Israel’s plan to strike Iran is ready, source says
CNN
Israel’s plan to respond to Iran’s October 1 attack is ready, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. Follow for live news updates.
• Israel’s plan to respond to this month’s Iranian attack is ready, a source told CNN — and US officials expect it to happen before the US presidential election, which is in less than three weeks. Israeli officials have assured the US that the counterstrike would be limited to military targets rather than oil or nuclear facilities, according to a source. • Israel is opposed to a “unilateral ceasefire” in its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Hezbollah has called on Israelis to accept a ceasefire or face “pain,” suggesting it would ramp up attacks further south in Israel. • Lebanese authorities say the number of Israeli attacks in Lebanon has passed 10,000. Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs for the first time in several days. And the mayor of a southern Lebanese city was killed in a strike on Wednesday, according to state media. • The US said Israel has taken steps to improve the flow of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, after top Biden administration officials sent a letter demanding more aid within 30 days. The UN has warned that Israel is effectively sealing off northern Gaza. At least seven medical nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have been informed that they will no longer be permitted to enter the Palestinian enclave, according to two sources familiar with the matter. This comes just days after the United States warned Israel that it needs to do more to improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza or risk losing military assistance. The groups, which include FAJR, Glia, the Palestinian American Medical Association and at least four others — all with a long history of operating in the Palestinian territories — were told by the World Health Organization that they had been banned by Israel, the sources said. Members of the now-banned organizations who are already inside Gaza will not be permitted re-entry after they leave, the sources added.
