Iran’s ballistic missile attack hit Israel air base, does little damage
At least some of Iran’s missiles penetrated Israel’s much-vaunted air defense systems during the Oct. 1 missile attack. New satellite images from Planet Labs show the aftermath of the attacks on the Nevatim Air Base.
Israel initially said the damage on the base was limited to office and administrative buildings, but there are clear signs of impact to a hangar as well as about 30 other sites scattered around the base.
Nevatim is located east of Be’er Sheva and is the largest and most critical facility in the Israeli Air Force. The base is home to three F-35 squadrons and transport squadrons. It is also the host site of the Wing of Zion, Israel’s state aircraft.
The base was also the target of an Iranian barrage back in April of drones and cruise missiles. After the Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack, Iranian media outlets reported the total destruction of several Israeli aircraft, including some F-35 stealth fighters.
It is highly unlikely any F-35s were damaged in the attack, however. The Israeli Air Force had plenty of time to scramble the planes and get them airborne before the missiles hit.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also shot down the claims while speaking with IDF pilots and crew members at the base on Sunday, Oct. 6.
“The Iranians did not even scratch the capabilities of the Air Force,” Gallant said. “No squadron has been damaged, no plane has been damaged, there is no runway that doesn’t allow takeoff, and there is no damage to our continuity. Whoever thinks that by trying to harm Israel they will deter us from reacting, they only need to look at what is happening in Gaza and Beirut.”
So how, or why, did about 30 Iranian ballistic missiles make it through to their targets in Israel? A professor from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies said there could be a couple of explanations.
One possibility is that Israel’s Arrow 2 and 3 missile defense systems did not work like they were supposed to, or Israel chose not to protect Nevatim and instead reallocated all its defensive resources to protecting the population centers. This would mean Israel may not have enough interceptors, and therefore, Iran succeeded in overwhelming the IDF’s air defenses.
To Israel, it does not matter if the damage inflicted by the ballistic missiles was fairly negligible. Iranian weapons breached Israeli airspace and hit their targets. If it happens again, there is no guarantee the outcome would be the same.
This is why Israel is going to be very deliberate in its eventual response to Iran, and according to a former Israeli intelligence officer Straight Arrow News spoke to, that response is going to be robust and painful.
One year since Hamas attacks on Israel sparked war
One year later, people around the world are marking the anniversary of Hamas’ terror attack on Israel that sparked the ongoing war in the Middle East. And Florida is once again on high alert as another hurricane barrels toward the Sunshine State. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
One year since Hamas attacks on Israel started war
It’s now been one year since Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people, taking 250 others hostage and setting off a war in the Middle East that shows no signs of stopping.
In what appears to be a major new offensive, the Israeli military said it struck Hamas targets across Gaza Sunday night, Oct. 6, after issuing evacuation warnings for much of the north. Meanwhile, Hamas fired a barrage of rockets at Tel Aviv, as leaders of the militant group celebrated one year of war, saying they sent Israel back to “square one, and it is now living an existential war.” They also called for Palestinians to escalate their resistance.
Israel also carried out heavy strikes on Beirut and sent more troops into Lebanon as part of its ground invasion targeting Hezbollah. The terror organization has been attacking Israel in a show of solidarity since Hamas started the war last year.
Both Hezbollah and Hamas are backed by Iran, which denies having anything to do with last October’s attacks. However, Iran marked the first anniversary by praising the attacks.
Many more people marked the day in a more somber way. Family members of the more than 350 people killed at Israel’s Nova music festival gathered at the site to hold a memorial.
Protests were also held across the globe as millions call for an end to the war. Many protesters are focusing on the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza, who have seen the brunt of the impacts of this war.
Since last year, Palestinian health officials say more than 41,800 people have been killed in Gaza, including more than 16,000 children.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated numerous times that Israel will not stop until Hamas has been wiped out.
Harris interview to air on ’60 Minutes;’ Trump to appear on Fox News
The 2024 presidential candidates are making their presence known this week with just 29 days to go until Election Day.
