MEZIESBLOG

An Israeli strike has hit the north Lebanese majority-Christian region of Aitou for the first time in a year of hostilities, according to local media reports.

Lebanese media also said Israeli jets had struck several villages in the Baalbek district in the Bekaa Valley.

Israel has said it is targeting Hezbollah strongholds in the south of Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley in the east and the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut.

Israeli attack on Iran could have massive repercussions – and may help Trump’s election chances

A high noon is coming in Israel’s conflict with Iran, a ballistic missile showdown may be in the offing or perhaps something more asymmetrical and covert.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is deciding how to retaliate for Iran’s multiple rocket attack on 1 October this year.

But the plan is shrouded in secrecy. In a video address on Sunday morning, Mr Netanyahu warned his ministers: “Talk little, do a lot.”

Israel focusing plans to target military and energy infrastructure

Sources have told US news network NBC the Israelis are focusing on plans to target military and energy infrastructure. An attack on Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons programme is now thought to be unlikely.

A strike on Iran’s oil facilities could have massive repercussions far beyond the Middle East – both economic and political.

Iran has warned it would hit back by attacking installations across the gulf in the Emirates, which could lead to a sharp increase in the price of crude oil, potentially disastrous for the global economy.

Attack on Iran may help Trump’s chances

Higher oil prices could in turn lead to pump prices rising sharply in the US in the last weeks before the presidential election, potentially helping Donald Trump’s chances of re-election – an outcome Mr Netanyahu would welcome.

For now though, the Israelis are keeping the world guessing as to when and exactly how they will strike Iran. They may choose a less obvious option too.

Israel is thought to have deeply penetrated Iran with intelligence assets. A covert attack on its infrastructure or government is possible.

THAAD deployment may give clues about timing of strikes

One development may give clues as to timing. President Joe Biden announced on Sunday the US will send Israel another advanced anti-ballistic missile defence system, known as THAAD.

The system will give Israel invaluable added protection if Iran strikes back again. But its deployment has only just been announced, suggesting any Israeli operation may still be a few days away.

THAAD requires 95 soldiers to operate per battery. That means American boots on the ground in Israel for the first time in this war.

However frustrated the Biden administration may be with the Netanyahu government on a series of fronts, militarily it continues to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its ally.

Women and children killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza food distribution centre

At least 10 people have been killed and 30 injured in Israeli airstrikes on a food distribution centre in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Palestinian medics have said.

The casualties included women and children, the medics added.

Israeli forces pushed further into the Jabalia area over the last weekend. International relief agencies say thousands of people are trapped in the refugee camp.

The IDF has not commented. MEZIESBLOG has not independently verified the claims.

Some 42,289 Palestinians killed in Israel’s military offensive, Gaza health ministry says

Some 42,289 Palestinians have been killed and 98,684 injured in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since the war began, the Hamas-run health ministry has announced.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count, but says women and children make up around two-thirds of those killed.

Second phase of Gaza polio vaccination campaign begins

 The second phase of a polio vaccination campaign has started in central Gaza, the World Health Organisation has announced.

Aid groups carried out the first round of vaccinations last month and they aim to reach about 590,000 children aged under 10 in less than two weeks, the WHO said.

“For that to be possible, humanitarian pauses must be respected,” it added.

Last week UN officials voiced concerns that Israeli evacuation orders in northern Gaza might affect the vaccination campaign.