War in the Middle East: Israel prepares its response against Iran

10:36 – Images of the latest Israeli strike in Lebanon

A video published this Wednesday morning on X by the Lebanese Minister of Information, Johnny Corm shows telecommunications equipment targeted and destroyed by an Israeli strike in southern Beirut. “This is one of the cellular transmission stations that was destroyed by the Israeli aggression on the southern suburbs of Beirut. We strongly condemn this attack,” it said.

10:30 – New Israeli strikes in Beirut this Wednesday

This Wednesday, October 2, in the morning, an Israeli strike reached the southern suburbs of Beirut, an important Hezbollah base, indicates the Lebanese National Information Agency (ANI). “A photographer from Agence France-Presse saw new columns of smoke rising from this sector which had already been hit several times during the night,” specifies Le Monde. Hezbollah television notably reported eleven Israeli raids in two hours.

09:15 – Iran threatens the United States in case of support for Israel

Threatened with a response by Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran warns the United States against any action of support towards their Israeli ally. “We also warned the American forces to withdraw from this matter and not to intervene, otherwise they would face a harsh response from us,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on television this Wednesday morning. of state.

09:03 – The Israeli army deploys new means in southern Lebanon

The Israeli army announced the deployment of new regular infantry and armor units in southern Lebanon. “The 36th Division, including soldiers from the Golani Brigade, 188th Armored Brigade, 6th Infantry Brigade and additional forces, joins limited, localized and targeted raids against Hezbollah terrorist targets and terrorist infrastructure in southern Lebanon which began on Monday,” the Israeli army said on Wednesday. The soldiers will also be “accompanied by the IAF (the Israeli air forces) and the 282nd artillery brigade”, it is specified.

08:51 – Two explosions near the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen (Denmark)

This Wednesday, Danish police announced they were investigating two suspicious “explosions” near the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen, the Danish capital. “No one was injured and we are conducting preliminary investigations at the scene. A possible link to the Israeli embassy, ​​located in the area, is under investigation,” police said on X.

08:46 – Israel asks residents of southern Lebanon to leave the area

This Wednesday, October 2, 2024, shortly after 8 a.m., the Israeli army advised residents of southern Lebanon to evacuate the area. In a message published on the social network the Israeli army to act against it with force (…) Any house used by Hezbollah for its military needs is likely to be targeted. Evacuate your homes immediately,” he warns.

08:37 – Macron asks Jean-Noël Barrot to return to the Middle East

France will “very quickly organize a conference in support of the Lebanese people and their institutions,” the presidency announced in a press release. In addition, Emmanuel Macron asked the head of French diplomacy Jean-Noël Barrot to “visit the Middle East again”.

08:30 – An air raid possible, but which “requires some time”

If Israel is considering an air attack to reach potential targets such as Iran’s port areas to weaken its ability to export, several elements must be taken into account, as General Jérôme Pellistrandi recalls in the columns of BFMTV: “The targets are listed thanks to the support of the Americans But mounting an air raid means refueling in flight and flying over the airspaces of countries between. which in my opinion will turn a blind eye,” he explains. Furthermore, such an operation is only possible after careful organization, which requires a certain amount of time: “You don’t mount an air raid in two minutes even if it is ready.” “The counter response takes some time, even if it can go quickly,” indicates Air Force General Patrick Dutartre at BFMTV.

08:23 – Iranian port areas targeted?

For the professor of geopolitics at Sciences Po and Paris School of Business, Israel’s response could focus on “nuclear sites”, with “the American agreement”, he explains to BFMTV. “There are the Iranian port areas which constitute the lungs of this regime which is already largely economically suffocated by the international sanctions in place since 2007. If Iran is hit on its port areas, it will no longer be able to export to China, one of its last oxygen buoys”, he explains. As a reminder, Iran does not have an Iron Dome, unlike Israel, to protect its territory.

08:18 – “We have plans and we will act,” assures the Israeli army

“Whoever attacks us, we attack,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after Iran fired nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday evening. So what could Israel’s response look like? “The response is the Israeli government, at the time it wants and in the way it wants,” Israeli army spokesperson Olivier Rafowicz told BFMTV. “This attack will have consequences. We have plans and we will act where and when we decide,” says Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

08:13 – Will Israel fight back alone?

What if Israel preferred to fight back alone? According to Axios, citing an Israeli official, the country could react alone to Iran’s attack, while coordinating its plans with the United States due to the strategic implications of both. The discussions will continue during the day, Benjamin Netanyahu and Joe Biden are due to have a discussion this Wednesday.

08:09 – Israel and the United States are considering a response

For the moment, Israel has not yet determined the exact content of its response towards Iran. Yesterday, the United States – Israel’s ally – warned Iran of the “consequences” of its attack, saying it had already started discussions with Israel on the response. “The United States fully, fully, fully supports Israel,” US President Joe Biden said.

According to a senior American official speaking to CNN, the White House does not believe that Israel has made a decision on its response. The Biden administration has not yet received detailed information on this response. “At some point they will have to come to us with more details,” he explains. During the debate between them, the running mates of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, vice-presidential candidates, promised to support Israel against Iran.

08:03 – Iran must “be accountable to its enemies,” says Netanyahu

On Tuesday evening, Iran launched 200 missiles against Israel in its latest attack. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Betanyahou said Iran had “committed a serious mistake” by attacking his country in this way, and that it would “pay the price”. Israel is determined to hold its enemies “accountable,” he said.