Vice President Kamala Harris is on a media tour that began on Sunday, Oct. 6, with the Democratic nominee appearing as a guest on Alex Cooper’s podcast “Call Her Daddy.” Tuesday, Oct. 8, she will make stops at “The View,” “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” and “The Howard Stern Show.”
Monday night, Oct. 7, “60 Minutes” will air its election special that includes a pre-recorded interview with the vice president. CBS News released a preview of the interview, showing the moment when reporter Bill Whitaker asked Harris about the United States’ relationship with Israel.
“When we think about the threat Hamas, Hezbollah presents, Iran, I think it is without question our imperative to do what we can to allow Israel to defend itself against those kinds of attacks,” she said. “Now the work that we do diplomatically with the leadership of Israel is an ongoing pursuit around making clear our principles which include the need for humanitarian aid, the need for this war to end, the need for a deal to be done which would release the hostages and create a cease-fire and we’re not going to stop in terms of putting that pressure on Israel and in the region including Arab leaders.”
“The hospital was great, and I didn’t realize this, I never knew they did — when a president goes to an area, they close the hospital entirely,” he said. “It’s ready for exactly this. I didn’t know they did that, but they did. So, the hospital, I got there, the doctors were outside, the nurse and no people. They literally close it and almost like they expect this. It’s a genius thing, but who would ever think that. And I was so impressed.”
Over the weekend, Trump returned to Butler for the first time since the shooting, holding a rally with his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Monday, Trump is scheduled to hold an Oct. 7 remembrance ceremony at his golf club in Miami. Meanwhile Vice President Harris is set to deliver remarks and plant a tree at the vice presidential residence in Washington, D.C. to mark the anniversary.
Florida braces for Hurricane Milton on the heels of Helene
Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene blasted parts of Florida, another severe big storm is on the way. Tropical Storm Milton intensified in the Gulf of Mexico Monday morning to a Category 2 hurricane, with forecasters predicting it could make landfall on Florida’s west coast on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Residents have begun preparing for Milton, which reports say could reach Category 4 strength before making landfall in the Tampa Bay area as a Category 3.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has warned of high storm surge and more power outages, and that locations already struck by Helene will possibly be affected by Milton. Helene killed more than 200 people across six states.
Gov. DeSantis warned people who live on the west coast of Florida to be prepared to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Milton. In fact, some evacuation orders are already in effect for people who live in manufactured homes or on their boats along the Sun Coast.
Supreme Court to hear cases on guns, porn, transgender rights
A new U.S. Supreme Court term begins Monday, with the justices returning to the bench from their summer break to decide on dozens of cases, including those involving guns, the adult entertainment industry and transgender issues.
On Tuesday, the court will hear arguments on a case concerning the regulation of ghost guns. Manufacturers and gun rights groups argue the Biden administration overstepped its authority to require background checks on these types of firearm kits.
Frontier Airlines plane catches fire while landing in Las Vegas
Scary moments were caught on video as a Frontier Airlines plane caught fire while landing at a Las Vegas airport over the weekend. The airline released a statement saying the pilots detected smoke while the plane was in the process of landing Saturday, Oct. 5.
Frontier said all 190 passengers and seven crew members on board were evacuated and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
LeBron James joins son Bronny on NBA court for the first time
Though it was a preseason game, it was still another accomplishment for the elder James, who at age 39 is entering his 22nd NBA season. LeBron James will likely make more NBA history when he joins his son on the court during the regular season.
Adding to the special moment, Sunday was also Bronny’s 20th birthday.
Lebanon’s nearly 900 displacement shelters are almost full amid crisis
United Nations (U.N.) officials warn that a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in Lebanon. The U.N. revealed on Friday, Oct. 4, that most of the country’s nearly 900 emergency shelters can no longer take people in. Hotels and nightclubs are now opening their doors to those in need.
Beirut and Mount Lebanon reportedly said that their shelters are full. However, U.N. officials said other cities had some space in shelters. Many of the shelters are schools with education put on hold due to escalating violence.
