J Street Condemns Iranian Missile Attack, Jaffa Terror Attack – Calls for Immediate De-escalation, J Street
We urge the Israeli government to carefully, cautiously and precisely calibrate its response, and President Biden to use all possible leverage to focus on diplomatic avenues designed to limit further escalation, stop a full-scale regional war, and prevent scenes like these from repeating in the coming days.
Israel and US Repel 180-Missile Attack From Iran, Axios
Iran launched around 180 ballistic missiles toward Israel in a two-wave attack on Tuesday that U.S. and Israeli officials say was largely repelled. This was Iran’s largest-scale attack ever against Israel. Most of the missiles were intercepted by Israel and the U.S., and there are no reports of deaths inside Israel. One Palestinian civilian was reportedly killed in the West Bank.
Seven People Killed in Shooting, Stabbing Terror Attack in Jaffa, The Times of Israel
Seven people were killed and at least eight others wounded in a shooting and stabbing terror attack in Jaffa on Tuesday evening, according to Israel Police, in one of the deadliest terror attacks in recent years.
Israel Plans Massive Iran Payback With Middle East on Edge, Axios
Israeli officials staring down all-out regional war tell Axios Israel will launch a “significant retaliation” to Tuesday’s massive missile attack within days that could target oil production facilities inside Iran and other strategic sites.
White House Vows Consequences for Iran’s Attack on Israel, The Washington Post
Tehran will face “severe consequences” for its large-scale missile attack on Israel on Tuesday, the White House said, after the United States employed military force to help defend its closest Middle Eastern ally from Iranian fire for the second time in five months.
Biden Directs US Military to Help Israel Shoot Down Iranian Missiles, Officials Say, ABC
The president had directed the U.S. military to aid Israel’s defense against Iranian attacks and to help shoot down missiles targeting Israel, they said. Earlier, before the strike began, Biden had posted on X that the U.S. was ready to help Israel defend against the Iranian missile attack.
Israeli Strikes on Southern Gaza Kill 51, Says Hamas-Run Health Ministry, BBC
Israeli air strikes and a ground operation targeting the Khan Younis area in southern Gaza have killed at least 51 people, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry. Tanks reportedly advanced into some parts of the city and its surrounding area on Tuesday night, with residents reporting gunfire and heavy shelling. One wounded man who made it to hospital told the BBC “tanks stormed in” to his village without warning.
Netanyahu Buoyed by Far-Right Support for Israeli Land Operations in Lebanon, The Guardian
“The decisions we made in the last few days are important, correct and necessary decisions,” wrote Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister and a key far-right member of Netanyahu’s cabinet.
Lebanon’s Government Urges International Community for Support Amid Israel’s Invasion, NPR
Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 1,000 people in Lebanon over the last two weeks, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. The U.N. says around 1 million people — nearly a fifth of the country — have been displaced from their homes while fleeing this bombardment.
Israel Has Destroyed Half of Hezbollah’s Arsenal, U.S. and Israeli Officials Say, The New York Times
The two Israeli officials say they intend to continue targeting Hezbollah’s arsenal and killing the group’s commanders while they have momentum. White House officials have said they hope the ground incursion is limited, and President Biden has made calls for a cease-fire from both sides.
Israel Bars U.N. Secretary-General from Entering Country, Reuters
Israel’s foreign minister said on Wednesday that he was barring U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres from entering the country because he had not “unequivocally” condemned Iran’s missile attack on Israel.
Israel Risks a Long Fight in Lebanon, Politico
Jamie Dettmer shares, “Israel is casting Tuesday’s cross-border incursion into southern Lebanon as a rapid in-and-out mission against an already decapitated Hezbollah, but there are dangers it could get bogged down in a more prolonged and arduous invasion — as has happened before. Israel’s attack on southern Lebanon in 1982 — also originally intended to push back militant attacks — morphed into an 18-year occupation.”
A Time for Reflection and Renewal: Countering Antisemitism in the Wake of October 7th, The Times of Israel
J Street Advisory Council member Hannah Rosenthal writes, “The Talmud teaches us, ‘Who is wise? One who learns from every person.’ This wisdom calls us to foster genuine dialogue with humility and empathy. By cultivating relationships across communities, we can dismantle stereotypes and prejudice. When speaking out against antisemitism and all forms of bigotry, we must invite conversation, acknowledge our differences, and find common ground, creating space for true learning and growth.”
The Domestic Political Objectives Behind Israel’s Incursion Into Lebanon, The Guardian
Peter Beaumont reports, “Israel’s long-threatened ground operation into southern Lebanon appears so far to have been on a far smaller scale and with more modest objectives than had been anticipated from previous statements. The operation, involving formations from one Israeli division in the first instance, appears limited and has largely avoided any direct clashes between Hezbollah and Israeli troops.”
US Officials Quietly Backed Israel’s Military Push Against Hezbollah, Politico
Not everyone in the administration was on board with Israel’s shift, despite support inside the White House, the officials said. The decision to focus on Hezbollah sparked division within the U.S. government, drawing opposition from people inside the Pentagon, State Department and intelligence community who believed Israel’s move against the Iran-backed militia could drag American forces into yet another Middle East conflict.