of focus this morning on Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon as it seeks to wipe out Hezbollah targets – although civilians have also been warned they could also be in danger.

But in Gaza the deadly war trudges on, where two strikes by Israeli forces this morning have killed at least 10 Palestinians, according to Reuters.

Medics told the agency a woman and four children died in one attack on a house in the city of Deir Al-Balah.

There was no immediate Israeli army comment on the incident. 

Displaced Gazans living in tents are also now having to contend with flooding – on top of the lack of food and medicine – as the first rains of the cool season have arrived.

Already 50 killed and 300 injured in Israeli attacks in Lebanon

Israel has escalated airstrikes on Lebanon today, after it exchanged fire with Hezbollah yesterday. 

Lebanon’s health ministry has just announced that the strikes have killed 50 people and injured 300, including women and children.

The militant group Hezbollah also says it has launched scores of rockets today at different military posts inside Israel.

Air-raid sirens have been sounding in northern Israel, warning of incoming rocket fire from Lebanon.

‘More than 80,000 suspected Israeli call attempts’

There have been more than 80,000 suspected Israeli call attempts asking people to evacuate certain areas of Lebanon today, the head of local telecoms operator Ogero has said.

Imad Kreidieh called the communications “psychological warfare to make havoc and chaos”.

The messages urging civilians to vacate areas potentially close to Hezbollah sites echo similar warnings made by the Israeli military earlier.

However, it has not been confirmed who orchestrated the phone calls.

Netanyahu: Israel is changing ‘security balance’ on northern border

Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is “changing the security balance” in the north of the country.

Speaking at a military headquarters in Tel Aviv, the Israeli prime minister says his country faces “complicated days” as it steps up its strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

“I promised that we would change the security balance, the balance of power in the north – that is exactly what we are doing,” he says.

Mr Netanyahu also calls on Israelis to stay united as the campaign unfolds.