Meanwhile, nearly half of the people in the country’s emergency shelters were children as of Thursday, Oct. 3, and facilities said previously they were operating beyond capacity, according to humanitarian officials.
Additionally, some people in Lebanon are staying on the streets because they are reportedly refugees from other countries and fear being deported.
The U.N. also revealed that roads are jam-packed in Lebanon with people caught in the crossfire between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah militants. Many are unable to leave the country because of Israeli airstrikes that have cut off Lebanon’s border with Syria.
A hospital was also evacuated on Friday as Israeli shelling knocked out the facility’s service temporarily.
More than 1.2 million Lebanese people have reportedly been forced to flee their homes and more than 2,000 have been killed amid the conflict over the past year.
The strike is over for now, as thousands of dockworkers return to their jobs after a tentative agreement to raise their pay. And why after more than three decades in prison , the Menendez brothers — infamous for killing their parents — might have their case reviewed and the factor it all hinges on. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 4, 2024.
Tens of thousands of U.S. dockworkers are getting back on the job after two days of a strike that clogged dozens of East and Gulf coast ports. The historic labor action, which threatened to drive inflation back up, is now on hold until at least January 15.
Thursday night, Oct. 3, members of the International Longshoremen’s Association struck a tentative deal with the U.S. Maritime Alliance over pay. The agreement will increase workers’ wages by 62% over the span of six years.
The agreement is an increase over the Maritime Alliance’s offer of 50% earlier this week, but a compromise for the ILA, which has called for a 77% increase in wages over the same time period.
The new deal would bring hourly pay for top dockworkers to $63 per hour by the end of the deal, compared to $39 an hour under the most recently expired contract.
Dockworkers had also been calling for a total ban on automation, but no deal was reached on that. Sources close to the matter have said that will be the main topic of negotiations between now and Jan. 15.
I applaud the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance for coming together to reopen the East Coast and Gulf ports and ensure the availability of critical supplies for Hurricane Helene recovery and rebuilding.
More Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Beirut
Powerful blasts rocked Beirut Thursday night into Friday morning, Oct. 4, as Israel unleashed some of its heaviest strikes on the Lebanese capital city yet. This comes as Iran’s foreign minister is in Beirut meeting with Lebanese officials over the expanding conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Thursday, Israel ordered more evacuations for villages in southern Lebanon, potentially signaling plans to broaden the ground invasion there. Meanwhile, Lebanon’s state-run news agency said an Israeli strike took out the main highway between Lebanon and Syria, which tens of thousands of people have used over the past two weeks to flee the escalating fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
🔴Mohammad Rashid Sakafi, the Commander of Hezbollah’s Communications Unit, during a precise, intelligence-based strike in Beirut yesterday.
Sakafi was a senior Hezbollah terrorist, who was responsible for the communications unit since 2000. Sakafi invested significant efforts… pic.twitter.com/PH65nh5FLI
The Israeli military also said it killed another top Hezbollah militant, Mohammed Anisi, in a recent strike on Beirut. Hezbollah has not yet confirmed that claim.
Three ex-officers found guilty in Tyre Nichols beating death
A federal jury convicted three former Memphis police officers in the 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols Thursday, but they were acquitted of the most serious charges. The jury found Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith guilty of witness tampering for covering up the attack. Haley was also convicted of violating Nichols’ civil rights.
Nichols died three days after the officers brutally beat him following a traffic stop. The officers now face up to 20 years in prison for the witness tampering convictions while Haley’s civil rights violation conviction carries up to 10 years. Sentencing is pending with a hearing scheduled to determine whether they will remain in custody.
The case has triggered federal investigations into Memphis police practices, and Nichols’ family has filed a $550 million lawsuit against the city and its police department.
In a statement, the assistant U.S. attorney who oversees the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, “Tyre Nichols should be alive today.”
35 years later, Menendez brothers’ case under review following claims of parental abuse
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced his office will review the convictions of Erik and Lyle Menendez, nearly 35 years after they were imprisoned for killing their parents in 1989. New evidence, including a letter from Erik Menendez alleging sexual abuse by their father, prompted the reexamination.
