Skip next section Revolutionary Guards: ‘Short-range projectile’ killed Hamas chief
08/03/2024August 3, 2024
Revolutionary Guards: ‘Short-range projectile’ killed Hamas chief
political chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed by a “short-range projectile” launched from outside of his accommodation in Tehran, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said.
“This terrorist operation was carried out by firing a short-range projectile with a warhead of about 7 kilograms — causing a strong explosion — from outside the accommodation area,” the Guards said in a statement.
The Guards again blamed for , adding that it was “supported by the United States.”
The statement said that Haniyeh’s death would be avenged and that Israel would receive “a severe punishment at the appropriate time, place and manner.”
Israel has not claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s killing, which happened Wednesday in the Iranian capital, after he attended the swearing-in of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.
His death sparked fears that in and the conflict with in Lebanon could turn into a larger regional conflict with .
https://p.dw.com/p/4j4tR
Skip next section Pistorius rules out sending German troops to region
08/03/2024August 3, 2024
Pistorius rules out sending German troops to region
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the prospect of sending German soldiers to the Middle East to protect was “completely inconceivable to me right now.”
He was answering a question about whether , like the , might deploy forces in areas near Israel.
The United States on Friday said that additional warships and fighter jets would be sent to the region to protect US forces and defend Israel.
Speaking on the sidelines of a visit to South Korea, Pistorius said any army personnel support would require a mandate from the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, “so the question does not arise at all at the moment.”
The minister said Berlin was assessing the situation in the Middle East on a daily basis, after threats from Iran and allied groups against Israel for the killings of ‘ political leader in Tehran and commander Fouad Shukur in Beirut.
Israel has claimed responsibility for Shukur’s killing but has not commented on Haniyeh’s killing.
“We are preparing for what might come our way, such as an evacuation. But at the moment we are only in the preparation phase, not in the action phase,” Pistorius said.
https://p.dw.com/p/4j4pY
Skip next section Israel strike kills 5 in West Bank, Palestinian media says
08/03/2024August 3, 2024
Israel strike kills 5 in West Bank, Palestinian media says
Israel conducted a drone strike on a vehicle in the on Saturday, killing five, including a commander, Palestinian media reported.
The Israeli military said in a brief statement on X, formerly Twitter, that it had struck a “terrorist cell” in the city of Tulkarm.
“An IDF [military] aircraft struck a vehicle and terrorist cell operating within the area of Tulkarm,” the IDF said.
Hamas media confirmed the attack, saying that a vehicle carrying one of the commanders of the Tulkarm brigade and other fighters had been hit.
Palestinian news agency WAFA reported four other unidentified men were also killed, citing health officials.
After the killing of Hamas leader in Tehran and leader Fuad Shukr near Beirut earlier this week, tensions have soared in the Middle East, with growing fears over a confrontation between Israel, Iran and the latter’s allies.
https://p.dw.com/p/4j4Vf
Skip next section US to send additional warships, fighter jets to Middle East
08/03/2024August 3, 2024
US to send additional warships, fighter jets to Middle East
The will deploy more warships and fighter jets to bolster its military presence in the Middle East, protect US personnel and defend Israel, the Pentagon said on Friday.
“The Department of Defense continues to take steps to mitigate the possibility of regional escalation by or Iran’s partners and proxies. Since the horrific Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the Secretary of Defense has reiterated that the United States will protect our personnel and interests in the region, including our ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also ordered additional ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers to Europe and the Middle East, the Pentagon said.
The statement comes soon after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. This prompted Iran and its regional allies to vow to retaliate, causing concerns about further escalations in the .
https://p.dw.com/p/4j4JD
Skip next section Israel strikes Hezbollah targets on Syria-Lebanon border: reports
08/03/2024August 3, 2024
Israel strikes Hezbollah targets on Syria-Lebanon border: reports
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Israel’s military on Friday conducted airstrikes on militia targets in the border region between Lebanon and Syria.
A source close to Hezbollah told the AFP news agency that a convoy of trucks entering Lebanon from Syria had been targeted. “Three Israeli strikes targeted a convoy of tanker trucks on the Syrian-Lebanese border,” the source said, adding that one Syrian driver was injured.
The war monitor’s head, Rami Abdel Rahman, told the DPA news agency that the airstrikes hit a weapons depot and a Hezbollah headquarters in the region.
Israel is yet to comment on the strikes. On Friday, Lebanese Hezbollah had claimed responsibility for five attacks on Israel’s military.
The two sides have exchanged fire often following the start of the Israeli military’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza after a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7.
tg/sms (AP, AFP, DPA, Reuters)
https://p.dw.com/p/4j4JL
The post Middle East: ‘Short-range projectile’ killed Haniyeh — Iran appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
