The Times of Israel is liveblogging Thursday’s events as they happen.
IDF downs drone that triggered Nahariya sirens; says Lebanon rockets landed in open
The Israel Defense Forces says it shot down a drone from Lebanon, shortly after sirens were heard in Nahariya and neighboring towns in the Western Galilee.
It also says several missiles fired from Lebanon struck open areas in the Upper Galilee, following the activation of warning alerts in the area.
Drone alerts activated in Nahariya and nearby towns
Suspected drone alerts are activated in the northern coastal city of Nahariya and a pair of nearby towns.
IDF says troops killed Hamas operative in Tulkarem who was planning imminent attacks
A Hamas member planning to carry out imminent terror attacks was killed by Israeli special forces in the West Bank city of Tulkarem a short while ago, the IDF, police and the Shin Bet say.
According to a joint statement, members of police’s Yamam counter-terrorism unit and Shin Bet agents, with IDF support, operated in Tulkarem to eliminate Hussam al-Malah, who they identify as a prominent Hamas member.
استشهاد القيادي في كتائب القسام حسام ملاح برصاص قوة خاصة من جيش لاحتلال في مخيم طولكرم pic.twitter.com/9bhZjMBIov
— Newpress | نيو برس (@NewpressPs) October 30, 2024
The statement says al-Malah was involved in planning imminent terror attacks with Islam Odeh and Zahi Oufi, two Hamas operatives killed by Israel in separate incidents in recent weeks.
The three, along with other members in a Hamas network in Tulkarem, were allegedly planning a major terror attack on the October 7 anniversary.
The military says that after Odeh and Oufi were killed, al-Malah continued to lead the Hamas network and worked to plan imminent attacks in recent days.
Source to CNN: Iran will deliver ‘definitive, painful’ response to Israeli attack
Iran will deliver a “definitive and painful” response to Israel’s recent attack on its territory, likely before the US presidential election on November 5, CNN reports, citing an anonymous senior source.
The source, who has knowledge of deliberations in Iran tells the network: “The response of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Zionist regime’s aggression will be definitive and painful.”
Israel has been expecting a potential Iranian response to the strike, itself retaliation for Iran’s Oct. 1 barrage of ballistic missiles on the country. But Iran has so far been seen as seeking to minimize that strike, and it was unclear whether it would attempt a major response.
Israel has warned Tehran that any further attacks on its territory will be met with resolute action.
White House: Iran should not respond to Israel’s retaliation
Iran should not respond to Israel’s retaliation, but if it does, the United States will support Israel, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre says.
“Iran should not respond to Israel’s retaliation. They should not… If they do, we will support Israel in defending itself, but they should not,” she says at a news briefing.