Gascón stressed that while the brothers’ guilt is not being contested, the new evidence and changing views on sexual abuse require a review. The attorney for the Menendez brothers argues they’ve been rehabilitated and is seeking a re-sentencing.
A hearing on Nov. 29 will determine the next steps, which could include a new trial or an adjusted sentence.
Country star Garth Brooks accused of rape
A former employee has come forward accusing country music superstar Garth Brooks of sexual assault and battery. In a the lawsuit, the woman said she worked as his hair and makeup artist.
The lawsuit alleges in 2019, Brooks raped the woman during a work trip in Los Angeles.
Before this lawsuit was made public, CNN reported an anonymous celebrity plaintiff — now identified as Brooks — had tried to block the woman from suing and denied the claims.
In a statement released to the media, Brooks said, “For the last two months, I have been hassled to no end with threats, lies, and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of dollars.”
If there was ever a night that I really needed this, TONIGHT was that night! Thank you for my life!!!!! love, g pic.twitter.com/q6FFLrJO0a
He went on to say, “Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior I am incapable of—ugly acts no human should ever do to another. We filed suit against this person nearly a month ago to speak out against extortion and defamation of character. We filed it anonymously for the sake of families on both sides.”
Category 4 Hurricane Kirk strengthens, expected to stay offshore
Hurricane Kirk, a powerful Category 4 storm, is churning in the Atlantic, with forecasters warning of dangerous swells that could impact the U.S. east coast, Bermuda, the Greater Antilles, and the Bahamas by this weekend. Though the hurricane is expected to remain far from land, its waves might cause life-threatening surf and rip currents.
NEW: #Kirk is now a major #hurricane with 125mph sustained winds and will strengthen to *near Category 5 strength* over the next couple of days. Certainly thankful it will remain out to sea and no threat to land! #HurricaneKirk#weatherpic.twitter.com/frSGbEgtFe
As Kirk strengthens, Tropical Storm Leslie has also formed in the Atlantic but poses no immediate threat to land.
Meanwhile, the southeast is still reeling from Hurricane Helene, which left more than 200 people dead and caused catastrophic damage. Rescue efforts continue as many residents remain without water, power and communication services.
President Joe Biden has visited the region to survey the devastation, pledging federal aid for debris removal and recovery efforts in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
Biden says US ‘discussing’ possible Israeli strike on Iran oil, markets react
President Joe Biden said the United States is discussing potential Israeli strikes on Iran’s oil facilities. Soon after his comments, oil markets reacted, with crude oil prices spiking 5%, the largest one-day increase since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
Biden made these remarks in response to a reporter’s question outside the White House on Thursday, Oct. 3, asking if he would support Israel striking Iran’s oil facilities.
“We’re in discussions about that,” Biden said. “I think that would be a little… anyway…”
Iran reacted to the possibility of retaliatory strikes with a warning from its mission at the United Nations on Thursday. The country cautioned that any nation assisting Israel would be deemed “an accomplice” and a “legitimate target,” advising the U.S. and others to stay out of the conflict.
“Should any country render assistance to the aggressor, it shall likewise be deemed an accomplice and a legitimate target,” Iran’s mission said. “We advise countries to refrain from entangling themselves in the conflict between the Israeli regime and Iran and to distance themselves from the fray.”
The swift reaction from oil markets on Thursday indicated that investors are on edge, considering the implications of a broader conflict, particularly the potential disruption to the Straits of Hormuz, one of the world’s most crucial maritime passages for oil and liquefied natural gas.
The situation escalated earlier this week when Iran launched around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, calling it retaliation for the deaths of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Iran “will pay a heavy price” for its actions.
DHS says biggest Election Day threat comes from domestic extremists
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is warning of potential Election Day violence targeting poll workers, government officials and voters. The assessment from the department on Wednesday, Oct. 2, said that the biggest threat comes from lone domestic extremists.
The agency believes that criminals may be driven to violence by racism, bigotry, anti-government rhetoric, conspiracy theories, the Israel-Hamas war and the 2024 presidential election itself.
