Live Updates: Israel, US preparing for 'unpredictable' Iranian retaliation

Saturday, August 3, 2024

07:17 GMT — Israel, US preparing for 'unpredictable' Iranian retaliation

Israel and the US are preparing for an "unpredictable Iranian retaliatory strike on Israel as soon as this weekend," the Wall Street Journal has reported.

"There is no point. Israel crossed all the red lines. Our response will be swift and heavy," the Journal quoted an Iranian diplomat.

The diplomat, who his government briefed, said attempts by various countries to convince Tehran not to escalate had been and would be "fruitless" given Israel's recent attacks, according to the newspaper.

06:25 GMT — Egypt, Saudi foreign ministers discuss regional tensions

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry that Badr Abdelatty and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, have discussed the "dangerous" regional escalation following assassinations by Israel.

They discussed "the alarming regional tensions resulting from Israel's extremist policies and the pattern of assassinations," it said in a statement in reference to the assassination Wednesday of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' political bureau in the Iranian capital of Tehran.

Abdelatty emphasised the urgency of "halting the ongoing escalation and underscored the responsibility of major international powers, particularly the US, in curbing the escalation."

05:49 GMT — Hamas leader reiterates group would not recognise Israel

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has reiterated that the movement will not recognise Israel, asserting that the assassination of the head of the group's political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, "only strengthens our people."

He made the remarks during the funeral ceremony for Haniyeh's bodyguard, Wasim Abu Shaban, at the Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab Mosque in Doha, Qatar.

"We will not compromise on principles and will not recognise Israel. Our people will maintain our national unity, continuing the path of jihad, resistance, and reclaiming our rights," said Meshaal.

04:42 GMT — US deploys cruisers, destroyers, missile defences to Middle East

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered navy cruisers and destroyers to the Middle East region, the Pentagon has said, after Israeli assassinations in Iran and Lebanon heightened regional tensions.

US is also deploying additional fighter jet squadron and land-based missile defences to the region, Pentagon added.

The expected changes come as the United States is bracing for Iran and its allies to make good on their pledge to respond to the assassinations of Hamas peace negotiator Ismail Haniyeh two days ago in Tehran and a senior Hezbollah figure in Beirut as Israel's genocidal war on Gaza rages.

04:16 GMT — Israel kills 5 Palestinians, including 3 children, in Gaza

Israel has killed five Palestinians, including three children, after air striking a home in Gaza City, Palestinian Civil Defense said.

In a statement, it said, "Our teams removed five martyrs, including three children, and a number of injured after an Israeli warplane targeted a home for the Abu Hasira family in Al-Sabra neighbourhood" in Gaza City.

03:30 GMT — Hamas doubts Netanyahu's intentions after Israel announces delegation to Egypt

Palestinian resistance group Hamas has doubted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's intentions after he said he would send a delegation to negotiate a ceasefire deal.

"Netanyahu does not want to stop the war and is using these empty statements to cover up his crimes and evade their consequences," Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said.

Abu Zhuri was commenting on an earlier statement from Netanyahu's office that said: "The negotiating team for a hostage deal will depart for Cairo on Saturday night or on Sunday."

For our live updates from Friday, August 2, 2024, click here.