The report notes that domestic violent extremists “driven by various anti-government, racial, or gender-related motivations” are responsible for at least four attacks in the United States, which led to one death between September of 2023 through July of 2024.
The report also said that two “homegrown violent extremist” attacks, partially motivated by Israel’s war against Hamas, also took place.
U.S. authorities have reportedly foiled at least 10 additional “domestic violent extremist” and “homegrown violent extremist” plots. In recent months, threats of violence against election officials have also seen an uptick.
DHS officials said they are aware of the approaching one-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which they say may add “more fuel to an already challenging and heightened threat environment.”
The department said it is in communication with state and local law enforcement to enhance security on and before Election Day.
Outside forces are also reportedly a threat. DHS asserts foreign terrorist organizations may inspire attacks on the U.S. Additionally, Iran is also on the agency’s radar after officials said that it threatened former President Donald Trump’s life.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
We’re getting our most in-depth look so far at Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. And there’s new skin in the game in the battle over who actually caught Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
The new filing, revealed Wednesday, Oct. 2, also claims Trump was “fundamentally” acting as a private candidate and not the President of the United States when he sought to overturn his loss.
The latest court filing comes in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling this past summer that said Trump had immunity for official actions taken while still in office. The filing also alleges the former president knew his claims about the 2020 election being stolen were lies, but he spread them anyways as a ploy to stay in power.
It also includes evidence of Trump’s phone usage during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021 — when, it claims, the former president was scrolling Twitter. The filing also claims Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject Electoral College votes.
“This was a weaponization of government and that’s why it was released 30 days before the election,” he said. “And it’s nothing new in there, by the way, nothing new. They rigged the election. I didn’t rig the election. They rigged the election.”
The new filing was unsealed just 33 days before the election coming up on Nov. 5.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges, accusing him of a conspiracy to obstruct the congressional certification of the election, attempting to defraud the U.S. out of accurate results and interfering with Americans’ voting rights.
At least 6 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut
It comes after Israeli forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front since clashes with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah started almost a year ago. At least seven Israeli soldiers died in Israel’s recent offensive.
Lebanese health officials say in addition to those killed, at least seven more people were wounded in what Israel says was a precise strike on Lebanon’s capitol, which happened not far from the Lebanese prime minister’s office.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army says it downed at least two drones and more than two dozen rockets fired from Lebanon Thursday.
FEMA warns of funding shortages for Hurricane Helene relief efforts
The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 191 across six states, making it the second-deadliest U.S. Hurricane in the past 50 years, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm hit Florida last week before sweeping through the southeast, causing widespread flooding and devastation, especially in North Carolina, where at least 95 people have died.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing critical supplies like meals, water, and generators, but Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned FEMA lacks sufficient funding to sustain relief efforts throughout the entire hurricane season. He stressed the need for additional funding, noting FEMA is meeting immediate needs but might not have the resources to continue if another storm hits.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with most storms occurring in September and October.
Congress recently replenished $20 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, but lawmakers may need to reconvene before the election to approve more money if necessary.
Since Helene hit, more than 150,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance and that number is expected to grow as damage assessments continue.
Prosecutors ask for indefinite delay in would-be Trump assassin’s trial
Federal prosecutors have asked for an indefinite delay in scheduling the trial for the man charged in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump. They say they’ve collected a “massive” amount of evidence since the Secret Service, with the help of local police in Florida, arrested Ryan Routh last month after authorities say an agent spotted him with a gun outside the Mar-a-Lago golf course where the former president was playing.
Prosecutors have asked the judge in the case to officially designate the case as “complex,” saying they’ve interviewed hundreds of witnesses across various states and have thousands of videos to review from electronic devices they’ve seized. They also say more than 100 outstanding subpoena returns are still pending.
According to the filing, Routh’s defense attorneys did not oppose the prosecutors’ request to delay the trial date. Routh’s lawyers have entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, on the attempted assassination charges.
ATF says broken power line caused deadly Maui wildfire
We now know what caused the massive and deadly wildfire in Maui, Hawaii that claimed 102 lives and caused more than $5 billion in damage. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives has classified the fire as accidental, saying it started when a re-energized broken power line sparked, igniting the fire in an unmaintained vegetation area.
ATF also ruled out the possibility there had been two separate fires saying definitively, “This, in fact, was one fire.”
More than 100 people died and flames destroyed much of the historic city of Lahaina. The fire also sparked other investigations centered on police response and the response from state and Maui county agencies.
Second fan files lawsuit over Ohtani’s historic home run ball
The battle over Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has intensified. A second fan filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the valuable souvenir.
The ball, hit during Ohtani’s historic Sept. 19 game for the L.A. Dodgers against the Miami Marlins, has reached about $1.5 million in auction bids.
Joseph Davidov, who filed the latest lawsuit in Florida, claims he had possession of the ball before another fan jumped on him, causing it to roll into the hands of Chris Belanski, who later auctioned it. Davidov is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
This follows 18-year-old Max Matus’ earlier lawsuit, alleging Belanski forcibly took the ball from him during a scramble in the stands. Both fans are pursuing rightful ownership of the ball, which celebrates Ohtani’s achievement as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
The ongoing legal disputes have delayed the auction, with a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 10. The ball’s rising value has garnered widespread attention, rivaling the $1.5 million sale of Aaron Judge’s American League record-breaking 62nd home run ball in 2022.
8 Israeli soldiers killed in Lebanon fighting Hezbollah, fears of wider war rise
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered his “deepest condolences” on Wednesday, Oct. 2, to the families of eight soldiers killed in southern Lebanon. While the circumstances surrounding the deaths has yet to be released at the time of this report, it had been known that Israeli troops were fighting Hezbollah militants inside Lebanon after launching a ground invasion this week.
Meanwhile, the entire region is on high alert for further escalation of the conflict as Israel seeks revenge for Iran’s barrage of ballistic missiles launched toward Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned residents on Wednesday in more than 20 Lebanese communities to evacuate for their own safety amid its operations. The IDF said that it has destroyed more than “150 terror infrastructure sites” in Lebanon, so far.
When asked if he’d support an Israeli retaliation strike on Iranian nuclear sites, President Joe Biden said, “The answer is no.” Biden’s remarks follow a reported phone call with the Group of 7 leaders on Wednesday to talk about coordinating new sanctions against Tehran.
Biden did say that the United States is in “full solidarity” and supports “Israel and its people.”
Although the G7 leaders did condemn “Iranian attacks against Israel,” they also said that they believe a diplomatic solution is possible.
In a separate outbreak of violence south of Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Oct. 1, Hamas claimed responsibility for a mass shooting that killed at least seven people and injured 16 others.
The gunmen reportedly opened fire on a boulevard and train station in Jaffa. The attackers were later killed by police. The two men reportedly came from the West Bank, and it is unclear how they entered Israel.
Israel’s response to Iran will be ‘robust, painful’
Iran’s ballistic missile attack was one of the largest, most complex, and involved more advanced weaponry than almost any the Mullah Regime has ever launched against Israel. More than 180 intercontinental ballistic missiles were deployed.
Evidence collected so far points to Iran using its Fattah-1 and Kheybarshekan missiles in the strike.
There is damage on the ground, but with the help of several U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class destroyers, Israel’s air defense systems held.
“The Iranians shot the 200 ballistic missiles or whatever, and they killed one poor Palestinian who, by the way, was killed in the most horrifying way,” Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence officer and negotiator, said. “The missile just straight fell on him when he was walking on the street.”
Melamed is also an author who wrote extensively about the pending conflict between Iran and Israel.
“Most of the victims of the Iranian missiles that were shot, are Iranians. There have been reports that five IRGC personnel were killed and 12 injured when one of the missiles exploded during the launch,” Melamed said. “The whole purpose of this attack, to a large extent, is that the mullah regime desperately needs to restore its crumbling image and send a message that it is standing and supporting its proxies while they are being crushed.”
In the last few months, Israel decimated Hezbollah’s command structure and officer corps, culminating in a strike that took out Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, in Beirut.
As Iran’s most beloved and well-armed proxy, the strikes against Hezbollah could not go unanswered.
And while he previously held out hope de-escalation was still possible, Melamed said in the wake of Iran’s latest ICBM attacks, it is not likely.
“I do estimate that Israel will attack Iran,” Melamed said during a virtual interview on the morning of Oct. 2. “I think that the Israeli attack on Iran will be clearly significant, and it will be coordinated with the United States because we all understand that following something like that, you can’t just sit as if nothing happened.”
The big question now is how exactly will Israel respond? Melamed said he does not think the IDF will go after Iran’s nuclear facilities or its petroleum production plants.
“The Israeli attack would be robust enough to be visually viewed across the region,” Melamed said when asked about what he thought will happen. “I would expect it to focus on military sites, some significant infrastructure. I would even think about governmental symbols, and particularly Islamic Revolutionary Guards in Iran. So, I think that there is a wide bank of targets that Israel can choose and can hit.”
By hitting significant infrastructure and symbolic sites, Melamed said Israel can inflict damage on the Mullah Regime, send a message that the next strikes could definitely be worse and further demonstrate Israel’s power in the region, hopefully acting as a means of deterrence against further escalation from Iran.
Melamed said while a direct, all-out war between the two nations can still be avoided, time may be running out for Israel and the West to figure out a way of dealing with the Mullah Regime that doesn’t end in that scenario.
Melamed said, “More than 10 years ago, I wrote an article where I was basically predicting this scenario. And the reason for all this process, first and foremost, was because of the rapprochement of the Western powers towards this regime in Iran. They were not willing to confront this regime, thinking that by kicking the can down the road the problem would disappear. It did not. It just became bigger.
As of publication, Israel had not responded to Iran’s ICBM attacks. Melamed said the Jewish High Holy Days, which start on the evening of Oct. 2, could impact the timeline, but he said a robust response is definitely coming.
Jewish communities on high alert in wake of wars, holidays and hate crimes
Two explosions near Israel’s embassy in Copenhagen rocked the Danish capital in the early morning hours on Wednesday, Oct. 2. There were no reports of any injuries or damage to the building.
Three people were reportedly questioned by police, but it is unclear if they are connected to the alleged crime. The explosions did force a nearby Jewish school to close for the day as a precaution.
The blasts come as anti-Jewish hate crimes are reportedly on the rise. Amidst heightened tensions, the conflict between Israel and Iran threatens to spread across the Middle East and as the one-year mark for the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel approaches.
In the United States, data shows that antisemitic hate crimes rose 48% across 20 major cities in 2023, and the Center for Study of Hate and Extremism said that for the first time since it started tracking numbers, Jews were the most targeted group for hate crimes in the largest American cities.
Meanwhile, Jewish schools, community centers and synagogues are on high alert across the nation as Jews mark Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur over the next days.
The New York Police Department is beefing up patrols around the city’s synagogues ahead of the holidays and heavy weapons teams were reportedly seen outside of Jewish places of worship and sacred Jewish sites.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., assured New Yorkers that there are no reports of threats, but the state is remaining vigilant in the wake of 180 ballistic missiles being launched from Iran toward Israel on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, also echoed Hochul’s call. Posting on the social media platform X.
“We remain committed on the local and state level to ensure New Yorkers of all faiths, including our Jewish New Yorkers, are SAFE,” Adams wrote.
Experts note antisemitic crimes usually see an uptick during Jewish High Holy Days and they also rise with every conflict in the Middle East.
The growing anxiety among the Jewish community is leading to places of worship and religious schools ramping up security, and some households are keeping holiday celebrations low-key this year.
President of the Union for Reform of Judaism Rabbi Rick Jacobs believes are tasked with “an impossible moment” as they deliver messages to their congregations amid a “confluence” of factors. However, he contends that it is not time for Jews to stray from their identity rather to show resilience and lean into it.
Jacobs said that Jews should focus on making partnerships with allies instead of “letting the extreme voices force us to cower here.”
